Benson taught that the greatest injuries to the Church come from within. He initially quotes President McKay they expounds. Here is the quote: “The Church,” says President McKay, “is little, if at all, injured by persecution and calumnies from ignorant, misinformed, or malicious enemies.” (The Instructor, February 1956, p. 33.) It is from within the Church that the greatest hindrance comes. And so, it seems, it has been. Now the question arises, will we stick with the kingdom and can we avoid being deceived? Certainly this is an important question, for the Lord has said that in the last days the devil will “rage in the hearts of . . . men,” (2 Nephi 28:20) and if it were possible he shall “deceive the very elect.” (Joseph Smith 1:5-37.) (Ezra Taft Benson, Be Not Deceived, Oct. 1963)
President Packer, referring to progressive attacks on church doctrine, warned that not all the persecution against the saints comes from outside of the church. He said, “Atheists and agnostics make nonbelief their religion and today organize in unprecedented ways to attack faith and belief. They are now organized, and they pursue political power. You will be hearing much about them and from them. Much of their attack is indirect in mocking the faithful, in mocking religion. The types of Sherem, Nehor, and Korihor live among us today (see Jacob 7:1–21; Alma 1:1–15; Alma 30:6–60). Their arguments are not so different from those in the Book of Mormon. You who are young will see many things that will try your courage and test your faith. All of the mocking does not come from outside of the Church. Let me say that again: All of the mocking does not come from outside of the Church. Be careful that you do not fall into the category of mocking.” (President Boyd K Packer, Jan. 16 2007 Lehi’s Dream and You – Boyd K. Packer – BYU Speeches))
Elder Benson taught that the Church is not divided, there’s just people who aren’t in harmony with it, and yes, they write in our Church publications. Benson said, Sometimes we hear someone refer to a division in the Church. In reality, the Church is not divided. It simply means that there are some who, for the time being at least, are members of the Church but not in harmony with it. These people have a temporary membership and influence in the Church; but unless they repent, they will be missing when the final membership records are recorded. It is well that our people understand this principle, so they will not be misled by those apostates within the Church who have not yet repented or been cut off. But there is a cleansing coming. The Lord says that his vengeance shall be poured out “upon the inhabitants of the earth . . . And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord; First among those among you, saith the Lord, who have professed to know my name and have not known me” (D&C 112:24-26). I look forward to that cleansing; its need within the Church is becoming increasingly apparent. Not only are there apostates within our midst, but there are also apostate doctrines that are sometimes taught in our classes and from our pulpits and that appear in our publications. And these apostate precepts of men cause our people to stumble. As the Book of Mormon, speaking of our day, states: “. . . they have all gone astray save it a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men” (2 Ne. 28: 14). The world worships the learning of man. They trust in the arm of flesh. To them, men’s reasoning is greater than God’s revelations. The precepts of man have gone so far in subverting our educational system that in many cases a higher degree today, in the so-called social sciences, can be tantamount to a major investment in error. Very few men build firmly enough on the rock of revelation to go through this kind of an indoctrination and come out untainted. Unfortunately, of those who succumb, some use their higher degree to get teaching positions even in our Church educational system, where they spread the falsehoods they have been taught. President Joseph F. Smith was right when he said that false educational ideas would be one of the three threats to the Church within (Gospel Doctrine, pp. 312-13).” (Ezra Taft Benson, To The Humble Followers of Christ, April 1969, http://www.gapages.com/divided.htm)
In the same address, Benson equates Jesus’ appointing with Judas the traitor with elements existing in the latter-day church. He said, “The Lord strengthened the faith of the early apostles by pointing out Judas as a traitor, even before this apostle had completed his iniquitous work (John 13:21-30). So also in our day the Lord has told us of the tares within the wheat that will eventually be hewn down when they are fully ripe.” (Ezra Taft Benson, To The Humble Followers of Christ, April 1969, http://www.gapages.com/divided.htm)
Ezra Taft Benson quoted President Kimball in teaching that many in the church reject the current prophet and try to get the prophet to not speak on evolution etc. He said, “It is the living Prophet who really upsets the world. “Even in the Church”, said President Kimball, “many are prone to garnish the sepulchers of yesterday’s prophets and mentally stone the living ones.” Why? Because the living prophet gets at what we need to know now, and the world prefers that prophets either be dead or mind their own business. Some so-called experts of political science want the prophet to keep still on politics. Some would-be authorities on evolution want the prophet to keep still on evolution. And so the list goes on.” (Elder Ezra Taft Benson, The 14 Fundamentals of Following the Prophet; https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/ezra-taft-benson/fourteen-fundamentals-following-prophet/)
Elder Neal A. Maxwell also warned of these wolves among the flock. He said, “True, the enemies and the critics of the Lord’s work will not relent; they only regroup. Even among the flock, here and there and from time to time, are a few wolves, wearing various styles of sheep’s clothing—ironically, just before the shearing season! A few defectors and “high-minded” traitors (2 Tim. 3:4) even go directly to the “great and spacious building” to hire on (1 Ne. 8:26). Their recruits are celebrated and feted until—like their predecessors—they have faded into the dark swamps of history.” (“For I Will Lead You Along” By Elder Neal A. Maxwell, Apr. 1988, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1988/04/for-i-will-lead-you-along?lang=eng)
Elder Maxwell further encourages us to stay on the right course, knowing that these worldly philosophers will be overturned. He said, “We surely have been warned and forewarned about our time, a period in which the compression of challenges may make a year seem like a decade. Members will be cleverly mocked and scorned by those in the “great and spacious building,” representing the pride of the world (1 Ne. 8:26, 1 Ne. 11:36). No matter, for ere long, He who was raised on the third day will raze that spacious but third-class hotel!” (Elder Neal A. Maxwell, “Overcome … Even As I Also Overcame” Apr. 1987)
In case we had any doubt about who was in that great and spacious building, President Monson specifically identified it as those who reject scripture. He said, “The great and spacious building in Lehi’s vision represents those in the world who mock God’s word and who ridicule those who embrace it and who love the Savior and live the commandments.” (President Thomas S. Monson, May You Have Courage, April, 2009)
In our rejection of worldly philosophers, Church leaders can stand as a guide for taking the right direction. Elder Ezra Taft Benson taught, “If we want to know how well we stand with the Lord, then let us ask ourselves how well we stand with His mortal captain. How closely do our lives harmonize with the words of the Lord’s anointed — the living Prophet, the President of the Church, and with the Quorum of the First Presidency?” (Elder Ezra Taft Benson, The 14 Fundamentals of Following the Prophet, https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/ezra-taft-benson/fourteen-fundamentals-following-prophet/)
