Jacob 4 - Words of Plainness and PRIDE

What is easy for some of us to understand is complex and confusing to others.  Why is this so?  Why do people sometimes reject “words of plainness” and seek instead for things they cannot understand? What are some dangers of overlooking the simple truths of the gospel?

The first four principles of the gospel are 1- faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, 2- Repentance, 3- baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, 4 – laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.  This is also known as the 4^th Article of Faith and simple – “words of plainness”.  These four steps, or principles,  open the door to further truth.  Without them, we cannot progress.  With them, there is no limit to the things the Lord will reveal to us if we want it.  Verse 8 in this same chapter is just one of many verses in the scriptures that tell us this.  The Lord wants to give us more!

People reject “words of plainness” because they seek not to have the Spirit as their guide.  If they can’t see it with their own knowledge, they aren’t interested.  They need to be able to explain it from where they stand instead of where they could stand with the Spirit as their guide, and they aren’t willing to take the steps to get there, (aka faith and repentance).  They have too much pride to exercise faith in Jesus Christ and repent.  It’s a hard thing to watch because it is so plain to us when we have the Spirit.  Missionaries experience this a lot.  Parents also can see it in their own rebellious children.