D&C 71:7-11

71:7-11 - The Lord gives interesting advice to the brethren concerning those who they are to teach, saying, “Wherefore, confound your enemies; call upon them to meet you both in public and in private;  and inasmuch as ye are faithful their shame shall be made manifest.” Remembering what we learned last time, that there were many truths that weren’t known to the population in general, and that the gospel was brand new and not very widely known. We’re talking about eternal truths that people needed to hear, and the Lord says that if they are faithful, they will be successful in their efforts to “confound” their enemies, and I think that that is because they will be seeking and worthy of the influence and guidance of the Holy Ghost. The IM teaches, “Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained the usual role of debates in the work of the Church as follows: ‘Except under very unusual circumstances, debates play no part in the approved system of presenting the message of salvation to the world or of persuading members of the Church to accept a particular doctrine or view. Almost always a debate entrenches each contestant and his sympathizers more firmly in the views already held.’ In the commotion that followed the publication of Ezra Booth’s anti-Mormon letters, the Lord commanded the elders of the Church not to debate, but to directly refute the falsehoods and lies that had been published. President Joseph Fielding Smith explained: ‘Quite generally the Lord counsels his servants not to engage in debates and arguments, but to preach in power the fundamental principles of the Gospel. This was a condition that required some action of this kind, and the Spirit of the Lord directed these brethren to go forth and confound their enemies which the proceeded immediately to do, as their enemies were unable to substantiate their falsehoods and were surprised by this sudden challenge so boldly given. Much of the prejudice was allayed and some friends made through this action.’” This seems to me to not be so much “debate” as it is teaching with the power of the Holy Ghost. The Lord continues, “and if any man lift his voice against you he shall be confounded in mine own due time.” This goes along with the concept that sins aren’t punished immediately and good deeds aren’t rewarded immediately, it’s done that way so that people can learn faith instead of reward/punishment. If everyone was always confounded immediately when they voiced reservations or doubts about the gospel, then they would be more of less compelled to believe because only the truly hard hearted would negate the hand of God so obviously in their lives. The IM quotes President Harold B. Lee as teaching that what the Lord “is trying to have us understand is that he will take care of our enemies if we continue to keep the commandments. So, you Saints of the Most High God, when these things come, and they will come- this has been prophesied- you just say, ‘No weapon formed against the work of the Lord will ever prosper, but all glory and majesty of this work that the Lord gave will long be remembered after those who have tried to befoul the name of the Church and those of its leader will be forgotten, and their works will follow after them.’”