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Brother Ahmad S. Corbitt: How activism against the Church can blind, mislead ‘valiant’ souls

‘In my view, activism toward the Church is one of the most masterful deceptions of our time,’ Brother Corbitt says

While serving as a stake president, Brother Ahmad S. Corbitt was teaching about The Family: A Proclamation to the World in a sacrament service when one brother very publicly walked out in protest.

Although the member had failed to sustain his leaders, Brother Corbitt counseled with him about the impropriety of his method and help him understand prophetic principles. Church leaders also continued to help the brother financially support his family and regain employment.

“We recognized who he really was, overlooked his lapse in judgment and taught him,” Brother Corbitt said.

Brother Corbitt, who now serves as first counselor in the Young Men general presidency, related the experience to Church-endorsed chaplains in early October as an example of what he called activism or advocacy against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He titled his remarks, “Activism vs. Discipleship, Protecting the Valiant.”

“I would like to address an especially effective tactic Satan is using to blind and mislead the young, those transitioning from other religious traditions and cultures, and even longtime and lifetime members of the Lord’s restored Church,” Brother Corbitt said.

“In my humble view, it is one of the great mists of darkness of our time. I speak of our enemy’s effort to transform disciples of Jesus Christ into activists toward or against the Lord’s Church and its leaders.”

Brother Corbitt defined activism as “the policy or action of using [campaigning or] vigorous campaigning to bring about political or social change especially in support of or opposition to one side of a controversial issue.”

Brother Corbitt cited several examples from American history, from the Boston Tea Party to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution’s Bill of Rights and the civil rights movement.

“The United States was founded on and through activism and advocacy by activists,” and “you and I are beneficiaries of this activism,” Brother Corbitt said.

“But activism or advocacy directed toward or against the Church is a secular, worldly device misapplied in a spiritual, otherworldly context,” he said. “Change in the kingdom of God is not accomplished in the same way as change is in, say, government.”

Brother Corbitt continued: “When activism or advocacy is directed at the kingdom of God on earth or its leaders, especially prophets and apostles, it is the wrong tool for the wrong job in the wrong place. Why? Because it effectively but subtly undermines the doctrine of Christ, which is God’s plan for changing, saving and exalting His children.”