“The scriptural word for gospel service ‘for the sake of riches and honor' is priestcraft” (Alma 1:16).
- Dallin H. Oaks, (Pure in Heart, 1988 p. 39)
Note the chapter heading finds teaching false doctrine and priestcraft as two separate things
Alma 1:3 very first false doctrine by Alma recorded:
“And he(Nehor) had gone about among the people, preaching to them that which he termed to be the word of God, bearing down against the church; declaring unto the people that 👉every priest and teacher ought to become popular; and they ought not to labor with their hands, but that they ought to be supported by the people👈.”
Alma was VERY aware of priestcraft, he had recently repented of this sin working under the direction of wicked King Noah, he was VERY familiar with its deception and costly outcomes.
In Mosiah 18:24 when Alma had led the people to the waters of Mormon he commanded them that the priests whom he had ordained should labor with their own hands for their support.
Footnote for labor: 1 Cor 9:18
What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
Footnote for charge:
I believe LDS church influencers and youtubers(among others) are supporting this false doctrine and participating in priestcraft(read to the end to find how).
In Feb 2024 a sister in my ward spoke about priestcraft at our Stake Conference (Saturday night)and voiced her surprise by what she learnt. Afterwards I found many scriptures and quotes on this topic and currently have over 13,000 words in this document. Joseph Smith Jnr was taught by the angel Moroni that in no certain terms was the book of Mormon (gold plates) to be used for monetary purposes, I am suggesting that command still stands and using the gospel to make money is the most overlooked sin. The sin of Priestcraft.
2 Nephi 26:29. The Sin of Priestcraft
Nephi explained that priestcraft occurs when men “set themselves up for a light unto the world” (2 Nephi 26:29). In contrast, Jesus taught the Nephites, “I am the light which ye shall hold up” (3 Nephi 18:24).
Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles added that priestcraft can occur both in the Church and from enemies to the Church: Therefore, let us beware of false prophets and false teachers, both men and women, who are self-appointed declarers of the doctrines of the Church and who seek to spread their false gospel and attract followers by sponsoring symposia, books, and journals whose contents challenge fundamental doctrines of the Church.
Beware of those who speak and publish in opposition to God’s true prophets and who actively proselyte others with reckless disregard for the eternal well-being of those whom they seduce. Like Nehor and Korihor in the Book of Mormon, they rely on sophistry to deceive and entice others to their views. They ‘set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion’ (2 Nephi 26:29)” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1999, 78; or Ensign, Nov. 1999, 63).
2 Nephi 26
20 And the Gentiles are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block, that they have built up many churches(Stakes/Wards/Units); nevertheless, they put down the power and miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning, 👉that they may get gain and grind upon the face of the poor👈.
21 And there are many churches built up which cause envyings, and strifes, and malice.
22 And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil, for he is the founder of all these things; yea, the founder of murder, and works of darkness; yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever.
23 For behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you that the Lord God worketh not in darkness.
24 He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; 👉 for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.👈
25 Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, 👉 without money and without price.👈
26 Behold, hath he commanded any that they should depart out of the synagogues, or out of the houses of worship? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.
27 Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation? Behold I say unto you, 👉nay; but he hath given it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance.👈
28 Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, nay; 👉but all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden.👈
29 He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, 👉priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion👈.
30 Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing; wherefore, the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have charity, which charity is love. And except they should have charity they were nothing. Wherefore, if they should have charity they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish.
31 👉But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish.👈
D&C 49:20
But it is not given that one man should possess that which is above another, wherefore the world lieth in sin.
“Unfortunately we live in a world that largely rejects the values of Zion. Babylon has not and never will comprehend Zion. The Lord revealed our times to the prophet Mormon, who recorded this statement in a closing chapter of the Book of Mormon:
“Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But … Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.
“For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.” (Morm. 8:35, 37)
[Mormon is speaking to US; members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Book of Mormon was written for US, for our day, not for any other religion or group of people. There are only two churches according to Nephi, one is the Church of the Lamb and the other is the church of the devil(1 Nephi 14:10), therefore when Mormon says "O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have you polluted the holy church of God?" (Mormon 8:38) He is talking to us, we are the holy church of God.]
“This state of affairs stands in marked contrast to the Zion the Lord seeks to establish through his covenant people. Zion can be built up only among those who are the pure in heart, not a people torn by covetousness or greed, but a pure and selfless people. Not a people who are pure in appearance, rather a people who are pure in heart. Zion is to be in the world and not of the world, not dulled by a sense of carnal security, nor paralyzed by materialism. No, Zion is not things of the lower, but of the higher order, things that exalt the mind and sanctify the heart.
“Zion is “every man seeking the interest of his neighbor, and doing all things with an eye single to the glory of God.” (D&C 82:19.) As I understand these matters, Zion can be established only by those who are pure in heart, and who labor for Zion, for “the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish.” (2 Ne. 26:31.)”
- (“Becoming the Pure in Heart”, April 1978)
Romans 10
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks:
"Some may serve for hope of earthly reward. Such a man or woman might serve in Church positions or in private acts of mercy in an effort to achieve prominence or cultivate contacts that would increase income or aid in acquiring wealth. Others might serve in order to obtain worldly honors, prominence, or power.
The scriptures have a word for gospel service “for the sake of riches and honor”; it is “priestcraft.” Alma 1:16 Nephi said, “Priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion.” (2 Ne. 26:29) In these latter days, we are commanded to “seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion.” (D&C 6:6) Unfortunately, not all who accomplish works under that heading are really intending to build up Zion or strengthen the faith of the people of God. Other motives can be at work.
Service that is ostensibly unselfish but is really for the sake of riches or honor surely comes within the Savior’s condemnation of those who “outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within … are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” Matt. 23:28 Such service earns no gospel reward."
The first section of the Doctrine and Covenants, which speaks of people in the last days, gives a description that seems to include those who serve for hope of earthly reward of one sort or another: “They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol.” (D&C 1:16.)
…As the Apostle Paul said, we that are strong enough to bear the infirmities of the weak should not do so “to please ourselves.”
-(Why Do We Serve?, Oct 1984)
President Spencer W. Kimball
“We live in a world that largely rejects the values of Zion. Babylon has not and never will comprehend Zion.”
(In Conference Report, Apr. 1978, p. 122; or Ensign, May 1978, p. 81.)
“When we practice the precepts, doctrines, and programs of welfare services, the fruit of our labors is the building of Zion.”
(Spencer W. Kimball, in Conference Report, Oct. 1978, p. 114; or Ensign, Nov. 1978, p. 75)
Doctrine and Covenants 121
34 Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
35 Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, 👉and👈 aspire to the honors of men
Helaman 7:
18 It is because you have hardened your hearts; yea, ye will not hearken unto the voice of the good shepherd; yea, ye have provoked him to anger against you.
19 And behold, instead of gathering you, except ye will repent, behold, he shall scatter you forth that ye shall become meat for dogs and wild beasts.
20 O, how could you have forgotten your God in the very day that he has delivered you?
21 But behold, it is to get gain, to be praised of men, yea, and that ye might get gold and silver. And ye have set your hearts upon the riches and the vain things of this world, 👉 for the which👈 ye do *murder, and plunder, and steal, and bear false witness against your neighbor, and do all manner of iniquity.
22 And for this cause wo shall come unto you except ye shall repent. For if ye will not repent, behold, this great city, and also all those great cities which are round about, which are in the land of our possession, shall be taken away that ye shall have no place in them; for behold, the Lord will not grant unto you strength, as he has hitherto done, to withstand against your enemies. *Spiritual murder is spoken about by Alma the younger in Alma 36:14 and also Matthew 10:28. I believe this is exactly what Helaman is referring to. Spiritual murder is by far a worse sin than physical murder.
