Church Claims Activism a Tactic of Satan and Gaslights Members

Brother Ahmad S. Corbitt, the then First Counselor in the Young Men General Presidency, gave a talk to LDS Chaplains, on October 4, 2022, in which he teaches against activism directed towards the church. He doesn’t want members getting any ideas that they can influence or change things the church does by criticizing, complaining, or protesting things. Ahmad has since been “promoted” in the church rankings and is now Elder Corbitt, a General Authority Seventy. SO the church leaders must have appreciated the tightrope line he walked in this talk of seeming to care about causes, but also allowing the church to ignore them and excommunicate anyone who may raise concerns questioning the church policies, leaders, or motivations.

Brother Ahmad S. Corbitt teaches that activism against (or towards) the Church can blind, and mislead ‘valiant’ souls. He states that “activism toward the Church” or as he calls it ATC, “is one of the most masterful deceptions of our time.” This is some strong language for activists, one might argue that something else better fits the description of “one of the most masterful deceptions of our time.” What about a church that demands absolute authority over adherents, calls any criticism a sin, and lies to avoid transparency or accountability?

He details that the devil gets unsuspecting members to fall for his tricks by presenting them with real (or imagined) unfairness or injustice in the church and the imperfections of the leaders. The devil gets members to feel disillusioned torward these unjust policies and the leaders behind such policies.

Consider the alternative. A righteous and principled member sees injustices in the church and learns things that are contrary to how the church presented its own doctrins and history. They become disillusioned because the church has lied to them and they lose respect and reverence for these church leaders when they realize that they are not called of God and are not even good people.

He claims that any ATC deteriorates faith in the church and thus in Jesus. What about those who find their faith in Jesus by following the principles taught in the church and realize the church is the problem, it is barely a Christian organization by example. The church is more concerned about the name of the church, good publicity, and obedient members than it is in doing the right thing. Church leaders will lie to grow the church, they will cheat and mislead people to grow the church investments, they will promote a false narrative in order to promote faith. The only problem is, faith is a false narrative is not sustainable. They have really painted themselves into a corner and must now rewrite the narrative on the fly, hoping that members don’t realize it. Or they promote talks like this which tell the members that they should only praise the new narrative, and not point out the issues, because that obviously is not of God. Be a good submissive sheep and give the leaders a break. They’re bring as transparent and honest as they know how to be.

Elder Corbitt dismisses the agitators and those who are doing all they can to make the church accountable and make the church a more healthy environment. He states simply that they are using the wrong tool for the wrong job and in the wrong place. What does he suggest is the right tool, or the right job or the right place? We should wait for a prophet to fix it? We should wait for a church president who cares? Wait for them to actually hear true promptings from God that the should prioritize feeding the hungry over amassing the biggest rainy day hedge fund imaginable? We lowly individuals need to trust that God will fix everything in his own timing and only through his church. Perhaps God has already told these secrets to his servants the prophets. Maybe these leaders are spiritually deaf and more concerned with their legacies and church nicknames than with reconciling huge church issues. These leaders are happy at the top, why would they attempt any real or significant change?

Elder Corbitt does explain that activism toward the church erodes faith in the church. This is an astute statement. Take the story of Sam Young for example, he desperately tried to right the wrongs of the church and protect children from dangeroud sexually based interviews with Bishops in the church. He was once a Bishop, he tried to do it the right way and pass his concerns up the chain of command. He saw nothing happen or change. He then brought attention to the issue and finally staged a hunger strike to raise awareness and get any attention from the church leadership. He invited any of them to come and talk with him and read from the thousands of stories he’d collected that showed this practice was harmful and wrong. No one came. The only message he received was discipline. He was finally excommunicated from the church for speaking up for what he felt was right. He felt called of God to make a change, and the church marginalized him, silenced him and rejected him from the community. The church revoked his membership in the church and expelled him from heaven. Do you think this experience

He wants members to just sit around and suffer, waiting for church leadership to get around to “changing the lightbulb.” He points out that when a lightbulb needs changing, a hammer is not the proper tool, and thus we should never complain or lend ear to activists pointing out what the church is doing wrong. We should just let the prophet direct changing the lightbulb in the Lord’s timing.

ATC will always drive its followers to find other issues? Perhaps this is like the church history whack-a-mole Elder Renlund mentioned in his horrific talk about those who leave the church. Once you allow yourself to see any issues in the church, and claim the authority (which the church strips from members) to speak up about it, you can not stay silent. This is true, but perhaps it should be more a red flag that there are so many issues to find.

Hold up! Did he actually say that ATC gaslights members? HE then goes further and says that ATC makes people close-minded and becuse they have “all the information it requires, there is no need for questions.” This does not sound like any activists I have ever heard of or known. This honestly sounds more like the church. They gaslight members completely, which is what he is doing here. The church forbids members from looking at external resources and even in this very talk tells members that there’s no need for questions because the church has all the information already. The church wants us to just have faith in Jesus, which equates to having faith in the church and the church leaders completely. They want this to be the same thing. They want members who criticize leaders to feel like they are criticizing Jesus himself. The church (and church leaders) are a poor substitute for Jesus though. It is not the same thing!

He wraps up the talk with his final point showing that activism is not of God because it fosters contention, and thus is of the devil. It could be argued, by the same exact logic, that the harmful doctrines, practices and policies of the church are not of God becasue they also have caused contention. If the policies were not so harmful, there would be nothing to protest or motivate such activism toward the church. Thus, using his twisted doublespeak here, the church is clearly of the devil.

