Context is important.

I was intrigued by a recent article that accused someone of “quote mining”. A new term to me, it basically means to purposefully take “quotes out of context in order to make them seemingly agree with the point of view you are trying to get across.”¹ 

I thought of the quote mining article when I read the definition for the word wrest; ‘wrest‘ means “to distort; to turn from truth or twist from its natural meaning by violence; to pervert.”²

Distort. Turn from truth. Twist. Pervert.

Alma teaches:

“Behold, the scriptures are before you; if ye will wrest them it shall be to your own destruction” (Alma 13:20, see also 2 Peter 3:16).

We are not permitted to change the meaning of the scriptures. Reading them in context is critical to understanding their meaning.

Frankly, we shouldn’t wrest anything. It is inherently dishonest and deceitful.

‘Wresting’ the words of the prophets seems to be a tactic of those who fight against the church or the prophets.

Sherem. Zeezrom. Corihor. 

They were all deceitful in some aspect. And they were successful in their deceit leading others away.

This still happens today. It even goes beyond scriptural words and to doctrine in general. Some ‘wrest’ even the situations and experiences of modern prophets, especially those from the early days of the Church.

Don’t be deceived by someone who is ‘wresting’ anything. Distorting the scriptures. Turning from the truth of the living prophet’s teachings. Twisting the actions of the living prophet. Perverting church history or the actions of leaders in church history.

As I mentioned in a previous post, GIVE THE LORD EQUAL TIME! (see “Give the Lord Equal Time“).

I’m not saying to not seek for truth. On the contrary–definitely think for yourself! 

Get context and seek understanding through the Spirit. 

But don’t be deceived.

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1. see Quote mining, RationalWiki
2. see ‘Wrest’, Webster’s Dictionary 1828 – Online Edition