The difference between asking questions and apostasy.

With much anxiety I am once again speaking up on recent issues but I feel like my opinion needs to be out there among all of the others. Those who respect this opinion are welcome to share this post but please, as always, know that I know I am still learning...

My Opinion on the Difference Between Asking Questions and Apostasy. (Sheep, Wolves and How to Know the Difference)


In my opinion asking questions as a member of the LDS church is good. It is what sets us apart. We know that we can have a personal relationship with God and can receive inspirations and guidance specific to our lives. In finding answers we use our agency and in finding answers we become stronger followers of Christ. Agency is one purpose of our existence here on earth and brings us closer to reaching our potential.

There is a difference, in my opinion, of “asking questions” and “questioning” or pressuring and rallying others.

I feel there is a clear and familiar example of this in the scriptures.

Nephi and Laman and Lemuel had the same questions “Should I follow my father the prophet, lose my inheritance and journey into the wilderness?” But how they approached their questions, their motives in asking questions and how they influenced others were very different.

Nephi asked this question. He went to the Lord. He counseled with his leader, he prayed fervently and received an answer and this made him solid in his faith and gave him strength in the hard journey ahead. He followed the prophet. The answer wasn't easy for him. He did lose his inheritance, though it seemed and he suffered immensely on his journey. In the end, however, he inherited much more. He obtained the promised land and lived after the manner of happiness and his children were blessed. (1 Nephi, 1 Nephi 2:16, 2 Nephi, 2 Nephi 5:27)

Laman and Lemuel had the same question but their motives were different. They didn't go to the right source. They continued to question instead of ask. They rallied others. They sought to bring others to their side. They wanted to influence the whole group to do what they wanted by asking questions but not seeking answers or guidance. Laman and Lemuel were warned several times but they stayed on their path and eventually fell. They were separated from the fold. They and their children missed out on many blessings for generations. (1 Nephi, 1 Nephi 15:8-9, 2 Nephi)

Nephi in this story is a sheep. A sheep is not weak or blind. A sheep follows but has complete agency. In order to have real agency we must know what we are choosing. Like Nephi we ask questions. Not just question and continue to question but seek answers and personal guidance. Our journey should be individual. We ask questions to get answers for ourselves to come closer to our Shepherd. We can’t lead the Shepherd, it doesn't work that way. If we are part of the flock we are led and we follow with agency, not blindly, not weakly but we follow with strength knowing that our journey is rough but is paved with promise. We trust because we have asked and have received our answers.

Laman and Lemuel actually became wolves. Not because they had questions but because they used their questions as a tool to destroy other sheep, which is what wolves do. They questioned but they did not ask, they rallied others to get what they wanted, they tried to lead the Shepherd and tried several different methods to do it. They became prideful. The scriptures are clear. They wanted to be the leaders. They were wolves in “sheep’s clothing” something that we are warned of in our day. A sheep is a follower, a part of the flock. A wolf in "sheep’s clothing", or false prophet in "sheep's clothing" is someone who is a follower or seems to be a follower but draws up followers themselves and stops following. In my personal opinion you can tell whether an individual is a wolf or a sheep by what they do when they are corrected. A sheep will turn to their shepherd, wolves will use it as an opportunity to destroy or to rally. (Alma 5:60, Matt 7:15, 3 Nephi 14-15)