Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 8:20

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 8:20
"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."

President Oak recently BYU Devotional spoke on four ways to draw closer to the Savior. The third one was to seek help from others. He then gave this warning.

"Remember, to survive spiritually, you will need the constant influence of the Holy Ghost. An abundance of speculation and false information in podcasts and on social media surround us. Some may protest or question the truth of Church doctrine, without knowing or even understanding the fulness of that doctrine.
Don’t be persuaded by false or inaccurate information. Discuss your concerns with faithful, well-informed friends, and always take those concerns to the Lord."
(Dallin H. Oaks, "Coming Closer to Jesus Christ", BYU Devotional, 10 Feb 2026)

I really try to monitor who I listen to on social media and podcasts. I'm pretty good at spotting those preaching false doctrine and turn away from them. What I have noticed that seems infectious is those that speculate. They speculate on implied meanings in any talk or video released from leaders of the church. I swear some of them are even into astrology and numerology. The focus is always on how it applies to how close the second coming is. They give their opinions in a way that sounds like its fact, sadly what they are not aware of is they have crossed into false information. The speculation becomes such a focus that the gospel principle or doctrine that was discussed is completely overlooked.

My list of podcast and videos that I watch grows smaller and smaller. Mainly because those that start out good, seem to get swallowed up in it becoming their livelihoods and being sensational is a way to grow it. I cannot go wrong if I stay inside church websites.

President Ezra Taft Benson gave us three tests in "Be Not Deceived" (Oct 1963 General Conference).
1. What do the standard works have to say about it?
2. What do the latter-day Presidents of the Church have to say on the subject—particularly the living President? 
3. The third and final test is the Holy Ghost—the test of the Spirit. By that Spirit we ". . . may know the truth of all things"  (Moro. 10:5) This test can only be fully effective if one's channels of communication with God are clean and virtuous and uncluttered with sin. 

During President Benson's time frame we didn't have podcasts. What President Oaks is warning about is the dangers of how quickly false information and speculation can over take us. I am trying to be much more intentional on what I listen to in my down time. I'm grateful for the guidance of a living prophet to warn me what needs to be removed from my list.

Day 3972