If you want to disorientate an enemy may I recommend a smoke screen. When a smoke bomb is thrown into a battle its main aim is to confuse you. You lose sight of your goal. You become disorientated.
I want to share three examples from Church history where smoke screens caused some to lose their spiritual eyes.
Kirtland
A Brand new temple of the Lord had been built. Amazing spiritual experiences followed. The Saviour appeared, along with Moses, Elias and others. Keys are restored. Hearts are healed.
Then the rot sets in. Things were not going the way some people thought they should. There were disagreements over leadership, and over financial concerns.
At one court case over 40 bore false witness against Joseph – yet he was acquitted. Even some of the apostles, (Thomas Marsh, Orson Hyde) started murmuring / accusing. They took action against the church and their signed statement led to the Battle of the Crooked River in which apostle David Patten is murdered.
Then Colonel George Hinkel (a Mormon) betrayed Joseph & other church leaders who are put in Liberty Jail for months.
Despite the opposition there were the faithful who saw through the smoke clouds and could see the restored gospel for what it was. The battles and accusations and apostasy, church leaders in jail – were all smoke screens. The church was still true and the faithful members knew that… and kept faithfully serving even though the odds seemed against them.
Nauvoo
The same thing happens. A beautiful city rose from the swamp. Another beautiful temple was built. Marvellous spiritual experiences followed.
And then the rot sets in. Once again the discouraged and disgruntled members cause the city to fall. Apostates like Samuel Bennett, William Law, the Higbees etc. started murmuring. It was their words that fired up the non-mormons to action.
The smoke screen of murders, of violence, of unjustice, and gossip, made many fall. But, still the faithful could see through the murkiness. They stayed true, and made the trek west.
Early church days in Britain…
My parents met for Sunday meetings in a very basic Football Supporters Club in Canterbury. They had to sweep the empty beer cans and cigarette ends from the floor to make the room acceptable for worship. Similar scenes would be repeated around the country in grim rented accommodation.
Some would come into those meeting places and see small branches of people, in shabby meeting rooms. For some it was just too much of a smokescreen. They would say “How can this be the restored gospel?” Just down the road they could step into a beautiful cathedral. Stunning stained glass, excellent choirs, established organisation, large congregations. They lost sight of what the restored gospel message really was, and fell away.
But others could see through the smokescreen. The size of the congregation was not relevant. The beauty of the building was not relevant. What was relevant was the purity of the message.
So….What’s my point?
We need to make sure smokescreens do not distract or tarnish our work.
We need to be the faithful who can see through the smoke clouds and see our service for what it is.
We are called upon to make an environment of love and support. We are called to serve in whatever capacity we are called upon. We are called to have a positive and loving attitude for every person, for every ordinance.
It matters not where I serve but how.
Whatever the number, whatever the assignment I must push away the smokescreens and see the joy of my calling, the privilege of service, the thrill of being engaged in this work.
A murmuring heart, and a negative voice have no place here. Even though the odds seem against us we have to create a haven, a refuge, and that is not possible if we perform our roles with a heavy heart.
A scripture to ponder…
I love what Joseph wrote in Liberty Jail recorded in section 122. I’d encourage you to read the whole section, but just a few phrases he shares are:
v. 5 If thou are called to pass through tribulation…
v. 6 If thou are accused with all manner of false accusations…
v. 7 If thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee…..if the very jaws of hell should gape open… all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good..There are no mobs, no murderers, no pits, no death sentences (not that I’m aware of anyway), but, all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.
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