The Book of Mormon often prophesied of our day, and warned us of the challenges we would face. One problem foreseen by the prophets was the danger of mingling the word of God with the teachings of men. For a church to be the Savior’s church, it must teach only what the Savior wants taught, regardless of how popular or “politically correct” it might seem to be.
They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men. (2 Nephi 28:14)
There are many who feel that churches need to keep up with the times and change along with the political or social styles. This is a very secular idea, since it suggests a lack of belief in God. After all, if it’s God’s church, He should make the rules, not man. God doesn’t follow the fashions. He teaches truth. Truth cannot be changed by opinion.
There are times when practices change. For instance, much of the law of Moses, created to help prepare people to understand the atonement of Christ, ended when Christ himself came. The Savior instigated new laws based on new needs, since they had the Savior Himself and didn’t need the symbols. However, practices changed, but truth didn’t. Just as gravity will continue to be a true scientific principle even if the majority of the world wakes up one day and decides they don’t like it, God’s truths are always true.
There is a difference between practices and truths. God might alter the name of an auxiliary organization, for instance, to suit current needs, or decide the four-year-olds will study one book of scripture this year instead of another normally taught. There have been commandments meant just for a specific time, such as when Noah was told to build an ark. We don’t all have to build arks—but that was a practice, not a truth. The truth of that story—the importance of obeying God however unlikely the commandment might seem, remains the same. The critical truths, those that determine our eternal destiny, are based on God’s truths, and are unchanging.
Satan does not want us to believe that. He wants us to ignore truth and love fashion, treating truth and morality as something that should be determined by polls, television, celebrities, and politics, rather than by God. He knows if he can undermine the most critical elements of the Plan of Salvation, he can win. And so he pressures people to be concerned about popular opinion. He even wants the Savior’s followers, or those who claim to follow him, to flit from opinion to opinion, and not to be ruled by truth. He would like it best if they could get their churches to follow him.
Satan has a variety of methods for getting people to flit instead of remaining steadfast. Name-calling is one such method. Remember when Lehi, the first Book of Mormon prophet, had a vision of the tree of life. Many people were pulled off the path toward that tree, which represented eternal life, because they were embarrassed when the world made fun of them and called them names. We see that more than ever today. Boyd K. Packer, a high ranking church official called a General Authority, said, “However out of step we may seem, however much the standards are belittled, however much others yield, we will not yield, we cannot yield.” (Boyd K. Packer, “‘The Standard of Truth Has Been Erected’,” Ensign, Nov 2003, 24)
He offered this suggestion for coping with the word tools Satan thrives on to embarrass or belittle those who choose the teachings of God over the teachings of men:
“Now words can be used as weapons against you. If they throw the word diversity at you, grab hold of it and say, “I am already diverse, and I intend to stay diverse.” If the word is tolerance, grab that one, too, saying, “I expect you to be tolerant of my lifestyle—obedience, integrity, abstinence, repentance.” If the word is choice, tell them you choose good, old-fashioned morality. You choose to be a worthy husband or wife, a worthy parent.”
Man’s standards, fleeting and harmful, might give you popularity. But God’s standards, eternal and unchanging, give you eternal life. The choice is yours to live for now or for God.
The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.
