In Alma chapter 39, "Alma reproved his wayward son Corianton, who had forsaken the ministry and committed sexual sin. Alma taught him the seriousness of his actions and expressed disappointment that Corianton was guilty of such a serious sin. Alma commanded his son to stop going after the lusts of his eyes and to repent." (Book of Mormon Seminary Teacher Manual - Lesson 96)
3 And this is not all, my son. Thou didst do that which was grievous unto me; for thou didst forsake the ministry and did go over into the land of Siron among the borders of the Lamanites, after the harlot Isabel.
4 Yea, she did steal away the hearts of many; but this was no excuse for thee, my son. Thou shouldst have tended to the ministry wherewith thou wast entrusted.
4 Yea, she did steal away the hearts of many; but this was no excuse for thee, my son. Thou shouldst have tended to the ministry wherewith thou wast entrusted.
Alma teaches his son how very serious sexual sin is by explaining that it is most abominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy Ghost.
"Perhaps there is a common element in those two things—unchastity and murder. Both have to do with life, which touches upon the highest of divine powers. Murder involves the wrongful taking of life; sexual transgression may involve the wrongful giving of life, or the wrongful tampering with the sacred fountains of life-giving power"
Bruce C. Hafen - The Gospel and Romantic Love New Era, Feb. 2002, 10
Alma also mentions several times how contradictory Corianton's actions were to the ministry to which he was called.
16 And now, my son, this was the ministry unto which ye were called, to declare these glad tidings unto this people, to prepare their minds; or rather that salvation might come unto them, that they may prepare the minds of their children to hear the word at the time of his coming.
12 And now the Spirit of the Lord doth say unto me: Command thy children to do good, lest they lead away the hearts of many people to destruction
12 And now the Spirit of the Lord doth say unto me: Command thy children to do good, lest they lead away the hearts of many people to destruction
What would be the opposite of preparing someone’s mind for salvation or to hear the word of God?
If we go back to Alma chapter 4, it explains that members who behave poorly become a stumbling block to those who aren't members.
If we go back to Alma chapter 4, it explains that members who behave poorly become a stumbling block to those who aren't members.
10 And thus ended the eighth year of the reign of the judges; and the wickedness of the church was a great stumbling-block to those who did not belong to the church; and thus the church began to fail in its progress.
11 And it came to pass in the commencement of the ninth year, Alma saw the wickedness of the church, and he saw also that the example of the church began to lead those who were unbelievers on from one piece of iniquity to another, thus bringing on the destruction of the people.
Opposite of preparing minds for salvation, bad behavior will become a stumbling block for the salvation of others.
Imagine with me for a moment if Corianton's sins had happened in our day, where things are not only very much in the public eye but could go viral on social media in a matter of hours.
With one, or even a handful of sinful church members, suddenly headlining the internet due to their poor choices, it becomes an incredible stumbling block for those who need the church for salvation. The majority of the millions of members of the church, though none are us are perfect, ARE NOT Corianton’s and the church IS where the saving ordinances are found, but the Book of Mormon still makes sure to warn us that one person's poor choices can do so much damage.
I don't want to focus on sexual sin, whether it's an abuse of God's power or actual sexual abuse. We know that this is unacceptable to God and his church. Especially when someone is taken advantage of in any way. No one is arguing that. At least no one who understands the doctrine and policies.
(see: First Presidency Counsels leaders on how to prevent, identify, and respond to abuse)
I instead want us to realize the seriousness of being a stumbling block to the salvation of others.
Since those who leave the true church never seem to be able to leave it alone, they thrive on moments where members are imperfect or leaders make decisions that don't fit with current trends or opinions. It's as if both active members and former members use the church to fill their current appetites.
