Flattering words

The accounts in Alma 30–31 clearly demonstrate the power of words—for evil and for good. The “flattering” and “great swelling words” of a false teacher named Korihor threatened to bring “many souls down to destruction” (Alma 30:31, 47).

– “The Virtue of the Word of God,” Come, Follow Me, Book of Mormon 2024, July 15-21.

The LDS Church Sunday School study guide teaches that words have great power “for evil and for good.” It warns that false teachers use “flattering words” to bring people “down to destruction.”

Everyone is vulnerable

Every one of us is vulnerable to being manipulated by flattering words. This is an age-old trick which is based on psychology. Here is how it works:

1. Most people are inwardly uncertain and insecure. We appreciate positive attention. When we hear flattering words, it builds our self-confidence.
2. We believe we work hard but that we receive little or no recognition or appreciation. When we receive flattery, it surprises and delights us. It is nice to be noticed. We feel appreciated (finally!).
3. We like to think well of ourselves. Regardless of our actual behavior or personality, we see ourselves as the good guy. When we are flattered, it validates our self-image and makes us feel justified in our sense of self-importance.

The trick is that, since the person doing the flattering is making us feel good, we immediately feel positive feelings toward that person – even though they have done literally nothing to deserve it.

Also, flattery makes us blind to the reality of the other person because we are focused inwardly on ourselves. The person who is using flattery to manipulate us can get away with all kinds of bad behavior because we have already decided that we like him. We continue to focus on how WE feel, and fail to pay any serious attention to what HE is actually doing.

Besides, the flatterer give us permission to behave badly and still feel good about ourselves. There is no talk about repentance from these guys….

Do that which is just

The Gospel of Jesus Christ can protect us from being manipulated with flattering words.

And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.

– Alma 31:5

Rather than allowing ourselves to be deceived by flattering words, we should learn to keep our egos in check and use the scriptures as our guide. The test as to whether we are on the right track is whether we are doing “that which is just.”

This test has two parts. First, we must actually be doing things. We should be making a difference. Flatterers are full of big talk, but they are rarely men of action.

The second test is that what you are doing (or saying) should be “just.” That is to say that a person who truly follows the scriptures will promote justice.

Justice has several meanings. According to the online Merriam-Webster dictionary, “Justice” can mean: 1. a Judge of an appellate court, 2. Righteousness, or 3. Correctness.

I think we can assume that #1 is not applicable here. Definition #3 “Correctness: conformity to truth, fact, or reason” is certainly important, but the most useful definition here is #2 “Righteousness: the quality of being just, impartial, or fair.”

Who is “just”?

The government of the United States was designed by its founders to promote justice for all. Our elections are structured to promote fairness and our court system is structured to be impartial. Attacks on our elections and on our courts are direct attacks on our Constitutional system.

Do you look up to and support politicians, media personalities, and religious leaders who are just? Or do you support demagogues who sow hatred and division? Are you just in your treatment of others? Or do you cheat others for self advantage?

Do you know how to recognize when someone is using “flattering words” to manipulate you? Or do you blindly follow them and perhaps even copy their technique to manipulate others?

The Book of Mormon warns us against flattering words precisely because we, the members of the Church of Jesus Christ in these Latter Days, are extremely susceptible to this type of manipulation. We need to become much better at discerning between the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ versus the blatant lies, distortions, gas lighting, and bullying of the MAGA party.

These (Korihor and the Zoramites) are valuable examples for followers of Christ today when false messages are common. We can find truth by trusting, as Alma did, “the virtue of the word of God”

– “The Virtue of the Word of God,” Come, Follow Me, Book of Mormon 2014, July 15-21