False Teachers

I chose to study about false teachers because I think there are many who proclaim to teach how to get to peace and truth.  I watched this movie today - "Pray, Eat, Love"  and while I enjoyed some of the ideas and themes this lady traveled around the world trying to find happiness.  The video started because this palm reader and healer told her she would have two marriages and she decided she would divorce her husband.  She listened to this "prophesy" and left her husband.  This was a false teacher telling her the wrong way to happiness.  In the end she listened to him again and decided to marry a new gentleman based on his advice.  She said if you take a journey you should follow all things as a sign or a clue as to where you should go.  But the only problem in that is that many forces are trying to lead you the wrong way.  I was so grateful that I have the revelations and true and real prophets and also personal revelation.  I don't have to go searching for it in the wrong places.  So on the mood of that movie I would like to learn about teachers today!

Characteristics of False Teachers 
Peter gave a list of characteristics of false teachers in 2 Peter 2:1-19

1. Deny the Lord (v.1)
2. Speak evil of the ways of truth, or try to make the way of truth sound bad (v.2)
3. Make money off of you (v.3)
4. Speak evil of things they don't understand, things of the Lord (v.12)
5. Commit adultery and cannot cease from sin (v. 14)
6. Pleasure in riot or being loud and contentious (v. 13)
7. Covetous (v 14)
8. Will speak pleasing things to you that feed your vanity and make you feel okay about your unrighteousness (v18)
9. Promise liberty and freedom, but are in bondage to their inequity (v. 19)

These scriptures - with the help of the Holy Ghost- can help us recognize false teachers.  It is nice because it gives us some specific signs of a false teacher.  One that really is a counterfeit of repentance and peace is telling us that what we do is okay.  This makes us feel okay (for a short time) about our sins and may make us feel as if we are at peace. If at any time someone gives you a reason that your sins are okay you know they speak falsehood.  You will never feel true happiness and peace until that sin repented of and wiped clean by the power of the atonement of Jesus Christ. If you read these scriptures with the Holy Ghost it may lead you to know if you have false teacher in your life. You can just know that if anyone does any of these things they are a false teacher.

Dangers of the pollution of the world
Some scriptures that talk about the dangers of the pollution of this world are 2 Peter 2:20-22 and D&C 82:3, 7.  I am including a link here but I am just going to talk about the dangers of returning to or going to the pollution or corruptions of the world after you have accepted Christ.  In 2 Peter it talks about how you are worse off as if you had never known about Christ if you reject him.  This is like learning about a better way to live and then turning away from it.  Knowing a truth and turning away.  Living a lie.  It uses the phrase "The dog is turned to his own vomit agin."  Why after knowing the way to peace, happiness, and eventual perfection you turn to your old ways!  In Doctrine and Covenants it says that to whom much is given much is required - So if you receive truth you are expected to follow it.  If you are given knowledge - You should follow it! If you are told something is wrong you know it's wrong and should be expected not to do it.  How would you feel if you told a child not to do something and they did it anyways as compared to a child who was not told.  The Lord also said that when we start to sin - even if we have repented of previous sins all sins return on our heads.  So you can't be guilty of just some sins if you continue sinning!

The trial of our faith is more precious than gold!!

     I love this principle! Although I find it so hard to remember when I am going through the trial of my faith.  I usually whine and cry and pray that it will be over soon! Many times I am told either by a blessing or a whispering of the spirit that the trial will not pass by more quickly but that I will not only be able to bear the trial but I will learn and be blessed because of it.  Usually I am able to pass through with the strength required and gain experience and confidence, more ready than before to tackle trials.  But like many things in life - You don't get to do what comes easily to you and you will get to grow more when you experience your next, and often harder trail.  It is amazing to know that even the hard things in our lives God is blessing us - He loves us so much it makes me feel like my heart will explode when I think about it!!

      So what I am going to do today is use some scriptures to answer questions that we often ask ourselves and are asked by others using some scriptures given to me by my New Testament teacher.  Well at least I am going to try to the best of my ability to answer the questions ;)

Life isn't fair - Why do I have so many trials?