We have those who “hunger and thirst after righteousness” (Matthew 5:4), who “feast on the word of Christ” (2 Nephi 32:3), and who “eat and are filled”. (Matthew 15:7)
(see: Elder Holland - “He Hath Filled the Hungry with Good Things”)
Then we have those who have made their way to the great and spacious building (1 Nephi 8) where apparently the portions are not very filling. What they claim to be reality is not so, and thus they find themselves as a “hungry man which dreameth”. (Isaiah 29:8 & Mosiah 27:9)
This is because while the devil uses his team members to cause a raucous, he does not support them. (Alma 30:60)
Imagine that you have broken the law and have a lawyer who tells you that you are justified in all that you've done, and he encourages you to continue what you are doing. On your court date you show up and your lawyer is nowhere to be found. You have broken the law and are left to represent yourself.
With the devil leaving these individuals unfilled they try to take from the church for their sustenance. It's an, "If they have less, there must be more for me." type attitude.
The devil uses wayward or former members because those who have tasted the fruit and then left the feast to go join in on the mocking now have appetites that cannot be satisfied without returning to the tree. Unfulfilled, they then become more of a hindrance to those in the church then those who were never members at all. (Mosiah 27:9)
In other words, you are dealing with a condition affectionately and sometimes fearfully known as being "hangry."
Imagine with me for a moment if Corianton's sins had happened in our day, where things are not only very much in the public eye but could go viral on social media in a matter of hours.
With one, or even a handful of sinful church members, suddenly headlining the internet due to their poor choices, it becomes an incredible stumbling block for those who need the church for salvation. The majority of the millions of members of the church, though none are us are perfect, ARE NOT Corianton’s and the church IS where the saving ordinances are found, but the Book of Mormon still makes sure to warn us that one person's poor choices can do so much damage.
I don't want to focus on sexual sin, whether it's an abuse of God's power or actual sexual abuse. We know that this is unacceptable to God and his church. Especially when someone is taken advantage of in any way. No one is arguing that. At least no one who understands the doctrine and policies.
(see: First Presidency Counsels leaders on how to prevent, identify, and respond to abuse)
I instead want us to realize the seriousness of being a stumbling block to the salvation of others.
Since those who leave the true church never seem to be able to leave it alone, they thrive on moments where members are imperfect or leaders make decisions that don't fit with current trends or opinions. It's as if both active members and former members use the church to fill their current appetites.
We have those who “hunger and thirst after righteousness” (Matthew 5:4), who “feast on the word of Christ” (2 Nephi 32:3), and who “eat and are filled”. (Matthew 15:7)
(see: Elder Holland - “He Hath Filled the Hungry with Good Things”)
Then we have those who have made their way to the great and spacious building (1 Nephi 8) where apparently the portions are not very filling. What they claim to be reality is not so, and thus they find themselves as a “hungry man which dreameth”. (Isaiah 29:8 & Mosiah 27:9)
This is because while the devil uses his team members to cause a raucous, he does not support them. (Alma 30:60)
Imagine that you have broken the law and have a lawyer who tells you that you are justified in all that you've done, and he encourages you to continue what you are doing. On your court date you show up and your lawyer is nowhere to be found. You have broken the law and are left to represent yourself.
With the devil leaving these individuals unfilled they try to take from the church for their sustenance. It's an, "If they have less, there must be more for me." type attitude.
The devil uses wayward or former members because those who have tasted the fruit and then left the feast to go join in on the mocking now have appetites that cannot be satisfied without returning to the tree. Unfulfilled, they then become more of a hindrance to those in the church then those who were never members at all. (Mosiah 27:9)
In other words, you are dealing with a condition affectionately and sometimes fearfully known as being "hangry."
When Corianton style mistakes are made by members, former members will shout it from the proverbial rooftops of the great and spacious building, insisting that because some few stumbled on their way to the tree of life, or decided to go another way altogether, that none must partake and all must forsake. How’s that for logic?
This is the really sad part though:
While they are shouting condemnations for those who have committed sexual sin, (among other things) they are ignoring the fact that the gospel teaches us that sexual sin, while abominable, is less abominable than actual murder AND denying the Holy Ghost.
This is the really sad part though:
While they are shouting condemnations for those who have committed sexual sin, (among other things) they are ignoring the fact that the gospel teaches us that sexual sin, while abominable, is less abominable than actual murder AND denying the Holy Ghost.
