Beware of False Imitations

In today's world...corruption abounds and false imitations thrive.
 

How dare they?! Rice Chex stole my face and put it on their cereal box. False imitation!

The holy scriptures are given to us by God so that we may have the knowledge needed to help us navigate through this world of sin and deceit. Many prophets have prophesied of our day and have warned us of the dangers that are all around us. Here are some scriptural warnings/examples:

- Matthew 24: 24 - "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

- Mark 13:22 - "For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect."

- 1 John 4:1 - "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."

- 2 Nephi 28: 12 - "Because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine, their churches have become corrupted, and their churches are lifted up; because of pride they are puffed up."

- Words of Mormon 1:15 - "And it came to pass that after there had been false Christs, and their mouths had been shut, and they punished according to their crimes;"

- Doctrine and Covenants 122:5 - "If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea;"  

Satan is clever, seductive, and dishonest. He is the father of all lies (2 Nephi 2:18). Therefore, he will try extremely hard to trick us. There are deceptions all around us. Evil is dressed up to look good. Good is cut down to look evil. Satan works in many ways. Here are only a few examples: Teen drinking is accepted by many and is portrayed as the only way to have fun in high school. However, I was extremely happy in high school and I have never had a drink of alcohol. Abstinence before marriage is pure and is pleasing in God's eyes but in today's society it is chopped to pieces and is deemed "outdated". The devil corrupts. The devil cheats. The devil is evil! He tries very hard to imitate and twist things that are good so that he can trick us to do evil.

Here are some pictures of some look-a-likes:

No, no, no. This is NOT Zac Efron. It's my good buddy and fellow missionary, Elder Triston Rogers!

This IS Zac Efron. Elder Rogers is 1,000,000 times cooler (and Elder Rogers ties a lot better knot!).

This is my pal...Elder Jeremy Garcia. NOT Taylor Lautner AKA Jacob.

Taylor Lautner. Not as awesome as Elder Garcia huh? I think NOT.

 As you can see...there are many things that are similar out in the world. Satan uses "look-a-likes" to trick and hurt us. How do we know what is the truth and what is false? The scriptures tell us how. "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them" (Matthew 7: 15-20). What these verses teach us is that we can judge something by whether it yields good "fruit" or not. Just like I cannot go to a corrupt and diseased tree and get a good and healthy apple, I cannot go to a crude, brutal, or vulgar movie and be uplifted. Everything that is good is of God and everything that is evil is of the devil (Moroni 7:15-17). With this knowledge we can go through this life in safety.

We also can use this knowledge to find truth. I have been blessed with a testimony of the Book of Mormon and of the prophet Joseph Smith. I have judged Joseph Smith of his fruits (the Book of Mormon). I receive only uplifting and joyous feelings when I read from its pages and I know that it is true because everything that persuadeth men to do good is of God (Ether 12:4). I know that all who read from the Book of Mormon with an open heart will come to know of its divinity and of the validity of Joseph Smith as one of God's prophets.

In conclusion...as we determine what's good and what's bad and surround ourselves with purity then we can be sure to stay away from Satan's fasle imitations.