“The great objective of all our work is to build character and increase faith in the lives of those whom we serve. If one cannot accept and teach the program of the Church in an orthodox way without reservations, he should not teach. It would be the part of honor to resign his position. Not only would he be dishonest and deceitful, but he is also actually under condemnation, for the Savior said that it were better that a millstone were hanged about his neck and he be cast into the sea than that he should lead astray doctrinally or betray the cause or give offense, destroying the faith of one of ‘these little ones’ who believe in him. And remember that this means not only the small children, it includes even adults who believe and trust in God. “In our own society, the murderer who kills the body is hunted, imprisoned, and executed, but the character who kills the soul by implanting doubt and shattering faith is permitted not only to go free but also is often retained in high places. The body which is killed will rise again in the resurrection with little damage to its eternal welfare, but he whose faith has been shattered may suffer long ages before complete restoration of spiritual stature can be had, if at all.”
-Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual
“Instead of doing that, they have been the creators of the wealth that the people now enjoy; they have been the fathers of the people, the people have been the objects of their paternal care from the beginning until today. I would not give a fig for a leading man who would not act in this capacity; he is worth nothing, and deserves no place in the midst of the people of God. Men to save their fellow men and to be ministers of Jesus Christ must have the spirit of Jesus. His spirit was one of self sacrifice, one that prompted him to go forth and save the people, not to be a burden upon them, not to crush them. That is priestcraft; and wherever that system prevails a system of despicable priestcraft prevails, and God is angry with it and with those who practice it."
-George Q. Cannon (Tithing, JD 15:145)
“I have said this to let my friends know that I am right. As I grow older my heart grows tenderer for you. I am at all times willing to give up every thing that is wrong, for I wish this people to have a virtuous leader. I have set your minds at liberty by letting you know the things of Christ Jesus. When I shrink not from your defence, will you throw me away for a new man who slanders you? I love you for your reception of me. Have I asked you for your money? No, you know better; I appeal to the poor. I say cursed be that man or woman who says that I have taken of your money …”
- Joseph Smith Jr (JS Papers, History, 1838–1856, volume F-1 [1 May 1844–8 August 1844])
“My sense of urgency comes from the fact that I spend all my days now with the scriptures. And the two marks of the Church I see are and have been for a long time these: a reverence for wealth and a contempt for the scriptures. Naturally, the two go hand in hand. We should call attention to the fact that these things we are doing are against the work of the Lord. There is one saying of Joseph Smith I think of quite often: “If the heavens seem silent at a time when we desperately need revelation, it is because of covetousness in the Church. God has often sealed up the heavens because of covetousness.” And now the Church isn’t just shot through with covetousness, it is saturated with covetousness. And so the heavens are going to be closed. We’re told we don’t get revelation if we put our trust in money in the bank.”
- Hugh Nibley (“Nibley Talks about Contemporary Issues,” 13)
Alma 30
12 And this Anti-Christ, whose name was Korihor, (and the law could have no hold upon him) began to preach unto the people ... And after this manner did he preach, saying:
27 ... [Y]e lead away this people after the foolish traditions of your fathers, and according to your own desires; and ye keep them down, even as it were in bondage, that ye may glut yourselves with the labors of their hands, that they durst not look up with boldness, and that they durst not enjoy their rights and privileges.
28 Yea, they durst not make use of that which is their own lest they should offend their priests, who do yoke them according to their desires, and have brought them to believe, by their traditions and their dreams and their whims and their visions and their pretended mysteries, that they should, if they did not do according to their words, offend some unknown being, who they say is God—a being who never has been seen or known, who never was nor ever will be
31 And he did rise up in great swelling words before Alma, and did revile against the priests and teachers, accusing them of leading away the people after the silly traditions of their fathers, for the sake of glutting on the labors of the people.
32 Now Alma said unto him: thou knowest that we do not glut ourselves upon the labors of this people; for behold I have labored even from the commencement of the reign of the judges until now, with mine own hands for my support, notwithstanding my many travels round about the land to declare the word of God unto my people.
33 And notwithstanding the many labors which I have performed in the church, I have never received so much as even one senine for my labor; neither has any of my brethren, save it were in the judgment-seat; and then we have received only according to law for our time.
34 And now, if we do not receive anything for our labors in the church, what doth it profit us to labor in the church save it were to declare the truth, that we may have rejoicings in the joy of our brethren?
35 Then why sayest thou that we preach unto this people to get gain, when thou, of thyself, knowest that we receive no gain?
Alma 35
3 And it came to pass that after the more popular part of the Zoramites had consulted together concerning the words which had been preached unto them, they were angry because of the word, for it did destroy their craft; therefore they would not hearken unto the words.
4 And they sent and gathered together throughout all the land all the people, and consulted with them concerning the words which had been spoken.
5 Now their rulers and their priests and their teachers did not let the people know concerning their desires, therefore they found out privily the minds of all the people.
Joseph F. Smith:
“I have heard of some people who had sunken so low that they would sell anything for money; mother or father, or brother or sister, or friend or neighbor would never stand in the way. They would do anything to obtain money; money is their God. Such people would sell out their interest in their king, their people, and their country, for money. We only want to find out who will sell God and the people for filthy lucre and we bring them to trial, and in a very short time we manage to sever connection with them. We say he has departed from the faith, and we cut him off from our fellowship in the Church.
But what do we do with those who sell their inheritances to the enemy? Why we pat them on the shoulder, we hug them to our bosoms, we love and cherish them and it is all right; no apostasy there! But suppose we should all sell our inheritance, we should then have to move to some other clime. It may not be considered prudent to thus publicly express our feelings on this subject, as slanderers and vilifiers are apt to wrest the truth and misquote, and misrepresent the facts. Yet I feel as though I would be chargeable with a neglect of duty if I did not say at least this much on this subject, and I am not afraid nor ashamed to meet this view of the matter. If men will sell out their homes, and their inheritances to the wicked and the ungodly for money, when, I ask, will they be prepared to go and build up the Center Stake of Zion? Who of this class will be called to do this work? And will they have an inheritance in the New Jerusalem? Why, I suspect they would pull up the paving stones and sell them for money; they would steal the diamonds, pearls and precious stones from the pearly gates of the New Jerusalem, and sell them for the coveted "cash!"
- (JD 23:32)
Revelation 18:11–13. Merchandise and “Souls of Men”
The list of merchandise sold in Babylon reveals a startling truth: people sell not only gold, precious stones, fine textiles, and many other luxury items, but even “slaves, and souls of men” (Revelation 18:13). This refers primarily to the abominable practice of human trafficking but can also be seen as a reference to the spiritually enslaving consequences of materialism and other evils (see 2 Nephi 26:10).👉 It may also describe corrupt religious practitioners who present themselves as ministering to people’s souls while seeking above all to profit financially; in this sense, they traffic in the “souls of men.”... In contrast, the gospel of Jesus Christ offers spiritual nourishment “without money and without price” 👈(Isaiah 55:1; 2 Nephi 26:25; Alma 1:20)
-New testament student Manual
3 Nephi 27:
32 But behold, it sorroweth me because of the fourth generation from this generation, for they are led away captive by him even as was the son of perdition; for they will sell me for silver and for gold, and for that which moth doth corrupt and which thieves can break through and steal. And in that day will I visit them, even in turning their works upon their own heads.”
Conspiracies against Jesus Christ
From the beginning of the Savior’s ministry, politicians in positions of power felt that their power was being threatened by Him, and they tried to have Him destroyed (see Mark 3:6). Herod ordered the slaughter of infants in Bethlehem to try to destroy Christ (see Matthew 2:16). When Jesus cleansed the temple in Jerusalem, the chief priests plotted to put him to death (see Mark 11:18). These secret combinations even involved the high priest’s office (see Matthew 26:3–4). When the Savior openly entered Jerusalem, He quickly became the object of conspiracies to destroy Him, including the agreement Judas Iscariot made with the chief priests to betray the Savior into the hands of those who wanted to destroy Him (see Mark 14:1–2, 10–11).
Who Was Caiaphas?
Caiaphas was the high priest from A.D. 18 to 36 and was a son-in-law of Annas, who was the high priest from A.D. 7 to 14. Caiaphas belonged to the Sadducees. During New Testament times, the position of high priest had become a corrupt political appointment rather than a legitimate priesthood office. Caiaphas held the position longer than any other high priest in New Testament times, indicating his close cooperation with Roman government leaders like Pontius Pilate.
Caiaphas’s responsibilities as high priest included controlling the temple treasury and overseeing temple rituals, which made him considerable money. Because of these temple responsibilities, he probably would have regarded the Savior’s cleansing of the temple courtyards as a challenge to his authority and a threat to his wealth (see Matthew 21:12–15). After the Savior raised Lazarus from the dead, Caiaphas stated that it was necessary to put Jesus to death, and he possibly even led out in the conspiracy (see John 11:49–53). As high priest, Caiaphas presided over the Sanhedrin and was one of the main interrogators of Jesus Christ on the night of His arrest.
-New testament student manual
2 Nephi 10
5 But because of priestcrafts and iniquities, they at Jerusalem will stiffen their necks against him, that he be crucified.
Doctrine and Covenants 38
21 But, verily I say unto you that in time ye shall have no king nor ruler, for I will be your king and watch over you.
22 Wherefore, hear my voice and follow me, and you shall be a free people, and ye shall have no laws but my laws when I come, for I am your lawgiver, and what can stay my hand?
23 But, verily I say unto you, teach one another according to the office wherewith I have appointed you;
24 And let every man esteem his brother as himself (How one does this is explained crystal clear in Alma 1: 20, 26, see below), and practise virtue and holiness before me.
25 And again I say unto you, let every man esteem his brother as himself.
26 For what man among you having twelve sons, and is no respecter of them, and they serve him obediently, and he saith unto the one: Be thou clothed in robes and sit thou here; and to the other: Be thou clothed in rags and sit thou there—and looketh upon his sons and saith I am just?
27 Behold, this I have given unto you as a parable, and it is even as I am. I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.
Alma Chapter 1 heading:
Nehor teaches false doctrines, establishes a church, ➡️introduces priestcraft,⬅️ and slays Gideon—Nehor is executed for his crimes—Priestcrafts and persecutions spread among the people—The priests support themselves, the people care for the poor, and the Church prospers. About 91–88 B.C
Alma 1 shows us the difference between these 3 entities;
1 Nehor the anti Christ who uses false doctrine, teaches priestcraft, sets up his own church and slays Gideon (note teaching false doctrine and priestcraft are two separate things)
2 The people who continue to practice priestcraft, persecute the righteous church members and participate in all manner of evil
3 The righteous Church members who have taken on the name of Christ, who impart the word of God without money or price, are patient, steadfast and immovable, teachers and hearers of the word, are all equal and care for the poor and needy. This group is laboring for Zion.
12 But Alma said unto him: Behold, this is the first time that priestcraft has been introduced among this people. And behold, thou art not only guilty of priestcraft, but hast endeavored to enforce it by the sword; and were priestcraft to be enforced among this people it would prove their entire destruction.(Alma of all people knows this truth!)
16 Nevertheless, this did not put an end to the spreading of priestcraft through the land; for there were many who loved the vain things of the world, and they went forth preaching false doctrines; and this they did for the sake of riches and honor.
19 But it came to pass that whosoever did not belong to the church of God began to persecute those that did belong to the church of God, and had taken upon them the name of Christ.
20 Yea, they did persecute them, and afflict them with all manner of words, and this because of their humility; because they were not proud in their own eyes,
👉and because they did impart the word of God, one with another, without money and without price.👈
25 Now this was a great trial to those that did stand fast in the faith; nevertheless, they were steadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of God, and they bore with patience the persecution which was heaped upon them.
26 And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors; 👉 and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal, 👈 and they did all labor, every man according to his strength.
27 And they did impart of their substance, every man according to that which he had, to the poor, and the needy, and the sick, and the afflicted; and they did not wear costly apparel, yet they were neat and comely.
Alma 1:26. “The Priests Left Their Labor to Impart the Word of God”
In Alma 1, note Mormon’s comparison between the pride of Nehor and the humble priests from the church of God. Nehor wore “very costly apparel,” preached “for the sake of riches,” and was lifted up in the pride of his heart, believing he was superior to others (see 1:5–6, 16). On the other hand, the true priests did not wear costly apparel, taught out of a desire to see others improve without monetary compensation, labored with their hands for their own support, and did not esteem themselves above their hearers (see Alma 1:26–27; see also Mosiah 18:24; 27:5).
Throughout the Book of Mormon various apostate groups adopted the teachings or order of Nehor (see Alma 1:16; 16:1–12). This order exalted their so-called spiritual leaders to the point of creating an elite priestly class and social ranks among the people. These self-appointed elites often exploited the lay population and persecuted the poor (see Mosiah 11:3–6; 23:39; 24:8–9; Alma 31:23–32:5). In contrast, Alma 1:26 teaches that the Lord’s way is to call a lay ministry of priesthood leaders.
Alma 1:27. Dress and Appearance
The Book of Mormon repeatedly warns against the sins of pride and class distinction that are manifest when people begin to wear “very costly apparel” (Alma 1:6). Members of the Lord’s
Church have been counseled to avoid extremes in clothing and appearance. They also should avoid becoming preoccupied with expensive fashions (see D&C 42:40). Nevertheless, disciples of Christ are to be “neat and comely” (Alma 1:27).
-(Book of Mormon Student Manual, Religion 121–122, 2009; Cha pter 23: Alma 1-4)
The Law of Consecration is tied DIRECTLY to "Charity" tied DIRECTLY to "preaching the Word of God, without money and without price" and is ANTITHETICAL to "priestcraft"... and the self-justification for that "filthy lucre" is the flaxen cord used by Satan, described by Nephi in 2 Nephi 26... it is "the natural fruit" described in Jacob 5-
74 And thus they labored, with all diligence, according to the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard (without money, without price), even until the bad had been cast away out of the vineyard (those practicing priestcraft), and the Lord had preserved unto himself that the trees had become again 👉 the natural fruit; and they became like unto one body; and the fruits were equal 👈 ; and the Lord of the vineyard had preserved unto himself the natural fruit, which was most precious unto him from the beginning.
Elder Neal A Maxwell:
“If one “mind[s] the things of the flesh” (Rom. 8:5), he cannot “have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:16) because his thought patterns are “far from” Jesus, as are the desires or the “intents of his heart” (Mosiah 5:13). Ironically, if the Master is a stranger to us, then we will merely end up serving other masters. The sovereignty of these other masters is real, even if it sometimes is subtle, for they do call their cadence. Actually, “we are all enlisted” (Hymns, 1985, no. 250), if only in the ranks of the indifferent.
To the extent that we are not willing to be led by the Lord, we will be driven by our appetites, or we will be greatly preoccupied with the lesser things of the day. The remedy is implicit in the marvelous lamentation of King Benjamin: “For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?” (Mosiah 5:13).
