inquiringmind Posted June 23, 2012 Posted June 23, 2012 Does anyone know the historical background behind Doctrine and Covenants 50?What were the specific false teachings that were being taught in the Church at the time, who was teaching them, and did they repent?There's another topic heading on when God allows people to be decieved, and what I've gotten out of it is that He may allow them to be deceived when their hearts aren't right.But that leaves a lot of other questions in my mind.Does God only allow lost people (or people who are being lost) to be deceived?II can't think of any Old Testament Prophet or New Testament Saint who was temporarily deceived, and then turned around and said "oops, I was mistaken."What of the the people spoken of here in D&C 50?Did God allow them to be temporarily deceived?Why?Did it serve some purpose?And did they get back on the right path when they recognized it?
Calm Posted June 23, 2012 Posted June 23, 2012 Saints without halos is usually a good source for historical info: http://www.saintswithouthalos.org/c/1831.phtml
Calm Posted June 23, 2012 Posted June 23, 2012 http://institute.lds.org/manuals/doctrine-and-covenants-institute-student-manual/dc-in-041-50.aspDuring all dispensations when the gospel has been on the earth, Satan has devised ways to counterfeit revelation. The Prophet Joseph Smith observed: “Soon after the Gospel was established in Kirtland, and during the absence of the authorities of the Church, many false spirits were introduced, many strange visions were seen, and wild, enthusiastic notions were entertained: men ran out of doors under the influence of this spirit, and some of them got upon the stumps of trees and shouted, and all kinds of extravagances were entered into by them; one man pursued a ball that he said he saw flying in the air, until he came to a precipice, when he jumped into the top of a tree, which saved his life; and many ridiculous things were entered into, calculated to bring disgrace upon the Church of God, to cause the Spirit of God to be withdrawn, and to uproot and destroy those glorious principles which had been developed for the salvation of the human family.” ( History of the Church, 4:580.)John Whitmer wrote: “Some had visions and could not tell what they saw, some would fancy to themselves that they had the sword of Laban, and would wield it as expert as a light dragoon; some would act like an Indian in the act of scalping; some would slide or scoot on the floor with the rapidity of a serpent, which they termed sailing in the boat to the Lamanites, preaching the gospel. And many other vain and foolish maneuvers that are unseeming and unprofitable to mention. Thus the devil blinded the eyes of some good and honest disciples. I write these things to show how ignorant and undiscerning children are, and how easy mankind is led astray, notwithstanding the things of God that are written concerning his kingdom.” (“Church History,” Journal of History, Jan. 1908, p. 55.)Elder Parley P. Pratt was also a witness to these unusual operations:“All these things were new and strange to me, and had originated in the Church during the absence, and previous to the arrival of President Joseph Smith from New York.“Feeling our weakness and inexperience, and lest we should err in judgment concerning the spiritual phenomena, myself, John Murdock, and several other Elders, went to Joseph Smith, and asked him to inquire of the Lord concerning these spirits or manifestations.” ( Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, pp. 61–62.)Section 50 was the response to that inquiry.
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