Blinded By The Craftiness of Men

One of the descriptions of those who will inherit the terrestrial glory is that they “are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men” (D&C 76:75).  In some respects, this seems unfair because it sounds like those who were “tricked” by crafty men will not be able to make it to the Celestial Kingdom.  Joseph Smith used similar language when he said, “For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it” (D&C 123:12).  Clearly this verse suggests that there are indeed the innocent who are blinded by the craftiness of men and who cannot know the truth simply because they cannot find it.  Just because missionaries didn’t make it to their door, does that mean they cannot inherit the Celestial Kingdom?

               Of course the answer to that question has to be no—everyone must have an opportunity to fully accept the saving ordinances of the gospel and be heirs to the celestial kingdom.  We know that “all who have died without a knowledge of this gospel, who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the celestial kingdom of God” (D&C 137:7).  This suggests that there can’t be those who simply didn’t have a chance because they were blinded by other men but would have accepted the gospel if deceitful men had not prevented them.  The verse above in D&C 123 suggests that there are those who are blinded by the craftiness of men to no fault of their own, but I believe that the kind of blindness the Lord referred to in connection with the terrestrial kingdom involves agency.  D&C 123 is actually not really talking about missionary work or about salvation even; Joseph was writing about making known what really happened in Missouri to the world.  There were indeed many who did not know the truth about what took place between the Missourians and the Mormons, and that was certainly to know fault of their own.  So Joseph was encouraging the Saints to get the true stories of Mormon suffering out to the people.  But I believe the kind of blindness referred to in D&C 76 is different and more in line with this kind of blindness spoken of by Jacob: “Wo unto the blind that will not see; for they shall perish also” (2 Nephi 9:21).  This clearly suggests an element of agency in the blindness; “will not see” means that they would not or did not want to see.  One example of this is in this description of some of the Nephites after the sing of the birth of Christ was given: “The people began to forget those asigns and wonders which they had heard, and began to be less and less astonished at a sign or a wonder from heaven, insomuch that they began to be hard in their hearts, and blind in their minds, and began to disbelieve all which they had heard and seen” (3 Nephi 2:1).  The blindness spoken of here surely was a choice; they chose to make their minds blind to the miracles and the things of God.  In another verse about being blind we read, “Otherwise Satan seeketh to turn their hearts away from the truth, that they become blinded and understand not the things which are prepared for them” (D&C 78:10).  This blindness again appears to be one brought on by the individual.  While it is true that Satan will work to turn away our hearts and blind our minds, it will not happen unless we allow it.  We must choose to see and not let the world blind us to the things of God.  Otherwise, the terrestrial kingdom may be our home.