-“Swallowed Up in the Will of the Father”
1 Nephi 13
4 And it came to pass that I saw among the nations of the Gentiles the formation of a great church.
5 And the angel said unto me: Behold the formation of a church which is most abominable above all other churches, which slayeth the saints of God, yea, and tortureth them and bindeth them down, and yoketh them with a yoke of iron, and bringeth them down into captivity.
6 And it came to pass that I beheld this great and abominable church; and I saw the devil that he was the founder of it.
7 And I also saw gold, and silver, and silks, and scarlets, and fine-twined linen, and all manner of precious clothing; and I saw many harlots.
8 And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the gold, and the silver, and the silks, and the scarlets, and the fine-twined linen, and the precious clothing, and the harlots, are the desires of this great and abominable church.
9 And also for the praise of the world do they destroy the saints of God, and bring them down into captivity.
Helaman 7
20 O, how could you have forgotten your God in the very day that he has delivered you?
21 But behold, it is to get gain, to be praised of men, yea, and that ye might get gold and silver. And ye have set your hearts upon the riches and the vain things of this world, for the which ye do murder, and plunder, and steal, and bear false witness against your neighbor, and do all manner of iniquity.
22 And for this cause wo shall come unto you except ye shall repent. For if ye will not repent, behold, this great city, and also all those great cities which are round about, which are in the land of our possession, shall be taken away that ye shall have no place in them; for behold, the Lord will not grant unto you strength, as he has hitherto done, to withstand against your enemies.
23 For behold, thus saith the Lord: I will not show unto the wicked of my strength, to one more than the other, save it be unto those who repent of their sins, and hearken unto my words. Now therefore, I would that ye should behold, my brethren, that it shall be better for the Lamanites than for you except ye shall repent.
24 For behold, they are more righteous than you, for they have not sinned against that great knowledge which ye have received; therefore the Lord will be merciful unto them; yea, he will lengthen out their days and increase their seed, even when thou shalt be utterly destroyed except thou shalt repent.
25 Yea, wo be unto you because of that great abomination which has come among you; and ye have united yourselves unto it, yea, to that secret band which was established by Gadianton!
26 Yea, wo shall come unto you because of that pride which ye have suffered to enter your hearts, which has lifted you up beyond that which is good because of your exceedingly great riches!
27 Yea, wo be unto you because of your wickedness and abominations!
28 And except ye repent ye shall perish; yea, even your lands shall be taken from you, and ye shall be destroyed from off the face of the earth.
29 Behold now, I do not say that these things shall be, of myself, because it is not of myself that I know these things; but behold, I know that these things are true because the Lord God has made them known unto me, therefore I testify that they shall be.
2 Nephi 26:
31 But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish.
D&C 6:
7 Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich.
4 Nephi 1:3
3 And they had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift.
D&C 105:5
And Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom; otherwise I cannot receive her unto myself.
Doctrine and Covenants 51:2
For it must needs be that they be organized according to my laws; if otherwise, they will be cut off.
Doctrine and Covenants 88:22
For he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory.
Erastus Snow:
“Through the mercy of God our Father, salvation came unto many Gentile nations, because they believed the testimony of Jesus proclaimed to them by his disciples; and they were baptized into Christ, and became the seed of Abraham by adoption, while the lineal descendants of Abraham were rejected of God because of their unbelief. They did not bring forth the fruits of the kingdom of God, therefore the kingdom was taken from them and given to another people according as Jesus had predicted.
Now, why was all this? Was it simply because of the sins of their rulers and chief priests, or was it because of the general corruption, unbelief, and wickedness of the whole people? I answer, it was not only the wickedness of their rulers and the corruption and hypocrisy of their priests, but of the whole people, priests and rulers included. In the language of one of the prophets, their teachers taught for hire; their judges judged for reward; their prophets divined for money, and “my people love to have it so, and what shall be the end thereof?”
The people had lifted themselves up in pride; they loved gold and silver and precious things, and set up gods whom they might adore. If they did not actually set up graven images and gods of wood and stone, they set up teachers and priests like unto themselves. Their judges and priests took bribes, and their public servants could be bought with money.
They sought honor one of another and sought not honor which comes from God alone. In short they lived for the present life only, and did not know how to enjoy it properly, for the fruit of evil doings is always evil, though it ofttimes appears tempting and alluring to the inexperienced and thoughtless, and its fruits may be sweet in the mouth, but in the belly they are invariably bitter.
-(The Axe is Laid, Etc., JD 13:5)
Brigham Young:
“Serve your God, but not for gold. Strive to be righteous, not for any speculation, but because righteousness is lovely, pure, holy, beautiful, and exalting: it is designed to make the soul happy and full of joy, to the extent of the whole capacity of man, filling him with light, glory, and intelligence. If you cannot love it for that, do not undertake to be righteous. A man cannot be a Saint at the same time that he loves sin and rolls it under his tongue as a sweet morsel, any more than an Elder can do good on a mission while his heart is set upon riches, planning to bring home merchandise. The Elders cannot accomplish both these things at once; and in trying to do so they have missed their aim, for they have neither got rich nor magnified their calling and priesthood.”
(JD 8:171)
Elder Orson Pratt:
“As this has been the case in every former age and dispensation, so it is now; hence the Latter-day Saints in every part of the globe are commanded to gather out from the midst of wickedness, corruption and priestcraft, and every abomination that exists, and assemble themselves in one place. For what purpose? That we may be separated from the world and its corruptions, which would otherwise work our temporal and spiritual destruction.”
- “The Opposition of Wickedness to Righteousness—Persecutions of The Saints—Misrepresentations.”, Oct 6, 1868, JD 12:303)
President Harold B Lee:
“"Financial schemes to make money for the alleged purpose of 'redeeming Zion' or providing means for the 'salvation of the dead' or other seemingly worthy objects, should not deceive anyone acquainted with the order of the Church, and will result only in waste of time and labor, which might be devoted now to doing something tangible and worthy and of record on earth and in heaven." (Messages of the First Presidency, compiled by James R. Clark [Bookcraft, 1970], Vol. 4, pp. 285-86.)”
- “To the Defenders of the Faith”, April 1970)
https://scriptures.byu.edu/#:t6df$25382:c07b1511
Joseph Smith Jr:
Down with that of priestcraft,(2) and let all the people say Amen! that the blood of our fathers may not cry from the ground against us.(4)
(2) 2 Ne. 26:29 Alma 1:12, 16 D&C 33:4
(4) 3 Ne. 9:11 Morm. 8:40 D&C 136:36 Moses 5:35
- (TPJS 117)
D&C 42:12–14. Those Who Teach the Gospel Have the Obligation to Do It As the Lord Has Directed
Elder Spencer W. Kimball spoke of the special obligations resting on those who teach the gospel:
“Apparently there were in the early church those who taught for doctrines the sophistries of men. There are those today who seem to take pride in disagreeing with the orthodox teachings of the Church and who present their own opinions which are at variance with the revealed truth. Some may be partially innocent in the matter; others are feeding their own egotism; and some seem to be deliberate. Men may think as they please, but they have no right to impose upon others their unorthodox views. Such persons should realize that their own souls are in jeopardy. The Lord said to us through the Prophet Joseph: [D&C 42:12–14].
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf:
“May I remind you that God does not need you to “sell” the restored gospel or the Church of Jesus Christ.
He simply expects you not to hide it under a bushel.”
