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The Sword of Laban

10/24/2022

15 Comments

 
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What is Going On?!

If "a typological interpretation of Laban's slaying" is a bit wordy, forgive me.  If that sounds dull, it's not! 

How about:

How can we make sense of Nephi killing Laban in the Book of Mormon?

Interested now?

This may seem like a tall order, but take comfort in the fact that we can't do any worse than Elder Renlund did in the past General Conference when he said:

"Some might point out that Nephi violated a commandment when he slew Laban. However, this exception does not negate the rule — the rule that personal revelation will be in harmony with God’s commandments.  No simple explanation of this episode is completely satisfactory, but let me highlight some aspects:

   (1) The episode did not begin with Nephi asking if he could slay Laban.

[That's good I guess.  So premediated murder is bad.  Check.]

   (2)  It was not something he wanted to do.

[That's good I guess.  So we should not want to kill people.  Check.]

   (3) Killing Laban was not for Nephi’s personal benefit but to provide scriptures to a future nation and a covenant people.

[That's good I guess.  So we should only kill people for a higher, altruistic purpose.  Check.] 

   (4)  And Nephi was sure that it was revelation — in fact, in this case, it was a commandment from God."

[That's good I guess.  So we should only kill people when God tells us to, like the Lafferty brothers believed.  Check.]

(See, Dale G. Renlund, "A Framework for Personal Revelation," October 2022 General Conference)

All clear?

   Nope.
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Nephi: 1  Laban: 0

Is it significant that the story of Nephi killing Laban is placed at the beginning of the Book of Mormon?

A reader can't get very far without encountering this befuddling episode.  In some cases it poses a deterrent for them because it screams against our notions of right-and-wrong.

I mean, we shouldn't be killing people over a book, right? 

   Right?

Wrong?

Huh.  Let's break it down: usually people approach the material from two different angles:

   (1)  Providing an apologetic for Nephi killing Laban based on Jewish law and custom, making Nephi's actions lawful and legally-justified (this includes writings by Jack Welch at BYU/FARMS); or

   (2)  Using the story as an example of following the Spirit vs. Letter of the law (as every missionary does at some point, *wink wink*).

I am not going to try to resolve the issues here by resorting to (1) or (2).  I will leave that in the hands of those who have greater wisdom than me.

Instead, the purpose of this post is to share with you what the Spirit taught me last week when I asked the Lord for greater understanding about it.
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The Small Plates

Why did Nephi place this story at the beginning of the small plates? 

It is almost like this story was his "thesis statement" to introduce the remainder of his writings, which seem to primarily focus on latter-day eschatology using Isaiah to describe what he had been forbidden to write himself.

And because Nephi talked of, preached, rejoiced in and prophesied of Christ, I suspect we should look for some Christological meaning in this account as well.

   And Nephi gave me, Jacob,
   a commandment that I should
   write upon these [small] plates
   a few things which I considered
   to be most precious.


(Jacob 1:2)

I mean, as soon as Nephi is done giving us the Cliff Notes on his father Lehi in Chapter 1 and begins to discuss his own ministry, we spend two chapters right-out-of-the-gate on this story. 

It shows Nephi must have considered it "most precious."


In fact, Nephi tells us that:

   I do not write anything
   upon plates save it be
   that I think it be 
   sacred.


(1 Nephi 19:6)

So . . . what are we missing about this account of Laban?  What makes it "sacred?"

After Elder Renlund's talk, I went back to the drawing board, pondering what I should personally be gleaning from this story.

After all, we weren't there on the moonless night walking the streets of Jerusalem as Nephi "was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which [he] should do" (1 Nephi 4:6). 

Our necks weren't on the line.


And yet, this story is central to Nephi's record and so we must treat it seriously.  I don't think Nephi would have included it on the plates if he didn't think it would be of great worth to us in the latter-days.  

We have to ask ourselves, then, what possible relevance does Nephi killing Laban have for you and me?
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What is a Typology?

A "typology" is set of symbols that have a particular interpretation.  

One of the most famous typologies we have is the Book of Revelation by the apostle John, who used dragons and beasts and moons to illustrate truths symbolically (by the way, BYU Studies has published a free, modern translation of the Book of Revelation by Richard Draper and Michael Rhodes, which I thought was good).
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One typology all Latter-day Saints are familiar with is Lehi's Dream. 

