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XIV
Priestcraft
The Communist Proposal For State Control Of The Education Of All Children
The last of the ten points of the Communist Manifesto contains this provision: Free education for all children in public schools.
This innocent sounding concept may be more essential than any other for the successful establishment and operation of the Devil’s church. The use of government power to control what is taught in a nation—especially to the children—is perhaps the most effective means which exists for instituting and perpetuating falsehood.
Since government support and control of the education of children exists in nearly every country today, it may seem odd that this practice is advocated by the Communists as one of the ten most essential measures for changing a free enterprise system into a socialist dictatorship. There is no contrivance more useful for the establishment and maintenance of a dictatorship than that of thought control. If a government is to control the beliefs and attitudes of the citizens toward itself and the system of slavery to which they are subjected, it must control what the citizens are taught. The most effective means of doing this is by the imposition of a state religion, and so throughout history, political rulers have combined church and state for the purpose of seizing and perpetuating political control.
Perhaps the best known instances of the use of this church-state scheme are those of the not-so-holy Roman Empire and the various nations into which it disintegrated. The power of government was first used to imprison and kill the saints and leaders of Christ’s Church. Then Christianity was made a state religion with the government leadership and control being imposed and the doctrines and ordinances being corrupted almost beyond recognition. But the most abominable doctrine of all was that the police power of the state should be used to forcibly destroy freedom of religion, press, speech, and property rights. This was all done in the name of Christ’s religion of free agency.
Sensing the depth and power of religious conviction, political leaders cunningly used it for their own despotic ends. By combining church and state they added the force of religious prejudice steeped in ignorance to that of patriotic fervor, thus creating powerful support for themselves and the organizations through which they imposed servitude. Pretending to share the religious beliefs of their people, these tyrants demonstrated their zeal and maintained control over religious and political thinking by using the police power to physically suppress all religious denominations except the favored one. By taxation and outright confiscation, they supported the priestly class of the state church and financed the erection of state church buildings, proselyting, and “religious” instruction. By so doing, they bribed, seduced, and gained the cooperation of one of the most influential groups in the nation— the religious leaders and professional teachers who are in the most strategic position to impose thought control.
The Essential Evil Of Priestcraft Not Generally Understood
In some circles, the odious practice just described is known as “priest-craft” because of the cunning intrigue and connivance between priests and politicians to use the police power to perpetuate a politico-religious monopoly for their mutual advantage. Deep and lasting antagonisms have been stirred up against certain religious denominations because of the many honorable atrocities which have been committed by governments in the name of these religions. The persecution and murder of many thousands of “heretics” among such religious groups as the Huguenots, the Waldenses, The Albigenses, the Hussites, and the Jews is remembered with loathing, horror, and sometimes prejudicial hate.
But these feelings of outrage have ofttimes blinded those who hold them to the real evil of priestcraft. Its great wickedness does not lie in the fact that there are religions who teach false doctrines about God and the hereafter, but rather that the force of government is used to abolish freedom and impose a particular creed on the people with fire and sword. It is the prostitution of the power of government which is the essence of the evil.
Of course, if some religious denomination is teaching the doctrine that the police power should be used to financially support it while forcibly suppressing all others, then it is trying to establish the very evil spoken of. It is promoting the devil’s program to destroy free agency through the use of the force of government and such a doctrine should be exposed and opposed with all energy.
Communist Priestcraft The Most Wicked Of All
The Communists and other advocates of modern dictatorships have benefitted enormously from this misunderstanding about priestcraft. While loudly pointing out and protesting the evil of using the police power to subsidize and give a monopoly to a particular religious creed, they have overthrown the old order and in its place imposed the priestcraft of atheism, socialism, and materialism which is worse than any other form known. Instead of using government to finance and compel the worship of a Supreme Being, they use it to compel and subsidize the worship of the state and its evil leaders; rather than advocating that compulsion be used to satisfy spiritual needs, they advocate that it be used to satisfy material needs; in place of the doctrine that man is a child of God who is answerable to his Creator for his sins, they teach that he is merely an animal with no higher goal than to satisfy the lusts of the flesh; instead of imposing their abominable creed merely on adults on the Sabbath, they take the children from their parents at an early age and place them under the tutelage of a priestly class hired to corrupt their tender minds all throughout the week.
But whether priestcraft is enforced by communists or religionists, the central evil is the same: The power of government is used to abolish freedom and compel the people to finance their own enslavement by supporting teachers who are paid to deceive them into believing that the particular brand of priestcraft they are subsidizing is the only true religion. It is veritably true that there is no principle of the Communist Manifesto more essential to the success of Satan’s plan than that of socialized education. If all children can be forcibly taken from their homes where the Lord intended they be trained, and during the innocence of youth their unsuspecting and defenseless minds are indoctrinated with a belief in organic evolution, atheism, materialism, and socialism, the perpetuation of these satanic doctrines is systematized and imposed uniformly upon each succeeding generation.
This diabolical scheme to destroy belief in God and His plan of free agency and substitute therefor faith in the arm of flesh and Satan’s plan of slavery, is proving enormously effective in Communist nations. Before examining the effect of socialized education in the “non-communist” world, let us note some of the things the scriptures have said regarding priestcraft in prior dispensations and also what has been prophesied concerning its practice during this last dispensation.
Priestcraft Among The Nephites
Definition Of Priestcraft
It is seldom that the prophets have deemed it necessary to define a particular sin. Usually when a word is used to describe an evil act such as murder, adultery, lying, or robbery, the reader is aware of what is meant. But when the prophets use the word “priestcraft,” how many can determine when a particular act falls within the correct definition of the term? Apparently the Lord wanted the readers of the Book of Mormon to be able to recognize the sin when they saw it because He had his prophet Nephi define it by stating both what it covered and what it did not cover. It seems significant that the following definition was included among Nephi’s prophecies concerning us Gentiles during these latter days:
He [the Lord] 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.
Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing; wherefore, the Lord hath given a commandment that all men should have charity, which charity is love. And except they should have charity they were nothing. Wherefore, 41 they should have charity they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish.
But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for 41 they labor for money they shall perish. (2 Nephi 26:29-31)
According to this definition, if a person preaches or teaches for the sake of getting “gain and praise of the world,” he is guilty of priestcraft. On the other hand, if his purpose is the welfare of Zion, if he is in need, and if the people voluntarily give of their means for his support, there is nothing wrong in receiving aid.
The prophet Alma, who had once taught for hire as one of the wicked priests of king Noah, instructed his people concerning the compensation of priests in these words:
And he also commanded them that the priests whom he had ordained should labor with their own hands for their support.
And the priests were not to depend upon the people for their support…
And again Alma commanded that the people of the church should impart of their substance, to those priests that stood in need, yea, and to every needy, naked soul. (Mosiah 18:24-28)
These instructions accord with the distinction Nephi drew between those cases where a teacher should receive financial aid and where he should not.
The Priestcraft Of King Noah And His Priests
The Book of Mormon describes several cases of priestcraft among the Nephites and one among the Lamanites. Let us discuss some of them.
King Noah ruled over a relatively small portion of the Nephite nation. His father, Zeniff, had led this group from the land of Zarahemla back to the land of Nephi where their fathers had previously dwelt. Upon becoming king, Noah “put down all the priests that had been consecrated by his father, and consecrated new ones in their stead, such as were lifted up in the pride of their hearts.” (Mosiah 11:5)
In order to support this priestly class, their wives and their concubines, Noah imposed a 20% tax on his subjects:
Yea, and thus they were supported in their laziness, and in their idolatry, and in their whoredoms, by the taxes which king Noah had put upon his people,’ thus did the people labor exceedingly to support iniquity. (Mosiah 11:6)
Noah caused to be erected “many elegant and spacious buildings,” including a great palace, all of which were richly ornamented with precious metals and fine woodwork. Within the temple he built seats for his priests:
And the seats which were set apart for the high priests, which were above all the other seats, he did ornament with pure gold,’ and he caused a breast-work to be built before them, that they might rest their bodies and their arms upon while they should speak lying and vain words to his people. (Mosiah 11:11)
The leadership of the people having become corrupt, the Lord chose the righteous Abinadi from among the people to call them and their wicked leaders to repentance. So angered were these evil rulers at the accusations made against them that they burned him to death. Shortly after this, the calamities he prophesied occurred. Noah was put to death by fire, his priests barely escaping with their lives, and the balance of the people were either slain or enslaved by the Lamanites. After an extended period of suffering in bondage, the survivors repented and were miraculously delivered by the Lord.
The First Attempt To Establish Priestcraft In Zarahemla
During the very first year after the end of the reign of the kings and the institution of a government subject to majority vote, a man named Nehor came among the people preaching priestcraft. The record says:
And he 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 1:3)
As he was going about advocating this evil doctrine and trying to “establish a church after the manner of his preaching,” he encountered the venerable Gideon who “withstood him, admonishing him with the words of God.” (Alma 1:6,7) Now Gideon had lived in the land of Nephi under king Noah and had observed the practice of priestcraft first hand. He had lived under a system where taxes had been imposed to support it, and was one of those who had been forced to “labor exceedingly to support iniquity.” (Mosiah 11:6) In fact, Gideon had led an insurrection against the king and would have slain him had not a Lamanite invasion caused him to desist. It is small wonder that Gideon would rise in opposition to the attempt to establish this wicked doctrine in the land of Zarahemla.
Nehor was so incensed at Gideon’s criticism that he slew this righteous old man, and in consequence thereof was brought before Alma, the chief judge to be tried for the crime of murder. There he “pleaded for himself with much boldness,” apparently trying to justify his doctrine and the crime he had committed in its defense. But,
Alma said unto him: Behold, this is the first time that priestcraft has been introduced among this people. And behold, thou are 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 1:12)
In this passage, Alma points out that there are two kinds of priestcraft— the type which is enforced and the type which is not. Nehor was trying to establish the enforced type which, according to Alma, was so evil in its consequences that it would have caused the entire destruction of the people had they adopted it.
What did Alma mean by “enforced” priestcraft? All of the evidence indicates that he meant the enforcement of the practice by the police power of government. Nehor had advocated that,
every priest and teacher ought to become popular; and they ought not to labor with their own hands, but that they ought to be supported by the people. (Alma 1:3)
The enforcement of this system would require that taxes be imposed for the support of the priestly class just as Noah had done. The unenforced type would exist where the teachers and priests receive their pay from voluntary contributions.
In reality, there is only one way to enforce priestcraft and that is through the police power. Government has an exclusive monopoly on the use of force. Anyone who attempts to use compulsion outside its framework to support a movement as did Nehor is treated as a criminal and punished. He pled with Alma to approve of his attempt to enforce his doctrine, but of course Alma refused and had him executed. However,
this did not put and 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. (Alma 1:16)
It is submitted that enforced priestcraft is Satan’s most potent weapon for teaching and maintaining state slavery in a nation. However, as the above scripture indicates, the system is popular only among those who love the vain things of this world and are willing to teach false doctrines for the sake of riches and honor. Events proved that there were too many good people among the Nephites at this time to permit the adoption of enforced priest-craft, but the issue was not settled until many thousands of lives were lost in fratricidal conflict. At the outset the warfare was merely one of words:
But it come to pass that whosoever did not belong to the church of God began to persecute those that did belong to the church of God…
Yea, they did persecute them, and afflict them with all manner of words, and this because…they did impart the word of God, one with another, without money and without price. (Alma 1:19-20)
But some of the saints began to be proud and refused to tamely submit to these persecutions, therefore they
began to contend warmly with their adversaries, even unto blows; yea they would smite one another with their fists. (Alma 1:22)
Thus there commenced to be physical violence between the two factions. However, a more strict enforcement of the law brought a measure of peace:
nevertheless, the law was put in force upon all those who did transgress it, inasmuch as it was possible.
And it came to pass that by thus exercising the law upon them, every man suffering according to that which he had done, they became more still, and durst not commit any wickedness if it were known; therefore, there was much peace among the people of Nephi until the fifth year of the reign of judges. (Alma 1:32-33)
The Attempt Of The Amlicites To Establish Priestcraft
But the advocates of priestcraft refused to give up. And so under a new leader named Amlici, who was “very cunning” and wise as to the wisdom of the world, and who was “after the order of’ Nehor, (Alma 2:1) they undertook to gain political control through majority vote, and change the laws to suit their philosophy. Amlici was so successful in promoting his program that the people of God became very alarmed,
for they knew that according to their law that such things must be established by the voice of the people.
Therefore, if it were possible that Amlici should gain the voice of the people, he, being a wicked man, would deprive them of their rights and privileges of the church; for it was his intent to destroy the church of God. (Alma 2:3-4)
From this passage it is very plain that the followers of Amlici were undertaking to establish Satan’s system of enforced priestcraft. Upon gaining control of the police power, they intended to use it to exterminate all other religions except their own and compel the people to support only the priests and teachers in their church.
But after “much dispute and wonderful contention,” Amlici lost the election.
But still this Satan-inspired group refused to cease their efforts to impose priestcraft on the Nephite nation. Therefore, they appointed Amlici their king, banned themselves, and undertook to gain control of the Nephite government by bloodshed. In this they failed also, but only after two terrible battles. In the first encounter in which only Nephites and Amlicites were engaged, more than nineteen thousand perished. The defeated Amlicites then induced a huge Lamanite army to join them for the second conflict but were again defeated by the inspired Nephite troops. So many were slain this time that the Nephites did not count them. And so at the cost of many thousands of lives, the issue of enforced priestcraft was settled among the Nephites after only five years of self government.
It might seem strange that both the Amlicites and the Nephites would consider this matter so vital that they would sacrifice their lives rather than yield their positions. But let us emphasize the point that enforced priestcraft is the most essential part of Satan’s plan to impose state slavery upon a people. On the other hand, Alma had stated that “were priestcraft to be enforced among this people it would prove their entire destruction.” So the issue was joined and neither side would yield unless forced to do so. Satan made a shrewd thrust to infect the new government with this fatal disease right during its infancy while the people were inexperienced in self-rule, and he almost succeeded. But there were too many righteous people who took an interest in their political affairs.
Being aware of Alma’s prophecy which foretold their extinction if they prostituted their government as the Amlicites desired, the Nephites were willing to die rather than submit to it.
Priestcraft In The City Of Ammonihah
Perhaps to show the fulfillment of Alma’s prophecy and to give us gentiles fair warning as to what might happen to us if we enforce priestcraft, the Book of Mormon contains a rather detailed account of the utter destruction of the city of Ammonihah which adopted the practice into their laws. Alma, upon resigning his judgeship, went there in the course of his missionary labors to tell the people they would be destroyed unless they repented. He not only failed in his first attempt, but was bodily thrown out of the city. As he started for another field of labor, an angel appeared and told him to return and try again, warning him that the Ammonihahites were planning to destroy the liberty of all the Nephites:
For behold, they do study at this time that they may destroy the liberty of thy people, (for thus saith the Lord) which is contrary to the statutes, and judgments, and commandments which he has given unto his people. (Alma 8:17)
From this statement, along with other scriptures, it appears that the people of the city, having corrupted their own “statutes, and judgments, and commandments” with this evil practice, had plans to extend it throughout the Nephite nation. Amulek, an inhabitant of the city who had been converted by a vision and who joined Alma in his second missionary effort, preached to them and accused them of using their power of self-government to corrupt the laws:
Yea, well did Mosiah say, who was our last king, when he was about to deliver up the kingdom, having no one to confer it upon, causing that this people should be governed by their own voices—yea, well did he say that if the time should come…that...this people should fall into transgression, they would be ripe for destruction. (Alma 10:19)
An additional indication that the Ammonihahites had corrupted their laws is contained in this statement by Amulek:
And now behold, i say unto you, that the foundation of the destruction of this people is beginning to be laid by the unrighteousness of your lawyers and your judges. (Alma 10:27)
Other scriptures furnish evidence that the priestcraft practiced by the inhabitants of the city was of the most virulent type— “enforced priestcraft.” The chief judge “was after the order and faith of Nehor”; (Alma 14:16) the “many lawyers, and judges, and priests, and teachers,” who tormented Alma and Amulek in prison “were of the profession of Nehor”; (Alma 14:18) then after this great city was destroyed, it was called by the people the “Desolation of Nehors; for they were of the profession of Nehor, who were slain;…” (Alma 16:11) It will be remembered that Nehor had advocated that the priests and teachers should be supported by the people.
The free and uncompensated preaching of Alma and Amulek, and their warning against this evil system, threatened the livelihood of the paid teachers of the city and once again, as in the king Noah case, the hatred of the practitioners of priestcraft was so intense that they were willing to commit murder. The prophets had some success in their missionary efforts and so there were a few converts. But so wicked were the rulers that they drove the male converts from the city and then burned their wives and children to death along with their records.
Alma and Amulek, who had been tortured and held in prison many days without food, water, or clothing, would have been put to death but the Lord miraculously spared them by destroying their prison and all their tormentors who were within its walls. After their deliverance, the Lamanites invaded the Nephite lands and “every living soul of the Ammonihahites was destroyed and also their great city, which they said God could not destroy because of its greatness.” (Alma 16:9) In this manner was Alma’s prophecy concerning “enforced” priestcraft fulfilled to the letter. (see Alma 1:12)
Priestcraft Among The Lamanites
Another instance of priestcraft described by the Book of Mormon was practiced among the Lamanites by two groups of apostate Nephites called Amalekites and Amulonites. Little is known about the former group, but the Amulonites had at one time served as the wicked priests of king Noah and had learned this practice well. When they were ostracized from the Nephites they kidnapped some Lamanite maidens, took them to wife, and started a society of their own as outcasts in the wilderness. However, they were discovered by a Lamanite army which took them captive and turned them over to the Lamanite king. These cunning priests, remembering the soft life they had led among the Nephites, prevailed upon the king to employ them as teachers among his people:
And it came to pass that Amulon did gain favor in the eyes of the king of the Lamanites; therefore, the king of the Lamanites granted unto him and his brethren that they should be appointed teachers over his people…
And he appointed teachers of the brethren of Amulon in every land which was possessed by his people… (Mosiah 24:1, 4)
The Amulonites successfully taught the Lamanites the Nephite language and also taught them to read and write that they might engage in business and trade with one another. But much evil came of their efforts. Not only were the Lamanites harmed, but these former priests and their posterity became murderers in defense of their profession. As is the case with those who practice priestcraft, they became so intensely antagonistic against the Lord and his work that they willingly inflicted death upon those who embraced the true religion. When those Lamanites who were called the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi were converted by Ammon and his brethren, it was mainly these practitioners of priestcraft who slew a thousand of those saints while they were kneeling defenseless on the ground. The record says:
Now the greatest number of those of the Lamanites who slew so many of their brethren were Amalekites and Amulonites, the greatest number of whom were after the order of the Nehors. (Alma 24:28)
Their murderous disposition toward the people of the Lord is also reflected in the following passage:
And the remainder, [of the seed of Amulon and his brethren] having fled into the east wilderness, and having usurped the power and authority over the Lamanites, caused that many of the Lamanites should perish by fire because of their belief—For many of them…began…to believe in the Lord, … and thus many of them were converted in the wilderness.
And it came to pass that those rulers who were the remnant of the children of Amulon caused that they should be put to death, yea, all those that believed in these things. (Alma 25:5-7)
But these wanton murders brought vengeance. The Lamanites turned upon the children of Amulon and his brethren and began to hunt and kill them. Mormon, writing hundreds of years later, stated that the angry Lamanites were still hunting and killing members of this group even in his day. And so ends another tragedy-filled story of priestcraft.
Priestcraft And The Crucifixion Of Christ
Our final case history involves the crucifixion of the Lord. The Book of Mormon prophet, Jacob, was permitted to foresee the death of Christ and wrote the following concerning it:
But because of priestcrafts and iniquities, they at Jerusalem will stiffen their necks against him, that he be crucified. (2 Nephi 10:5)
Thus once again we find priestcraft leading to murder. Those responsible for it were the religious and political leaders of the Jewish nation whose pride and hypocrisy Christ criticized so severely, and whose power and wealth were threatened by his teachings. The Scribes and Pharisees (Rabbis and lawyers) were the learned class, and also the rulers. They sat in Moses’ seat as judges. (Mart 23:2) Elder James E. Talmage in his book, Jesus the Christ, says of them:
The title Rabbi is equivalent to our distinctive appellation Doctor, Master, or Teacher.
He then goes on to quote with approval the following from Geike’s Life and Words of Christ, Vol. 1, Ch.6:
If the most important figures in the society of Christ’s day were the Pharisees, it was because they were the Rabbis or teachers of the Law. As such they received superstitious honor, which was, indeed the great motive, with many, to court the title or join the party. The Rabbis were classed with Moses, the patriarchs, and the prophets, and claimed equal reverence…. So far as the Roman authority under which they lived left them free, the Jews willingly put all power in the hands of the Rabbis. They or their nominees filled every office, from the highest in the priesthood to the lowest in the community unity. They were the causists, the teachers, the priests, the judges, the magistrates, and the physicians of the nation…. (Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p. 71)
Regarding control over wealth which their positions gave them, Elder Talmage says:
The avarice of the Jewish hierarchy in our Lord’s lifetime was an open scandal. By extortion and unlawful exaction under cover of religious duty the priestly rulers had amassed an enormous treasure, of which the contributions of the poor, and the confiscation of property, including even the houses of dependent widows, formed a considerable proportion; the perfidy of the practice was made the blacker by the outward pretense of sanctity and the sacrilegious accompaniment of wordy prayer. (Ibid., p. 555)
Clearly, we have here a case of “enforced priestcraft: since the power of government was used by those in control to “get gain and praise of the world” as Nephi phrased it. Those who practiced it committed the great crime of history. As punishment for this and the persecution and murder of many of Christ’s apostles and disciples, the Jewish nation met one of the most terrible fates recorded in the annals of history. The story of the protracted siege of Jerusalem by the Romans, and its ultimate destruction, is one of unsurpassed cruelty, suffering, and horror. The continued affliction of this race of people, even down to the present, has no known parallel, and Nephi has predicted that this curse will continue until they are “persuaded to believe in Christ.” (2 Nephi 25:16)
These four instances of priestcraft have elements in common from which we might draw some conclusions. Insofar as the record permits us to know, in each case, (1) A group of teachers who were either in control of government, or acted with the approval of those who were, engaged in the profession of education or instruction; (2) The teachers were supported by the taxing power of government; (3) When prophets exposed the evils of priest-craft, its practitioners used the police power to inflict death upon them and others of their faith, insofar as they were able to do so; (4) God avenged these murders by putting to death those who perpetrated them and severely chastising the nation which permitted them to go unpunished.
Another fact common to each case is that those who practiced priestcraft and “endeavored to enforce it by the sword,” (Alma 1:12) had once known the true gospel but had apostatized. The devil seems to gain some special power over apostates who “preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world that they may get gain and praise of the world.” They are truly in his employ when they engage in this evil.
Scriptural Warnings That Priestcraft Would Be Practiced Among The Gentile Members Of Christ’s Church
Since enforced priestcraft is an evil of such dire consequences, those prophecies regarding its practice among Gentile members of Christ’s Church in these latter days should concern us deeply. Let us consider a few of them. The Book of Mormon contains many predictions regarding occurrences on the “promised land” during the last dispensation, many of which concern us “Gentiles” as the Book of Mormon prophets described non-Jewish, non-Lamanite Church members. Nephi especially supplied us with important knowledge about ourselves. He foresaw and recorded the discovery of the Americas; the scattering of the descendants of Lehi; the rise of a mighty Gentile nation; the establishment of Christ’s Church therein; the eventual wickedness and punishment of the Gentiles; and finally the restoration of the seed of Lehi as inheritors of the chosen land along with as many of the Gentiles as would repent.
In one of his prophecies, he defines the word priestcraft for us and in doing so issues a warning directly to the “laborers in Zion:”
He [the Lord] 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.
Behold the Lord hath forbidden this thing…
But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for they labor for money they shall perish. (2 Nephi 26:29-3 1)
While priestcraft outside of Zion may not be fatal, those who practice it “in Zion” shall perish. The Lord speaking through Mormon also charges the Gentiles with priestcraft and calls upon us to repent:
Turn, all ye Gentiles, from your wicked ways; and repent of your evil doings, of your lyings and deceivings, and of your whoredoms, and of your secret abominations, and your idolatries, and of your murders, and your priestcrafts… (3 Nephi 30:2)
Perhaps the most direct accusation made by the Lord against us is contained in these words:
And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you: At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and…shall be filled with all manner of…priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations; and if they shall do all those things, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them. (3 Nephi 16:10)
Of particular interest to those who regard themselves as members of Christ’s Church is the fact that this accusation is made against them. Not only does this seem apparent from the statement that “the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel,” but also from Christ’s words which immediately follow and plainly show He was speaking specifically to them:
But if the Gentiles will repent and return unto me, saith the Father, behold they shall be numbered among my people, O house of Israel.
But if they will not turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, I will suffer them, yea, I will suffer my people, O house of Israel, that they shall go through among them, and shall tread them down, and they shall be as salt that hath lost its savor, which is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out, and to be trodden underfoot of my people, O house of Israel. (3 Nephi 16:13, 15)
Attention is directed to Christ’s statement that those Gentiles who do not repent shall be” as salt that hath lost its savor.” We are forced to conclude that He is speaking directly to his “covenant people” here because according to the following modern scripture they are the “salt of the earth”:
When men are called unto mine everlasting gospel, and covenant with an everlasting covenant, they are accounted as the salt of the earth and the savor of men; They are called to be the savor of men;
therefore; if that salt of the earth lose its savor, behold, it is thenceforth good for nothing only to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men. (D&C 101:39-40)
It will be remembered also that Christ told his disciples in Jerusalem:
“Ye are the salt of the earth.” (Matt 5:13) To his Disciples among the Nephites he said: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the salt of the earth.” (3 Nephi 12:13) In each instance, he warned his listeners that if the salt lost its savor it would be cast out and trodden under foot.
In his discourse to the Nephites, Christ mentioned priestcraft among the Gentiles a third time and stated that when the judgments came upon us, this practice along with other sins would be done away:
Yea, woe be unto the Gentiles except they repent; for it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Father, that i will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and! will destroy thy chariots;
And it shall come to pass that all lyings and deceivings, and envyings, and strifes, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, shall be done away. (3 Nephi 21:14, 19)
As difficult as it may be for those who regard themselves as the Lord’s covenant people to face an accusation of practicing priestcraft, the conclusion that such is the case seems inescapable. Because this sin has caused the destruction of those who practice it, it seems important to identify what is being done to merit this charge.
From Nephi’s definition (2 Nephi 26:29) we must conclude that if anyone “labor(s) in Zion for money,” he will perish. However, if one labors “for Zion,” it appears appropriate for him to accept voluntary contributions if such be necessary to sustain him. In fact the people are instructed to have sufficient charity that “they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish.” Thus while it is possible for a person who teaches or preaches for hire in the Church to practice priestcraft, this could not be construed as “enforced priestcraft” since his wages are entirely from voluntary contributions. If Christ and the other prophets were speaking of the compulsory type which proved so fatal among the Nephites, the Lamanites, and the Jews, we must find it’s practitioners supported by taxation. Only state-supported education can be classified as enforced priestcraft.
Does Socialized Education Fall Within The Meaning Of “Enforced Priestcrafts?”
In view of the fact that here in the United States both the states and federal government have refused to permit the taxing power to be used to finance or support religious education, would the public school system fall within the meaning intended by the prophets? Is the teaching of religion by a “priest” or a minister necessary before the case is one of priestcraft? Let us have before us the essential part of Nephi’s definition of the term which reads:
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… (2 Nephi 26:29)
If the word “preach” covers the teaching of secular subjects as well as religious, certainly public education would fall within the definition.
Fortunately, we need not speculate about the matter since one of the case histories of priestcraft discussed by the Book of Mormon clarifies it. It will be recalled that the Amulonites prevailed upon the king of the Lamamites to appoint them as teachers “among all the people of the Lamanites.” But even though these former priests of king Noah had posed as religious leaders and preached a religion of sorts to the Nephites, the following passage carefully explains that they taught no religion at all to the Lamanites, but only secular subjects:
And they [the Lamanites] were a people friendly one with another; nevertheless they knew not God; neither did the brethren of Amulon teach them anything concerning the Lord their God, neither the law of Moses; nor did they teach them the words of Abinadi..
But they taught them that they should keep their record, and that they might write one to another.
And thus the Lamanites began to increase in riches, and began to trade one with another and war great, and began to be a cunning and a wise people as to the wisdom of the world, yea, a very cunning people, delighting in all manner of wickedness and plunder… (Mosiah 24:5-7)
Here then is a case of priestcraft without religion because these Amulonites were after the order of Nehor, (Alma 24:28-29, 21:14) and the name Nehor stands for enforced priestcraft in the Book of Mormon. Just why the Amulonites taught no religion is not explained but it may have been because they were under strict orders from the king not to do so. The Lamanites had obstinately withstood all Nephite attempts to proselyte them in times past (Enos 1:20) and apparently they did not want to pay to have their enemies’ religion foisted upon them now. The Lamanite king’s purpose in employing these teachers had nothing to do with religion but, judging from the results, he wanted to make his people like unto the Nephites—prosperous and wise as to the wisdom of the world.
