There are a few Speeches at the BYU Speech website for which the transcript is not provided for some reason. You can hear the audio, but no record in text format exists. One such speech is “That You May Not Be Deceived” given by Spencer W Kimball to the BYU student body on 11 November 1959. I have put the audio on YouTube with closed captioning. Here is the talk and transcript in full:

Transcript:

Introduction

Our speaker today, while still relatively a young man, has witnessed and participated in a very remarkable growth in our church. He was born in Salt Lake City in 1895. At the age of 3, his father Andrew Kimball was called by the first presidency to preside over the St. Joseph stake in the Gila Valley in eastern Arizona. He presided in that calling for some 27 years until the date of his death. When our speaker left Salt Lake City at the age of 3, in 1898, if I remember church history correct, Salt Lake County and [Turilla 00:50] counties were still just one stake of the church.

We now, as you know, nearly 300 stakes, so you can see the remarkable progress that has been made. It’s likely that another 100, 200 stakes will be created during the life of our speaker this morning. Brother Kimball’s mother was the daughter of Edwin D. Woolley, a colorful Salt Lake leader, business manager of Brigham Young, Great Bishop of the 13th Ward in Salt Lake City which he served for 40 years. You will note that in those days stake presidents and bishops had tenure.

Brother Kimball graduated from Gila Academy, then a church institution in eastern Arizona, with highest honors as a student, president of his class, as well as being a star forward on the basketball team. He’s been going forward ever since. He’s a man of many talents and great versatility. He was a Sunday school teacher at the age of 14, stake Sunday school chorister, missionary in the central stakes, stake clerk, second counselor in the stake presidency for 14 years. Just a remnant of the tenure they had previously, after which he became president of the Mount Graham stake organized from a portion of the St. Joseph stake over which his father presided. There, he made an outstanding record as a stake president especially in welfare work of the church.

In addition to his devoted church service, he was active in Boy Scout work for many years, being at one time director of the Executive Council of the Roosevelt Boy Scout Council. He was chairman of the USO, chairman of the United War Fund Campaign in his county, member of the Arizona Teacher’s Retirement Board on appointment from the governor, director of the Arizona Association of Insurance Agents, president of his Rotary Club, Rotary International District Governor.

In addition to these heavy church and civic duties, he still made a living. My understanding is that he’s never been on relief. He was a teller and bookkeeper in a bank, later bank manager and assistant cashier, also a real estate broker and part owner of the Gila Broadcasting Company. One wonders how he found time for so many activities. May I merely add that as a member of the Board of Trustees of this institution, he has always maintained a very deep interest, not only in the BYU but the entire church school system, and especially in the students of the church school system. He loves young people. I am honored this morning to have the privilege of introducing to you Elder Spencer W. Kimball.

Speech Begins

My beloved young brothers and sisters, I’m grateful for this opportunity to speak to this inspiring audience of the elect young people of the church of our lord, Jesus Christ. In recent months, I’ve had interviews with a number of people who’ve been confused and frustrated in the deceptions of those who would lead them to destruction. It would be most gratifying if we could feel that every one of you is fully fortified against such onslaughts of the enemy, and it is my hope to offer to you a few thoughts which might protect you should you ever be approached by those who would rob you of your faith and of your salvation.

These are momentous days, the last days, when there will be numerous deceptions. When the very elect will be deceived and destroyed, except for protections which only the individual may build for himself. When I was on my early mission, I drew in the back of my Bible the picture of an image depicting the successive kingdoms which would rule the world through the centuries. King Nebuchadnezzar had besieged Jerusalem and had carried Judean captains into Babylon, together with their priceless, sacred vessels from the house of the Lord.