Using the elements contained in Lehi's vision, Nephi imbued a tree, a river, an iron rod, a great and spacious building, and so on, with special spiritual meanings.

If I may be so bold, I want to suggest that the story of Nephi slaying Laban was written in the same spirit, in the grand tradition of Isaiah (who Nephi admired as a star pupil), using events from his life to symbolize something much greater, and is a prelude to what follows in his record.

Because we're accustomed to reading the Book of Mormon as an historical, literal text (and nothing wrong with that) we sometimes miss the literary mechanisms they used to convey a subtler meaning.

But this was Nephi!  While he did not teach his children after the manner of the Jews and chose to speak in plainness, I daresay a bit of his heritage poked through his writings.

(That's why it would be fun to sit down with a Rabbi and read Laban's story and ask the Rabbi what he "gets" from it.  I'm sure he'd have insights that have escaped us.)
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Laban, Laban, Laban

This story shows that the Lord withdraws His word from its so-called custodians when they do not honor it. 

Think of John the Baptist who "wrested" the kingdom away from the Jews.  He didn't overthrow them using military might but using the word of God (D&C 84:28).

   And they that will harden
   their hearts, to them
   is given the lesser portion
   of the word until they know
   nothing concerning
   his mysteries.


(Alma 12:11)

Here we see this process occur in real-time as Nephi removes the Brass Plates from the treasury. 

To begin, let's highlight several of the attributes of Laban that Nephi painstakingly drew for us. 

I want to emphasize that Laban is one of the most fleshed-out characters we get from Nephi's writings (I mean, Zoram is hardly a fly on the wallpaper in comparison; and Nephi doesn't even name his sisters!).

   1.  Lustful.  "When Laban saw our property . . . he did lust after it (1 Nephi 3:25).

   2.  Powerful.  "He thrust us out" (1 Nephi 3:25).

   3.  Commands other men.  "Sent his servants to slay us" (1 Nephi 3:25).

   4.  Mighty.  "Behold, he is a mighty man, and he can command fifty, yea, even he can slay fifty!" (1 Nephi 3:31).

   5.  Murderous.  "Sent his servants to slay us" (1 Nephi 3:25).

   6.  Greedy.  "Sent his servants to slay us, that he might obtain our property."

   7.  Asleep.  "He had fallen to the earth" (1 Nephi 4:7).

   8.  Drunk.  "He was drunken with wine" (1 Nephi 4:7).

   9.  Rich.  "I drew his sword . . . and the hilt thereof was of pure gold" (1 Nephi 4:9).

   10.  Martial.  "I did gird on his armor about my loinsl" (1 Nephi 4:19).

   11.  Thief.  "He also had taken away our property" (1 Nephi 4:11).

   12.  Wicked.  "The Lord slayeth the wicked" (1 Nephi 4:13).

   13.  Keeper of the Treasury.  "I went forth unto the treasury of Laban" (1 Nephi 4:20).

   14.  A leader of the people.  "He spake unto me concerning the elders of the Jews, he knowing that his master, Laban, had been out by night among them" (1 Nephi 4:22).

   15.  Steward of the Recorded Word of God (Brass Plates) (1 Nephi 4:24).

I think by now we're getting the drift.  But if it wasn't clear, Nephi appears to be hitting us over the head with a hammer, spelling out for us the ways in which Laban is a type of the Great and Abominable Church, which he will fully flesh-out in Chapters 13 and 14.

Go back and compare the list to what we know about the Great and Abominable Church.

   It checks every box.

Notice that Nephi does not battle Laban, who had "fallen to the earth."  Just like the Great and Spacious Building, which will fall and "great shall be the fall thereof."

It doesn't fall because we bombed its foundation (it has none) or because we've launched missiles at it.  The arm of flesh does not topple Babylon.

It falls because the Lord.  

   He is the living God,
   and an everlasting king:
   at his wrath the earth shall tremble,
   and the nations shall not be able
   to abide his indignation.


(Jeremiah 10:10)

I think this shows that the Lord truly does fight our battles (D&C 98:37)!  We don't "win" by being the strongest or most-skilled or well-armed, as if we were going to wrestle Bablyon to the carpet for three counts.