- (Your Great Adventure)
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/generalconference/2019/10/43uchtdorf?lang=eng
President Brigham Young:
“A false principle, a false theory, whether in mechanism or philosophy, requires much argument and superior talent to sustain it, but when the truth is presented it commends itself to the understanding of the people so readily that it requires no great amount of learning to substantiate it, nor much skill to declare it to the honest who want truth, and it remains firm and sound.”
-(delivered in the New Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday Afternoon, May 6, 1877, after Addresses by Elders Orson Pratt and Geo. Q. Cannon)
Ezra Taft Benson:
“Sometimes we hear someone refer to a division in the Church. In reality, the Church is not divided. It simply means that there are some who, for the time being at least, are members of the Church but not in harmony with it. These people have a temporary membership and influence in the Church; but unless they repent, they will be missing when the final membership records are recorded.
It is well that our people understand this principle, so they will not be misled by those apostates within the Church who have not yet repented or been cut off. But there is a cleansing coming. The Lord says that his vengeance shall be poured out "upon the inhabitants of the earth . . . And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord; First among those among you, saith the Lord, who have professed to know my name and have not known me" D&C 112:24-26 I look forward to that cleansing; its need within the Church is becoming increasingly apparent.
- (1969 GC "To the humble followers of Christ")
President Joseph Fielding Smith:
"We have the right to the guidance of the Holy Ghost, but we cannot have that guidance, if we wilfully refuse to consider the revelations that have been given to help us to understand and to guide us in the light and truth of the everlasting gospel. We cannot hope to have that guidance when we refuse to consider these great revelations which mean so much to us both temporally and spiritually.(wilfully refusing to do our own study, but rather passively listening to CFM youtubers)
Now if we find ourselves in this condition of unbelief or unwillingness to seek for the light and the knowledge which the Lord has placed within our reach, then we are liable or in danger of being deceived by evil spirits, the doctrines of devils, and the teachings of men. And when these false influences are presented before us, we will not have the distinguishing understanding by which we can segregate them and know that they are not of the Lord. And so we may become prey unto the ungodly, to the vicious, to the cunning, to the craftiness of men.”
- (Doctrines of Salvation, p.43)
2 Nephi 28:14. “Taught by the Precepts of Men”
“Yes, within the Church today there are tares among the wheat and wolves within the flock. As President Clark stated, ‘The ravening wolves are amongst us, from our own membership, and they, more than any others, are clothed in sheep’s clothing because they wear the habiliments of the priesthood. . . . We should be careful of them. . . .’ (Conference Report, April 1949, p. 163.)
“The wolves amongst our flock are more numerous and devious today than when President Clark made this statement. . . .
“Not only are there apostates within our midst, but there are also apostate doctrines that are sometimes taught in our classes and from our pulpits and that appear in our publications. And these apostate precepts of men cause our people to stumble. . . .
“Christ taught that we should be in the world but not of it. Yet there are some in our midst who are not so much concerned about taking the gospel into the world as they are about bringing worldliness into the gospel. They want us to be in the world and of it. They want us to be popular with the worldly even though a prophet has said that this is impossible, for all hell would then want to join us.
“Through their own reasoning and a few misapplied scriptures, they try to sell us the precepts and philosophies of men. They do not feel the Church is progressive enough” (Conference Report, Apr. 1969, p. 11).
- Student Manual
Ezra Taft Benson:
“Now Satan is anxious to neutralize the inspired counsel of the Prophet and hence keep the priesthood off-balance, ineffective and inert in the fight for freedom. He does this through diverse means including the use of perverse reasoning....
Sometimes from behind the pulpit, in our classrooms, in our Council meetings and in our church publications we hear, read or witness things that do not square with the truth...
Now do not let this serve as an excuse for your own wrong-doing. The Lord is letting the wheat and the tares mature before he fully purges the Church. He is also testing you to see if you will be misled. The devil is trying to deceive the very elect.
As members of the Church we have some close quarters to pass through if we are to save our souls. As the Church gets larger some men have increasing responsibility and more and more duties must be delegated. We all have stewardships for which we must account to the Lord. Unfortunately some men who do not honor their stewardships may have an adverse affect on many people. Often the greater the man’s responsibility the more good or evil he can accomplish. The Lord usually gives a man a long enough rope and sufficient time to determine whether that man wants to pull himself into the presence of God or drop off somewhere below. There are some regrettable things being said and done by some people in the Church today.
As President Clark so well warned, ‘The ravening wolves are amongst us, from our own membership and they, more than any others, are clothed in sheep’s clothing because they wear the habiliments of the priesthood.... We should be careful of them.’”
- (Our Immediate Responsibility. BYU Devotional, October 25,
1966)
"Beware of those who speak and publish in opposition to God’s true prophets and who actively proselyte others with reckless disregard for the eternal well-being of those whom they seduce. Like Nehor and Korihor in the Book of Mormon, they rely on sophistry to deceive and entice others to their views. They “set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion”
- (October, 1999, Beware of those who speak and publish in opposition to God’s true prophets)
“Focusing on the needs of the students, a gospel teacher will never obscure their view of the Master by standing in the way or by shadowing the lesson with self-promotion or self-interest. This means that a gospel teacher must never indulge in priestcrafts, which are “that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world” (2 Ne. 26:29). A gospel teacher does not preach “to become popular” (Alma 1:3) or “for the sake of riches and honor” (Alma 1:16). He or she follows the marvelous Book of Mormon example in which “the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner” (Alma 1:26). Both will always look to the Master.
-(Gospel Teaching, October 1999)
Elder Bruce R. McConkie:
"No true latter-day Saint will ever take a stand that is in opposition to what the Lord has revealed to those who direct the affairs of his earthly kingdom. No Latter-day Saint who is true and faithful in all things will ever pursue a course, or espouse a cause, or publish an article or book that weakens or destroys faith. There is, in fact, no such thing as neutrality where the gospel is concerned."
- (The Caravan Moves On: Conference Oct 1984)
2 Timothy 4
3. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
2 Timothy 3
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Matthew 6
24 ¶ No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
What is mammon?
An Aramaic word meaning “riches,” personified in Matt. 6:24; Luke 16:9, 11, 13.
-Bible Dictionary
(F-9) Worship of the True God Must Be Complete and Wholehearted
A person’s god is the thing or being in which he trusts and which he believes has the greatest power. It is the thing to which he looks for whatever salvation he believes is available. All other beliefs and actions are affected by that belief or object of his worship. When this idea is fully grasped one can understand why the Lord would issue an edict to destroy all the people and their possessions in an idolatrous city. Not to destroy their goods would be to demonstrate a lack of faith that the Lord would provide. Similarly, if a Latter-day Saint will not tithe, is it not because he centers his trust in worldly things and the system that produces them instead of in the providence of the Lord? In that sense, then, the things of the world become a god to him, for he trusts more in them than in God’s power. Paul said, “Covetousness … is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5) and a “covetous man … is an idolater” (Ephesians 5:5). Is not the failure to pay tithing a form of covetousness? Those who do not pay tithing would likely be shocked to think they were guilty of idolatry just as the ancient Israelites were guilty of idolatry. The form differs, but the sin is the same.
Often modern prophets have warned against making idols of money, automobiles, houses, and other material objects (see Reading 11-4 for President Spencer W. Kimball’s statement on modern idolatry). The worship of these things, of course, is symptomatic of the trust some have in natural law instead of God and His laws. They see the world as a place where the creature fares according to his genius (see Alma 30:17). Hence, they look upon all they gain as their own, not as the Lord’s. They forget that they are only stewards of the Lord’s goods.