This talk is not only completely stupid, but it’s also dangerous. Is he comparing shock therapy to treat homosexuality, rempant sexual abuse by church leaders, and institutionalized and doctrinaly based racism to changing a lightbulb? We should just sit around and wait for the leadership to notice these issues and fix them on their own right? It wont take long, since they are true prophets of God. Except how long did it take the church to lift the priesthood ban? How many years after the Federal Government passed laws making segregation and the like illegal? The church was woefully behind the times, and that was with many members being outspoken about the racist doctrines and policies. The doctrines are still today racist in the scriptures when talking about dark skin being a curse for wickedness! Imagine how long the church would have voluntarily removed the ban if the civil rights movement hadn’t happened. That’s like imagining how long the slaveholders would have freed all their slaves of their own volition and choice. It may never have happened!

James C. Jones, a Black Latter-day Saint who is studying at Union Theological Seminary in New York, concedes that activism toward the church “can be employed in problematic ways to problematic ends.”

But believing that it is “always a tool of the adversary that undermines the doctrine of Christ is flawed,” says Jones, who has written a video course for members on abandoning attitudes and actions of prejudice. That assumes that such activism “cannot be Christ-centered or Christ-inspired.”

Latter-day Saints covenant to “stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things and in all places,” he says, “which of necessity means we stand against any actions or policies that denigrate the [image of God] in any of God’s children.”

If church leaders are engaging in problematic behavior, Jones asks, “then what are members supposed to do exactly?”

Unqualified faith in the brethren, he says, “is not actually a gospel principle.” Is losing faith in them the same as “losing faith in Christ? Is condemning functionally queerphobic policies causing more faith crises than the queerphobic policies themselves?”

In his speech, Corbitt proposes talking to local lay leaders and then letting them send the message up the hierarchical ladder, Jones says. “When it comes to fighting injustices on an institutional level, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to be able to successfully address injustices within the parameters of the same institution that put the injustices in place. No advancement of Black people in America, for example, came by way of just doing what white people told us to do.”

James C. Jones, who has produced a new anti-racism course for Latter-day Saints, says activism can be “Christ-centered” and “Christ-inspired.” – Is pushing for change within the LDS Church a ‘tactic of Satan’? A top leader thinks so. Others see activism as constructive, not destructive, and a sign of “genuine discipleship.” by Peggy Fletcher Stack, Nov. 24, 2022
https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2022/11/24/is-pushing-change-within-lds/

This talk makes the case that the church has a free pass to do whatever it wishes and the membership needs to grin and bear it. It’s not our place to point out when we’ve been wronged or when something is incorrect, that conflicts with the priesthood authority of God apparently. This kind of thought is what gets us expecting that when the leadership has spoken, the thinking is done, and we must step inline and conform and follow the leader. This makes lemmings of us all, which is fitting as we are constantly compared to sheep. The problem is, the flock requires a true shepherd, not a wolf in sheeps clothing. Once you give someone or some church that much authority and control, you will never get it back without a fight.

Governments are set up for this very reason, they have checks and balances so that no one branch or person in government can take too much power for themselves.

Where Does Church Change Come From?

Must it come from church leaders? Or do church members have any influence or path to change things? The church has made quite a few changes over the last 200 hundred years:

• Polygamy
• Priesthood Ban
• November Policy
• Sexual Interviews with Youth
• Women’s Roles
• Gosepl Topic Essays

The church secretly practiced polygamy, then adopted it openly, and then banned it with an Official Declaration. The doctrine changed when the government threatened to shut down the church and miraculously God simultaneously told President Wilford Woodruff to stop the practice.

The church, under Brigham Young in 1852, started the practice of denying priesthood to Black members of the church, and then 126 years later, in 1978, celebrated the day they decided to say that God lifted the ban. After decades of preaching and spinning doctrine to support the racist priesthood ban, they then announced that these explanations from top church officials were mere speculations and folklore. The church was facing social pressures to lift the ban, there were members opposing sustaining church leaders, lawsuits, membership in Brazil to consider and even the BYU accreditation being threatened. Suddenly God spoke to lift the ban, he spoke in a boardroom meeting style, not as one might hope with angels and flaming swords. Those types of visitations are saved for forcing the prophet Joseph to entice teenage wives into secret relationships.

The church was caught creating a controversial policy regarding LGBT families, and were forced to discuss it publicly. Church leaders stated that the policy was based on love and received by revelation. But many people were upset and voiced that the policy to ban children of gay couples baptism was actually harmful. Surprisingly, the church then reverted the policy shortly afterward, again claiming revelation from God. Are we to believe that God revealed a harmful policy to church leaders, church members voiced concern, many resigned from the church, and then God reveals to the same exact leaders just four years later that the policy should be reverted? This shows that not only do the church leaders listen to activists, but God himself does. This also shows that church leaders make mistakes, or does it show that God makes mistakes or lacks foresight and insight? Is it God that did this or does this show that the church leaders do not have the direct connection to God that they claim to have?

Sexually Explicit Interviews for Minors still occur, but the church now allows parents to attend these interviews with their children. This is thanks to Sam Young and his Hunger Strike advocacy to Protect LDS Children.

Women are now allowed to sit on the stand at general conferences. They are even called (rarely) to pray during conferences. They have now been allowed to act as witnesses for baptisms and these changes followed shortly after (though with a long enough span for plausible deniability) the Ordain Women Movement led by Kate Kelly.

Church publishes Gospel Topic Essays and works to shift church history narratives – John Dehlin and Bill Reel – podcasters excommunicated for openly discussing issues After the Personal Faith Crisis Report was presented church leaders quietly published the Gospel topic essays in hopes to apologetically answer some key questions of those who were already asking, but not introduce anyone to any questions they didn’t already have.

To the outside observer, it seems obvious that these changes were brought about by outside influences. But Brother Corbitt declares that when church members side with these external influences, they are in the wrong. He says this is “a tactic of Satan…to blind and mislead the young.”

Ahmad S. Corbitt

Ahmad S. Corbitt is from Philadelphia and one of ten children. During much of his boyhood and youth, Ahmad and his family had worshipped with the Nation of Islam, and he was later baptized Protestant. He worked as a trial lawyer in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, then as vice president and general counsel of a public relations firm in New York City. He also worked in public relations and legal affairs for a company in Delaware. He completed a four-year appointment by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a member of the New Jersey Ethics Committee, which oversaw ethics complaints against lawyers.  He is admitted to the bars of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York and is also a member of the Public Relations Society of America and the International Radio and Television Society. One would think with his legal and ethics background, he would be a strong defender of the rights of the people rather than a staunch defender of the infaliablity of the church and its top leadership.

Notably, he married in the mid-eighties, against the counsel of the church to a woman with a different racial background. He has successfully been a mixed-race couple and raised six children. Is he changing a lightbulb with a hammer here? The church has yet to change its advice to marry your own kind and avoid interracial marriages. Is Brother Corbitt an activist or a submissive follower? What gives? He didn’t follow the counsel of his leaders, and is now prospering and even rising in the ranks of the church.

As reported on in the Salt Lake Tribune, this talk suggests that believing members should just wait for the prophet to “change the light bulb.”

When activism or advocacy “is directed at the kingdom of God on earth or its leaders, especially prophets and apostles, it is the wrong tool for the wrong job in the wrong place,” Ahmad Corbitt told a group of Latter-day Saint chaplains last month. “Why? Because it effectively but subtly undermines the doctrine of Christ, which is God’s plan for changing, saving and exalting his children.”

In his speech, “Activism vs. Discipleship: Protecting the Valiant,” Corbitt, first counselor in the church’s Young Men general presidency, warned that any “activism toward the church” that could weaken confidence in church leaders “is obviously not of God.”

Some activist causes are “important or good or often pursued in good faith,” said the Black Latter-day Saint leader. “I tend to agree with many of [their] underlying causes. …A light bulb must be changed to avoid darkness and restore light. My simple point is a hammer is not the right tool for that job.”

In other words, believing members should sustain the status quo and wait for the prophet to “change the light bulb.”

Is pushing for change within the LDS Church a ‘tactic of Satan’? A top leader thinks so. Others see activism as constructive, not destructive, and a sign of “genuine discipleship.” by Peggy Fletcher Stack, Nov. 24, 2022
https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2022/11/24/is-pushing-change-within-lds/

Activism versus Discipleship, Protecting the Valiant

Here is the full content of his speech:

Activism vs Discipleship: A Message for Chaplains of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Imagine a battalion of valiant spirits in the premortal world! Their hearts are brim with the love of God, their Father. They trust Him and His plan for His children. The countenances of their spirit faces radiate the resplendent light of Jesus Christ, who smiles upon them. They bask in the brilliance of God’s attributes and principles, including love, truth, obedience, faith, loyalty, mercy, fairness and equity. In the war in heaven, they actively follow our great Advocate with the Father to bring to pass the eternal life of their brothers and sisters and themselves. These noble and great spirit sons and daughters of God are destined to similar godly purpose and power in this world. Ultimately, they overcome Satan who “is cast down to earth, and his angels are cast down with him.”¹

Now, think of these same spirits as today’s youth and young adults in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in that continued war. A veil of forgetfulness over their minds, they perhaps only faintly feel their purpose and too often doubt their great capacity to carry it out. President Russell M. Nelson has said, “My beloved younger brothers and sisters, you are among the best the Lord has ever sent to this world. You have the capacity to be smarter and wiser and have more impact on the world than any previous generation.”² He called them to be “the Lord’s youth battalion to help gather Israel”³ before the Savior’s Second Coming. If we are to help the rising generation and all God’s valiant children realize their divine potential, it is imperative that we understand the stratagems of their enemy, Satan. Thirty years ago, President Dallin H. Oaks helped the youthful of that generation understand the importance of anticipating this enemy. He warned, “Satan uses every possible device to degrade and enslave every soul[,]” including “camouflaging that which is evil” and “attacking us where we think we are strong[.]”⁴

Today, I would like to address an especially effective tactic Satan is using to blind and mislead the young, those transitioning from other religious traditions and cultures, and even long-time and life-time members of the Lord’s restored church. In my humble view, it is one of the great mists of darkness of our time. I speak of our enemy’s effort to transform disciples of Jesus Christ into activists towards or against the Lord’s church – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – and its leaders. It is a three-step maneuver that is genius in its simplicity and effectiveness: (1) focus the rising generation and the valiant generally away from the doctrine of Christ and onto real or imagined unfairness or injustice in the Lord’s church and the imperfections of its leaders; (2) use this shift in focus to stir up feelings of disillusionment, annoyance, resentment, anger and hatred toward church policies, declarations, proclamations, principles, doctrines and eventually leaders; and (3) manipulate these negative impulses to instigate the use of worldly or secular activism or advocacy rather than the doctrine of Christ to effect change in the Kingdom of God. You may be thinking these tactics seem to match and leverage the feelings of equity, justice, love and sense of gathering mission inherent in the souls of the premortal valiant. You are wise to think so.

What do I mean by activism toward the Church? “Activism” has been defined as “the policy or action of using (campaigning or) vigorous campaigning to bring about political or social change”⁵ “especially in support of or opposition to one side of a controversial issue.”⁶ Thus, activism or advocacy directed toward or against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a secular, worldly device misapplied in a spiritual, otherworldly context. To be sure, righteous change is needed in our church. For example, members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve have spoken out against prejudice in any form.⁷ The Savior organized His church in large part to effect positive change of many kinds in God’s children. But change in the Kingdom of God is not accomplished in the same way as change in, say, government. The faulty assumption is that because some of the same social ills in secular society occasionally rear their ugly heads in the Lord’s church⁸ the same remedial methods and manners should be used in both contexts.

Is Brother Corbitt saying activism and advocacy are bad? Not at all. Like all Americans, and arguably most people on earth, you and I and our families are beneficiaries of activism. The United States was founded on and through activism and advocacy by activists. The Boston Tea Party, the formation of the Continental Congress, and the Revolutionary War were all forms of activism. The United States Constitution’s Bill of Rights specifically permits activism and prohibits government from abridging forms of it, such as “the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”⁹ “When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another…”¹⁰ is the solemn preamble of one of the most activist yet revered and celebrated documents ever conceived by humankind. The Declaration of Independence continues, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”¹¹ This was an activist statement and a noble and courageous one. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. famously quoted many of these venerated words as he led the activist movement for justice and equality for black Americans. Calling on America to live up to its founding creeds, He advocated for the just and universal application of these same constitutional principles. You and I are, of course, also beneficiaries of this activism, as well, since the Lord inspired the United States Constitution “for the rights and protection of all flesh.”¹²

However, when activism or advocacy is directed at the Kingdom of God on earth or its leaders, especially prophets and apostles, it is the wrong tool for the wrong job in the wrong place. Why? Because it effectively but subtly undermines the doctrine of Christ, which is God’s plan for changing, saving and exalting His children. How timely is the recent declaration of the Lord’s prophet, “There has never been a time in the history of the world when knowledge of our Savior is more personally vital and relevant to every human soul. … The pure doctrine of Christ is powerful. It changes the life of everyone who understands it and seeks to implement it in his or her life.”¹³ As I speak further on the threat to the doctrine of Christ, may I humbly suggest you, as chaplains, and your families, consider the following three points:

(1) We must be especially sensitive to the more vulnerable.

As you know, our brothers and sisters in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have various backgrounds. Some are too young or too focused on church culture to adequately understand what the doctrine of Christ is. Some will have lost sight of the Church’s purpose to administer the ordinances of salvation and exaltation and will see it as more of a social organization to be distrusted, like worldly institutions, generally. Those who have a critical or faultfinding nature are especially susceptible to this deception. Some who come from other faiths, as I did, will not have doctrinally transitioned enough to understand the doctrine of Christ or its importance. They will likely only know and trust the telestial tools they’ve seen used in the world. We will have to help them see why the doctrine of Christ should have priority over all other causes, why it should always govern our methods and manners, and why it is our only real hope to accomplish any righteous change or cause.

(2) We must recognize who these our brothers and sisters are or they tend to be.

Among the many important lessons I take from the Book of Mormon is the principle that we cannot always judge others’ premortal righteousness by their current state of confusion or even rebellion. Although foreordained to lead and gather among their civilization, Alma the Younger and the sons of Mosiah, during their younger years, allowed Satan to misdirect their inherent capacity and possibly an innate sense of purpose. Once converted, they engaged in their true purpose, the work of salvation and exaltation, including the gathering of Israel. Their experience, and that of their parents, also teach us that our examples and prayers of faith on behalf of those who are vigorously misguided can be powerful and effectual.¹⁴ This story of redemption of the errant valiant makes the Prophet’s call to today’s rising generation to help gather Israel more timely and urgent. The same is true of his teaching them of their true identities, about which I will say more.

Recognizing valiant spirits can be misguided in these ways, I will separate them from their method to show love and respect for them. Therefore, I will speak not of individuals but of activism toward The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as if it were an entity, much like Paul and Mormon discuss charity, which “thinketh no evil and is not puffed up[.]”¹⁵ To further distinguish this method from our valued brothers and sisters, as I speak of this entity, I will give it its own initials, ATC – activism toward The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.¹⁶

(3) We must focus those we serve and ourselves on the doctrine of Christ and help them see how ATC can be seriously harmful.

For most of this talk, I will address just some of the ways in which ATC undermines the doctrine of Christ, in my view by design. As you know, this fundamental doctrine consists of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. Although ATC militates against every one of these principles, time allows for discussion of only some of its impacts on the first, faith in Jesus Christ. In my view, all subsequent aspects of the doctrine of Christ flow from and are powered by faith in Christ anyway. Therefore, as ATC weakens faith, it undermines all the others.

In my experience, ATC rarely starts by saying, “Don’t have faith in Jesus Christ.” Rather, it diminishes faith in Christ and trust in God indirectly. Its pattern is to first undermine faith in Church leaders. Here’s how I’ve seen this work. Activism rightly recognizes the popular truism that power corrupts. Activists tend to naturally suspect the powerful. The United States Constitution, with its multiple checks and balances, is a monument to distrust of human nature as it relates to government or popular power and authority. Such distrust is often essential to gaining or retaining basic freedoms.¹⁷

