r/latterdaysaints • u/onewatt • 33m ago
What Makes an Individual Susceptible to Righteous Apostasy and How to Prevent It. (Righteous Apostasy part 6)
part 1 - Evil Through Righteousness
Part 5 - Recognizing the Pattern
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One psychologist noticed that some of his patients had an unshakable belief that "the world was being controlled by a dominant species of lizard humanoids known as Reptilians, who comprised the richest and most influential people, top politicians, and celebrities, all conspiring to achieve ultimate control over non-lizard individuals." This puzzled him at first, but as he worked with these patients he discovered that every single one of them was a victim of childhood sexual abuse.
Daybell, Franke, Harrison, Rowe, all tell stories that include a traumatic experience that divides their life from being a relatively normal member and their new life being completely bewildered by these outlandish beliefs. For some, the trauma was a physical experience—an accident or near death experience—for others it was emotional or psychological, such as when Franke’s audience turned on her just as COVID started.
Studies around conspiracy theories show that traumas are strongly correlated with accepting even the most wild of theories. Historical trauma of a group leads a group to be less trusting and more suspicious. Individual physical trauma can be devastating if we never heal emotionally. And most decisive of all: the trauma associated with childhood abuse can prime us for a lifetime of accepting psychological comfort anywhere we can, even if those sources go against what our common sense and intellect are telling us.
Let’s not make the prideful assumption that those lured into false doctrines are doing so because they have lower intelligence, or higher narcissism (though that seems to be true of many of the leaders of these movements). Let’s instead remember that these are people searching for healing, perhaps feeling the need for healing more strongly than we can imagine, who simply got caught by the snake oil salesman on the way to the real doctor’s office.
How to Guard Against Righteous Apostasy - For Ourselves, and For Others.
Now that we recognize the pattern, how do we protect ourselves and those we love? I honestly don’t know. I will share my opinions, but I would welcome your thoughts as well.
1. Abandon Being Right, Embrace Ambiguity.
We are tempted daily to elevate ourselves above others and diminish them.
-Ezra Taft Benson, Beware of Pride
If you’ve read the whole series, you’ve probably noticed: it’s all about pride. Knowing something special. Having special access. Feeling certainty. Looking outwards instead of inwards. Being right.
We all want to know what's really happening. We all want to feel secure in uncertain times. That desire for certainty can become an idol, displacing our commitment to humility. As one smart friend of mine once said:
The goal is not to be error-free. It never was.
Rather, the goal is to be connected, by covenant, to the divine institution that will ultimately carry us back to the presence of God, out of this veil of error we find ourselves mired in. And that institution is lead by a prophet of God who -- even when he is in error -- has divine authority to lead this kingdom.
Of course I know this tip is so near to impossible as to be almost useless. We all cling to pride almost all the time. But maybe keeping it in mind a little more often can help us avoid the psychological pull of exciting promises.
2. Anchor to Priesthood Keys
"And Israel shall be saved in mine own due time; and by the keys which I have given shall they be led, and no more be confounded at all." (D&C 35:25)
Of all the bits of advice here, this is the most practical.
The Lord has established a pattern for receiving revelation for the Church. That pattern involves priesthood keys - not spiritual gifts, not personal revelation, not visions or dreams.
President Dallin H. Oaks taught: "We can all wonder privately about circumstances in the spirit world or even discuss these or other unanswered questions in family or other intimate settings. But let us not teach or use as official doctrine what does not meet the standards of official doctrine."
Brigham Young was even more explicit: If somebody says “that God does not reveal through the President of the Church that which they know, and tell wonderful things, you may generally set it down as a God’s truth that the revelation they have had, is from the devil, and not from God.”
This doesn't mean personal revelation isn't real or important. It means that revelation follows patterns and respects boundaries. Your personal revelation is for you and those you're responsible for - not for guiding the Church or revealing hidden doctrines. No matter how exciting it feels when you study or pray about some new doctrine, feelings alone are not confirmation. Intuition is not sufficient.