Among the captives was Daniel, a clean, worthy, courageous young man. One who was responsive to the inspiration of the Lord. The king, in his disturbed sleep, had an impressive dream which troubled him greatly, but which his magicians, astrologers and sorcerers had come . . . and they had come at his command to interpret the dream, he had forgotten the details. Harsh measures were threatened, even to the death of these men. They answered that if he would reveal the dream, they would interpret it. There is not a man upon the earth that can show the king’s matter, they said, therefore there is no king, lord nor ruler that asks such things at any magician or astrologer. It is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can show it before the king except the gods whose dwelling is not in the flesh.

The royal decree went forth from the dictator that all these wise men should be destroyed. Since Daniel fit into that category, his life was also jeopardized. Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Daniel answered and said blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are his. He changeth the times and the seasons, he removeth kings and seteth up kings. I thank thee and praise thee oh Lord God, my father who has given me wisdom and might and has made known unto me that now what we desired off thee, for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.

He then told, through the proper channels, about the dream, that he could interpret the dream. The great king asked a direct question, can you really do so? To which he answered that wise men, astrologers and soothsayers would not be able to ever reveal the dream, nor its interpretations. There is a God in heaven, he said, that revealeth secrets and maketh known to King Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream and the visions of thy head upon thy bed are these. As for thee, oh king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter? He that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass. Daniel modestly disclaimed any wisdom, but gave credit to the Lord and then gave, in detail, the dream and its interpretations.

He grew a picture of a great image with its head of fine gold, its breast and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of brass, legs of iron, his feet, part of iron and part of clay, saying thou sawest that a stone was cut without hands which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay and break them to pieces. The iron and clay, brass, silver and gold became like chaff on the summer threshing floor and were carried away by the wind and seen no more. The stone that smote the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

His interpretation followed. The kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar would be replaced by another, and then a third would take the spotlight, and then a fourth, the latter of which would break into many kingdoms. Then came the spectacular prophecy recorded thousands of years before its fulfillment. In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, and the kingdom shall not be left to other people. It shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms and it shall stand forever. Daniel concluded with this statement: “And the dream is certain, and the interpretation sure.”

I know, and Latter Day Saints generally know, that in 1830 this prophecy was fulfilled and the God of heaven did set up a kingdom and, likewise, we know that the kingdom shall not be left to other people, shall never be destroyed. It shall stand forever. This one scripture, which has been accepted by the Church of the Restoration, should be sufficient to satisfy every cultist or critic of the true church of Jesus Christ. It should make him not only believe and tremble, but cause him to be afraid to kick against the pricks, and to fight against the church of the Lord.

Apostasy usually begins with question, doubt, criticism. It is a retrograding and a deevolutionary process. The seeds of doubt are planted by unscrupulous or misguided people, and seldom directed against the doctrine, at first, but more against the leaders. They who garnish the sepulchers of the dead prophets by stoning the living ones. They return to the pronouncements of the dead leaders, interpret them to be incompatible with present program. They convince themselves that there are discrepancies between the practices of the deceased and those of the present. The Lord, speaking to such, said ye blind guides would strain at a gnat and swallow a camel. Ye make clean the outside of the cup and the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Whoa unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you build the tombs of the profits and garnish the sephulchers of the righteous and say, if we had been in the day of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the profits. Wherefore, be witnesses unto yourselves that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.

Apply this to modern times, and you have the so-called Reformers. Many budding apostates follow the pattern progressively. They allege a love for the gospel in the church, but charge the leaders with being a little off the beam. Soon, they claim that the leaders are making changes and not following original programs. Next, they say that while the gospel and the church are divine, the leaders have fallen. Up to this time, it may be a passive thing. Now it becomes active resistance, and frequently, the blooming apostate begins to air his views and to crusade. He’s likely now to join groups who are slipping away. He may become a student of the journal of discourses, and is flattered by the evil one that he knows more about the scriptures and doctrines than the church leaders who he now says are persecuting them. He generally wants all the blessings of the church, membership, priesthood, temple privileges, and expects them from the leaders of the church, though at the same time claiming those leaders have departed from the path. He now begins to expect persecution, and adopts a martyr complex. When finally excommunicated, he comes with other apostates to develop the cults.

