Latter-day Saints: "Hooked On a Feelin'" by Bob Betts

Around the year 1970, pop singer/song-writer, B.J. Thomas had a hit love song called "Hooked On A Feelin'." No doubt, human emotions are very powerful and our feelings have the potential to motivate us to do what is good or evil and to believe what is true or false. But, we often mistakenly refer to our thoughts or beliefs as feelings. How often have you said something like, "I feel that the Bible is the true Word of God" when what you really meant is, "I think (or believe) that the Bible is the true Word of God." Feelings should be expressed as love, hate, joy, sadness, peacefulness, fearfulness, patience, anger, etc. When we mix up our feelings as thoughts and vice versa, we confuse or blur the lines of communication and promote misunderstandings.

Is truth determined by the way we feel about it? Does the way we feel about a truth change the essence and objectivity of it? No, truth is truth regardless of our feelings about it. Truth is inherently objective and NOT subject to one's feelings about it. For me to take a Bible verse and tell you what I feel it means to me personally, is a wrong exegesis (i.e. - explanation, critical analysis, or interpretation of a word, literary passage, etc., especially in the Bible). And, it would be unbiblical: "…no prophecy of Scripture is [a matter] of any personal or private or special interpretation (loosening, solving)" 2 Peter 1:20 (Amplified).

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, traditionally and typically induces people to look to their feelings and to use their emotions in determining truth. Joseph Smith got that ball rolling when he wrote the Book of Mormon, given that Joseph Smith is the real author of the Book of Mormon (it says so on the title page of the 1830 edition). To know if the Book of Mormon is true, Joseph Smith says to, "…receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts" Moroni 10:3. Then, he further tells us to pray about it: vs. 4) "…ask God, the Eternal Father in the name of Christ, if these things are not true." Then he tells us again to use our hearts: "and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent…," adds faith, "having faith in Christ," and tells us what the results will be, "(God) will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. vs. 5) And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." I've never heard of anyone ever praying about the Bible to know if it is true. Christians commonly accept the Bible as the truth because it can be proven to be archaeologically, historically, geographically, linguistically and prophetically accurate. We recognize its divine architecture and miraculous formation.

The way Joseph worded those Moroni verses, it sounds quasi-biblical. Jesus did send "the Comforter" and "the Spirit of truth," (not the Spirit of feelings) "which proceedeth from the Father, (who) shall testify of Me" (John 15:26). But, Joseph Smith clearly blurred the lines between truth and feelings, blending them with the use of prayer and the Holy Ghost. Mormons are taught all their lives that this Moroni method of determining truth is right, trustworthy and scriptural. Mormons say they get a "burning in the bosom from the Holy Ghost." And, based on that experience, they determine that Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon and their church is true.

In the Bible, the lines are not blurred between truth and our emotions. In acknowledging the heart as the center of human emotions, God clearly states in Jeremiah 17:9 that, "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: who can know it." And, "He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered" Proverb 28:26. The God-glorifying life-changes we experience, start NOT in the heart but in the mind, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" Romans 12:2. Healthy, God-given emotions should follow right thinking based on truth. Otherwise, we are emotionally unstable and mentally imbalanced by God's standards. Spiritual maturity is measured "in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:" The resulting goal is "that we be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive:" Ephesians 4:13,14. When it comes to repelling the deceitful craftiness of men and the wind of man-made doctrines, the key is the knowledge of the Son of God, not our emotions.

Mormon missionaries are trained to induce a person to use the emotions-driven, Moroni method of determining the truth of the Book of Mormon. "Instructions For The Discussions" manuals that you never see, train the missionaries how to present the six "Discussions" in your home. The instructions include what to say and do in order to convert you (the "investigators") into the Mormon church. On page 1, under INSTRUCTIONS TO THE MISSIONARY, Introduction, the second paragraph states, "Your goal is to help investigators become converted by the Spirit and be baptized into the kingdom of God. To do this, you must help them feel and recognize the influence of the Spirit. As they feel the Spirit, you will be able to help them make and keep the commitments that lead to conversion and baptism." In paragraph 3, missionaries are instructed to, "…prepare the investigators to feel and recognize the Spirit. When they feel the Spirit, invite them to make a specific commitment…do all you can to help them keep it." Under Create a Learning Atmosphere, missionaries are instructed: "As you begin to teach, you must establish a relationship of trust with the investigators. You should express love and concern for them, share personal experiences, and sincerely try to understand their questions and concerns. By doing these things, you can help them feel you are interested in their good. As they feel greater trust in you, they will feel greater confidence in what you teach them. They will be more receptive to the Spirit. …building a relationship of trust must be a constant concern."

Glaringly absent from those 3 pages of introduction is any mention of trying to help you to gain a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Christ is never mentioned. The Spirit is never referred to as the Holy Spirit. Nevertheless, these young, inexperienced missionaries are somehow supposed to help you to feel the Spirit, make commitments and get baptized into their church (not into Christ). Remarkably, missionaries are able to take advantage of the fact that so many people believe the Bible, but know little of what it says. Subsequently, they have a measure of success.

A January 13, 2003 article in BYU's Religion publication, on the subject of revamping old missionary methods, states, "Instead of reading directly from the traditional missionary booklets, missionaries will create outlines covering material in the discussions by using their own feelings and scripture references."

B.J. Thomas' lyrics ring in my ears when I think about the Mormon's methodology. They are hooked on feelings and likewise want you to be hooked on feeling good about them and their religion. Their outward appearance, friendliness, sincerity and Christianese are part of the package to get you to do something completely foolish and unbiblical: trust your heart. What Paul said about Israel, applies to the Mormons: "I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge." Romans 10:2.