👉 A Zion people can come into being only through obedience to the gospel, commencing with a true knowledge of the true God. There cannot be any compromise. You cannot serve God and mammon (see Luke 16:13)👈. True worship, like liberty, is not divisible. You cannot get away with a little idolatry; once started, the destruction follows unless sincere repentance occurs (see Exodus 34:10–17; Deuteronomy 7; Joshua 23:6–16; 1 Kings 9:9; 2 Kings 17:7–23; Psalm 106:34–43; Jeremiah 16:11–21; John 2:11–23).
When the Lord put a blessing and a cursing upon the children of Israel and their land, the conditions were very strict (see Deuteronomy 28; Leviticus 26). The Israelites failed because they would not put their complete trust in their one true God. So they were delivered up to the consequences of trying to love both the world and the Lord at the same time.
-Old Testament Institute Student Manual Genesis-2 Samuel
Luke 16:13–18. Context for the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
Luke 16:13–18 provides the context that led the Savior to teach the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. When Jesus taught the doctrine that you cannot serve God and mammon—meaning worldly riches or gain—this angered the Pharisees, “who were covetous,” and “they derided him.” The Savior then told them that they were justifying their actions but that God knew the intent of their hearts. (See Luke 16:13–15.) The Joseph Smith Translation expands upon Luke 16:16–18, making clear that in the parable Jesus taught to the Pharisees, he was comparing the rich man to them and teaching them what lay in their future if they continued to pervert the right way...
-New Testament Institute Student Manual
“The truth is that we are judged by the means we employ and not by the ends we may hope to obtain. It will do us little good at the last day to respond to the Great Judge, “I know I was not all I could have been, but my heart was in the right place.
In fact, there is danger in focusing merely on ends. To some who did, the Savior said:
Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name have cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works?
“And then will I profess unto them: I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” 3 Ne. 14:22–23
The war in heaven was essentially about the means by which the plan of salvation would be implemented. It forever established the principle that even for the greatest of all ends, eternal life, the means are critical. It should be obvious to all thinking Latter-day Saints that the wrong means can never attain that objective.
The danger in thinking that the end justifies the means lies in making a judgment we have no right to make. Who are we to say that the Lord will pardon wickedness done to attain a perceived “greater good.” Even if the goal is good, it would be a personal calamity to look beyond the mark and fail to repent of the wrong we do along the way."
- (April 1991, Repentance)
John Taylor:
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied [p. 22a]in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (Matt. 7:22)
“And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matt. 7:23 Or in other words, Depart from me, I never approved of you. Who, my brethren and sisters, do you think these Scriptures refer to? Some will say to the Gentiles; but I have quite another opinion about it. There are men before me today who have prophesied in the name of God, who have cast out devils in the name of God, who have healed the sick in the name of God, and done many wonderful works in the name of God; but they are not keeping his commandments, nor magnifying their priesthood; they are tampering with sacred things, and God will hold them to an account for it; and if they expect they can serve mammon, the world and the devil, at the same time, (Matt. 6:24 Luke 16:13) they are making a grand mistake.. God will say to them, “I never knew you.” (Matt. 7:23) Now I shall be there, and you will be there; and I warn you, in the name of Jesus, to repent of your sins, and humble yourselves, and from henceforth magnify your priesthood and honor your God.
- An Important Age JD 20:22a
2 Nephi 10
3 Wherefore, as I said unto you, it must needs be expedient that Christ—for in the last night the angel spake unto me that this should be his name—should come among the Jews, among those who are the more wicked part of the world; and they shall crucify him—for thus it behooveth our God, and there is none other nation on earth that would crucify their God.
4 For should the mighty miracles be wrought among other nations they would repent, and know that he be their God.
5 But because of priestcrafts and iniquities, they at Jerusalem will stiffen their necks against him, that he be crucified.
Dallin H. Oaks:
“The Book of Mormon applies this principle to those who seem to be serving the Lord but do so with a hidden motive to gain personal advantage rather than to further the work of the Lord: "Priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion" (2 Nephi 26:29; see also Alma 1:16).”
Priestcraft is the sin committed by the combination of a good act—such as preaching or teaching the gospel—and a bad motive. The act may be good and visible, but the sin is in the motive. On earth, the wrong motive may be known only to the actor, but in heaven it is always known to God.”
The sin of priestcraft is a grievous one. Time after time the Lord has condemned those who appear to men to be his servants, but who, though they draw near to him with their lips, have removed their hearts far from him. This description of those who have no true motive to serve the Lord appears in Isaiah (29:13), in Matthew (15:8), in 2 Nephi (27:25), and in Joseph Smith's History (JSH 1:19). In modern as in ancient times, those who appear to be servants of the Lord and present themselves to labor in his vineyard are subject to the prophetic principle: "The laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish" (2 Nephi 26:31).
The prototype of those who appear to serve God but actually have other motives is King Amaziah, who "did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart" (2 Chronicles 25:2).
During my lifetime, I have seen more than a few persons in positions of responsibility in various churches whose activities in the "work of the Lord" seemed to be motivated predominantly by personal interest. The commandment to avoid priestcraft is a vital challenge to religious persons in every age of time.
It is easier to have clean hands than to have a pure heart. It is easier to control our acts than to control our thoughts. The requirement that our good acts must be accompanied by good motives is subtle and difficult in practice.
The first temptation offered to the Savior was of this character. To "an hungred" Jesus, the tempter said, "If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread" (Matthew 4:2-3). "Why not?" Elder McConkie asks (The Mortal Messiah [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1979], 1:411). There was nothing wrong with the Lord's providing food by miraculous means. He had provided the children of Israel with manna in the wilderness. He would soon turn water into wine in Cana, and he would later multiply loaves and fishes so that thousands could eat.
The proposed act was appropriate, but in this circumstance the motive would have been wrong. As Elder McConkie explains, Lucifer challenged Jesus to perform a miracle for the purpose of proving his divinity, a fact that needed no proof (see The Mortal Messiah, 1:412). The performance of a miracle for that purpose would have been inappropriate, like the giving of a sign. Jesus declined the temptation, answering, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).
The principle that we must act for the right reasons has many illustrations in the scriptures.
- (“The Pure in Heart”, 1988)
What is priestcraft?
From Guide to the Scriptures:
“Men preaching and setting themselves up for a light to the world that they may get gain and praise of the world; they do not seek the welfare of Zion (2 Ne. 26:29).”
It's not Priestcraft to preach the gospel.
If we are preaching the gospel and setting ourselves up as a light (seeking for the honours of men) then that is pride.
When you are doing both of these THAT THEY MAY GET GAIN meaning for the purpose to get gain (money) is Priestcraft.
Get gain and praise of the world is Priestcraft
; semicolon- meaning 'that is' or 'therefore' they are not seeking the welfare of Zion (law of consecration).
“What are examples of priestcraft?”
This means making money out of teaching the gospel. It includes producing any gospel related product for a profit (gain) For example: selling any gospel related books, movies, music, lectures, art, monetizing youtube channels which 90% of the CFM youtubers do, and so on. Since home centred, church supported curriculum priestcraft has exploded; people setting themselves up as experts(lights to the world) enjoying the praise of men and getting paid.
“What!? All of that is priestcraft!? That can’t be true!”
Read the above definition again. If you are selling/creating/performing/producing gospel related content and you are trying to get gain, that is priestcraft. To be clear this is different to just covering cost, it is for the purpose of making money, getting gain or being supported by the people.
My Patriarchal blessing says; I bless you that you will understand and appreciate to the full what you should see and what you should read and what you should not see and read, and help others to understand this. This is exactly what I am doing here.
“Why is any of this important?”