But this distrust is the very opposite of the faith the Lord requires of His covenant people in Himself, His prophets and apostles, and those they direct. He established His apostles as an extension of Himself. Jesus prayed, “that (His apostles) may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.”¹⁸ Elsewhere He revealed, “[H]e that receiveth my servants receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth my Father.”¹⁹ “Wherefore, meaning the church,” the Lord said, “thou shalt give heed unto all (the Prophet’s) words and commandments … For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.”²⁰ He said, “Whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.”²¹ ATC’s criticism of the Lord’s prophets is actively working in the minds of some to decouple prophets from the prophetic line that runs from Joseph Smith to President Nelson. The Lord further declared the First Presidency should be “upheld by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the church.”²² Naturally, this same sustaining faith applies to the Twelve apostles who “officiate in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the Presidency of the Church, agreeable to the institution of heaven; to build up the church, and regulate all the affairs of the same in all nations…”²³ The Lord calls upon His covenant children to sustain other general and local church leaders called under the direction of the First Presidency and the Twelve. Thus, any activism or advocacy that could weaken one’s own or another’s “confidence, faith or prayer” in or on behalf of church leaders or diminish one’s ability to “give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles”²⁴ is obviously not of God. In my observation, such lack of faith inevitably leads to letting go of the Church entirely and losing the testimony of Jesus. Hence ATC often indirectly undermines faith in Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father knew only an infinitesimal fraction of His mortal children would meet the Savior of the world in person. Therefore, most would learn of Jesus and His doctrine through the witness of others. Chief among these mortal witnesses are His prophets and apostles or “special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world.”²⁵ Joseph Smith taught, “the fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets concerning Jesus Christ….”²⁶ Yet focusing on their imperfections, ATC opposes their testimony by undermining their credibility in the eyes of its followers. Masquerading as a higher and nobler cause, ATC instigates distrust of these leaders. In these ways, it weakens faith in them and their messages and potentially inhibits their ability to “regulate all the affairs of the (Church) in all nations[.]” As you can see, Lucifer gets a very efficient twofor. By seemingly customizing this deceptive approach to the valiant, he cleverly diminishes their real power (faith) and robs them of their true mission (the gathering). He effectively turns the gatherers into scatterers.

Let us also help our friends see that ATC is, therefore, a perfect strategy to lure them into not sustaining Church leaders. President Henry B. Eyring counseled the Church to ask ourselves, “Have I thought or spoken of human weakness in the people I have pledged to sustain?”²⁷ He reminded us, “These are imperfect human beings, as are you. Keeping your promises (to sustain them) will take unshakable faith that the Lord called them.”²⁸ But ATC focuses precisely on their human weakness rather than their strengths and mantles. In doing so, it subtly gives permission and justification for murmuring, backbiting and evil speaking of the Lord’s anointed, all deceptively cloaked as principled. Let us also be aware that ATC takes advantage of some of our newer or converting brothers and sisters who may not be used to this principle. Those who, contrary to President Nelson’s counsel, “rehearse their doubts with other doubters”²⁹ will be especially vulnerable to not sustaining their leaders and to ATC. But with our help, Isaiah’s insightful prophecy will come to pass in their lives: “they that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.”³⁰

Because ATC rejects Church leaders and their counsel, usually openly, it must somehow preserve a sense of religious sincerity or authenticity to effectively influence others. Thus, it produces catchphrases such as: “I don’t follow the Brethren, I follow Jesus Christ” or even “I am holding the Brethren accountable to do what’s right.” But these dangerous claims are as counter to Jesus’s own teachings as they are confused. “He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me.”³¹ “If they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.”³² By contrast, discipleship of Jesus Christ builds and expresses “confidence, faith and prayer” on behalf of Church leaders. It fulfills Abinadi’s prophecy that “every nation, kindred, tongue, and people shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring again Zion….”³³ Seeing eye to eye, especially with the Lord’s anointed, is vital to our salvation and necessary to fully and truly follow Jesus Christ.

Please do not misunderstand. I am not at all saying ATC’s causes are not important or good or often pursued in good faith. I tend to agree with many of ATC’s underlying causes as I’m sure you do. A light bulb must be changed to avoid darkness and restore light. My simple point is a hammer is not the right tool for that job. All needed and appropriate changes in the Kingdom of God are God’s work to bring to pass. And He has stated plainly, “Behold, … no one can assist in this work except he shall be humble and full of love, having faith, hope and charity, being temperate in all things, whatsoever shall be entrusted to his (or her) care.”³⁴ This higher, holier approach is the very opposite of ATC’s manners, methods and attributes. Also, ATC often claims the need to occasionally turn over tables, cast out money changers and cleanse the inner vessel. It misses that these vigorous actions of Jesus’s, in fulfillment of prophecy, were not toward the Lord’s church or its leaders. Rather, they were directed at movements that opposed the Church of Jesus Christ and His apostles. It was actually those not of His faith whom He called to repentance who became misguided activists toward His church. And we know the rest of that tragic, if necessary, outcome.

The Lord also said, “…I will give unto you a pattern in all things, that ye may not be deceived; for Satan … goeth forth deceiving the nations— … He (or she) that speaketh, whose spirit is contrite, whose language is meek and edifieth, the same is of God if he (or she) obey mine ordinances. … And again, he that is overcome and bringeth not forth fruits, even according to this pattern, is not of me. Wherefore, by this pattern ye shall know the spirits in all cases under the whole heavens.”³⁵ This standard also makes us wary of ATC’s worldly phrases like “your truth/my truth” which insulates ATC from “the truth.” Let us help those we serve apply this revealed pattern to all public or private actions and statements relating to the Church, including social media posts, media quotes and so on. Discipleship also recognizes that fundamentally, as Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught, “faith is always pointed toward the future.”³⁶ Borrowing Alma’s language, discipleship “look(s) forward with an eye of faith and view(s)”³⁷ the Lord’s promises of “perfect peace and harmony”³⁸ among all God’s children fulfilled. It then acts in faith to bring to pass such a vision. We might say ATC looks backward with an eye of judgment and condemns or looks sideways with an eye of scorn and finds fault. Because it “watch(es) for iniquity,”³⁹ ATC sits on the trash heap of disappointing history⁴⁰ recycling others’ real or imagined sins and shortcomings. Because it lacks faith, it does not easily forgive. It also finds fault with current attempts to regulate the affairs of the Church, chaining everyone involved to the past or present. I have personally seen examples where ATC has impeded needed progress in the Church by doing more harm than good, a result that often occurs when the wrong tool is used for a particular job. ATC generally ignores Church leaders’ positive features and accomplishments. So long as its ends are not achieved or its means embraced, there is nothing to acknowledge or for which to be grateful. By nature, ATC will always drive its followers to find other issues.

