Once in awhile the spirit leads me to a verse of scripture that is sometimes mis-characterized in culture. This usually happens when we take a catchy part of a verse and leave the rest alone, and then we pass it along through the telephone game, and we all know how that ends. When we do this we lose context, and can even miss out on important messages from the Lord.
I have a close friend in the public eye who shares a gospel focused message and is often accused of priesthcraft, and of
setting themselves up for a light. This frequently quoted and incomplete phrase comes from
2 Ne. 26: 29 which says:
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.
It then becomes important when we think someone has set themselves up for a light to consider the next three points in the verse before casting judgement:
Are they doing it for gain?
Learning whether someone is earning money for their efforts should be pretty easy to prove. But there is more to defining gain than the exchange of currency.
It used to bother me when someone used their god-given gifts to receive monetary compensation. Money always has an ironic way of cheapening sincere acts of kindness. But I’ve come to see the problem is in the way we value money, not the way it is used.
Consider the talented musician who teaches piano and receives payment for their God-given gifts. Or the gift of being a teacher of science, or – let’s face it, nearly all the professions in the world involve gifted people who receive compensation for it. There are even paid ecclesiastical positions, and commercial ventures by General church leaders, selling books for example (hardly a profitable venture in my experience). I do not consider any of these priestcraft.
In our monetary system it is difficult to judge where the lines are between making a living or recuperating lost costs in some cases, and getting gain. I try to leave judgement out of it, at least until that obvious point when the person drives away in a red ferari from their efforts for example (not that there is anything inherently wrong with sweet cars).
Are they doing it for praise?
Here it is important to understand that just because a person receives praise, doesn’t mean they are seeking it. It can be hard to judge, but again, there becomes a point where it is obvious, and until then I’m inclined to just let the Lord be the judge of their praise seeking interests, and give them the benefit of the doubt that they are genuinely trying to do good.
Are they seeking the welfare of Zion?
With this last point I think it is usually self evident if the person seeks their own good verses the welfare of Zion, but we will never be a perfect judge of what is in the person’s heart and if they are truly working toward the establishment of Zion. The Savior suggested that we would know by examining their fruits. A good tree brings forth good fruit. A bad tree – bad fruit. Bitter fountain, bitter water, etc.
I feel it is good to ask questions and try to discern the motives of those who teach. While there are unquestionably those with impure motives, we should not be quick to assume anyone who teaches does it to
set themselves up for a light unto the world. I know for myself there really are people who believe in the cause of Zion, and will do all in their power to help establish it. I believe they are among the
Noble and Great ones described by Abraham (
Abraham 3:22).
The Savior taught that
we are the light of the world and:
A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:14-15).
Years ago I began intensely researching the gospel and found that documenting my research was a useful way to ask more questions and receive more doctrinal answers. Elder Bednar then conveniently came along with his famous address on using social media to “Sweep the earth with a flood“. He said:
I exhort you to sweep the earth with messages filled with righteousness and truth—messages that are authentic, edifying, and praiseworthy—and literally to sweep the earth as with a flood. – Elder David A. Bednar.
I prayerfully took his challenge to the Lord if I could share my research and thoughts with the world, and then this blog came to be. Only the Holy Spirit can convince others of my motives, but I can say that I don’t monetize my blog; while I do gratefully receive praise on occasion I don’t seek it; and lastly, I am a believer in the welfare of Zion. And for the record, I know the same to be true of my public figure friend.
Even if I had no audience in the world, I often feel a divine smile of approval and even a tear of gratitude from my Loving Heavenly Father who recognizes my pure desire to receive and teach truth, and that is more than enough.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything