APOSTASY
By Larry Doyle
Crenshaw, MeditationsInLight.blogspot.com
An
ancient prophet once affirmed his desire to, “…. walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the
plain road!” (2 Nephi 4:32) He understood well the dangers
of mountainous terrain and their slippery slopes that present life-threatening
hazards in our journey through life.
Apostasy,
the abandoning of former beliefs, is a slippery slope. Generally, apostasy from the truth is a
gradual thing - built upon small deviations from the straight and narrow path,
otherwise known as “the plain road.” Like
addiction in many ways, this kind of apostasy appeals to the carnal mind and
senses.
When
the mind and heart seek reassurance that a dark and crooked path will “take me
where I want to go,” there is usually a whispered reassurance from a vaguely
familiar source. After all, the path of
misery invites company. And our fellow
traveler on this deviated path wishes all to “be miserable like unto himself.”
There
are far too many of our Church-friends who once enjoyed the blessings of
covenant living – but no more. These are
folks who, step by step, and decision by decision, found the plain road perhaps
too plain, or perhaps too strict, or who felt the tolls cost too much. Unrepented
apostasy for them, will take a heavy toll. The road back requires a bended knee
and a prayer-filled voice. The cost of
sin has already been paid by Him who died on Calvary and whose Atoning embrace
awaits.
On
a larger scale during the last many decades there have been small but
significant deviations from the “plain road” in our country. Legislators, judges, and others of political
influence have given legal sanctuary to more and more base and carnal behaviors. This is in direct fulfillment of the prophetic
voice that has told us “what was evil will be called good and what was good will
be called evil.” Even small course deviations of a degree or two, over time, lead
to unanticipated and unwanted destinations. Thus, as a result of apostasy from truth, we
find ourselves exactly where prophets have said we would be.
This
week’s meditative verse warns of apostasy’s subtle ways and means and ends. However, there is a promise of redemptive
grace from Him whose Atonement can, paradoxically, deliver us from a place of
no deliverance.
Apostasy
For
behold, at that day shall he rage in
the hearts of the children of men, and stir
them up to anger against that which is good. And others will he pacify, and lull
them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion;
yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth
them away carefully down to hell.
And behold, others he flattereth
away, and telleth them there is no
hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains,
from whence there is no deliverance.
Book of Mormon
2 Nephi 28:20-22
To abandon a truth that one believes
Happens not all-at-once, but incrementally
When Satan’s snares wraps and weaves
Through a soul so subtle and maliciously
He rages in hearts and stirs up anger
To things exact and true and good
Into apostasy’s pit they fall and languor
Feeling bitter, angry, and misunderstood
Some are pacified and lulled away
Persuaded and inured by Satan’s detours
He cheats their souls and leads them astray
Into dark paths of carnality he allures
The gullible he seduces and flatters away
Saying there is no evil, no devil or hell
Whispered words that entrap and betray
For misery and sorrow he doeth sell
Apostasy binds with awful chains
And delivers to a place of no deliverance
A hell of worries, troubles and pains
An abode for
those who forego repentance
Yet salvation is heaven-sent
To all who humbly bow the knee
And apply the Divine Atonement
From He who died on Calvary
Larry Doyle Crenshaw