In diminishing faith, ATC effectively gaslights our dear brothers and sisters who engage in it – not in the sense that it manipulates them to question their own sanity, but in that it narrows minds, enlarges beams and blind spots, and invites judgmentalism all at once. Whereas discipleship says, “Lord is it I?” or “Help thou mine unbelief,” ATC rarely seeks to humbly understand others’ perspectives or experience or to meekly introspect. Because it has all the information it requires, there is no need for questions. Let me share a personal story. I don’t share it to be mean at all; it makes the point so keenly. Not long ago I received a letter from a sister who has been a dear friend since we were 18-year-old freshmen in college. As a brand-new convert, I admired and looked up to her as an example of gospel light and living, which she learned growing up in her suburban, Salt Lake City home and from her pioneer parents and forebears. After some catching up, she, incredible as it may seem, directed her letter to lecturing me about positions and actions I should be taking against the Church as a black man (in America.) Yes, ATC had gotten to her. Naturally, I was disappointed, saddened and worried. My friend’s mind was as closed and her judgment as certain as her blind spot was evident. She had no questions about my perspectives or experience; for ATC and its narrative had provided all the information she needed. Therefore, experiencing housing projects, poverty, race riots, running for my life from black gangs, from white gangs, dangerous public schools, family and friends victimized by violence, the Nation of Islam, the black church, the suburbs, thousands of criminal cases as a lawyer, legal work on racial profiling and fair housing – all facts, perspectives and experience were simply not inquired about by this very sweet person – so powerful is the might and so deceptive the allure of ATC.

Also, you are very likely aware of how President Nelson recently taught young adults (and the rest of us) that our primary identities as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are child of God, child of the covenant, and disciple of Jesus Christ.⁴¹ He said that other identifiers can be very important, but none should be elevated above these three.⁴² ATC, on the other hand, cleverly plays on cultural identities and seeks to elevate them above all else in the minds and hearts of its followers. It substitutes culturally familiar voices for divine ones. It also tends to increasingly segregate itself from others who think differently – especially the saints – and isolate itself in its own echo chamber. Chaplains, delicate though it is, you and I must help those to whom we minister avoid allowing their social identities to consume them. Their identities must not become the lens through which they see everything – or what Elder Gary E. Stevenson called a “spiritual eclipse.”⁴³ ATC fashions such lenses to obscure spirituality and calcify the beams that blind our friends.

Amazingly, even when ATC directly and publicly criticizes an apostle or prophet – modern-day verbal stoning – it often does not see itself as opposing the Kingdom. This mindset helps us understand how ancient Israel similarly rejected the prophets. For like reasons, Activism toward the Church dismisses prophetic priorities. When the Prophet declares the gathering of Israel “is the most important thing taking place on earth today,”⁴⁴ or that the doctrine of Christ is vital, ATC convinces its followers that’s just not true. When it comes to defending the United States Constitution and religious freedom, ATC says, “That’s not my issue” and “The prophets, seers and revelators just don’t get it.” Worse, ATC sometimes resents them for emphasizing other than its own issue. It misses the titanic issues of our time. Or, we may say ATC is like thrashing in quicksand. In either analogy, its methods sink the faith of its followers because, again, this approach undermines the doctrine of Christ.

Two more reasons why activism toward the Lord’s church is not of God. One obvious one is it almost invariably fosters contention. Jesus taught with great emphasis and clarity, “Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away.”⁴⁵ He famously taught contention “is of the devil.”⁴⁶ This obviously applies to all God’s children in any age and without regard to culture. The Lord also commanded, “Contend against no church save it be the church of the devil.”⁴⁷ Given this prohibition one can hardly justify a contentious approach toward the Lord’s own church. Yet ATC not only foments such contention but justifies it as noble.

Because ATC takes counsel from the world rather than Church leaders, it is easily influenced by similar secular movements or causes. ATC “teaches for doctrine the commandments of men, having a form of godliness but (denying) the power thereof.”⁴⁸ We must find ways to help our beloved brothers and sisters see that ATC is the world’s approach not the light of the world or a city on a hill. In my view, ATC is one of the most masterful deceptions of our time astutely spun by the “liar from the beginning”⁴⁹ who “deceiveth the whole world[.]”⁵⁰ He now has many thousands of years of practice and experience craftily and carefully overthrowing faith in Jesus Christ and in His servants. ATC is eerily similar to the premortal rebellion against God’s plan. That rebellion also apparently had a relentless focus on whether others were wrong. “[T]he accuser of our brethren is cast down, which did accuse them before our God day and night.”⁵¹ It, too, was supposedly in the interests of a greater good (our assured salvation). Like ATC, it was very effective, deceiving a third part of our Father’s spirit children in His presence.

