The Problem with Underemphasizing Modesty

So, recently I ran into an article being shared by several LDS friends:

The Problem with Overemphasizing Modesty

The article is very well written, and emphasizes important points with respect to a female perspective.  One of the opening points describes the author's attempts to help two young boys (who were expressing disapproval of a young woman wearing a two-piece swimsuit) to better understand modesty.

Reading the story, I was persuaded that he motives were clearly defined by her concern for the young woman, the object of the boys' attention.  Since the author is a woman, this is perfectly understandable.

As a male, and with similar concern for the welfare of men, I felt motivated to add some additional commentary to some of the points made in the article (in italics).

1. When we reduce the concept of modesty to what females wear, we are reinforcing the very thing that modesty is supposed to help avoid: the sexual objectification of women's bodies.
There is definitely truth in this.  Modesty goes beyond apparel on women.  A well-covered individual that performs provocative dance moves, for example, is also immodest.  Additionally, reducing the reasoning behind modesty to avoiding the sexual objectification of women's bodies contradicts most of the rest of the author's points... that modesty is about more than sexual objectification, and that it applies to both men and women.

2. Overemphasizing modesty can unintentionally teach that girls are responsible for boys' sexual thoughts and behaviors.
Without a doubt, there is no man (or woman) who should expect to stand before God at that great and judgement day and suppose that their inappropriate thoughts and/or behavior will be excused by claiming "the devil made me do it."  This is true, even if the devil was literally trying to make them do it.
Consider the behavior of the daughter of Jared, who danced before Akish in order to manipulate him to murder Omer, the king of the Jaredites. (Ether 8:9-10)  Of course, she didn't kill the king.  She didn't make him ask to marry her.  She just danced.
Consider the behavior of Herodias, who danced before king Herod, and then eventually requested the head of John the Baptist. (Mark 6:21-28)  Of course, she didn't behead John.  She didn't even know what to ask of the king, she just did what her mother had said.
Do we suppose that these women, who used their bodies and manipulated men, are completely guiltless?  Would it be appropriate for a young woman to walk around nude in front of young men, since girls are not responsible for boys' sexual thoughts and behaviors?  What if the young woman were only topless, or were only wearing underwear like the provocative models who part men with their money at lingerie stores in shopping malls?
Everyone can benefit from understanding that no one lives in a vacuum.  Women are unfairly bombarded with negativity, disrespect, and incorrect expectations.  Men are unfairly bombarded with images, movies, and sometimes even friends and associates, who portray women in provocative ways.  Instead of saying that one group is not responsible for issues in another group (even when it is true), we ought to understand that everyone benefits from mutual respect.  Men should never think that a girl's skimpy outfit provoked inappropriate behavior, and women ought to show compassion for the many men fighting internal battles against temptations by not adding to them.

3. Overemphasizing modesty can shame girls for having a feminine body and for physically developing into a woman.
This is true... and unfortunate.  A woman may be trying hard to dress in a modest manner, and still seem provocative to some men.  It is also true that a man may be trying hard to control their thoughts, and run into a provocative situation or pornographic image.
On the other hand, there is no shortage of voices who tell girls... particularly those with feminine figures, that their beauty should be displayed and admired when they actually mean to objectify and exploit these young women.
Underemphasizing modesty may be just as dangerous to men and women.  There is no easy answer to this, and no single approach should be expected to be universally successful.

4. Overemphasizing modesty gives others implicit permission to judge and measure a woman’s dedication to the gospel, or “worthiness,” based on physical appearance.
People judge dedication and worthiness for multiple reasons, and none of them are appropriate, but few of them are baseless.
It is possible that the young man with ripped jean jacket and a mullet may be living the standards of the church.  It is appropriate for his Bishop to ask him to cut his hair and wear a white shirt and tie before he blesses the sacrament, serves a mission, or even accompanies a senior companion in a home teaching visit, but it is wrong for others to suggest that his appearance jeopardizes his place in the kingdom of God.
The same ideas are just as applicable for young women.

