Beware of false prophets

Unit:1
Lesson: 02

Have you ever thought about the people you trust and why you trust them? For instance, why is it that when my mom told me to never do drugs or have sexual intimacy before I was married, I was so willing to listen and be obedient? Some may argue, "there have been studies done which have shown that young children are more susceptible to the teachings of their parents because for the first few years of their lives they see their parents as being perfect." If that is the case, and I believe it is, then why do I still trust and listen to my mom even now that I am perfectly aware of her mistakes and short comings? I believe it's because I know she loves me and wants the best for me. I learned this through experience, when I was young I followed her and learned that what she taught would make me safe... so much so that even now, I trust her words.

Today I want to share my thoughts and feelings concerning someone else that I have come to trust, someone that I listen to and follow. Not because I believe they are perfect but because I have followed them in the past and it has only brought me happiness and peace. This person is the Prophet, Thomas S. Monson.

Early this week I was reading in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 which says, "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel: for satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."

I find it interesting in this verse how often Paul said the word "transform" there is something interesting that I have learned about transformers, they can't stay the same thing forever. They have to constantly be changing. Some may read this scripture and think, "well, how then, can I know who truly are messengers from God?" my grandma use to say, "what and learn!" I believe it's the same in this case, you can know if they are true messengers of God if they transform, meaning, they are constantly changing.

After reading this verse, I was reminded of one of my favorite verses in the Book of Mormon. Samuel the Lamanite comes to warn the Nephites of their wickedness and to prophecy of the coming of Christ. After the people try to kill Samuel, Mormon (the person who is abridging the book) says this to us, the reader,

"...if a prophet come among you and declareth into you the word of the Lord, which testifieth of your sins and iniquities, you are angry with him, and cast him out and seek all manner of ways to destroy him; yea, you will say that he is a false prophet and that he is a sinner, and of the devil, because he testifieth that your deeds are evil. But behold, if a man shall come among you and shall say; do this and there is no iniquity; do that and ye shall not suffer; yea, he will say: walk after the pride of your own hearts; yea, walk after the pride of your own eyes, and do whatsoever your heart desireth--and if a man shall come among you and say this, ye will receive him, and say he is a prophet. Yea, ye will lift him up, and ye will give unto him of your substance; ye will give unto him of your gold, and of your silver, and ye will clothe him with costly apparel; and because he speaketh flattering words unto you, and he saith that all is well, then ye will not find fault with him." (Helaman 13:26-28)

If you think of this verse as if it was talking about a parent teaching their children, I bet you could see what an awful parent they would be if they told their children, "do whatever you want, whenever you want! There is no harm in this!" They would be completely forsaking their role as a parent to guide, teach, and protect their children. It's the same for a prophet, if they only told us what we wanted to hear, things that were pleasing to the world, things that were easy to follow.... would they really be that great of a prophet? But what if they admonished us to follow God, keep his commandments, be obedient? What if at times they even asked us to do things that were uncomfortable because that would be you'd have to go against popular teachings of the world? Just something to consider.

My hope in this life, as I'm sure is all of yours, is to be the kind of parent that teaches my children how to be truly happy... even if that means to do hard, unpopular, or scary things at times. I know that as we follow a living prophet, we can become that kind of parent.