There are countless blogs, stories and claims from numerous disbelievers and contenders to our faith. In their ranks are some ex-Mormons, who through their discontentment and impatience, joined their ranks. (As I write this I keep getting the thoughts of the “large spacious building” in Nephi’s vision, 1 Nephi 12:18, and how these people who attack Mormons now live within that structure. )What I would like to do is provide to those who seek understanding, information on a method to detect and understand the true spiritual nature of these complainers. This so you can know by their fruits, who they are.
Complaining is one trait that these contenders use. It is a common trait used by everyone when they are upset about something and wish some answers, action or even justice. This trait is common among people in the world who rally the governments to change policies. There are complaint oriented commissions, complaint departments, complaint forms, etc. The practice of complaint is considered by the world as a “normal” thing and, in general, something that good people use. Despite how some evil people also use this method, it is still considered an acceptable thing.
Do you want to know that this is not acceptable to God? At least the way the world condones?
Complaining is one of the methods Satan uses to entice people to become contentious. Satan will spur from within you a personal issue, memory, even to reactivate an old forgotten complaint, to lead you into misery. Once in misery it is easier for Satan to keep you there and refuel all sorts of issues and angers. To Satan, it does not matter if there is any resolution to the complaint(s), all that matters is that the spirit of contention and division is caused in the person and between people such that hate takes root. When a person takes issue, then issue becomes the focus and with some, a type of worship in that it becomes what they follow and abide in. So, did you know that such things can become a worship? Well it can, especially when a person becomes locked into the “complaint” and spends a lot of energy and time on it, even bordering on obession.
This is not to say that a person cannot file a “complaint” when something is wrong, such as bringing a faulty item back to the store, or file a complaint called a grievance at work for wrongs done, etc. So long as the manner of complaint is done respectfully and properly within the correct channels, then it is fine.
When a complaint becomes the mainstay and position of people or a person, where this is their basis that fuels their works, their drives, desires and appears to consume their lives such that they put a lot of work into this manner of complaint against another person or thing, to discredit, to degrade, to verbally attack, to perpetuate falsehoods, twist information and the sort. Then this is the work of evil. When there is no constructive manner about it, that does not promote legitimate resolution, ignores positive action toward a “peaceful” agreement or resolution where the complaint ends, perpetuating itself, then it is evil. Such is seen in the hate crimes and acts of those who continually contend against people, religions, etc. Nothing good is sought and accomplished. This usually reveals the personal obsessions and dysfunctions of the person heading such a campaign where the main purpose is to hurt in what ever way possible.
Complaint that also harbours hate, disrespect and works contrary to all good things of the spirit, as in patience, temperance etc, is a manner of complaint that is evil and it’s prime purpose is to destroy. When God teaches, in the Bible and Book of Mormon, that we are to be patient, to ensure that we do the right thing at all times else we lose the faith in him, that is a clear hint that God knows what happens to us when we take on a contentious and complaining spirit (manners and ways). It does not matter whether or not that person who complains, appears to have a legitimate beef. There has been no just cause in a false or hateful act. A person who claims that he wants to stop the injustice and at the same time creates and causes discord, upset, contention and even harms others, is not a person who is working for a just cause, he is working for himself. This makes the complaint self-righteous.
There has been many complaints set against the Church of Latter-day Saints, some of these complaints sound legitimate, but in how these complaints were volleyed and how they were put forth was in an evil manner.
To relate a personal experience, there was one time I had issue with the Bishop. I believed in fairness and righteous judgement, so I had issue with him. I am glad, in retrospect, that I kept this complaint between myself and God. I wrote it in my journal and prayed to overcome this issue because it was a heavy one. In time it got resolved.
One day in Church, a revelation came to me and impressed me about the “freedom of conscience”. This came after I finished speaking with the Bishop about an unrelated matter. I realized, because of this revelation, that God was teaching me how to understand his works and why some things happen. He taught me that God gives to his people the freedom to exercise their conscience, in their lives and in their callings, as they see fit. This meant that the Bishop, despite his shortcomings, had the right and authority to exercise his calling within the freedom of conscience that God affords to all of us. This taught me that I was wrong to lean my issue against the Bishop without seeing and speaking with him about that issue, or speak to the Stake President if there was no resolution with the Bishop, but in all cases, I had to remain in communication with God. As it went, I did not want to get involved with a contentious complaining manner so I kept to myself and sought God’s help. I got the help, but it taught me how to respect the Bishop. That is how it got resolved.
What this says about complainers is that they are not seeking resolution and understanding. By the example I gave, I could of walked out of the Church and became bent on attacking the Church, but I did not. I sought God’s help and got it. What was the end result in my case? I am at peace with the issue and the Bishop. What this all says is that minor misgivings are not a concern for the Lord. Serious ones will get their just attention, but we are to respect the manner in which God allows and encourages in the Church. For those who become bent on these issues against the Church have not followed a faithful path and took a unfaithful one.
That is another key to note about these complainers, – “faith”. Are their works and manners displaying a faithful presence? To be faithful is also to follow gospel principles of behaviour.
Now, the value of complaint is seen in the actions of the person. Any person that resorts to degrading remarks and statements, to verbally attack anyone, to setup scenarios to humiliate, is a person bent on destruction, not on truth. Basically, he is just bent.
The interesting and well based nature of truth from God is that it is non-violent or non-aggressive. A person who speaks the truth as given by God is a person that does not have to resort to all kinds of antics, tricks, accusations and yelling. Real truth has power, it is the power of God’s light and word. It does upset the lies and falsehoods, sheds a light and provides a peaceful resolution, for inside truth is peace and that is how to recognize real truth from fabricated lies others call truth. When someone claims he speaks the truth and the results of his actions are discontentment, disillusion, confusion, upset, etc, then this person is not speaking truth at all, he is speaking his own personal issue. The truth in that is “he has personal issue that he refuses to resolve himself and blames others for his problems”.
When I listen to complaint and even if the complaint holds some legitimate concerns, but the person lodging the complaint is verbally abusive, the right thing to do is deny him. This because he is acting evil and such cannot be accepted. In the Garden of Eden, Satan spoke with some truth and beguiled Eve, yet his intent was to cause harm. In that example we see the value of complaint, with some truth, expressed to cause harm or damage, as a value of evil and such should be shunned.
When facing these kind of complaints and the person refuses to listen to reason, launching all kinds of accusations and twisted information, with some truth, turn away from him as he is a snake and will bite and infect your faith. The idea to tarry with him can easily degrade your faith and cause you to fall or to choose wrong.
It is unfortunate that the Internet harbours so much dirt and vile-mouthed venom, but until the Internet establishes posting standards, we each much be vigilant in our faith not to harbour or give credence to these complainers and steer clear of them, no matter how they appear to be.
Amen
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