"This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established."
The "law of witnesses" is a truth. I live by it. I have come to find that when the spirit speaks to me, something I never understood before, that I never have an original thought. I will soon have a confirming witness to the truth. I will stubble upon a quote by a general authority or another scripture that confirms what my eyes were just opened up to. It is a comfort that the doctrine is true and I was taught by the spirit by someone with authority. I have found it in other ways too. My soul will be troubled by something and then I will find others had the same witness too. In fact if I look I will see others saying the same thing I would have said. Though in these cases they are as my patriarchal blessing said that I would be "able to distinguish between social, educational, political and philosophical doctrines which are keeping with the Gospel from those that run counter."
One experience I had still amazes me. I went to an event that I thought was with like minded members of my faith, though not sponsored by the church. What I found instead was priestcrafts, the twisting of scriptures for gain. I was unfamiliar with one man that presented a class that sounded interesting. It ended up being very popular and soon it was standing room only. I was locked in the middle of the room in the middle of a row, and when I discovered what this man was teaching I had no way to get out past the crowd. Seriously, not only was that room a fire hazard, it was an even greater spiritual hazard. I was never so agitated in my life sitting there. I knew I was hearing priestcraft, and my stomach was ill seeing those around me lapping it up. When the class was over I was trapped again, as people rushed to stand in line to buy this man's book. The line was so large it came flowed back into the room blocking the exit. I was never so glad to get out of there and back home.
I was telling a good friend of the experience but did not say this man's name. I had no idea who he was, if I had misunderstood him, if he had even repented of his ways. I wasn't going to name him. Several times my friend told me I needed to tell them his name. Finally the spirit said tell them, so I did. And come to find out this person was in their ward, and I was told I had every right to feel as I did about them. He was preaching a priestcraft, he had quite the following and was doing firesides in his home. The leaders in the ward organizations were told to not leave him alone with the youth. Once again the law of witnesses came into play. I had confirmation by the only person close enough to me that could have told me. The only person the spirit confirmed I could say his name to. I think it was about a year later this same friend called and told me the Stake President visited their ward and told them this man was excommunicated for priestcraft. That is hardly every done publicly. But, in this case the members that were following this man were told so they could do as Paul says in verse 5 "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith..." They were warned if they continued to follow this man they would apostasy too. The law of witnesses is there to keep the saints from being deceived. The thing is you have to know the source of the witness. Reading the scriptures and not books about the scriptures is a great place to start.
Day 1664
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