5. Overemphasizing modesty in our young women may send a message that modesty does not apply to males.
While it is true that modesty applies to both men and women (see #4), let's not pretend that it applies differently to men and women.  An honest examination of male sexuality accepts that men are driven by the visual so much more than women, that it is nearly impossible to compare them...  One of the most honest and clear explanations of this fact can be found in this video:

The author concludes her article with suggestions to improve modesty conversations.  Many of these ideas are excellent, and deserve consideration.  I might also add the following:

• Pornography is harmful
• Pornography is not limited to nude photographs and videos on the internet, it includes all forms of immodest and provocative clothing, speech, and behavior.
• Men and women are different
• While this may seem obvious, being aware of these differences can allow us to help one another to be better.
• Satan is real
• There are literal forces who want to use men to shame and degrade women.  The same forces also want to use women to manipulate and destroy men.  It is important not only to avoid temptation, but to avoid becoming a pawn of the tempter.
• Standards of modesty and morality strengthen men and women
• Imagine a world in which there were no sexually transmitted diseases, no children born into broken homes, and no damaging battles in family courts for custody and money.  Universal adherence to the law of chastity would largely accomplish these feats.  Faithful marriage and family life is perhaps the best way to protect men and women of all ages, and modesty and morality can, in part, represent the effort of individuals to realize this ideal. 

It is definitely possible to overemphasize modesty, and doing so can be harmful in a variety of ways... but in our zeal to avoid such harms, let us not cast modesty aside.  The counsel of Christ to "love thy neighbor as thyself" (Matthew 22:39) is intended to motivate every son and daughter of God to help one another in the path that leads to his Kingdom.  Jesus did this not only by proclaiming love (John 15:11-13), but also by warning of potential danger (Matthew 7:15, Matthew 16:6).  Let his model adorn each conversation regarding modesty.

It's going to get worse... it's going to get much worse

Many people are frustrated with the current political climate in the United States.  The major parties have chosen candidates that have become quite unpopular.  Within the Republican party is a strong "never Trump" movement, and there are many people who had supported socialist Bernie Sanders and have become disgusted with the system that vaulted Hillary Clinton to becoming the nominee of the Democrats.  On the one hand, Trump makes outrageous claims and impossible promises (much as Obama did) to try to gain support.  On the other hand, the director of the FBI exposes most of the claims that Clinton made with respect to her handling of sensitive confidential information to be outright lies.

There is a growing number of people in the country, who, when analyzing the choices before Americans ask how could this happen?

Some might point to our education system.  Though it is taking larger amounts of money, it seems to be producing diminishing returns.

Others point to economics.  Many on the left use the gap between successful and unsuccessful as justification for government intervention in the free market.

There is no shortage of issues to which blame can be attributed.  From racism, to sexism, to Islamophobia, to "white privilege," there is always some monster in some faction of our culture (not the faction to which we belong mind you... some other faction) onto which people will affix fault... a societal scapegoat.

Part of what make these issues easy to blame is there are legitimate problems in most of them.  We are, as Mike Rowe said, "...lending money we don’t have to kids who can’t pay it back to train them for jobs that no longer exist."  There are maneuvers attempted by large corporations that can best be explained by corporate greed.  In other words, there are legitimate concerns expressed by both liberals and conservatives.

Ultimately though, even if everyone agreed to a single plan that would completely re-work the education system in the country, and even if every corporation was legally bound to ethical behaviors, society would still be burdened with envy, pride, wrath, sloth, lust, greed, and gluttony.

A civilization that is obsessed with how the choices of others negatively impact them is a civilization on the brink of disaster.  It creates an urge to control (by any means) the choices of others.  While it may start with the power of persuasion, it is far too tempting to avoid using the persuasion of power.

Of course, this does not mean that power should not be used in dealing with legitimate threats: crime must be punished.  We should not tolerate the retention of the robber's stolen goods, the freedom of the abuser, or the life of the pedophile.  Additionally, military force is necessary to protect our nation from foreign malefactors.

