Speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits

Over the last few months, my personal scripture study has focused on the book of Isaiah. The last week or so, I have been in chapters 29 and 30. This afternoon, I came across verses 9 and 10, which gave me pause:

This is a rebellious people . . . which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits

Isaiah 30:9–10

As I read it, my mind immediately thought upon members of the church and how they might interpret this scripture.

First, I can see them saying that this “rebellious people Isaiah speaks of certainly isn’t them. Second, I can see them saying that the “right things” Isaiah are the commandments, or other things church leaders ask us to do. Finally, because this rebellious people are asking the seers and prophets to speak “smooth things” and “deceits”, I can see them thinking that the rebellious people is unfaithful members, apostate members, ex-Mormons, and even secular people who have never been members of the church.

But as I considered it some more, I wondered if maybe mainstream members—what the Bloggernacle refers to as TBM (true blue members)—could be considered this rebellious people.

You see, Mormons only see their beliefs and practices as hard or difficult from the perspective that the outside world doesn’t live that way. But Mormons are raised to believe and practice these things; they aren’t hard for them. It’s never a real challenge to not smoke, or to fast, or to not swear. It’s not a real sacrifice; we’re not really giving up something to believe or do these things.

And when we are asked to do something new, it still isn’t that difficult. Switching from home teaching to ministering, or implementing Come Follow Me curriculum, or doing a Book of Mormon challenge are recent examples of things church leaders have asked members to do. None of them require us to drastically change our behaviour or mindset.

Contrast that with what Jesus taught.

For example, to the young, rich man: “Go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor”. (Matt. 19:21) Can you imagine patriotic, Republican, American Mormons heeding this counsel if it came from the prophet?

Or to those gathered for the Sermon on the Mount: “Judge not”. (Matt. 7:1) Mormons are the judgiest people I know. I can only imagine how difficult this commandment must be for them.

Or to the church in D&C 49:20, when he says “it is not given that one man should possess that which is above another”. How could Mormons—with their incessant drive for wealth seeking through NuSkin, doTERRA, Melaleuca, and others—ever give up the potential for riches so that everyone could have their temporal needs met?

No, honestly, these verses in Isaiah easily could be talking about TBMs. They want commandments and admonitions that underscore their current ways of life, that never challenge their paradigms or how they view outsiders.