LDS Religion Section

Paul's warning in Galatians 1:6-9

Nov 3, 2004

6. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7. Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8. But though we, or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
...
12. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:6-9 & 12

I have heard these verses used by people trying to show that Mormonism could not be correct. When Paul wrote to the Galatians, he was concerned that some of them were beginning to pervert the true gospel. There were evidently people preaching false doctrines (probably encouraging the people to continue circumsion and other parts of the Mosaic law). The great apostasy was already beginning.

Paul warns them not to follow any man, or even an angel, that might declare “any other gospel”. Of course this is true; anyone that comes to preach another gospel – other than the gospel of Jesus Christ – is wrong. Paul mentions even an angel. What did Paul mean by this statement? Surely he did not mean we should never listen to angels! It would be just as wrong to say that Paul meant we should not listen to God's true servants. If God sends a true prophet, or an angel, to give us a message - of course we should listen.

It is the nature of the message the angel might give that is the crux of the matter. It will help us to judge whether the angel is really sent by God. If the message is a different gospel, something foreign to Christ and his message, then we should be wary. God certainly uses angels to do his work – the angel Gabriel visited Mary to annouce the forthcoming birth of our Lord. He also visited Zacharias to annouce the birth of John the Baptist. In addition, he appeared and proclaimed the glad tidings to the shepherds.

It might be relevant to point out also, that Joseph did not receive his first visit from the angel Moroni. From Moroni, he received information about where the Book of Mormon was buried, and many other important teachings about ancient prophecies about to be fulfilled. But this was his second visitation from a heavenly being. He received his first visit in the spring of 1820, when both God and his son Jesus Christ appeared to him, ushering in the “new dispensation”. It was during this visit that Joseph learned from the Lord himself that none of the churches then on the earth altogether correct. He was told not to join any of the churches, for "they were all wrong".

This agrees exactly with what Paul says in verse 12, that he received it by the revelation of Jesus Christ – who personally appeared to Paul.

It is possible for the devil to appear to men as an “angel of light”, and thus Paul gives the warning. We must even be suspect of both angels and mortals! Joseph Smith had some things to say about “angels of light” and how to detect them, but I won't go into it here. There is also an account of a man in the Book of Mormon who was deceived by the devil as an angel of light (Alma 30:6-53).

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