What this does mean is that people who are preoccupied with the flaws of other factions in society are easily manipulated.  This tendency is observed in the Old Testament book of Joel:

"Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong." (Joel 3:9-10)

The imagery of reworking plowshares into swords and pruning hooks into spears is not intended to be limited to inanimate objects.  People who might otherwise be reasonable can be whipped into a frenzy if they focus on problems beyond their direct control.  It has been used to make people believe the source of their difficulties can be attributed to Jews, to whites, to blacks, to Republicans, to Democrats, to the wealthy 1%, to corporations, to unions, and to churches.

If the divisive trends that politicians exploit to sway their factions continue, then the situation in this nation is going to get worse... it's going to get much worse.

Jesus taught a parable to illustrate the point:

"Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

"And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

 "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." (Luke 18:10-14)

Though there are new and clever ways to express outrage and frustration with the flaws of others, they are, at the core, not so very different from rending one's garments, as was done anciently.  Because of the central similarity, the counsel from Joel all the more applicable:

"Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil." (Joel 2:12-13, emphasis added)

This is the key to avoiding the problems associated with obsessing over the flaws of others... addressing the flaws in yourself.  Compare the amount of time spent in trying to fix the behavior of others to the amount of time spent trying to become better yourself.

In the end, Christ will come again, and he will take care of the great injustices in the world.  Those who have indulged in envy, pride, wrath, sloth, lust, greed, and gluttony will reap what they have sewn.  Those who have spent their efforts to try and purge themselves of their envy, pride, wrath, sloth, lust, greed, and gluttony will be rewarded.

Circumstances are likely to get much worse, but regardless of circumstances, the power of Christ can help you to be better.

If God's message is so important, why doesn't he do more to attract attention?

It is difficult to go through a day anymore without being bombarded by attempts to capture attention.  

In briefly checking my email, the number of iPads that I have supposedly won far exceeds the number of iPads that I own, single girls in my area want to chat with me, and several people with ties to Nigerian Royalty have chosen to ask me for help transferring a large sum of money into the United States.

Carefully positioned billboards line the freeway, reminding me how desperately I crave an In-N-Out Double Double, or that the closest emergency room has a 13 minute wait, or that some famous singer will be performing soon.

With the internet, there are websites dedicated to practically anything imaginable.  Videos of people having surgery are intermingled with videos of people cooking food.  Pictures of beautiful natural wonders are mixed with the latest renders of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Having such a variety of things that actively seek attention, and seeing how successful some of them can be, could make a Christian wonder why God doesn't do more to attract attention to his message.  If a little creative advertising can make people brave long lines to purchase the latest tech products, why couldn't God do something similar with his messages?  If people get excited to attend conventions to meet sci-fi and fantasy celebrities, why doesn't God have a "miracle-con" where he lets people have photo ops with angels, cures terminal diseases, and offers personal and accurate prophesies about the future?  Wouldn't that get people excited about God's message?  Wouldn't a bit of positive PR ultimately help his children?

As though Jesus knew that this question might be asked, he told the following parable:

"There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 

"And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said... I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send [Lazarus] to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

 "Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." (Luke 16:19-31, emphasis added)

How could he be so confident that additional attention would not work?  Certainly we have seen amazing corporate success from carefully executed marketing strategies that capture the attention and imagination of the public...

Of course, he knew because he lived it.  In spite of the miracles that he personally wrought, his enemies actively sought opportunity to kill him.  He fed thousands with a few scraps, he healed the lame, the blind, the deaf, the afflicted, and even brought the dead back to life.  While he garnered some attention, there were many who rejected his message.

Additionally, his prophets have performed great feats to no avail.  The ten plagues were not enough to convince Pharaoh to let Moses go, nor did the parting of the Red Sea prevent many of the Hebrew children from proclaiming that a newly created pair of golden calves were responsible for their deliverance.

The worship of Baal was not immediately stopped even after the dramatic demonstration of Elijah the Tishbite on Mount Carmel, and the goods of Naaman the Syrian were more precious to Gehazi than being honest with Elisha the son of Shaphat.

