Today's Favorite Verse: Galatians 2:3-4
"But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:
And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:"
JST "Notwithstanding there were some brought in by false brethren unawares, who.."
Titus was a Christian and a Greek, and not compelled to be circumcised. There were some Jewish Christians that felt that all of them needed to be circumcised. The bondage to be forced into was to practice the law of Moses. How hard those early days of the primitive church must have been when then didn't fully grasp what was required of them. We learn so much on their discussions.
It made me reflect on the early days of the restored church and how we needed to learn about revelation and how the spirit manifested itself. In particular I thought about Doctrine and Covenants 28 where Hiram Page professed to be receiving revelation through a stone on the upbuilding of Zion and the order of the church. Several members were deceived by the claims, including Oliver Cowdery. The Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. inquired earnestly of the Lord and received a revelation on the matter.
"But, behold, verily, verily, I say unto thee, no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church excepting my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., for he receiveth them even as Moses.
And again, thou shalt take thy brother, Hiram Page, between him and thee alone, and tell him that those things which he hath written from that stone are not of me and that Satan deceiveth him;
For, behold, these things have not been appointed unto him, neither shall anything be appointed unto any of this church contrary to the church covenants.
For all things must be done in order, and by common consent in the church, by the prayer of faith.
(Doctrine and Covenants 28:2, 11-13
