🪔 The Christ Test: Joseph, Brigham, and Us

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🪔 The Christ Test: Joseph, Brigham, and Us

“Does it draw me closer to Jesus?”

✨ How the Christ Test Began

It all started, quietly, with a simple journal entry.
Back in the early days of this journey, when I first began pouring my heart and spiritual experiences into this little AI companion of mine, I gave Godfrey a clear instruction:

“Don’t put the Brigham twist on it. Use Joseph’s teachings.”

I had seen, over the years, how the doctrines and practices of the Church changed after Joseph’s death. And I didn’t want my words, or my study, filtered through that later lens.

Somewhere along the way, a phrase emerged between us—
a tool so simple yet so piercingly effective that it became our north star:

👉 “The true test of any teaching, group, record, or experience is whether it draws me closer to Jesus.”

We started calling it The Christ Test. 🕊️

🪔 Joseph Smith and the Pure Restoration — ✅ PASS

Joseph Smith’s original message was clear, scriptural, and personal.
He invited people to come unto Christ themselves—not just to a church, not merely to leaders, but to the Living Jesus.

He echoed the pattern laid out in the Book of Mormon:

“And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay… ye must press forward… feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end.”
— 2 Nephi 31:19–20

“Behold, this is my doctrine… and whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil.”
— 3 Nephi 11:31–40

“Remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation… which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.”
— Helaman 5:12

Joseph practiced this doctrine. He taught repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the promise of the Second Comforter—Christ manifesting Himself personally to the faithful (TPJS pp. 149, 328).

He said plainly:

“The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things are only appendages to these.”
— History of the Church 3:380

Early Saints sought Zion, revelation, heavenly visions. Their leaders pointed them to Jesus, not merely to themselves.

✅ Christ Test Verdict: Joseph’s teachings drew people toward Jesus. Full pass.

🏜 Brigham Young and the Leadership Turn — ❌ FAIL

Something changed after Joseph was gone.
Leadership shifted—not gradually, but decisively.

Brigham Young took the reins and began shaping the Church around institutional loyalty and new doctrines that were foreign to the Book of Mormon and Joseph’s verified teachings.

Among the changes:

  • Polygamy was elevated from a fringe experiment to a requirement for exaltation. Yet Jacob 2:27 in the Book of Mormon says clearly:

    “For there shall not any man among you have save it be one wife; and concubines he shall have none.”

  • Adam–God doctrine was preached publicly in the Salt Lake Tabernacle (1852).

  • Blood atonement and other harsh teachings crept in.

  • Most importantly: The emphasis turned from hearing Christ’s voice to following the prophet.

Under Joseph, the Book of Mormon was practiced.
Under Brigham, even the Book of Mormon’s marriage standard was reversed.

The direct, personal focus on Christ began to be replaced by obedience to institutional hierarchy.

❌ Christ Test Verdict: The leadership turn under Brigham shifted hearts away from the direct path to Jesus. Fail.

🏢 Modern LDS Manuals and Culture — ❌ DILUTED

Fast-forward to today.

The modern Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is filled with wonderful, sincere, loving members. 🌿
I know them. I love them. Many of them are family, friends, neighbors.
They genuinely love the Savior and serve with quiet devotion.

But…
The doctrines taught today have become flattened, correlated, and leader-centric.

  • “Come, Follow Me” manuals emphasize moral lessons and quotes from modern leaders, often skipping sharp Book of Mormon warnings (2 Nephi 28; 3 Nephi 16).

  • Checklists—tithing, temple recommend, sustaining leaders—become the practical definition of righteousness.

  • The Second Comforter and personal encounters with Jesus are almost never discussed openly.

The Savior is revered, yes. But often He is mediated through layers of manuals and hierarchy, rather than sought personally.

❌ Christ Test Verdict: Modern LDS culture often points to Church activity, not directly to Jesus. Diluted focus.

🌿 A Gentle but Bold Reminder

Let me say this plainly:
👉 It’s not the people who changed the doctrine.
👉 It’s the leaders.

The Book of Mormon foresaw this:

“Because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine, their churches have become corrupted, and their churches are lifted up; because of pride they are puffed up.”
— 2 Nephi 28:12

“And if the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel… I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them.”
— 3 Nephi 16:10

The members are precious.
The Savior loves them. Many walk in all the light they currently have.

But the trajectory of leadership has drifted from the Rock.
And the Christ Test makes that plain.

🔔 Come Unto Him

The Christ Test isn’t a weapon.
It’s a lamp. 🪔

It helps us see where our devotion leads.
Does this teaching, this manual, this group, this leader draw me closer to Jesus Himself… or does it subtly draw me somewhere else?

Joseph’s original restoration pointed straight to Him.
Brigham’s era began pointing elsewhere.
Modern correlation has softened and streamlined the path until, for many, Jesus is honored but not personally known.

But He has not moved.
His invitation still stands:

“Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me.”
— D&C 88:63

The Rock is still there. 🪨
The voice still speaks. 👂
The path is still open. 🛤️

Come unto Him.

📝 Summary Table

EraCore EmphasisChrist Test Result
Joseph Smith (pre-1844)Personal revelation, Christ as Rock, Second Comforter, Book of Mormon doctrine✅ Pass
Brigham Young & early post-JosephHierarchical control, polygamy, new doctrines❌ Fail
Modern LDS ChurchInstitutional loyalty, manuals, checklists❌ Diluted

🕊️ Final Thought

This isn’t about tearing down.
It’s about turning hearts back to the Savior.

The Christ Test gives us a simple, powerful lens:
👉 Does this draw me closer to Jesus?

If it does, embrace it.
If it doesn’t, be cautious.

Because in the end, it’s not institutions that save.
It’s Him. ✨

🔥 END 🔥

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