How should we counsel church members who encounter injustice or mistreatment? The Lord has made much provision for accomplishing His work.⁵² These include making an appointment with local leaders, humbly and lovingly expressing concerns, sharing observations, even lodging formal complaints. Indeed, the Lord’s revealed system of sustaining and common consent invite and encourage such righteous approaches in the face of misconduct. As a local priesthood leader, I was the recipient of complaints regarding leaders at every level of Church government. When such complaints were properly approached, the complaining party and I were mutually edified, and we saw effective resolution of the issues legitimately raised. I can think of only one occasion when ATC got involved. A recently activated brother protested my teaching of The Family: A Proclamation to the World. He very publicly and obviously walked out of sacrament meeting during my talk. He also failed to sustain his leaders at various levels. As his stake president, I counseled him about the impropriety of his method and helped him understand the prophetic principles he had misunderstood. I might add that although his conduct was inappropriate, Church leaders continued to help him financially support his family and regain employment. We recognized who he really was, overlooked his lapse in judgment and taught him.

Additionally, as you know, the Lord has even established procedures for the discipline and/or removal of leaders who mistreat others or offend in other ways. President Eyring quoted President George Q. Cannon who warned: “God has chosen His servants. He claims it as His prerogative to condemn them, if they need condemnation. (But) He has not given it to us individually to censure and condemn them. No (one), however strong … in the faith, however high in the Priesthood, can speak evil of the Lord’s anointed and find fault with God’s authority on the earth without incurring His displeasure. The Holy Spirit will withdraw himself from such a (person), and he (or she) will go into darkness…”⁵³

The Lord has brought about significant change in His church through appropriate means and methods. Although these changes have affected all members of the body of Christ,⁵⁴ time permits brief mention of just a very few. Without fanfare, some have encouraged the removal of folklore about people of African descent from among the literature of the Kingdom. More recently, an appropriate and important effort was made to recognize the contributions of great black pioneers including motion pictures and the dedication of statues and memorials. President M. Russell Ballard, Elder D. Todd Christofferson and Brother Mauli Bonner, who appropriately and skillfully guided the Church to this important recognition, and others all attended this historic event. The First Presidency’s Be One program commemorating the 40th anniversary of the revelation on priesthood, President Nelson’s call for all of us to “lead out in abandoning attitudes and actions of prejudice”⁵⁵ against any of God’s children, and President Oaks’s counsel to “root out racism”⁵⁶ are all examples. In this last regard, we see that each instance of bigotry or prejudice in God’s kingdom not only spreads its obvious harm, it also opens the door to ATC to overthrow the doctrine of Christ among our children and our children’s children. I am a personal witness of significant changes of many kinds brought about by people of various backgrounds, all in the Lord’s way in council and often without credit. As Brother Marcus Martins once said in my presence: “We don’t need activism, we need activity.”

In conclusion, ATC is the wrong approach in the wrong setting applied in an over-the-top way. We have discussed (1) being sensitive to those who are more vulnerable to activism toward the Church, (2) recognizing that ATC’s followers are or tend to be very valiant souls, and (3) some of the perils of ATC, including how this enemy cleverly and effectively undermines the doctrine of Christ, especially faith in Jesus Christ. Let us help our valiant friends consider the following questions as they decide whether to pursue a cause or follow a particular approach: Does it promote the doctrine of Christ in our lives? Does it build faith in Christ, His atonement, His gospel and His promises? Does it lead others to trust God and be confident in the teachings and leadership of His servants? Is it faultfinding or critical of church leaders? Does it generate feelings of love for all others, or some form of anger? Does it foster harmony in Christ among all God’s children, or does it tend to divide? Does it seem more geared to advancing a narrative rather than the cause of Christ? In some cases, there is need to warn and urge change; does it do so consistent with gospel principles and methods or does it tend to rely on worldly wisdom or secular sayings and approaches? Is it contentious or does it introduce peace, unity and healing? Does it advance prophetic priorities?

May we all be effective and divinely guided in helping the rising generation and all our members use the higher, holier methods – especially faith in Christ – that the Lord, Himself, prescribed for changing hearts, minds and behavior, and to build a unified covenant people. I testify of Jesus Christ, His doctrine and its power to change us all and to return us all to Their presence in the Celestial Kingdom exalted as God’s children. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Footnotes

