As a Christian convert to the restored gospel and a lifelong seeker of truth, I’ve come to recognize something that many faithful Latter-day Saints feel deep down but hesitate to say aloud: Jesus Christ condemned legalism, and yet, in the generations after the Prophet Joseph Smith's martyrdom, our restored church has drifted dangerously close to it.
Jesus didn’t mince words when it came to religious leaders who prioritized rules over righteousness. In Matthew 23:23 (KJV), He declared: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith.” He continued in verse 24, “Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.” And in Mark 7:6–9, Jesus quoted Isaiah: “This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me... teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
These were not fringe rebukes—they were central to Christ’s mission. He came not to bind us with more rules, but to free us through His grace. As the Apostle Paul taught: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1, KJV).
Legalism Creeping In After Joseph Smith
The Prophet Joseph Smith restored powerful truths: the Godhead, the priesthood, ordinances, temples, and most importantly—a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. But after his death, the Church began to institutionalize spiritual principles into bureaucratic checklists. This transformation wasn’t always malicious, but the consequences have been spiritually stifling.
Consider the Word of Wisdom. It was given as “a principle with promise... not by commandment or constraint” (Doctrine & Covenants 89:2). Today, it is a rigid requirement for temple entry, often enforced more strictly than the weightier matters of mercy, repentance, and faith. While avoiding alcohol, tobacco, or drugs is wise counsel, turning dietary advice into a test of spiritual worthiness is the very essence of legalism Christ condemned.
Modern Phariseeism in the Church
We now live in a Church culture where:
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Caffeine is debated as if it were doctrine.
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Tithing is demanded before a struggling mother can enter the temple, even if it means choosing between groceries and donations.
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Facial hair is judged as unworthy, despite the fact that Christ Himself had a beard.
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Temple attendance is held up as a badge of righteousness, even though many are quietly suffering, unhealed, and spiritually dry despite checking every box.
These practices are not inherently evil—but they become dangerous when they replace the Spirit with structure, and relationship with Christ with regulation.
What Did Christ Teach?
Jesus did not gather crowds to enforce dress codes, measure tithes, or inspect beverage choices. He healed on the Sabbath. He dined with sinners. He rebuked those who weaponized religion to exclude and shame. His message was grace, repentance, love, and truth.
True discipleship means following Christ, not a checklist. The temple recommend interview should be a moment of reflection and renewal—not a doctrinal inquisition.
A Restoration Still in Progress
Let me be clear: I love the restored gospel. I believe Joseph Smith was a prophet. I know the Book of Mormon is true. But part of that truth is recognizing that restoration is ongoing—and that includes purging ourselves of the legalism that crept in post-Nauvoo.
As Elder Jeffrey R. Holland once said:
"In this Church, what we know will always trump what we do not know, and 'what we do know' is that God loves us, and He will never abandon us."
— Elder Holland, “Lord, I Believe,” April 2013 General Conference
Let’s stop abandoning one another—and ourselves—over policies, procedures, and unwritten expectations that Christ never commanded. Let's return to the core of His gospel: faith, hope, charity, and redemption.
Final Thought
Jesus didn’t come to establish a new Pharisee class. He came to set us free. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are part of the greatest spiritual movement of our time—but we must be vigilant that we don’t repeat the very religious errors Christ spent His ministry dismantling.
It’s time to choose the higher law: Christ Himself.
Citations:
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Matthew 23:23–24, KJV
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Mark 7:6–9, KJV
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Galatians 5:1, KJV
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Doctrine and Covenants 89:2
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Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Lord, I Believe”, April 2013 General Conference
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