Our job is NOT to defeat Babylon (that's up to the Lord); our job is to call them out of Babylon, to flee it, before the buildings crumble and crush them.

We're weak and vulnerable, just like Nephi.

Imagine Nephi's adrenaline as he crept through the streets of Jerusalem, primed and ready for the worst . . .

. . . and then he stumbled upon his foe who was unconscious and unable to put up a fight.

There was no glory in it for Nephi, no sword play for him to prove his mettle.

Because the glory always was, and always will be, the Lord's.
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Nephi, Nephi, Nephi

The characteristics Laban shares with the Great and Ab
ominable Church include:

   - Slays the saints

   - Greedy and wealthy

   - Lustful and desires harlots

   - Steward of the Recorded Word of God (from which it removes many plain and precious parts)

   - Binds the people into captivity and treats them like slaves

   - Causes people to be put to sleep and to err, d
runk on their own iniquity and abominations, following after the "whore of all the earth"

   - Wages war against the saints of God

So what is Nephi telling us is the answer?  What is he inviting us to do "between the lines" to defeat Babylon the Great?

Ah, this is where it gets interesting.

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Reframing the Story

I have several connections and comparisons I want to draw, but they are crashing into each other at the intersection because I am not sure who has the right-of-way.

So, in no particular order:

   1.  The Sword of Laban.

First, what is so special about the Sword of Laban?  What does it represent?

   Wherefore take unto you
   the whole armour of God . . . 
   and the sword of the Spirit,
   which is the word of God.


(Ephesians 9:13, 17)

I think it's fascinating that Paul mentions all of this wonderful armour that is defensive . . . except this one thing.

Shoes, shields, helmets, and breastplates are great, sure (and I guess we could shield-bash our foe in battle), but we're given only one offensive weapon in our arsenal: a sword.  The Word.  

Nephi uses this weapon (the word) to overcome his foe, the thing standing between him and Brass Plates (which contain God's word).

   Give heed unto my word,
   which is quick and powerful,
   sharper than a two-edged sword,
   to the dividing asunder
   of both joints and marrow.


(D&C 6:2)

The way Christ "slays" His foes is not to draw blood from their veins, but to turn them from the error from their ways using His "two-edged" sword.

And remember what Nephi did with the sword afterwards?  He fashioned other swords after it, just like we carry the same message as delivered by the Son.

   2.  The Brass Plates.

What does Nephi use the sword of Laban to obtain?  The Brass Plates.

So . . . Nephi used the word to obtain . . . the word?

The iron rod, remember, was the word of God.  And the rod led to the tree that symbolized the Word of God, Christ.

So . . . this is not new.  it is sort of the same.

The Brass Plates contain the covenants of the Lord.  

Perhaps John the Revelator can help us here.  He explained in Revelation 19:15:

   And out of his mouth
   proceedeth the word of God,
   and with it he will smite 

   [like a sword smiting Laban, right?]
   the nations; and he
   will rule them

   [okay, how does God rule?  Must be with an army and tanks, right?]
   with the word of his mouth.

(JST Revelation 19:15)

   3.  Zoram.

Nephi recovers two things from Laban: (1) the Brass Plates, and (2) Zoram.

Isn't it interesting how the word of God (the sword and Brass Plates) result in Zoram being liberated, who had been a slave? 

The sword freed him from captivity just as the Christ's word frees us from the precepts of men and the foolish traditions of our fathers.

But the emancipation did not occur automatically.  Zoram had to choose whether to return to Jerusalem or to accompany Nephi to the promised land (more on that in a minute).

   4.  Laban's Garments.

This part, where Nephi dons the clothing of a dead man, always made me a tad squeamish. 

But look carefully at what he says:

   I took the garments of Laban
   and put them upon
   mine own body; yea,
   even every whit; and I did
   gird on his armor
   about my loins.


(1 Nephi 4:19)

I guess that means Nephi stripped Laban naked and wore his underwear?

In this moment I see Nephi as a shining type of Christ.  Christ took upon Himself our bloody rags, clothed Himself in our shame, covered Himself in our sins "even every whit," and took upon Himself flesh (the seeds of a dead mankind) in order to bring us His word.

