The Sound of False Idols
I’ve been thinking today about Korihor reasons to teach false doctrines: “I have taught his words; and I taught them because they were pleasing unto the carnal mind; and I taught them, even until I had much success, insomuch that I verily believed that they were true” (Alma 30:53)
Korihor got to a point where after some success he started to believe the false doctrines he was teaching.
Media
The connection to that story I made was about recent news from movie, organization and public figure: “Sound of Freedom”, a fictionized movie about Tim Ballard and the OUR organization (paramilitary group dedicated to rescue children from trafficking)
By chance I met Tim Ballard years ago, he was giving a speech about finding light in the darkest places. I do not remember much of the talk, but I met him afterwards, and we spoke a bit of Spanish/English. At that time, he looked like any other famous/popular LDS member with a somewhat crazy story to share.
Last year a movie about OUR organization and Tim Ballard came out, it has been a great success, but after pandemic, anything that labels itself with “freedom” sounds a bit suspicious to me, however, I think is good at least to write few lines from far away.
The movie, as with any other Biography movie, alter the facts or the stories to make it more compelling or easier to watch. But the movie is not the problem.
Tim Ballard has been at the center of different scandals and lawsuits (sexual abuse, using a physic, mislead donors, etc.)
In a rare rebuke, the LDS church denounced Tim Ballard activities as “morally unacceptable” then removed all references or link to him or OUR etc.
But that’s probably not the core problem either.
I think the core problem is men, placing themselves as the center. As consequence, people follow the ones that put themselves at the center, because the message, often masked as good intentions, resonates or appeals the ones following the same path.
I was reading this lesson today: June 3–9: “They Were Steadfast and Immovable.” Mosiah 29–Alma 4 (churchofjesuschrist.org)
In this part of the Book of Mormon they are moving away from having kings, in particular after having a corrupt king, however soon after, cunning men started spreading false ideas to gain power. One of these men was Amlici, he started to draw popularity to a point where his followers wanted Amlici to be their king. The people voted to not set him as king, however their followers rebelled, consecrated Amlici as their king and even started a war against the rest of the people.
A modern parallel would be, for instance, groups or political parties not accepting election results, inciting rebellion, etc. (as seen in couple countries recently)
As far as I understand society the problem is people not understanding or willing to understand truth or facts, then following any alternative reality.
Technologies
On the other hand, something similar happens in the tech space: from time to time a new technology is portrayed as the future for mankind.
Blockchain promised several benefits, however in most cases, due to greed, it has wiped out money (multiple billion dollars total) from naive investors that put savings and trust into something not well understood or regulated.
AI – artificial intelligence as well is another area where investors are rushing to put cash with the promise of huge eventual gains. Cognition Labs, for instance, got $175 millions in venture capital for a fake video. Even Google faked a video to showcase some progress with Gemini AI models. But let’s consider the reality, some models cannot even get basic things right, for example in this video Dr Michelle Dickinson plays with several models that can’t count right the number of r in strawberry 🙂 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byajUNOOqNI
Robotics, or the latest attempts to produce humanoid robots, has also been portrayed as the future of mankind, replacing tedious or dangerous tasks sounds noble, but in reality, that’s just a way to have cheap labor working 24×7.
Recap
Not everything that sounds fantastic is close to reality. If someone start telling a story that goes a bit beyond credibility, then there is nothing healthier than checking the facts.
Pleasing words and counsel is often untrue. Some people will sell their own philosophies and doctrines seeking to be the center of attention, for popularity, power or money. It is always good to contrast or to double check any idea that gets too closer to Hedonist philosophies, where pleasure and absence of pain tis the ultimate goal.
Anything that calls to anger is probably also a trap to get us to react or leading us into a state where reason or truth is relative, eclipsed by strong emotions – as social media these days, most of what is shown or shared aims to get us angry, or into strong feelings calling to action.
So, when we see men, in particular in politics or media or tech, trying to spread false ideas, seeking attention or power we can clearly tell nothing in for us but to follow false idols to nowhere.
From such, turn away.
“… in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
Photo by Kevin Olson on Unsplash