Our goal is to be ready for Zion. Those who dwell in Zion will be living celestial law. Celestial law includes the law of consecration. That law does not include the pursuit of worldly gain. If we don’t get ready to redeem Zion, Zion will never come, and the earth will be utterly wasted at His(the Savior's) second coming.
The current culture finds members supporting bookshops with all sorts of merchandise, nick- nacks, expos and events. In 2023, 2 hours after President Nelson's talk in General Conference people had ‘Think Celestial’ t-shirts on their Etsy accounts- on the Sabbath no less. These policies and practices will have to change to prepare for Zion. The Church will need to be cleansed to rid ourselves of this wickedness. I have shown through these scriptures and quotes how serious priestcraft is to the detriment of Zion. Zion cannot be built but by the principles of celestial law. I invite all of us to not only NOT participate in priestcraft but also not support those who are, this means only read and view content given by authorized sources i.e. our keyholders.
D&C 105:1-10
Verily I say unto you who have assembled yourselves together that you may learn my will concerning the redemption of mine afflicted people—
2 Behold, I say unto you, were it not for the transgressions of my people, speaking concerning the church and not individuals, they might have been redeemed even now.
3 But behold, they have not learned to be obedient to the things which I required at their hands, but are full of all manner of evil, and do not impart of their substance, as becometh saints, to the poor and afflicted among them;
4 And are not united according to the union required by the law of the celestial kingdom;
5 And Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom; otherwise I cannot receive her unto myself.
6 And my people must needs be chastened until they learn obedience, if it must needs be, by the things which they suffer.
7 I speak not concerning those who are appointed to lead my people, who are the first elders of my church, for they are not all under this condemnation;
8 But I speak concerning my churches abroad—there are many who will say: Where is their God? Behold, he will deliver them in time of trouble, otherwise we will not go up unto Zion, and will keep our moneys.
9 Therefore, in consequence of the transgressions of my people, it is expedient in me that mine elders should wait for a little season for the redemption of Zion—
10 That they themselves may be prepared, and that my people may be taught more perfectly, and have experience, and know more perfectly concerning their duty, and the things which I require at their hands.
2 Nephi 26:29-31
29 He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion.
30 Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing; wherefore, the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have charity, which charity is love. And except they should have charity they were nothing. Wherefore, if they should have charity they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish.
31 But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish.
Moroni 7:
43 And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart.
44 If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.
45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—
47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.
48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.
Mormon 8:35-41
35 Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.
36 And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches(units), yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.
37 For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches(see Pres Nelson leadership instruction below), more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.
38 O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? 👉Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world? 👈
39 Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?
40 Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before the Lord, and also the blood of their fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground, for vengeance upon your heads?
41 Behold, the sword of vengeance hangeth over you; and the time soon cometh that he avengeth the blood of the saints upon you, for he will not suffer their cries any longer.
“Too many families and leaders are more focused on mission calls and wedding festivities than on the sacred covenants of the endowment and sealing ordinances. Too many people focus on the physical beauty of the temple and its furnishings rather than on the covenants that patrons enter into for themselves and their ancestors, the ordinances received, and the spiritual strengthening that occurs in the temple. It is incumbent upon us that we do much more to help our people understand the power of covenants.” (Pres Nelson, April 2024 General Conference Leadership Instruction)
Elder Jack N Gerard:
“Our focus is on the Savior, and we are careful to avoid actions that may be perceived as serving our own interests, benefiting our family, or favoring someone at the expense of another. We go out of our way to avoid any perception that our actions may be influenced by the honors of men, to receive personal recognition, generate more likes, be quoted or published.”
-Integrity A Christlike Attribute, April 2024
(11-8) Micah 3:4–12. What Did Micah Mean by the “Prophets Who Make My People Err”?
“Continually encountered throughout the Old Testament are true and false prophets. The true prophets speak the word of God; the false prophets speak the pleasant but often untrue things that people like to hear. Sperry wrote: It seems that in the generation of Amos and Micah the leaders of Israel—tyrants would be a better name—used professional prophets and seers to cloak their misdeeds. Religion, unfortunately, lends itself, or rather its cloak, very easily to the uses of the hypocrite. So the rich and unscrupulous leaders of Israel found it easy—for a price—to hire professional religionists to cover their actions by flattery and falsehood. The hireling prophet depended upon his rich clients for a living. He could not, therefore, be independent in his thinking and in his judgment. He was high-pressured into siding with the rich, and consequently shut his eyes to the real conditions among the people. Naturally he could not attack the sins of the day that made it possible for his clients to exploit Israel’s common people.” (Message of the Twelve Prophets, pp. 116–17.)
The hireling Prophet spoke smooth words so as not to upset his audience because he relied on their payment (subscriptions/viewers).
How can we know if a youtube channel is monetised?
It's a process where they actually have to apply for monetisation, then every advertisement, subscription, view, like and comment results in payment by YouTube. Advertisement revenue for LDS Youtubers is unbelievable. Can we therefore trust they are not preparing content for the sole purpose of attracting customers and views? Too often they are diluting doctrine to make it more palatable and giving their own opinions.
Be aware! Recently I was devastated to observe a popular youtuber, expert historian and employee of the church education system dispute Article of Faith Ten and deny that Zion will ever exist.
I personally refuse to participate in listening and feasting on content which is not using authorised sources whether they are monetised or not.
The Holy Ghost can only testify to undiluted truth, pure doctrine, let's make sure none of us are taking short cuts. Passive learning does not yield the same results as active learning.
“As we teach, testify, answer questions, and help friends to learn for themselves, we have a sacred responsibility to maintain the purity of gospel doctrine and principles. 👉All of us should avoid speculating about subjects on which little or nothing has been revealed, perpetuating unsubstantiated claims and rumors, and substituting personal opinions and experiences for the word of God.👈 We individually should pay the price to learn and understand the doctrine and principles for ourselves by the power of the Holy Ghost: we must “own it!”
“Do your own study, do not rely on others to do the work for you! “The answer to each of your challenges is to increase your faith. That takes work. Lazy learners and lax disciples will always struggle to muster even a particle of faith.” (Nelson, 2021)
“We can also learn truth through other trustworthy sources. However, sincere seekers of truth should be wary of unreliable sources of information. We live in a time when many “call evil good, and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20). Satan is the father of lies and seeks to distort truth and persuade us to turn away from the Lord and His appointed servants. As we turn to the Lord’s divinely appointed sources for answers and direction, we can be blessed to discern between truth and error. Learning to recognize and avoid unreliable sources can protect us from misinformation and from those who seek to destroy faith.”
- Doctrinal Mastery Core Document, Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge
This excerpt is taken from President Holland's Leadership training from Oct 2024 General Conference. Here he is speaking to the leaders of the Church.
Beware of any appearance of impropriety.
We must be scrupulously, impeccably honest and upright in everything we do, publicly and privately. “Do what is right; let the consequence follow.”
We should not engage in any activity that creates a conflict of interest with our Church responsibilities. We should not use our Church position for personal or family gain.
Now with this in mind I find it very interesting about what he teaches in the paragraph just before this one.
Become proficient in your knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Master the Lord’s revelations. We should take our knowledge of the scriptures far beyond what we learned in seminary or on a mission.
We are blessed with a wealth of resources to increase our gospel knowledge. Examples include the Teachings of Presidents of the Church series, the General Handbook, the four volumes of Saints, Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and Come, Follow Me.”
President Holland is clearly teaching that we should be mastering the scriptures and taking our knowledge further, and there is absolutely no excuse for getting personal or family gain from that knowledge or from our callings or positions in the church. It’s wrong, it’s dishonest and is taking what has been given freely to us and getting gain from it.
