They Use Much Flattery

The last post spoke about the importance of language and its proper use. Now here is a warning found throughout scripture about why we need to be very careful of the words of those around us.

Many forces seek to corrupt language and confuse man's understanding — I believe Satan is fully aware of the power and influence that words can have over the minds of men. I believe we are in the midst of a great battle over language as much as anything else right now. Daily we are confronting "evils and designs which exist in the hearts of conspiring men" and one of the designs these conspirators use is the hijacking of the words of freedom and liberty and the twisting of them to appeal to and ignite the passions of the people. We must understand what they are doing and reclaim the language and help others to see clearly what is going on around them.

To do this we must dissect the language used by those who are "learned" and who have "a perfect knowledge of the language of the people" and who "use much flattery, and much power of speech, according to the power of the devil." (Jacob 7: 4) This is how Jacob described the words of Sherem the antichrist. The Bible Dictionary says the following under the word antichrist:

A word used by John to describe one who would assume the guise of Christ, but in reality would be opposed to Christ (1 Jn. 2: 18, 22; 1 Jn. 4: 3-6; 2 Jn. 1: 7). In a broader sense it is anyone or anything that counterfeits the true gospel or plan of salvation and that openly or secretly is set up in opposition to Christ. The great antichrist is Lucifer, but he has many assistants both as spirit beings and as mortals. See 2 Thes. 2: 1-12; Rev. 13: 17; Jacob 7: 1-23; Alma 1: 2-16; Alma 30: 6-60.

One of the primary tools of those who set up counterfeits to the true gospel is the use of flattering language. Flattery is used to win the hearts and minds of the people. They are usually led down the path of iniquity so as to blind their minds from being able to perceive the deception. Here are some examples of this:

After Zeniff died, his son Noah began a wicked reign that led to great misery and destruction among his people. The scripture says he "changed the affairs of the kingdom." The people followed King Noah down the path of destruction because they turned from righteousness to wickedness due to the flattering words of the king and his priests.

Mosiah 11:7

Yea, and they also became idolatrous, because they were deceived by the vain and flattering words of the king and priests; for they did speak flattering things unto them.

The people threw in with them because they were deceived. And after a time the consequences were very biter.

Mosiah 21:13-15

13 And they did humble themselves even to the dust, subjecting themselves to the yoke of bondage, submitting themselves to be smitten, and to be driven to and fro, and burdened, according to the desires of their enemies.
14 And they did humble themselves even in the depths of humility; and they did cry mightily to God; yea, even all the day long did they cry unto their God that he would deliver them out of their afflictions.
15 And now the Lord was slow to hear their cry because of their iniquities;

So the pattern is very clear: Wicked men have evil designs on a righteous people, the people are deceived, they fall into iniquity, they loose their freedom and become captive, they begin to repent but must suffer the consequences of their actions.

Case study two takes place only a short time later. The two groups of people that stemmed from the previous story — Limhi's people and Alma's people — both joined the rest of the Nephites in Zarahemla after being freed from their servitude and bondage. With liberty restored the process of deceit and flattery began once more:

Mosiah 26:6

For it came to pass that they did deceive many with their flattering words, who were in the church, and did cause them to commit many sins; therefore it became expedient that those who committed sin, that were in the church, should be admonished by the church.

Mosiah 27:8

Now the sons of Mosiah were numbered among the unbelievers; and also one of the sons of Alma was numbered among them, he being called Alma, after his father; nevertheless, he became a very wicked and an idolatrous man. And he was a man of many words, and did speak much flattery to the people; therefore he led many of the people to do after the manner of his iniquities.

This story would have followed the same pattern as the story of King Noah except for the prophet Alma. He was a righteous man and prayed to the Lord to help his people and his son, and the Lord heard his prayer and Alma the Younger and the sons of Mosiah were converted. Now had the wickedness spread as it did in the land of Nephi-Lehi and had the people done to Alma as they had Abinadi then the land of Zerahemla would have been taken over by the Lamanites and the Nephites would have been killed or enslaved just like Noah's people were.

The two lessons to focus on in this discussion are: wicked people will always use flattery as they seek to deceive the people, destroy their liberty, and bring them down into bondage; the second lesson is the wicked are spared for the sake of the righteous, but as soon as the wicked overcome the righteous destruction is imminent.

Hel. 13: 14

14 But behold, it is for the righteous’ sake that it is spared. But behold, the time cometh, saith the Lord, that when ye shall cast out the righteous from among you, then shall ye be ripe for destruction; yea, wo be unto this great city, because of the wickedness and abominations which are in her.