For behold, if ye deny the Holy Ghost when it once has had place in you, and ye know that ye deny it, behold, this is a sin which is unpardonable; yea, and whosoever murdereth against the light and knowledge of God, it is not easy for him to obtain forgiveness; yea, I say unto you, my son, that it is not easy for him to obtain a forgiveness.
I guess all of the shouting could be a way to feed the denial.
Sexual sin is without question an abomination but those who promote those sins that some have committed in an effort to be a stumbling block to others being apart of the church and therefore being a stumbling block to their salvation, find themselves in a league of their own.
The church is still true and Christ is still King of Kings and Lord of Lords even when mistakes are made or even grievous sins are committed by a member of the church.
Having a perfect church membership was Satan's plan to begin with, not the Father's plan (Moses 4:3). As Elder Lynn G. Robbins just reminded us this afternoon: Repentance isn’t Christ’s backup plan – it IS his plan!
The Savior offers us, instead, the opportunity to see the consequences of using our agency for good or evil and invites us to choose. He gave us the gift of agency. When we stumble and when we weep for those who do likewise, or are affected by the sins we and others commit, we learn the importance of, and safety in, following Jesus Christ and the importance of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. If you ever find yourself wondering, “Is there some other way?”, there is no other way.
Of course, sin is not without consequence and the poor conduct of members has often become a stumbling block to others.
Sexual sin is without question an abomination but those who promote those sins that some have committed in an effort to be a stumbling block to others being apart of the church and therefore being a stumbling block to their salvation, find themselves in a league of their own.
The church is still true and Christ is still King of Kings and Lord of Lords even when mistakes are made or even grievous sins are committed by a member of the church.
Having a perfect church membership was Satan's plan to begin with, not the Father's plan (Moses 4:3). As Elder Lynn G. Robbins just reminded us this afternoon: Repentance isn’t Christ’s backup plan – it IS his plan!
The Savior offers us, instead, the opportunity to see the consequences of using our agency for good or evil and invites us to choose. He gave us the gift of agency. When we stumble and when we weep for those who do likewise, or are affected by the sins we and others commit, we learn the importance of, and safety in, following Jesus Christ and the importance of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. If you ever find yourself wondering, “Is there some other way?”, there is no other way.
Of course, sin is not without consequence and the poor conduct of members has often become a stumbling block to others.
…Behold, O my son, how great iniquity ye brought upon the Zoramites; for when they saw your conduct they would not believe in my words.
But it need not be. Note that the wording above states that they would not believe, not that they could not believe. We must remember that when Corianton-type situations like we've just explored come up, it shows the truthfulness of the gospel and the importance of the gospel. While some may have you believe that your testimony should be shaken by this, we should see that it instead shakes the sandy foundations of the great and spacious building. We shout when we are on the verge of collapsing, on shaky ground, not when we are #StandingStill.
You can see from the scripture references in this post that we have God’s word on these scenarios before we have to experience them, or hear about them, personally.
I hope those who have found themselves so fixated on the sins of others that they are denying the Holy Ghost, after “it once has had place in” them, will come to this realization and fully return, as did Alma the younger.
You can see from the scripture references in this post that we have God’s word on these scenarios before we have to experience them, or hear about them, personally.
I hope those who have found themselves so fixated on the sins of others that they are denying the Holy Ghost, after “it once has had place in” them, will come to this realization and fully return, as did Alma the younger.
9 And he said unto me: If thou wilt of thyself be destroyed, seek no more to destroy the church of God.
10 And it came to pass that I fell to the earth; and it was for the space of three days and three nights that I could not open my mouth, neither had I the use of my limbs.
11 And the angel spake more things unto me, which were heard by my brethren, but I did not hear them; for when I heard the words—If thou wilt be destroyed of thyself, seek no more to destroy the church of God—I was struck with such great fear and amazement lest perhaps I should be destroyed, that I fell to the earth and I did hear no more.
