Guide Us, O Thou Great Jehovah

I've started to write several posts the past two weeks to offer my thoughts about the things that have been in the news and on the internet and "bloggernacle" lately about the LDS Church~ thoughts that go along with others who have written about the subjects women and the priesthood, excommunication & apostasy, and things like that. (I recommend those two posts above) Who is right - Ordain Women or the Church? Who do we follow - The Brethren or Denver Snuffer? Who is being led by the Lord? Guide me, O thou Great Jehovah! I want to be led by thee.

So, the answers always come through prayer and study. I found this quote in the Joseph F. Smith manual (Chapter 13) this week and I think it pretty much sums it up for me:

From the days of Hiram Page (Doc. and Cov, Sec. D&C 28), at different periods there have been manifestations from delusive spirits to members of the Church. Sometimes these have come to men and women who because of transgression became easy prey to the Arch-Deceiver. At other times people who pride themselves on their strict observance of the rules and ordinances and ceremonies of the Church are led astray by false spirits, who exercise an influence so imitative of that which proceeds from a Divine source that even these persons, who think they are “the very elect,” find it difficult to discern the essential difference [Matthew 24:24]. Satan himself has transformed himself to be apparently “an angel of light” [2 Corinthians 11:14; 2 Nephi 9:9].

When visions, dreams, tongues, prophecy, impressions or any extraordinary gift or inspiration conveys something out of harmony with the accepted revelations of the Church or contrary to the decisions of its constituted authorities, Latter-day Saints may know that it is not of God, no matter how plausible it may appear. Also they should understand that directions for the guidance of the Church will come, by revelation, through the head. All faithful members are entitled to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit for themselves, their families, and for those over whom they are appointed and ordained to preside. But anything at discord with that which comes from God through the head of the Church is not to be received as authoritative or reliable.⁶

and here's another quote by him from the beginning of that same chapter:

Among the Latter-day Saints, the preaching of false doctrines disguised as truths of the gospel, may be expected from people of two classes, and practically from these only; they are:

First—The hopelessly ignorant, whose lack of intelligence is due to their indolence and sloth, who make but feeble effort, if indeed any at all, to better themselves by reading and study; those who are afflicted with a dread disease that may develop into an incurable malady—laziness.

Second—The proud and self-vaunting ones, who read by the lamp of their own conceit; who interpret by rules of their own contriving; who have become a law unto themselves, and so pose as the sole judges of their own doings. More dangerously ignorant than the first.

Beware of the lazy and the proud.⁴

Strength to persevere through the midsts of darkness will come to us as we hear and hearken to the Lord's servants the prophets. Quote above by Elder Neil L. Anderson (I am loving these conference posters!)