Teaching

1.    Read 2 Peter 2:1–19. Record the characteristics of false teachers described by Peter. Explain in writing how your list helps you recognize false teachers today.

•  Denying the Lord
• “The way of truth shall be evil spoken of” (people will speak evil of the gospel)
•  “through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you” (I’m not really sure what that mean, maybe that make you want to buy things and covet worldly items?)
•  “walk after the flesh in lust”
•  “Despise government”
•   Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities”
• “speak evil of the things they understand not”
•  “They count it pleasure to riot in the daytime” (I think this means live a riotous life and party all the time, the scriptures notes say “rioting and reveling”)
•  “Having eyes full of adultery”
•  “beguiling unstable souls” (pulling those who do not have a strong testimony foundation from God)
•  “For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of flesh through much wantonness”
•  “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.”

         When I read this list I definitely feel like I can pin point people who do these things. Not necessarily because they are absolutely evil, but mostly my heart tells me it is because they do not know any better. It tells me things because they were taught by someone else, who was taught by someone else, and really it is just a cycle. It helps me recognize when I might find myself in the presence of a false teacher, but it also helps me understand why people think this way and think it is okay when it really isn't  It also makes me want to strengthen my testimony and my foundation in Christ so I don’t become easily deceived.

2.    Read 2 Peter 2:20–22; Doctrine and Covenants 82:3, 7. In your own words, write a few sentences describing the dangers of returning to the “pollutions of the world.”

            To me it means that when someone has an understanding of the gospel and turn away from it regardless of that understanding, then their situation is worse that if they were to not have any knowledge. I think this is because when we know something is right and we still reject it we will, in the end, bring sorrow to ourselves. I think that God wants us to understand that when we leave the gospel on this earth and live unrighteous lifestyles we will not be truly happy in the end. People who recognize the gospel and still turn away put damnation upon themselves (All damnation really means is that they halt their spiritual growth). When the second coming comes those who knew the gospel and still turned away from it will have a stronger understanding of what they turned away from and therein is their sorrow and torment. This torment will be worse for them than for someone who had no understanding in the first place.  The stronger your testimony is and the more you understand, the worse your torment will be when you fall away.