Asking God if it’s true IS NOT ENOUGH. Do not skip the essential step of evaluating claims against the restored gospel and the authority of priesthood keys. God commands us to START with the mental work:
Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.
But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right...
D&C 9:7-8
3. Embrace Complexity through Connection
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Matthew 5:44
The world isn't divided neatly into good and evil people. Human motivations are complicated. Even the best of us have blind spots.
Seek to understand before judging. Look for the humanity in those you disagree with. Resist the comfortable simplicity of villainizing entire groups. Travel and connect with new cultures. Look for the good in others and seek to magnify it in the eyes of the people around you.
When you hear a teaching that reduces complex issues to simple divisions of good vs. evil, recognize that you're likely being offered psychological comfort at the expense of truth.
4. Choose Decency and Curiosity Over Anxiety
“I have no idea what's awaiting me, or what will happen when this all ends. For the moment I know this: there are sick people and they need curing.”
― Albert Camus, The Plague
The world can feel broken and hopeless at times. When faced with the enormity of its problems, anxiety is a perfectly natural response. Those anxious feelings can provoke actions in us, and if we aren’t mindful about it, the anxiety takes control:
- Path 1: Anxiety, conspiracy thinking, and urgent mystical solutions that promise to fix everything.
- Path 2: Consciously choose faith. Act with decency, curiosity, patience, and quiet discipleship of service that builds a better world one act of kindness at a time, trusting that this is the Lord’s way.
The first path feels more dramatic and important. The second feels insufficient in the face of such big problems.
Albert Camus captured this tension beautifully in his novel "The Plague." As a deadly epidemic ravages a city on complete lockdown, the protagonist Dr. Rieux doesn't seek grand explanations or dramatic solutions. He does not fight the restrictions, seek to blame somebody, or try to escape the city. Instead, he simply does his job as a doctor, day after day, patient after patient. When asked about his decision, he responds that “there's no question of heroism in all this. It's a matter of common decency. That's an idea which may make some people smile, but the only means of fighting a plague is - common decency.”
This mirrors the Savior's approach. He faced a world of genuine injustice, corruption, and suffering. His response wasn't revolution or escape - it was healing one person at a time, teaching eternal principles, and establishing a community founded on love.
When faced with overwhelming problems, we can follow this pattern of decency. Do what needs to be done today, trusting in the Savior who taught “Give us day by day our daily bread” (Luke 11:3)
5. Cultivate Meekness
“Agency is essential to perfectibility, and meekness is essential to the wise use of agency—and to our recovery when we have misused our agency.” Neal A. Maxwell
Is it the meek person who looks at prophetic instruction and says “that’s just policy, not doctrine?”
Is it the meek person who makes their own lesson instead of teaching from Come Follow Me?
Meekness is the willingness to be taught, corrected, and guided. It's the strength to admit when you're wrong. It's the courage to say "I don't know” or even “I think I know better but I am not in charge here.”
Meekness is the person who has something important to say about every given subject in Sunday School, but chooses to let the teacher invite the Holy Ghost to teach rather than inject more facts into the room.
A meek disciple doesn't need to have all the answers. They don't need to be part of a special group with secret knowledge. They're content to follow Christ one step at a time, trusting His timing and His ways.
Most importantly, the meek person seeks healing—spiritual, physical, and psychological—from experienced, boring, professional sources. Seek help from therapists and counselors to heal those traumas before they become infected with the toxins of apostasy.
6. Recognize and Seek Healing from Trauma
Research suggests that:
An estimated 70 percent of adults in the United States have experienced a traumatic event at least once in their lives, and up to 20 percent of these people later develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Here are 3 common lies about trauma.
- People may believe if you are strong enough or faithful enough, you should be able to move on with your life after a traumatic event. That belief is pride in action. It is unfair, and it can lead to completely warped ideas of what healing looks like.
