May 14, 2011 - God will not be mocked

[pam]

Woe unto such an one, for he is not prepared, and the time is at hand that he must repent or he cannot be saved!” (Alma 5:30–31.) This scripture was addressed to members of the church of Christ whose behavior belied their professions of discipleship. Like all scripture, it may be likened to our day “for our profit and learning.” (1 Ne. 19:23.) Just as God will not be mocked, so will he not have his children mock one another.

To mock is to humiliate, ridicule, insult, revile, make fun of, deride, sneer at, scorn, or hold in contempt. Teasing is a “mild” form of mockery that sometimes occurs without malice or intent to harm, but frequently results in strained interpersonal relations and a loss of self-esteem on the part of the object of laughter.

Gary L. Bunker, Mocking Our Brother - Ensign Apr. 1975