Who is Your Shepherd?

K. Douglas Bassett
[Speaking of some members of the Church] “They have refused to live the gospel, when they knew it to be true; or have been blinded by tradition; or for other causes have not been willing to walk in the light. In this class we could properly place those who refuse to take upon them the name of Christ, even though they belong to the Church; and those who are not willing when called to go forth and preach to a perverse world ‘Jesus Christ, and him crucified.’ They may live clean lives; they may be honest, industrious, good citizens, and all that; but they are not willing to assume any portion of the labor which devolves upon members of the Church, in carrying on the great work of redemption of mankind. We have known members of the Church who have gone out in the world and have mingled with those not of our faith, and these members were ashamed to have it known that they were Latter-day Saints. Such persons certainly are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 2:28-29)

Latter-Day Commentary on the Book of Mormon

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