This is hard for me to answer by myself because really I have had relatively few trials in my life, but gratefully there is one who has descended below all even Jesus Christ that has given us the answer to this question in the holy scriptures.  In 1 Peter 1:1-9  he say that our trials are even more precious than gold!  My commentary is in deep purple.  I didn't want it to hurt your eyes - but I hope you can see it well enough to know it's not from the scriptures.

1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the ^astrangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

 2^aElect according to the ^bforeknowledge of God the Father, through ^csanctification of the Spirit, unto ^dobedience and^esprinkling of the ^fblood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant ^amercy hath ^bbegotten us again unto a^clively ^dhope by the resurrection of ^eJesus Christ from the dead,

 4To an ^ainheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, - We are reminded that our inheritance and reward for being faithful is incorruptible, so even though you may lose things in this earth life what you have awaiting in heaven cannot be taken away.  Your family and eternal happiness. 

 5Who are kept by the ^apower of God through ^bfaith unto salvation ^cready to be revealed in the last time.

 6Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a ^aseason, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold ^btemptations: - We can rejoice knowing that our trials and temptations are only for a small season!!! 

 7That the ^atrial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the ^bappearing of Jesus Christ: - The trial of your faith, because you can keep what you learn, is much more precious that gold that will disappear at the end of your life. 

 8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye seehim not, yet ^abelieving, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

 9Receiving the ^aend of your ^bfaith, even the ^csalvation of your souls. - Endure to the end in your trials and you will receive salvation unto your souls - A much bigger and more worthwhile thing than the comforts of this world.  We are not sent on this earth to gain the things of this earth but are sent as a way to return to Heavenly Father after being tried and tempted.  Remember this is the purpose of life. 

Another scripture found on trials is in 1 Peter 4:12-19 

12Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery ^atrial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: - Trials happen to lots of people! 

 13But ^arejoice, inasmuch as ye are ^bpartakers of Christ’s^csufferings; that, when his glory shall be ^drevealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. You will have joy for what you suffer. 

 14If ye be ^areproached for the name of Christ, ^bhappy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

 15But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.

 16Yet if any man suffer as a ^aChristian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

 17For the time is come that ^ajudgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that^bobey not the gospel of God?

 18And if the ^arighteous scarcely be saved, where shall the^bungodly and the sinner appear?

 19Wherefore let them that suffer according to the ^awill of God commit the ^bkeeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

I am tired of being ridiculed by the people who do not keep the commandments. 

This is a trial - so when it comes to enduring trials these scriptures also apply.

A good scripture on this is found in 1 Peter 2:12, 15

12Having your conversation ^ahonest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by yourgood ^bworks, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 


Some may say things that are not true about you - saying you do evil.  But God will see your good works and will glorify you when you meet him again. 


15For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to^asilence the ^bignorance of foolish men:
Continue in the ways of the Lord and continue doing good works.  Ignore those who speak unfairly of you, and by your good works they will be put to silence.  This could happen literally- meaning that they see you are a good person after you endure, or others will not believe them because they know how you are.  Or this could be figuratively as you get lost in doing good you will no longer hear their evil words.  

Another scripture that addresses this - and well trials too as being spoken poorly of can be a trial - is found in 1 Peter 3:11-16

11Let him ^aeschew evil, and do good; let him seek ^bpeace, and^censue it. - Ignore evil and you will find peace in continuing doing good! 

 12For the ^aeyes of the Lord are over the ^brighteous, and his earsare open unto their ^cprayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do ^devil.  - God sees what you do that is good and he will hear you and bless you!

 13And who is he that will harm you, if ye be ^afollowers of that which is good? - Who can really harm you if the Lord is on your side because you do good?  They may do some earthy damages, but that is small in an eternal perspective. 

 14But and if ye ^asuffer for ^brighteousness’ sake, ^chappy are ye:and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; - Those who suffer for righteousness sake can be happy because you do so for Heavenly Father. 

 15But ^asanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give ^ban answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the^chope that is in you with ^dmeekness and ^efear:

 16Having a good ^aconscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good ^bconversation in Christ.  - Those who speak evil will be ashamed of what they do, for it is not good.