2 Nephi 2
29 He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion.
“Down with that of priestcraft, and let all the people say Amen! that the blood of our fathers may not cry from the ground against us. Sacred is the memory of that blood which bought for us our liberty.” (TPJS Pg 117.)
Too many church members are converted to priestcrafters rather than to the standard works. They are called standard works because they set the standard. Let us all study from the best books ie authorised sources given to us by keyholders. After the scriptures, the student manuals are an excellent underused and underrated resource.
D&C 88: 118
And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.
"Seek guidance from voices you can trust—from prophets, seers, and revelators and from the whisperings of the Holy Ghost, who “will show unto you all things what ye should do.” Please do the spiritual work to increase your capacity to receive personal revelation."
(Think Celstial, Nelson Oct 2023)
What are the “best books” in which we find the words and teachings of prophets, seers & revelators?
Book of Mormon
Doctrine and Covenants
Pearl of Great Price
New Testament (JST)
Old Testament (JST)
General Conference Addresses
Church handbook
Institute Student Manuals
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith
Lectures on Faith
Journal of Discourses
—Matthew 1:37. “Whoso Treasureth Up My Word, Shall Not Be Deceived”
From the Savior’s words, it is evident that placing a high priority on the word of God will be critical in overcoming the deceptions of the last days. Commenting on this scripture passage, Elder Bruce R. McConkie discussed what it means to treasure up the Lord’s word: “It is not sufficient merely to know what the scripture says. One must treasure it up, meaning take it into his possession so affirmatively that it becomes a part of his very being; as a consequence, … one actually receives the companionship of the Spirit” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:662). President Harold B. Lee noted that 👉some Church members seek information from unreliable sources concerning the signs that will precede the Second Coming.👈 He specifically recommended that Church members study Matthew 24; Joseph Smith—Matthew; and Doctrine and Covenants sections 38, 45, 101, and 133. President Lee then stated: “These are some of the writings with which you should concern yourselves, rather than commentaries that may come from those whose information may not be the most reliable and whose motives may be subject to question” (“Admonitions for the Priesthood of God,” Ensign, Jan. 1973, 106).
- LDS NT Student Manual
We aren’t supposed to rely on our own thoughts, feelings and reasoning when it comes to the Doctrine of Christ. We learn by gaining knowledge from the best books, written by holy men of God and as we follow and obey their counsel by exercising Faith in Jesus Christ, we truly come to know the Doctrine. (For a more comprehensive breakdown of this go to https://landingzion.blogspot.com/2023/10/spiritual-survival-in-2023.html?m=1)
Real knowledge of God doesn’t come from study alone but also by action.
John 7
16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
Handy website to learn who is monetizing their channel
https://isthischannelmonetized.com/
Youtubers monetizing or selling the gospel for gain...
Zion or Bust!- No
Unshaken- Yes
Book of Mormon Central- No
Thoughtful Faith- Yes
Don't Miss This- Yes
Stories of the Restoration- Yes
Watcher Palmer- Yes
Talking Scriptures - Yes
Jasmin Rappleye - Yes
Rise Zion - Yes
Hannah Stoddard - Yes
Kelly Smith - Yes
Faith Matters Foundation -Yes
Hank Smith -Yes
John Bytheway -Yes
Church History Matters -Yes
Saints Unscripted -Yes
CWIC Show -Yes
True Millenial -Yes
There are more constantly popping up, while YouTube don't allow content creators to monetise until they have 1000 subscribers, many are practising priestcraft through subscriptions and other forms of gaining financially.
Book of Mormon Central advertise they are a non profit, I think they must be aware of priestcraft, although I have observed they rely too heavily on unreliable sources and opinions(scholars, historians etc over key holders) so I dont view their channel.
The Church do NOT monetize any of their channels!
1 Nephi 22:10-28
10 And I would, my brethren, that ye should know that all the kindreds of the earth cannot be blessed unless he shall make bare his arm in the eyes of the nations.
11 Wherefore, the Lord God will proceed to make bare his arm in the eyes of all the nations, in bringing about his covenants and his gospel unto those who are of the house of Israel.
12 Wherefore, he will bring them again out of captivity, and they shall be gathered together to the lands of their inheritance; and they shall be brought out of obscurity and out of darkness; and they shall know that the Lord is their Savior and their Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel.
13 And the blood of that great and abominable church, which is the whore of all the earth, shall turn upon their own heads; for they shall war among themselves, and the sword of their own hands shall fall upon their own heads, and they shall be drunken with their own blood.
14 And every nation which shall war against thee, O house of Israel, shall be turned one against another, and they shall fall into the pit which they digged to ensnare the people of the Lord. And all that fight against Zion shall be destroyed, and that great whore, who hath perverted the right ways of the Lord, yea, that great and abominable church, shall tumble to the dust and great shall be the fall of it.
15 For behold, saith the prophet, the time cometh speedily that Satan shall have no more power over the hearts of the children of men; for the day soon cometh that all the proud and they who do wickedly shall be as stubble; and the day cometh that they must be burned.
16 For the time soon cometh that the fulness of the wrath of God shall be poured out upon all the children of men; for he will not suffer that the wicked shall destroy the righteous.
17 Wherefore, he will preserve the righteous by his power, even if it so be that the fulness of his wrath must come, and the righteous be preserved, even unto the destruction of their enemies by fire. Wherefore, the righteous need not fear; for thus saith the prophet, they shall be saved, even if it so be as by fire.
18 Behold, my brethren, I say unto you, that these things must shortly come; yea, even blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke must come; and it must needs be upon the face of this earth; and it cometh unto men according to the flesh if it so be that they will harden their hearts against the Holy One of Israel.
19 For behold, the righteous shall not perish; for the time surely must come that all they who fight against Zion shall be cut off.
20 And the Lord will surely prepare a way for his people, unto the fulfilling of the words of Moses, which he spake, saying: A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass that all those who will not hear that prophet shall be cut off from among the people.
21 And now I, Nephi, declare unto you, that this prophet of whom Moses spake was the Holy One of Israel; wherefore, he shall execute judgment in righteousness.
22 And the righteous need not fear, for they are those who shall not be confounded. But it is the kingdom of the devil, which shall be built up among the children of men, which kingdom is established among them which are in the flesh—
23 👉For the time speedily shall come that all churches which are built up to get gain, and all those who are built up to get power over the flesh, and those who are built up to become popular in the eyes of the world, and those who seek the lusts of the flesh and the things of the world, and to do all manner of iniquity; yea, in fine, all those who belong to the kingdom of the devil are they who need fear, and tremble, and quake; they are those who must be brought low in the dust; they are those who must be consumed as stubble; and this is according to the words of the prophet. 👈
24 And the time cometh speedily that the righteous must be led up as calves of the stall, and the Holy One of Israel must reign in dominion, and might, and power, and great glory.
25 And he gathereth his children from the four quarters of the earth; and he numbereth his sheep, and they know him; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd; and he shall feed his sheep, and in him they shall find pasture.
26 And because of the righteousness of his people, Satan has no power; wherefore, he cannot be loosed for the space of many years; for he hath no power over the hearts of the people, for they dwell in righteousness, and the Holy One of Israel reigneth.
27 And now behold, I, Nephi, say unto you that all these things must come according to the flesh.
28 But, behold, all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people shall dwell safely in the Holy One of Israel if it so be that they will repent. (For a better understanding of the word 'churches' see Mosiah 25:18-25)
“Few men on earth, either in or out of the Church, have caught the vision of what the Book of Mormon is all about.”
- Elder Bruce R. McConkie (Millennial Messiah p. 159)
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