Nephi used the disguise to carry forth the word of God contained in the Brass Plates. 

Christ made Himself of dust so He could deliver to us His word on earth.
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A Word About the Headlock

I've always been a bit troubled by Nephi putting Zoram in a head lock to prevent him from escaping.  It seemed a little "coercive" to me.  As though Zoram made his choice under duress, with a gun to his head.

   [Zoram] was about to flee
   from before me and return
   to the city of Jerusalem.

   And now I, Nephi, being a man
   large in stature, and also having
   received much strength
   of the Lord,
   therefore I did seize upon
   the servant of Laban,
   and held him,
   that he should not flee.

   And it came to pass that I spake
   with him, that if he would hearken
   unto my words, as the Lord liveth,
   and as I live, even so that if he
   would hearken unto our words,
   we would spare his life.


(1 Nephi 4:30-32)

Here's a different way to view this scene:  Pretend Nephi is a type of Christ.  We are like scattered sheep who are skittish and want to run wild.  But the Shepherd envelopes us into His embrace and doesn't let us go. 

He whispers into our ear an Oath:

   If ye would hearken unto my words,
   as I live, even so I will spare your life.


In that spirit, consider these words as if the Lord were speaking to us in the Premortal World with his arms wrapped around us as "Zoram":

   If thou wilt go down
   into the wilderness of my father
   thou shalt have a place
   with us.

   And we did take courage
   at the words the Lord spake
   and promised we would go down
   into the wilderness
   unto our father.


(1 Nephi 4:34-35)
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The Lore of the Sword of Laban

I almost forgot.  I can't resist a final thought regarding the Sword of Laban.  Brigham Young shared the following about the sword, discussing Oliver and Joseph going into a cave when the ground opened up:

"The sword of Laban hung upon the wall; but when they went again it had been taken down and laid upon the table across the gold plates; it was unsheathed, and on it was written these words: 'This sword will never be sheathed again until the kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our God and his Christ.'"

(Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, vol. 19, p. 38)
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15 Comments
Clark Burt
10/25/2022 11:34:53 am

I have read this several times now and learn something more each time. I like the way you use Laban as a type. It is a literary device used by Jews to prophesy. Isaiah used it brilliantly as do Book of Mormon writers. I must say that I didn't see Laban as a type of Babylon until I read this. I love how you also used Laban's sword as a type for the sword of truth--the word of God. Using the word to obtain the word. We will be found on one side or the other of His words. His word will separate the righteous from the wicked--irrevocably.

Too bad Elder Redlund didn't do the same and instead put the focus on Nephi and on us instead of God. We can't escape it. It is always about us, and God and/or Christ are just bit players in the stories.

I have never been bothered by the fact that the Lord can slay His enemies. Death is not the same to Him. Laban just left and went somewhere else. After I inquired of the Lord about this post, the first thing that came to mind was the Egyptians being drowned in the Red Sea. Then I read Neph's account and sure enough, he used the same analogy. It was the Lord who slew Laban.

Thanks for making me think and re-think this account and showing me how important this experience was to Nephi that he included so many details for our benefit.

Don't you wonder, though, that Laban's clothing and armor had to have a lot of blood on them? Any significance to Nephi putting on bloody clothing?

Reply
Tim Merrill
10/25/2022 12:14:19 pm

This are helpful thoughts Clark. I realize now that I sort of eclipsed the main point of the whole post, which was the central "seed" that started my thoughts in this direction, which was this:

This story represents us obtaining the word of God from its custodians who have not honored it.

Laban had the Brass Plates but did not follow their teachings. And yet he likely viewed himself as upright.

Nephi obtained the pearl of great price through the very person who was supposed to treasure it (it was in the literal treasury!) and yet treated the word as dross.

Looking for parrellels, it reminds me of the way the Lord brought his gospel to those who were willing to receive it, and takes it away from those who have treated it lightly.

Thank you!

Reply
Tim Merrill
10/25/2022 01:24:46 pm

I added this to the post:

This story shows that the Lord withdraws His word from its so-called custodians when they do not honor it.

Think of John the Baptist who "wrested" the kingdom away from the Jews. He didn't overthrow them using military might but using the word of God (D&C 84:28).

