How Will The Elect Be Deceived?

[sixpacktr]

22 For in those days there shall also arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch, that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect, who are the elect according to the covenant.

(Pearl of Great Price | JS-Matthew 1:22)

I have often wondered how Satan will deceive the very elect. What would be his methods, how can he do such a thing. But as I have gotten older and watched the ways of the world, read from the words of the prophets and apostles, and seen how some in the church themselves react to certain truths, I have come to the conclusion that for the most part those that will be deceived will give in to rhetoric and "smooth talk" that seems so logical to the carnal mind, but which in reality is just a bunch of hooey just dreamt up to confuse.

Case in point. I was watching Glenn Beck this morning on Headline News, and he had a lawyer on that was representing a woman that was suing NBC for $105MM. Why? Because they (NBC) had a show that caught sexual predators, particularly those that stalked little girls or boys on the internet. Seems they happened acrossed a guy that was an assistant DA in Texas somewhere that solicited a "13 year old boy" (actually a cop posing as him on the internet), and when he was found out, and NBC was at his doorstep, he blew his brains out (good riddance IMO). Now his sister is suing NBC for killing her brother...And this lawyer is defending this as a just lawsuit.

Within the church we have such things as choosing when we want to listen to the prophets/apostles; doubting our bishops/branch presidents because they did something to offend us; the BOM was translated by Joseph, but these people never really existed, it was just a story told to help us, etc., etc. Sophistry and "logical" arguments will one day fade.

There is only one way that we will be safe from the sophistries of Satan:

37 And whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived, for the Son of Man shall come, and he shall send his angels before him with the great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together the remainder of his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

(Pearl of Great Price | JS-Matthew 1:37)

If we choose to follow the "wisdom" of the world because "God gave me a brain" and I can think for myself, then we fall into that trap. Intelligence is the glory of God, and we should do all we can to gain as much intelligence as possible. However, to be learned is good, if we are humble ((2nd Nephi 9:29). Otherwise, the opposite is true, as pointed out by Nephi:

28 O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.

(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 9:28)

[BenRaines]

Great post sixpacktr

Ben Raines

[CrimsonKairos]

A sobering reminder indeed. Thanks, six.

[Gwen]

22 For in those days there shall also arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch, that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect, who are the elect according to the covenant.

(Pearl of Great Price | JS-Matthew 1:22)

i too read this scripture and it sent my mind into similar thoughts. how? "the elect according to the covenant" who are those? in my mind it's those that when you try to think of a strong upstanding faithful memeber of the chruch, someone you should try to be more like (obviously we should be trying to be like christ not ppl, but you know what i mean) these are the ppl that come to mind. i can see how many would be deceived, but the elect of the covenant? that is rather powerful. then something came to my mind. i thought it was a valid thought though my husband disagreed. lol

what if some of these false prophets are the elect of the covenant? is it possible that there will be bishops or stake presidents somewhere who get big headed and start making the ward their own chruch, doing what they will? that there will be those that are so faithful that they will take the word of these ppl that "the prophet said so" even though they did not; that they will not reasearch and find out for themselves? is it possible to have a division once again in the chruch just as in the early days when joseph died? will even the very elect of the covenant be deceived and make the wrong choice? as i thought about this i thought about the new way of doing stake conferences. we are getting more and more teaching straight from the first presidency. there is a lot of effort to make sure ppl go to general conference, or at least have access to an ensign. you can get all the teachings you want straight from the prophets, there is no need to "take a bishops word" for anything. personal revelation is so vital to our lives, we must be able to know for ourselves, we have never been asked to follow just because.

now i'm not suggesting that ppl start "rebelling" against their leadership. but to know what the prophets have said, if there is a huge concern, if you truely think your leadership is that out of line there are ways to address it; there are ways to go up the line of authority and resolve the issues. i said this somewhere else but i truely believe it; the right thing, for the right reason, in the right way.

i think this quote from another topic helps to make my point and maybe does it a bit clearer. lol

"I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security, trusting their eternal destiny in the hands of their leaders with a reckless confidence that in itself would thwart the purposes of God in their salvation, and weaken that influence they could give to their leaders, did they know for themselves, by the revelations of Jesus, that they are led in the right way. Let every man and woman know, by the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord dictates, or not. This has been my exhortation continually."

Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 9, p. 150

[sixpacktr]

ALMom,

I agree with you 100%. I think the days of "division" within the church are far from over, and that there will be false prophets that will try to lead people astray, hence the absolute need for the spirit in our lives. The Prophet Joseph told the church to follow the majority of the Twelve, and that is just as true today. Will one or some of them apostasize? We can only hope not, as I cannot even bear to imagine losing one of these great men!

The older I get the more I realize that having the spirit whisper the truth to you is the only sure guide to withstanding Satan's lies and smooth deceptions. I was just reading in Acts about the day of Pentecost when the Twelve and the disciples received the HG, and when they went out preaching to others in their own tongue, some were amazed at it and other mocked it ("they're drunk!"). Same incident, different susceptibility to the spirit.

Thanks for bringing that to my mind again!