1. Revelation 12:10
2. Hope of Israel, Russell M. Nelson, June 3, 2018
3. Ibid.
4. Our Strengths Can Be Our Downfall, Dallin H. Oaks, BYU Devotional, June 7, 1992
5. Siri
6. Merriam-Webster online
7. See footnotes 54-55; see, also, Be One Commemoration, Russell M. Nelson and Dallin H. Oaks, June 1, 2018; and Be Not Weary in Well-doing, Elder Quentin L. Cook, August 24, 2020, The Doctrine of Belonging, Elder D. Todd Christofferson, General Conference, October 2022, The Need for Greater Kindness, Gordon B. Hinckley, General Conference, April 2006.
8. Ibid.
9. First Amendment, United States Constitution
10. United States Declaration of Independence
11. Ibid.
12. Doctrine and Covenants 101:77; also, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. famously said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
13. Pure Truth, Pure Doctrine, and Pure Revelation, Russell M. Nelson, General Conference, October 2021
14. See, generally, Mosiah 26-29
15. Moroni 7:45, 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
16. In using these initials, I am not replacing the name of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Rather, this is a literary device to help those who use activism toward the Church not take offense.
17. Going Forward in the Second Century, Dallin H. Oaks, BYU Devotional, September 13, 2022
18. John 17:22-23
19. Doctrine and Covenants 84:36-37
20. Doctrine and Covenants 21:4-5
21. Doctrine and Covenants 1:38
22. Doctrine and Covenants 107:22
23. Doctrine and Covenants 107:33
24. Doctrine and Covenants 1:14
25. Doctrine and Covenants 107:23
26. Elders’ Journal of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1838, Question 20th
27. The Power of Sustaining Faith, Henry B. Eyring, General Conference, April 2019
28. Ibid.
29. Christ is Risen, Faith in Him Will Move Mountains; Russell M. Nelson, General Conference, April 2021
30. Isaiah 29:24 2 Nephi 27:35
31. John 13:20
32. John 15:20
33. Mosiah 15:28-29; 16:1
34. Doctrine and Covenants 12:8
35. Doctrine and Covenants 52:14-19
36. “Remember Lot’s Wife”; Faith Is For The Future, Jeffrey R. Holland, BYU Devotional, January 13, 2009
37. Alma 5:15-16
38. Be One Commemoration, closing remarks, Russell M. Nelson, June 1, 2018.
39. Doctrine and Covenants 45:50; Isaiah 29:20
40. Learning, recording and citing history is of utmost importance. Even the Lord counsels to “obtain a knowledge of history[.]” However, He makes the context and purpose for doing so clear: “and all this for the salvation of Zion.” Doctrine and Covenants 93:53. The salvation of Zion is accomplished by the doctrine of Christ, including increasing faith in Christ.
41. Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults with President and Sister Nelson, May 15, 2022
42. Ibid.
43. Spiritual Eclipse, Gary E. Stevenson, General Conference, October 2017
44. Hope of Israel, Russell M. Nelson, June 3, 2018
45. 3 Nephi 11:30
46. 3 Nephi 11:29
47. Doctrine and Covenants 18:20
48. Joseph Smith History 1:19
49. Revelation 12:9
50. Ibid.
51. Revelation 12:10
52. 2 Nephi 27:21
53. The Power of Sustaining Faith, Henry B. Eyring, General Conference, April 2019
54. 1 Corinthians 12:12-26
55. Let God Prevail, Russell M. Nelson, General Conference, October 2020
56. Love Your Enemies, Dallin H. Oaks, General Conference, October 2020; see, also, Racism and Other Challenges, BYU Devotional, October 27, 2020.

Activism Vs Discipleship: A Message for Chaplains of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Brother Ahmad S. Corbitt, First Counselor in the Young Men General Presidency, Oct. 4, 2022
https://media2.ldscdn.org/assets/general-authority-features/2022-chaplain-training-seminar/2022-10-1000-activism-vs-discipleship-1080p-eng.mp4
https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24159863/Brother_Corbitt_Chaplain_seminar.pdf

Consider this hypothetical question, what if there were a wolf in sheeps clothing? What if a church leader were in imposter and an evil man. Let’s say he is called as a Bishop and molests children during his bishop duties. What is the proper recourse to call out his evil-doing? According to Corbitt, we would forgive this man his trespasses and expect that church leaders are not infallible, but suffer their weaknesses and only allow ourselves to consider his strengths and the mantle of his calling. We wouldn’t report him to the authorities, we wouldn’t even go above his head to the Stake President or other General Authorities. We would let the Lord take care of the problem on his own. Does the Lord stop this? Look at the news reports of men in church leadership positions who are taken into custody as sexual predators.

Consider this church leader does well in his other duties and advances to become a Stake leader, and then a mission leader. Consider he is a Mission President with access to young adults (Elders and Sisters) and molests them as well. What should these missionaries do? Should they participat in activism and try to get the church to do things to protect LDS children? Should they speak up and tell a visiting General Authority? These would be the wrong tool for the wrong job and the wrong time. We are to consider our faith above all else. Protecting an unshakable faith above voicing complaints or concerns is paramount. If we think ill of any church leader, this equates to a deterioration of our faith, and we are in danger of becoming a doubter.

If ATC (activism toward the church) is such an evil, what are the alternatives? We know we’re not supposed to contact General Authorities. We’re supposed to only study approved sources. We are not discuss our doubts with others. We shouldn’t criticize church leaders for their faults (even in our thoughts). We can’t expect activism to work toward the church, since it is like screwing in a lightbulb with a hammer, so what is the proper tool to screw in a lightbulb if not our own hands. Should we sit in darkness waiting for God himself to come down and change the light bulb? Should we wait for God to tell the prophet that this lightbuld is out and have him come change it himself, or more likely, call someone else to come do it, or even allow us to change it? If this is God’s church, his authority and respect is not so fragile as to be afraid to be questioned or critiqued. This fragility is reminiscent of the gestapo, who would come down hard on anyone speaking ill of the party.

More reading:

• https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2022/11/1/23424931/brother-ahmad-s-corbit-activism-discipleship
• https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24159863/Brother_Corbitt_Chaplain_seminar.pdf
• https://media2.ldscdn.org/assets/general-authority-features/2022-chaplain-training-seminar/2022-10-1000-activism-vs-discipleship-1080p-eng.mp4
• https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2022/11/24/is-pushing-change-within-lds/
• https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2020/05/news-of-the-church/ahmad-s-corbitt
• https://www.mormonwiki.com/Ahmad_S._Corbitt
• https://www.thechurchnews.com/leaders/2023/4/29/23691985/elder-ahmad-corbitt-general-authority-seventy-bio-2023-listening-prophetic-direction/
• https://btbacademy.thinkific.com/courses/lds-anti-racism-101-abandoning-attitudes-and-actions-of-prejudice
• Mormon Church Perpetually Gaslights Members
• Doublethink and the Mormon Church