And they that will harden
their hearts, to them
is given the lesser portion
of the word until they know
nothing concerning
his mysteries.

(Alma 12:11)

Here we see this process occur in real-time as Nephi removes the Brass Plates from the treasury.

Reply
Tim Merrill
10/25/2022 01:42:11 pm

Sorry, but Clark's comment stirred up many new thoughts, including this one that I have included in the post:

Notice that Nephi does not battle Laban, who had "fallen to the earth." Just like the Great and Spacious Building, which will fall and "great shall be the fall thereof."

It doesn't fall because we bombed its foundation (it has none) or because we've launched missiles at it. The arm of flesh does not topple Babylon.

It falls because the Lord.

He is the living God,
and an everlasting king:
at his wrath the earth shall tremble,
and the nations shall not be able
to abide his indignation.

(Jeremiah 10:10)

I think this shows that the Lord truly does fight our battles (D&C 98:37)! We don't "win" by being the strongest or most-skilled or well-armed, as if we were going to wrestle Bablyon to the carpet for three counts.

Our job is NOT to defeat Babylon (that's up to the Lord); our job is to call them out of Babylon, to flee it, before the buildings crumble and crush them.

We're weak and vulnerable, just like Nephi.

Imagine Nephi's adrenaline as he crept through the streets of Jerusalem, primed and ready for the worst . . .

. . . and then he stumbled upon his foe who was unconscious and unable to put up a fight.

There was no glory in it for Nephi, no sword play for him to prove his mettle.

Because the glory always was, and always will be, the Lord's.

Reply
Clark Burt
10/25/2022 03:11:39 pm

Loved these changes, especially this:

"Our job is NOT to defeat Babylon (that's up to the Lord); our job is to call them out of Babylon, to flee it, before the buildings crumble and crush them."

That is so far removed than being counseled to be in the world but not of the world, which is impossible.

Laura
10/25/2022 10:07:50 pm

Wow! One of the best commentaries on this story I have ever heard! Unfortunate that others don’t know how to take tough scriptural questions to the Lord to get direct revelation and instead come to the conclusion that there will never be satisfactory answers. Also unfortunate that even though Nephi is not the only one that was asked by the Lord to act outside the bounds of commandments (Abraham and Isaac), mortals will formulate rules that put God and his revelations in a box that apparently scriptural examples of the opposite, can’t negate. Doesn’t make sense to me, but who am I to argue. There was so much more that was false about that talk, I hope you will do more posts on it.

Reply
Tim Merrill
10/26/2022 08:35:48 am

Hi Laura: yes, there was something about E. Renlund's talk that put a crink in my spiritual neck. When I met with the bishop for Tithing Declaration he quoted the talk to me in the spirit of "correction." In Sacrament Meeting on Sunday the speakers were assigned this talk. I have found that messages of this nature, which are proscriptive and dogmatic, carry an energy of judgment which is like a magnet for those who crave certainty. But the fallout, of course, is that such talks grieve the Spirit because they carry a big stick, but ignore the Cross. Thanks for commenting! Tim

Reply
Laura
10/26/2022 08:54:33 am

Yes! But it goes even further because it is so anti-scriptural. Imagine how many scripture heroes have now been illegitimized because the broke the unnegatable rule of “flying outside of their lane”...Joseph Smith, Abinadi, Samuel the Lamanite, John the Baptist, and Jesus Christ just to name a few. Such talks solidify a false belief that has become a huge stumbling block to so many. Im really sorry you had to listen to it be regurgitated like vomit.

Tim Merrill
10/26/2022 09:09:53 am

Yes, I see your point. Imagine E. Renlund delivering his talk as Samuel the Lamanite stood on the wall prophesying "out of his lane." "Don't listen to him! He doesn't have PURVIEW!"

In a way, E. Renlund's words are just as dangerous as the arrows aimed at Samuel. His talk gives ammunition to those who reject messages from God based on the messenger lacking "authority," leading them to cry, "he chath a devil!" (Helaman 16:6).