Perhaps one of the saddest examples is that of Jeremiah.  He stood by the gates of Jerusalem and preached to everyone he could (Jeremiah 17).  He presented unusual object lessons such as burying a belt by the Euphrates river, and retrieving it after it had rotted away to show how the people were not doing their job (Jeremiah 13).  He predicted accurately the result of attempted rebellions, and ultimately was ignored (Jeremiah 43).

In the end, God does not need a better advertising campaign.  He needs people to choose him over other sources.  He does not need a constant stream of miracles to keep the people coming to him... he needs people to develop the faith necessary so that they can see miracles.  He does not need to produce exciting new demonstrations of his power, these demonstrations did not convince everyone anyway.

Perhaps the question that a Christian should ask is, if God didn't do anything new to get my attention, would I still believe?  What if he didn't heal anyone else?  What if he didn't help me be successful?  What if I didn't have everything I needed?  What if the people in his church were sometimes unpleasant?  What if his scriptures were written with archaic language constructs, and some of his prophets had slow monotonous voices?  What if I had nothing more than what he had already given me... would I still believe?  Would that be enough for me?

With a bit of reflection, the honest man should be able to examine his life and realize that God has been present in diverse ways and at different times, and that he has done many things to try to get our attention.  He has done things to help and guide us.  This was the realization that came to the men who walked the road to Emmaus after Christ was resurrected:

"And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" (Luke 24:32)

Wise is the man who is able to hear that still small voice that comes from God.  (1 Kings 19:12-13)  Though it may not always be exciting, and it may not grab our attention the way other things do, it carries with it the divine promise of Jesus Christ himself:

"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." (John 14:18)

I can forgive you... as long as someone gets tortured and killed for what you did

The most fundamental aspect of Christianity is that Jesus Christ suffered and died for the sins of the world.  Because of his sacrifice, humanity can be redeemed.

The atonement of Christ is not a secret, and sects ranging from the most energetic protestants and evangelicals to the most stoic and reserved orthodox disciples are usually not shy about expressing their total reliance on the sacrifice of Jesus.

Scriptures from all periods of time have references to this doctrine.  Consider the following:

"Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed...
Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." (Isaiah 53:4-5,10-12)

The doctrine is confirmed in the New Testament as well:

"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit" (1 Peter 3:18)

The Book of Mormon is also clear on the need for the atonement of Christ:

"And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also." (Alma 42:15)

The concept was explained by Jesus himself in one of the most famous verses ever:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

Because of its familiarity, Christians tend to take it for granted, and the faithless tend to treat it as false, and the reasoning behind this event is lost.  It is worth closer inspection.

Our Heavenly Father has issued a series of laws, the violation of which condemns an individual to perpetual outcast from the presence of God (Alma 11:37).  To escape this condemnation, God extends mercy to the penitent, but only because his son was subjected to unspeakable torture and then subsequently brutally slain at Golgotha.

If God loved his children and wanted to pardon sins, why would his forgiving power require the savage torture and slaughter of someone else?

Of course, the problem with this assessment is that it is based on our perception that sin is little more than an error in judgement, and that the consequences of these actions do not produce unseen effects.
Consider the invention of the shoe-fitting flouroscope.  This device represented a new application for x-rays, and blasted the feet of the user with radiation so that the bones as well as the outline of the shoe were visible to promote better fitting shoes.  As more information about radiation was discovered, links between the use of such devices and bone cancer were discovered.  Though the immediate effects were not visible, over time and with increased understanding, the negative consequences were exposed.

Similarly, those who indulge in behaviors that contradict the commandments of God and the counsel of his prophets may not seem to have any immediate negative consequences, but our current inability to see and understand the spiritual aspects of human life make it impossible for us to understand the negative impact of sin on a spirit.

