This post is the third in the series of posts that all go together.
The first was about salvation for the underprivileged, and how the condition of the heart is more important than a show of righteousness.
The second was about salvation outside the Law of Moses; how all men are invited to be Children of Christ whether or not they never had any “ordinances” or participated in rituals.
Today, let’s talk about stories.
Humans love telling stories. And we love before and after stories.
Did you know humanity has a before and after story?
Not only do individuals get redeemed and have a life before Christ, but so does humanity.
Humanity had a life before Christ. His people, specifically— they had a before story. Before he redeemed them.
Two things specifically— these people were largely about rules and middlemen.
So today I want to talk about rules and middlemen.
The ancient Jews had a set of 613 commandments to follow. Some people who didn’t measure up were judged to be unclean. They could not enter the temple; they couldn’t enter the synagogues to worship.
Part of these laws was offering sacrifices on certain days, to “earn” forgiveness.
There were many rituals and ordinances required to be a Jew in good standing. There was also certain clothing a “good Jew” was expected to wear.
According to the Book of Mormon, some Jews in ancient America followed the Law of Moses also. But they knew these ordinances were only temporary and would be replaced with a Savior.
“Therefore there was a law given them, yea, a law of performances and of ordinances, a law which they were to observe strictly from day to day, to keep them in remembrance of God and their duty towards him.
But…these things were types of things to come.” (Mosiah 13:30-31)
“But notwithstanding the Law of Moses, they did look forward to the coming of Christ…believing that they must keep these outward performances until the time that he should be revealed unto them.” (Alma 25:15)
We’ve been watching The Chosen as a family for a couple years. It didn’t take very long for my teenage daughter to say “These Pharisees really remind me of the church.”
Now of course Mormons aren’t Torah observant and they know the Law is fulfilled.
…but do they, though?
Because I’m seeing a lot of performances and ordinances.
“Ye must keep the performances and ordinances of God UNTIL the law shall be fulfilled which was given to Moses.” (2 Nephi 25:30)
So I guess the Mormons just made up new performances and new ordinances. But the same idea — you’re unworthy until you do all these steps and rituals. You’re unclean; you cannot be saved — until you’ve got all your temple ordinances.
It’s a works based religion.
A man at our Mormon ward today literally said “keep following the path that leads you to Christ.”
But if you’re always on a path headed to Christ, when do you actually arrive?
At what point is a Mormon actually saved?
They don’t understand that Jesus comes first, and then good fruits will naturally flow from your heart and actions.
Now let’s talk about the middle man.
You know, the Priesthood.
I’m just really not a fan.
When I read the teachings of Jesus, what I’m hearing is a gospel where He can come directly to me without a middle man. And he can dwell in my heart through the Holy Spirit without a man deciding that from me.
God can declare me saved, without anyone interviewing me and giving me a special card that validates my worthiness.
I was looking at a special training from one of the top Mormon leaders yesterday, where he was really drilling in the fact that the Bishops get to decide when a person is clean or unclean. And if you’ve been found unclean, whether through sin or just expressing some of your own opinions, you need to suffer through a repentance process until the Bishop or Stake President decides your penance is complete.
Wow, that sounds like the Pharisees.
So, the great before and after is simply this: There was an old system. And now there’s a new system.
The Mormons don’t seem to get that.
Don’t need your rules, don’t need your special status between me and God, don’t need your temples, don’t need your special clothing, don’t need you judging me.
Jesus himself is with me.
And He gets to decide when to be with me and when to call me repentance.
He will give me His spirit when he wants to.
You don’t get to decide that.
He gets to tell me what to do. Why? Because I gave my life to Him, not you.
And he will do so gently and lovingly.
Because I have a relationship with Him.
“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.” (Hebrews 1:1-2)
All I Possess 