A new test for identifying real prophets and apostles?

A recent article in the Salt Lake Tribune was entitled “LDS leaders preach about religious freedom, but Utah Mormons don’t see it as biggest concern, poll shows.”

Reading that, one ardent anti-Mormon who posts up a daily storm flogging Mormonism and the Saints, claims that this proves that the apostles are “utterly disconnected” from the general Church membership.

Because, I guess, being completely in sync with those to whom they’re preaching is the sign of genuine prophets?

I began immediately to think of hypothetical parallels:

“Noah warns of a coming flood, but his serenely calm audience continues to marry and give in marriage.”

What a moron Noah is!  He should have done a bit of market research before he began preaching.  How does he expect to be popular if he doesn’t give his audience what it wants?

“Jeremiah cautions Judah against underestimating the Babylonian threat, but king and commoners alike declare that all is well and that Jerusalem is too big to fail.”

Silly Jeremiah.  Has he never heard of focus groups or opinion surveys?  Besides, Egypt is strong and will protect us.

“Jesus warns that Jerusalem and its temple face destruction.  Polling clearly indicates, however, that most in his audience think he hath a devil.”

The temple is one of the wonders of the world in this, the age of our leader and god Tiberius.  It will stand for a thousand years, at least.

Really.  What in the world is the point of apostles and prophets if it isn’t to reflect to the people what they’re thinking and how they feel?

I’m reminded of one of my favorite Hebrew biblical passages, Ezekiel 33:1-11:

 1 Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

 2 Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:

 3 If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;

 4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.

 6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.

 7 ¶So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchmanunto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.

 8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

 9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

 10 Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?

 11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Perhaps it should now be rewritten simply to say:

2 When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:

 3 He shall turn his back toward the approaching army of the enemy and look closely and steadily upon the people from whom he was chosen.  If they fear no evil, neither shall he, and all manner of things shall be very, very excellent.  Until, perhaps suddenly, they’re not.

Posted from Mentor, Ohio