What we could not see or understand, Jesus Christ could.  Though angels attended him as he endured the cruel process by which he could heal the spiritual damage of sin, he prayed earnestly for another way to do it (Luke 22:42).  Blood oozed through his skin as he was subjected to pressures and pains beyond human comprehension (Luke 22:44).  Ultimately, he had to endure the pain on the cross without any help (Matthew 27:46).

Forgiveness of sins was never a matter of pretending like it did not happen... It involves repairing spiritual damage.  It requires restoring matter that, unlike mortal flesh and blood, is permanent.  This is not a cheap experience, and cannot be simply done on a whim.  It required a specific and deliberate process, that could only be performed by one person... the son of God himself.

"Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him..."  "that he might bring us to God..." "to bring about the plan of mercy..." "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

More than sparing himself excruciating pain, he wanted to help you, and I, and all of us realize our potential.  He paid the price to heal us.  Even now, he sends his prophets to plead with us to use his power.  For all those who come to him, he will give gift he purchased with such a great price... the miracle of forgiveness.

Why was God so scary?

Many people view the God of the Old Testament as a vengeful and angry being who only softened after thousands of years to change his tune to one of "love thy neighbor as thyself."

I have already spoken somewhat on this topic, but I would like to explore another aspect of the question in this post.

A fundamental principle in Christianity is the omnipotence of God.  God has the ability to portray himself in any way that he would like.  Non-threatening features that made Baymax lovable in Big Hero 6, and an environment filled with rainbows, unicorns, and bacon might really demonstrate that God cares about us, and that he wants us to be comfortable, happy, and safe.

When there are accounts of encounters with God, even when they contain symbolic representations, comfort and bliss are rarely seen.  Consider the experience of Isaiah:

"I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke." (Isaiah 6:1-4)

Six winged angels flying around a smoke-filled room as God sat on a lofty throne probably did not convey the idea that it was time to relax and discuss happy things.  By what Isaiah said, we know that he was worried about being so close to the Lord.

"Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts." (Isaiah 6:5)

Naturally, God could have provided consolation and shown his prophet a sign of his love, mercy, and affection in this moment of fear.  Instead, he sent one of the seraphim to place a hot coal on Isaiah's mouth to purge him of sins.  Of course, this was not the end of the frightening aspects of Isaiah's vision.  After Isaiah volunteered to speak to the people, he was given the message the Lord wished to deliver.

"Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed." (Isaiah 6:9-10)

God asked Isaiah to tell the people to stop listening to him so that he would not have to bless them.  Of course, because we know that God is loving, and wants to heal us, we can infer that this must have been a temporary message to encourage people to return to him.

"Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, And the Lord have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land." (Isaiah 6:11-12)

So, maybe not just a short-term rebuke?

Even with knowledge of the fall of Judah to Babylon and the return to Judah under Persian rule, this situation still prompts a person to ask, "why was God so scary?"

There are several reasons for the manner of presentation that the Lord used:

1. God is trying to protect us from things that are actually scary.  The idea of a devil is not just a metaphor representing negative aspects of human behavior... there are actual beings in the unseen world that seek to do us harm, and that are only vulnerable to divine power. (JSH 1:14-17)  Pretending that everything is fine and that there are no problems is disingenuous.

2. Life requires dealing with difficult and painful issues.  It is natural to seek comfort in times of difficulty, but the greatest heroes from humanity did not gain honor and respect by becoming comfortable in trying times, but by rising to meet the challenges that they faced.  This is not to say that God wants people to be miserable, but that sometimes, it is more important to stand up for righteousness than to feel comfortable in wickedness.  Dealing with frightening and uncomfortable truths can help people meet their potential.

3. Nobody is conceited when six-winged Seraphim put hot coals on their mouths.  Jesus frequently encountered people who thought they were better than they actually were.  Some of them were persuaded to be humble by gentle admonitions to repent, but some required harsher language.  Jesus exposed the ignorance of those who tried to outsmart him, the weaknesses of those who pressed him for special guidance, and even to the leader of his chosen Apostles said "Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." (Matthew 16:23)  A bit more humility is probably the most effective thing that God can help us acquire by presenting himself in ways that are confusing or frightening.  At some point, each person should realize that it is OK if they don't understand everything, or have worries, concerns, or troubles.  The person who sticks with God allies themselves with someone who does understand everything, and has power to overcome obstacles we do not yet even comprehend.

