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