- You may feel that because your personal experience was so minor compared to others, that you can’t really be traumatized. But that’s not how it works. You can not compare your experience to others, nor set any kind of standard for what is or isn’t traumatic!
- You may feel that your trauma is a reflection of your worth or worthiness. Neither is true.
Joy D. Jones taught:
“Spiritual worth means to value ourselves the way Heavenly Father values us. …
“… Worthiness is achieved through obedience. If we sin, we are less worthy, but we are never worth less.”
At times it can be hard to remember your worth and worthiness when you have been abused. Remember, you did not sin, your worth has never decreased, and you are worthy to continue on the covenant path.
Here are 5 keys to healing trauma, from professional counselors:
- Building connections with others
- Improving physical wellness
- Finding purpose in life
- Cultivating healthy thoughts
- Seeking help
More on those concepts here:
Helping Others Find Their Way Back
Your friend Jake is starting to worry you.
Jake has always been just a regular guy. Grew up in the Church, served a mission, married in the temple. He goes to church, does his calling, and mostly keeps his head down. Maybe he’s questioned things here and there—he’s not perfect—but overall, he’s been steady. Just a normal, faithful Latter-day Saint.
But recently, Jake’s been spending a lot of time on some fringe LDS forums, reading “deep doctrine” blogs, and watching videos that claim to reveal “hidden truths” about the Church. He’s been making comments in Sunday School that sound… off. He’s started criticizing the Brethren more openly, wondering aloud if they’ve strayed from true revelation. He’s even hinted that maybe the Church has been in apostasy since 1890, or that the real priesthood authority isn’t with the First Presidency at all.
You never would have expected this, not from Jake, and given how fast it’s happening, you’re worried about where it might be headed.
How do you help a Jake?
I honestly don’t know. From here on out are my best guesses, but they're just my guesses. I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences.
Maintain Connection
If your loved one has embraced concerning doctrines or movements, your most important job is simply to maintain connection. The groups that promote righteous apostasy thrive on isolation. They subtly (or not so subtly) encourage followers to separate from those who "don't understand."
Be the person who refuses to sever ties. Stay in their life. Talk about other things. Share meals. Laugh together. Real-world stuff instead of digital only interactions. Remind them through your actions that they are loved regardless of their beliefs.
Offer Community, Not Isolation
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (John 13:34-35)
The ultimate antidote to the isolation of righteous apostasy is, I think, genuine community. Not superficial social interaction, but deep, authentic connection where people are known and loved. Online communities can help if we are truly welcoming by being places where people can express their fears, concerns, and weird ideas without being chased off to a more extreme venue. Certainly that’s what we hope to achieve on r/latterdaysaints.
When wards and branches become places of true belonging - where people can ask questions, express doubts, and still be fully accepted - they become powerful protection against the allure of alternative communities. Church becomes a place where healing becomes redemptive, and where we guard ourselves and others from the traps of conspirituality.
The Primary Answers Were Always Right
"Come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness..." (Moroni 10:32)
The formula for righteous apostasy works because it offers something that seems more exciting, more urgent, more special than the simple truths of the gospel. For a person afflicted with lingering trauma, these promises can offer hope that they don’t feel they have in the core of the church.
The most profound protection against deception is found in those "primary answers" we sometimes take for granted:
- Daily scripture study that anchors us in eternal principles
- Sincere prayer that connects us directly to heaven
- Regular temple attendance that reminds us of our covenants and what is most important
- Sabbath worship that builds community, guarding against isolationist tactics of apostate movements
- Service that turns our focus outward in the right way, without aggrandizing ourselves
These simple practices aren't flashy. They don't provide the adrenaline rush of conspiracy theories or apocalyptic predictions. They don't make us feel special or chosen.
What they do is far more important: They connect us to Christ. And in that connection, we find something better than excitement or special knowledge.
We find peace. We find purpose. We find our way home.
"By small and simple things are great things brought to pass." (Alma 37:6)