Ultimately, the idea that God is frightening or confusing disappears from the hearts of those who persist in following his guidance.  Consider how Isaiah later declared:

"For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer." (Isaiah 54:7-8)

In the end, God does love us, and wants what is best for us.  Do not let anything sway you otherwise.

The point of pointless suffering

The story of Job is one of the most confusing stories in the Old Testament.  God and Satan seem to make a bet on the faithfulness of a man being dependent upon his circumstances.  In this seemingly cruel "experiment," Job was stripped of his possessions, many of his family were killed, and he was afflicted with terrible pain.

Modern Christians seem to be fond of platitudes such as "everything happens for a reason," or "he never said it would be easy, he only said it would be worth it."

These ideas initially seem to fall apart in the situation of Job.  He just suffered for no apparent reason.  His friends turned against him in accusation to add insult to injury.  In the end, his problems all went away and he was blessed, but for what reason were these things done to begin with?

The same questions are frequently asked regarding modern tragedies.  When children suffer from diseases beyond their control, or people are afflicted with poverty and hardship through no fault of their own, people wonder why God, who is supposed to love us, would allow these difficulties if he were truly omnipotent.

Toward the end of the story of Job, God asks him a set of rhetorical questions to illustrate the point that Job has relatively no power and but little understanding.  In Job 38, the Lord asks the following:

"Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (Job 38:4-7)

Instead of offering words of comfort and consolation, or reason and explanation, the Lord highlighted Job's ignorance.  Why?

People get so involved in their current circumstances that they tend to forget the investment that God made when he forged the earth and sent humanity to live on its surface.  He speaks with power because he is conveying the idea that the circumstances of life are not an accident, and there is no person whose birth or existence on this world is based on a whim.  These questions allude to a truth that is fundamental to understanding the difficulties of mortality:

"When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?"

Combined with the understanding that we have from other prophets, that humans are the offspring of God (Acts 17:26-29), this means that there was a time in which we sang together before the foundations of the world... and that we shouted for joy.  Contemporary prophesy teaches the cause of our joy was our Heavenly Father's grand plan of happiness: a course that could lead his children to become "heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." (Romans 8:16-17)

As we were, it would have been impossible for us to inherit the gift of eternal life.  We needed to become more... to undergo a physical and spiritual rebirth (John 3:3-5).  The challenges of life are specifically designed to alter us, and purge us from the ungodly (Malachi 3:2-3).

The details of how circumstances can help us prepare for the kingdom of God are frequently beyond our immediate comprehension, but a complete understanding is not necessary (1 Corinthians 13:12).  What is necessary is having enough faith and desire to do what is right regardless of the circumstances (Hebrews 11:6).

The difficulties that came upon Job were not without purpose.  In his extremity, he learned that he could hold to what was right and true even when it was excruciatingly difficult.  He trusted that, no matter what, God would make things right in the end:

"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. He also shall be my salvation" (Job 13:15-16)

Ultimately, the question for each Christian is "will I follow the Lord only when it is convenient?"  If faith is conditional, it is not strong enough to bring the changing power of Jesus Christ.  As he explained, only those who hear and do that which he taught will have a strong enough foundation to weather the tempests of life (Matthew 7:24-27).

In the end, the purposes of all things will be understood, and those who, like Job, keep faith regardless of circumstances, will be as they were before the foundations of the earth... they will sing together and shout for joy!

The Prophet said something I don't like... now what?

God has used prophets in nearly all his dealings with mankind.  From Moses to John the Baptist, and from the Apostle Peter to the Apostle Paul, God has spoken words of counsel, comfort, and correction through his chosen servants.