12 But I was racked with eternal torment, for my soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins.
13 Yea, I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for which I was tormented with the pains of hell; yea, I saw that I had rebelled against my God, and that I had not kept his holy commandments.
14Yea, and I had murdered many of his children, or rather led them away unto destruction; yea, and in fine so great had been my iniquities, that the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror.
If you are a Corianton or a Joe Schmo, or whoever you may be: there is a repentance process in place. We don't judge how you got here and know that most of you have been victims yourself which creates a domino effect and can be compounded by many things. But repentance is required. Start with a prayer for help. And start now. The road home never gets shorter by walking away from it.
Once members have completed the repentance process, which may include church discipline and perhaps even legal action and professional treatment and are back on the path or on their way back, it would not be helpful for us, or them, to try and dig up what the Lord chooses to reclaim.
Once members have completed the repentance process, which may include church discipline and perhaps even legal action and professional treatment and are back on the path or on their way back, it would not be helpful for us, or them, to try and dig up what the Lord chooses to reclaim.
In fact, it would be far more helpful to stop digging before that process is even complete. We are to help where we can and if we can't help someone, at least don't hurt them. But sexual sin is too serious to not condemn people for, right? Wrong. Let us keep in mind that the when the Savior said “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her”, they were ready to stone someone for sexual sin (John 8:7). And that doesn't mean that we can cast stones so long as the sin fits a particular situation or isn't a sin that we have committed. All sins have a victim.
We also want to be the type of membership that demonstrate a clear idea of what is right and wrong by our own good examples, and that we inspire people to do good, repent, and speak up right away when they have been wronged - to people who can actually help, not just stone gatherers. With so many stones cast unto the path, how are we to not stumble?
As Elder Larry Echo Hawk admonished us in his talk this afternoon, we need to be forgiving even when others don’t warrant our forgiveness. He reminded us of the Lord’s declaration that we are required to forgive all men, or else we bear the greater sin.
Let's use our time, resources, and examples to clear the path - not to cast stones onto it!
Interestingly enough, while studying this all out, a former neighbor came to mind. He is not a member of the church but was just a nice man living next door to us. Really nice. So nice and friendly and helpful to everyone he passed by that we realized he was surely better at "loving thy neighbor" than we were. And this was a commandment for us! It came to us as a welcome lesson for where we could repent and improve. We focused our best efforts on "loving thy neighbor as thyself."
We remembered his birthday and his favorite foods. We took him a plate of dinner over whenever we made something scrumptious that didn't accidentally burn while tending to children. (I realized this was becoming all too common one day when my toddler started yelling "Shoot! Oh shoot!" every time I opened the oven. Even when it wasn't on.) We did acts of service for our neighbor. We sent the young men over to rake his leaves. We invited him on walks and to events. We even gave him a “heart attack” once.
This good neighbor also met the missionaries and many other members through us and developed a great relationship with them.
We are nothing special though. We were just living what we had been taught and asked to do. The pleasure of his acquaintance was all ours as he was so easy to love and serve. The blessings of living this commandment landed us a surrogate Grandparent, which we had actually fasted for, while we found ourselves living far from home and family.
We did give "Grandpa" one very important gift though. We removed a potential stumbling block on his path to salvation.
We also want to be the type of membership that demonstrate a clear idea of what is right and wrong by our own good examples, and that we inspire people to do good, repent, and speak up right away when they have been wronged - to people who can actually help, not just stone gatherers. With so many stones cast unto the path, how are we to not stumble?
As Elder Larry Echo Hawk admonished us in his talk this afternoon, we need to be forgiving even when others don’t warrant our forgiveness. He reminded us of the Lord’s declaration that we are required to forgive all men, or else we bear the greater sin.
Let's use our time, resources, and examples to clear the path - not to cast stones onto it!
Interestingly enough, while studying this all out, a former neighbor came to mind. He is not a member of the church but was just a nice man living next door to us. Really nice. So nice and friendly and helpful to everyone he passed by that we realized he was surely better at "loving thy neighbor" than we were. And this was a commandment for us! It came to us as a welcome lesson for where we could repent and improve. We focused our best efforts on "loving thy neighbor as thyself."
