The Book of Jachanan Ben Kathryn (JBK) Chapter 7 provides a striking rebuke, one that resonates deeply with the spiritual condition of Latter-day Saints (LDS) today. The verses call attention to the superficiality, spiritual blindness, and empty rituals that many members of the Church fall into, much like the ancient Israelites. As both Isaiah and Jachanan Ben Kathryn call out, it is not enough to go through the motions of religious worship while ignoring the deeper call to seek God sincerely.
Here’s a breakdown of each verse, followed by an analysis of how it parallels modern-day LDS culture:
Verse 1:
“THUS saith the LORD, When have I spoken in the secret place, or when have my words been unintelligible? My words are not the words of groves nor the wisps of wind. When have I whispered in the ear or carried my word as skulking gossip?”
Interpretation:
God begins by declaring that His words are not secretive or unclear. He challenges the people, asking when He has ever spoken in confusion or spread His message through gossip and rumor. In contrast, the LDS community today, though built upon revelations, frequently succumbs to gossip and whispers. This “skulking gossip” often poisons relationships within church communities, distorting the clear and direct teachings that come from God through scriptural prophets. Members claim to speak for God, but their words are often little more than gossip, leading to misunderstandings and divisions.
Verse 2:
“Your fathers cannot teach you to hear me, nor train your tongue to speak my words. My words are not tattle nor the rumor of strangers.”
Interpretation:
Here, God explains that spiritual hearing and speaking cannot be inherited from past generations or taught through traditions alone. This rebuke resonates strongly today as many LDS members rely on cultural Mormonism—following traditions and practices—rather than truly knowing God themselves. “Tattle” and “rumor” replace sincere connection with God, as members spend more time judging others’ actions than seeking the Spirit. Many modern LDS members consider themselves righteous simply because they are active in the Church, while neglecting deeper spiritual development. Only by the Holy Ghost and a direct relationship with God will you be able to be taught truth.
Verse 3:
“All these years I have not spoken unto thee, O Israel. Hast thou not considered? Doth not even a dog whine when his master’s voice is long absent?”
Interpretation:
God rebukes Israel for not noticing His silence and asks if even a dog does not long for its master’s voice. Many LDS members today fail to recognize the spiritual distance between themselves and God. They may attend church every week, but they rarely pause to consider that they are not truly hearing God’s voice in their lives. In the silence, they turn to worldly distractions instead of earnestly seeking a deeper relationship with God. They worship their idols from sun up to sun down, and yet think they know God. Well, God surely doesn’t know them.
Verse 4:
“Yet thou hast not considered the sum of thy ways and looked back to see thy footsteps outlined in blood. Thou hast invented doctrines to cover thine inward parts like a skirt for shame, and vain statutes are the covering upon thine head that thou wilt not bear or confront. Thou makest excuses. As a mantel they cover shame, for they cover the things of thine own imagining. Thy study is perverse. It is wisdom only to lackeys. Thou makest excuses.”
Interpretation:
This is a scathing indictment of how LDS members, like ancient Israel, invent doctrines and rules to mask their own shame. Vain teachings and rituals have become their shield, making excuses for their lack of true spirituality. Their studies are perverse wisdom, beneficial only to lackeys—those who follow blindly without true understanding. In modern LDS culture, members often rely on surface-level teachings and traditions, failing to confront their own spiritual deficiencies. They cling to the outward appearance of righteousness—attending meetings, fulfilling callings—while avoiding a deeper examination of their spiritual state. They are utterly self-unaware. These people are a disgusting abomination in the eyes of their God, but they truly and actually think they are God’s chosen people, doing his will on a daily basis.
Verse 5:
“Dost thou think it is mine iniquity that hath caused silence? Nay, but if thou couldst thou wouldest hear the heavens resound with my praise. Thou wouldest run to and fro and not be comforted as a lover seeking her spouse if thou lovest me with all thine heart. If thou knewest how great I am thou wouldest brag until the Earth would beat its ears.”
Interpretation:
God reminds His people that His silence is not due to His iniquity but to their lack of longing for Him. If they truly loved Him, they would be restless, like a lover seeking their spouse. Many LDS members today fail to pine for God as they should. Instead of seeking Him with all their hearts, they distract themselves with church activities and surface-level devotion. If they truly understood the greatness of God, they would be unable to contain their excitement, proclaiming His praise until the Earth itself would be overwhelmed. This verse says “if thou couldst…” The people are incapable of following God because they are blind and deaf due to their daily idol worship.
Verse 6:
“Thou hast not pined and longed for me, but inventedst debaucheries to keep thy mind at ease. Thou sittest and art idle all the day, inventing excuses.”
Interpretation:
The Lord accuses the people of filling their lives with debaucheries (excessive indulgence in idol worship) and distractions to avoid facing their spiritual emptiness. Instead of longing for God, they sit idle and make excuses. In the LDS context, this verse highlights how members often replace true devotion with busywork or idle activities, thinking that mere participation in church functions will bring them closer to God. They may attend meetings or activities but fail to develop a personal relationship with the Lord. Instead of longing for Him, they turn to entertainment, social gatherings, or even self-righteousness as a way to keep their minds at ease.
Verse 7:
“When for one day thine heart and tongue do not make excuse, then will I declare thou hast righteousness. If a lens can be made powerful enough that I can see thy righteousness then will I say unto thee that thou needest me not.”
Interpretation:
Here, God declares that when His people stop making excuses for their spiritual failures, He will finally declare them righteous. The imagery of a powerful lens suggests that their righteousness is so small it would need magnification to be seen. This is a powerful metaphor for the LDS Church today: many members believe themselves righteous due to their outward observances, but God calls for authentic righteousness that stems from the heart. Until they stop making excuses for their lack of spiritual depth, they cannot be considered truly righteous. Further, I think God is saying here, by using the words/phrases “for one day” and “if,” that there is no lens strong enough, because there is NO actual righteousness in them.
Verse 8:
“Who hath spoken unto thee in my name, lo, these many generations, these thousands of autumns the leaves have fallen to the grave, and it hath come to pass or hath comforted thee?”
Interpretation:
God questions who among the people has truly spoken His word over the generations. This verse suggests that for many years, the people have been comforted by false promises and empty words. In the LDS Church, members may rely too much on past generations, assuming that their inheritance of truth guarantees their righteousness. Yet, God asks who has truly spoken for Him, implying that many have followed false doctrines or hollow traditions without experiencing the fullness of His truth.
Conclusion:
JBK Chapter 7 is a mirror held up to the modern LDS Church, reflecting the spiritual blindness and deafness that often plagues those who believe themselves to be the most righteous. Skulking gossip, shallow traditions, and vain statutes have replaced sincere longing for God. The rebuke here is clear: outward observance is meaningless without a heart that truly seeks God. The call is to move beyond excuses, to long for God, and to develop a deep, personal relationship with Him. Only then can righteousness truly be declared. Blindly following your prophets who don’t actually prophesy (Isa. 29:10) will do nothing for you in the end, except lead you downward.