Sometimes these messages are received, but frequently, these words are rejected.  Prophets are asked to speak unpopular things.  Who wants to hear that they are bad and in need of repentance, especially when there are those who will quote a couple scriptures and tell you about how much you deserve good things?  Samuel, a Lamanite prophet, observed this tendency:

"Behold ye are worse than they; for as the Lord liveth, if a prophet come among you and declareth unto you the word of the Lord, which testifieth of your sins and iniquities, ye are angry with him, and cast him out and seek all manner of ways to destroy him; yea, you will say that he is a false prophet, and that he is a sinner, and of the devil, because he testifieth that your deeds are evil. But behold, if a man shall come among you and shall say: Do this, and there is no iniquity; do that and ye shall not suffer; yea, he will say: Walk after the pride of your own hearts; yea, walk after the pride of your eyes, and do whatsoever your heart desireth—and if a man shall come among you and say this, ye will receive him, and say that he is a prophet. Yea, ye will lift him up, and ye will give unto him of your substance; ye will give unto him of your gold, and of your silver, and ye will clothe him with costly apparel; and because he speaketh flattering words unto you, and he saith that all is well, then ye will not find fault with him." (Helaman 13:26-28)

In modern times, people have found fault with any number of policies.  Prophets who have advocated for defending marriage between a man and a woman (The Family: A Proclamation to the World), or who have warned of the perils of socialism (Ezra Taft Benson), or who have counseled against civil disobedience (Kentucky County Clerk issue).

Of course, prophets are not infallible... they are men, and all men except Jesus Christ have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).  Jonah was swallowed by a whale, Moses was reprimanded for handling situations with his family and with Israel, the brother of Jared was chastised for hours because of the infrequency of his prayer, and Isaiah confessed that he was a man of unclean lips.

That having been said, when a prophet speaks as instructed by God, it is intended that their counsel be received and accepted.  Jesus himself taught:

"He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward." (Matthew 10:41)

While there are false prophets, God tends to be a bit more careful about what his actual prophets are permitted to say.  Consider this lesser known story from the book of Kings:

"And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the Lord unto Beth-el: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. And he cried against the altar in the word of the Lord, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the Lord; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee. And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the Lord hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out. And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Beth-el, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him. The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the Lord." (1 Kings 13:1-5)

At first, this story is fairly straightforward.  Jeroboam the son of Nebat had forsaken the worship of the Lord for political reasons, and a prophet of Judah spoke the words that God had given him.  He had been commanded not to eat or drink, and to travel in a particular way, and because he had done exactly as he had been commanded, the power of God was made manifest.

Recognizing the power of the Lord, Jeroboam asked that the prophet pray for his hand.  When he had, Jeroboam's hand was restored.  Unfortunately, Jeroboam's belief stopped when he had what he thought he needed.  The prophet of Judah began his journey back, and here is where the story takes an unexpected turn:

"Now there dwelt an old prophet in Beth-el; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God had done that day in Beth-el: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father... 

"And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him, Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I am. Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread. And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place: For it was said to me by the word of the Lord, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest.

"He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him. So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water.

 "And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the Lord came unto the prophet that brought him back: And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Forasmuch as thou hast disobeyed the mouth of the Lord, and hast not kept the commandment which the Lord thy God commanded thee, But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the Lord did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers.

"And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, for the prophet whom he had brought back. And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase." (1 Kings 13:11-24)

Because God expects his children to follow his prophets, he carefully ensures that they represent him properly.  As Wilford Woodruff taught, "The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so He will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty."  This means you don't have to worry that the Prophet is leading you down the wrong path.

So if the Prophet of the Lord has said something that makes you feel uncomfortable, or suggested an idea that is not in harmony with your political or social beliefs, or has advocated for anything else that you don't like... it's a good bet that following the prophet is the best way to feel better about it.  

God did not send you to earth only to hear pleasant things, or have a leisurely life, but to help you reach your ultimate potential.  The path of Christ was never meant to be easy, why should the words of his prophets always be easy to hear?  He himself said: "And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:38)

Those who have heeded the counsel of Christ's prophets and apostles, whether they liked it or not, will be those who are prepared for his return.