Which begs the question, what was E. Renlund's thinking? Assuming his sincerity, why is he teaching something contrary to the prophetic pattern you've pointed out in the instances of Jesus, JS, Abraham, Abinadi, etc.? Thanks, Tim

Reply
Clark Burt
10/26/2022 09:36:56 am

Samuel the Lamanite tells us why we should never 'stay in our lane.'

http://fingerofgod.blogspot.com/2021/08/notes-on-samuel-lamanite.html?m=1

And what would have happened if Abinadi stayed in his lane? There would have been no Book of Alma.

http://fingerofgod.blogspot.com/2021/12/alma-believes-words-of-abinadi.html?m=1

Tim Merrill
10/26/2022 10:40:51 am

Clark, I just read your linked post on Samuel the Lamanite and learned so much from it. One synchronicity that made me smile was that you spoke of Samuel's use of the image of "the sword of justice" and here in this Post we were looking at the sword of Laban.

While I used "the word of God" for the sword, I think it is interesting that we could also view it as a symobl of God's justice. Perhaps I need to ponder on the relationship between the word and justice. Thanks for adding to the pot!

Laura
10/26/2022 11:13:38 pm

I would like to assume E. Renlund was sincere. But then the only other conclusion is that he is woefully unaware of what the scriptures actually say. Seriously. Who gives a scriptural example that defies the doctrine your trying to establish? And just leaves it at, “there are no satisfactory explanations”. And Im not not trying to be critical of the man. I am the least qualified to cast stones at anyone. But I have to vent somewhere, so here we go. The false doctrine was repulsive enough, but I was even more disturbed by the part of the talk where he shares the story of the man calling him saying he believed he was told their were ancient records buried that he was supposed to retrieve. Ok. So this man believed he received a revelation. He was unsure about what to do about it. He calls E. Rendlund for advice. He asked him to pray for him. Elder Redlund refuses to pray for him. The man gets frustrated and hangs up. The man then gets mocked by E. Rendlund (whom I assume is some kind of acquaintance because he was able to get past secretaries/securities to get him on the phone). Mocks him. On Live, International TV. In front of millions. Assuming he is LDS, EVERY friend, relative, associate etc. he has, witnessed him being ridiculed by a man who could have shown him compassion instead. Who could of prayed and asked the Lord how to help a man that seemed to be struggling mentally. Why not pray snd ask the Lord how to help? Why not pray and ask if a cast out is appropriate? Could an apostle of the Lord have used his power to heal such a man? We will never know what the Lord could have done to help that man through E Rendlund because he wouldn’t even PRAY for a man that was asking for prayer! What if this man had been your son? How would you hope church leaders would treat him? How do you think this man feels about the LDS church now? Think he’ll ever come back?

Laura
10/26/2022 11:35:40 pm

I know I should stop. But I can’t help myself. The irony is to great. In this talk E Rendlund used the man mentioned above and Hiram Page as an example of receiving false revelations. But what is one of the most important lessons the Lord teaches us in Hiram’s story?

D&C 28:11 And again, thou shalt take thy brother, Hiram Page, between him and thee alone, and tell him that those things which he hath written from that stone are not of me and that Satan deceiveth him;

The Lord explicitly said NOT to call out the deceived in front of the entire church! He chose that example himself and then immediately did the very thing were told not to!

And someone in your ward thought it was a good idea to rehash this in sacrament meeting ??🤦🏻‍♀️

Reply
Tim Merrill
10/27/2022 10:51:39 am

Laura, you've summed it all up beautifully -- the inconsistency, the illogical arguments, the self-serving narrative, and worst of all, the fact that E. Renlund's is encouraging people NOT to pray (when God has spoken on an issue, or about Heavenly Mother), which is strangely reminiscent of Nephi's words:

"FOR THE EVIL SPIRIT TEACHETH NOT A MAN TO PRAY, BUT TEACHETH HIM THAT HE MUST NOT PRAY" (2 NEPHI 32:8).

So it appears we now have the doctrine of the devil being espoused from the pulpit? How else can I understand it when an apostle has twice told members to stop praying about something?

Reply
Laura
11/11/2022 10:47:52 pm

Uggh! My stewardship covers the lessons in RS. I always ask the teachers to pray & teach whatever the spirit directs. (I dont assign conference talks), but this week, this talk from E. Renlund was chosen by the teacher! I may have to ditch class and study alone in the lobby but I am so sad my sisters are going to be taught this junk all over again! 🤮




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