But without religion, this learning and affluence brought wickedness and this is a fact of the utmost importance. Not only does the scripture quoted above (Mosiah 24:5-7) together with other facts revealed about the Amulonites show that socialized education without religion constitutes priestcraft, but it also exposes the evil nature of the underlying philosophy upon which the entire system of public education is based. According to its proponents, the purposes of socialized education are to teach people to read and write, to become wise as to the wisdom of the world, to learn to trade one with another, wax great, and “to increase in riches.”
But when the Lamanites acquired worldly wisdom and riches without a faith in God and the moral restraints such would provide, they were harmed rather than helped. They became very cunning, “delighting in all manner of wickedness and plunder.” If this is the result which can be expected in all cases from an exclusively secular education forced upon the people by their rulers, then it is totally evil. Not only does it corrupt the teachers but also those whom they teach.
Other Book of Mormon scriptures substantiate this view. Nephi, while prophesying concerning these latter days, had this to say about learning the “precepts of men:”
Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost. (2 Nephi 28:31)
It is beyond question that secular education in the United States today constitutes the precepts of men. This being so, those precepts will curse rather than benefit the student unless taught “by the power of the Holy Ghost.” Nephi’s brother, Jacob confirms this conclusion and further states that it is Satan’s cunning plan to give men learning without humility and faith in God:
O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish. (2 Nephi 9:28)
This scripture is uncompromising in stating that unless the learned are willing to accept the guidance of the prophets, their education is unprofitable foolishness and “they shall perish.” Furthermore, there is no distinction drawn between the “wisdom of the world” which is true and that which is false. Some may object to the conclusion that the learning of provable facts can ever harm anyone. They may take the seemingly logical position that knowledge, as long as it be true is always better than ignorance.
While such a position may seem unassailable, still if by the learning of secular knowledge, one thereby becomes proud and incapable of believing religious truths without which there can be no salvation or exaltation, obviously one would be better off without the worldly wisdom,
For what shall it profit a man, 41 he shall gain the whole world and lose his soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mark 8:36-37)
Or, to state the matter another way, if there be two sets of truths, one of which, set “A” is indispensable to salvation while the other set “B” is not, but if by learning set “B” first, it becomes virtually impossible to learn set “A” later, it is blind folly to acquire knowledge in that sequence. Or if, by studying set “B” without being fully grounded in set “A” one thereby destroys his ability to continue to believe in those truths which alone can save him, wisdom would dictate that he either place greater emphasis on learning set “A”, or defer his learning of set “B” until such a loss of faith becomes unlikely.
On the other hand, if by learning set “A” first and by continuing to study and accept it, he can then learn set “B” with safety, this alone is the wise course to follow for, as Jacob also said:
But to be learned is good 4f they hearken unto the counsels of God. (2 Nephi 9:29)
The hopelessness of the predicament of those who gain learning and wealth without faith as did the Lamanites under the tutelage of the Amulonites, is described by Jacob as follows:
And whoso knocketh, to him will he [God] open; and the wise, and the learned, and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and their wisdom, and their riches—yea, they are they whom he despiseth; and save they shall cast these things away, and consider themselves fools before God, and come down in the depths of humility, he will not open unto them. (2 Nephi 9:42)
While repentance is possible to the learned and rich who will not “hearken unto the counsels of God,” its likelihood seems remote. For how many who have spent a large part of a lifetime achieving academic prowess and the wisdom of the world have the fortitude to cast away the honors, the positions, and the riches which have come to them as a consequence of their learning? How many are able to develop sufficient humility to admit that “the wisdom of the world is foolishness,” and they themselves are “fools before God?”
Granting the validity of the statements of Nephi and Jacob about the vainness, the frailties, and the foolishness of men, and the curse which results when the precepts of men are taught without the power of the Holy Ghost, it is quite apparent why Jacob would state that the acquisition of learning without faith constitutes the “cunning plan of the evil one.” So few seem able to recognize the terrible danger which these prophets saw in an education without faith. Even assuming that the public schools taught nothing but truth, the fact that the law forbids them to teach faith in God makes it impossible for them to promote the eternal welfare of those they teach unless their basic lack is supplied from another source.
therefore, they cannot sin, for power is not given unto Satan to tempt little children, until they begin to become accountable before me; or it is given unto them even as I will, according to mine own pleasure, that great things may be required at the hand of their fathers.
And again, I say unto you, that whoso having knowledge, have I not commanded to repent? (D&C 29:47-49)
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