We remembered his birthday and his favorite foods. We took him a plate of dinner over whenever we made something scrumptious that didn't accidentally burn while tending to children. (I realized this was becoming all too common one day when my toddler started yelling "Shoot! Oh shoot!" every time I opened the oven. Even when it wasn't on.) We did acts of service for our neighbor. We sent the young men over to rake his leaves. We invited him on walks and to events. We even gave him a “heart attack” once.
This good neighbor also met the missionaries and many other members through us and developed a great relationship with them.
We are nothing special though. We were just living what we had been taught and asked to do. The pleasure of his acquaintance was all ours as he was so easy to love and serve. The blessings of living this commandment landed us a surrogate Grandparent, which we had actually fasted for, while we found ourselves living far from home and family.
We did give "Grandpa" one very important gift though. We removed a potential stumbling block on his path to salvation.
"You are good. But it is not enough just to be good. You must be good for something. You must contribute good to the world. The world must be a better place for your presence. And the good that is in you must be spread to others."
President Gordon B. Hinckley - Stand Up for Truth
Through our efforts to do good works and be good examples, "Grandpa" has the ability to safely happen across a viral news article about a member of the church who has behaved poorly. He can read about a Corianton or any Joe Schmo and disconnect it from the church as a whole. Grandpa will read the news and perhaps say something like, "What a scoundrel! How dare he do that to that poor girl and how dare he make his fellow Saints look this way!" (I'll insert here that "Grandpa" would likely use sharper words than “scoundrel”, but you get the idea.)
"Grandpa" doesn't need to stumble when he reads those. In fact, I'm confident that if he finds himself in a place where if someone speaks poorly of the church as a whole, that he would stand up for us.
With those stumbling blocks removed, “Grandpa” can walk, at his own pace, a safe path to the saving ordinances found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
There is more to being good than just avoiding sins of commission. We have to be aware of our sins of omission as well. We would hate to see someone fall on the path, only to find out that the stumbling block that they had tripped over, just happened to be the bushel that we set there to put our candle under. (Matthew 5:15)
Bishop Gérald Caussé just taught us that the good behavior of the members in France literally cleared the way for a temple to be built there. From the open house for the public to attend, to the dedication for members over eight years old, to the sanctification of those members who attend regularly, to the saving ordinances performed therein - what an incredible way to clear the path and prepare minds for salvation! And all because they were good and true.
We aren't perfect at this yet, but the only way we will be better at it is to hold fast to the gospel of Jesus Christ and make his paths straight and block free.
So be good. And do good. So much good that you can give others this important gift. So much good that you remove their stumbling blocks and give them a clear path to salvation.
And every time you stumble on something, make sure that your next step is to remove that block so the person behind you doesn't trip on it also!
"Grandpa" doesn't need to stumble when he reads those. In fact, I'm confident that if he finds himself in a place where if someone speaks poorly of the church as a whole, that he would stand up for us.
With those stumbling blocks removed, “Grandpa” can walk, at his own pace, a safe path to the saving ordinances found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
There is more to being good than just avoiding sins of commission. We have to be aware of our sins of omission as well. We would hate to see someone fall on the path, only to find out that the stumbling block that they had tripped over, just happened to be the bushel that we set there to put our candle under. (Matthew 5:15)
Bishop Gérald Caussé just taught us that the good behavior of the members in France literally cleared the way for a temple to be built there. From the open house for the public to attend, to the dedication for members over eight years old, to the sanctification of those members who attend regularly, to the saving ordinances performed therein - what an incredible way to clear the path and prepare minds for salvation! And all because they were good and true.
We aren't perfect at this yet, but the only way we will be better at it is to hold fast to the gospel of Jesus Christ and make his paths straight and block free.
So be good. And do good. So much good that you can give others this important gift. So much good that you remove their stumbling blocks and give them a clear path to salvation.
And every time you stumble on something, make sure that your next step is to remove that block so the person behind you doesn't trip on it also!
Love and prayers,
Mom Standing Still