At this stage, he’s likely to claim revelation for himself. Revelations from the Lord directing him in his interpretations and in his actions. These manifestations are superior to anything from living leaders, he claims. He is now becoming quite independent. He fails to recognize that if the church had gone astray, and if its authorities were off the beam, that he could get no authority from them or from anywhere else. He who quotes so glibly from Brigham Young and his contemporaries seems to forget that in the days of that Brigham Young, there were many who would not accept his pronouncements, but quoted Joseph Smith. Numerous were they of the day of Joseph Smith, who questioned his interpretations and quoted the dead, sepulchered prophets.

These apostates seem to forget that the very Christ himself was not accepted by most of his contemporaries. John the Baptist, preaching with Christ, was met with the same brand of criticism and self-righteous egotism. To the arrogant Pharisees and Sadducees, he asked, who hath more need to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruit and meat for repentance, and think not to say within yourselves we have Abraham to our father. I say unto you that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Jesus himself met this same brand of apostasy. We be Abraham’s seed, the boasters said, to which the Lord replied, “I know you are Abraham’s seed, but you seek to kill me because my word hath no place in you.” Again, the countered, Abraham is our father, to which the Lord replied, “If ye were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham, but now you seek to kill me. This did not Abraham. You do the deeds of your father. Ye are of your father, the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own.” Art though greater than our father Abraham, which is dead, these apostates had the temerity to ask of the Lord of heaven and earth. The savior said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day, and he saw it and was glad. Before Abraham was, I am.” The pretenders took up stones to assassinate him.

At another time, he cried out in anguish, “Oh, Jerusalem, Jerusalem. Though that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee. How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and you would not. Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” History repeats itself, as the critics of the redeemer still worshiped Abraham, critics of Joseph Smith could see only the savior, and as the apostates of Brigham’s day could see only Joseph, now there are those who quote only the dead leaders of the pioneer era.

Some of these people, disappointed, perhaps, ignored in their ambitions, hungry for leadership, are deceivers of the first order. To them, there is little help we can give. Others are the deceived, the confused, the frustrated. Honest and sincere, at least in their first movement. To these we speak in the words of the Lord, “Return unto me, and I will return unto you.” To them, we bare testimony, the kingdom of God is on the earth with all its gifts, blessings, doctrines, ordinances and with its divinely called leadership. To them we plead, “Leave the deceivers. Cleanse your lives. Return to love and faith and peace.” We remind the confused and deceived ones that these are the days, the latter days, which the kingdom now established would never be destroyed nor fall. Also, that these are the last days in which the false prophets and false Christs should arise and show great signs and wonders. So great, indeed, that if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

It is the Lord himself who in the 24th chapter of Matthew is speaking to his people concerning these last days before the end of the world, and it is he himself who endorses Daniel the prophet and his aforementioned prediction. It is the redeemer who says that in these last days shall be great tribulations “such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time known or ever shall be, and except those days be shortened, there shall be no flesh saved. But for the elect sake, those days shall be shortened. Then, if any man will say unto you lo, here is Christ, or there, believe it not.” These are the last days and Lucifer, the arch deceiver, who recognizing the rapidly shortening time for his conquest for the people of this world, is exerting every effort.

Deceptions will increase, cults will become more numerous, more and more of the weak and faithless will fall by the wayside. The confused one says, but these descenders tell me that there is no revelation in the church today. How wrong they are. The Lord told Peter that upon the rock of revelation, the church is built. Upon revelation, it is founded, each time it has been upon the earth. Revelation has continued without interruption to all the successive presidents of the church. Revelation today is common, continuous, compelling. With 16 years in the high councils of the church, I have seen it firsthand, the work of the Lord unfold under the same rock of revelation and this under 3 presidents of the church.

In 1839, while in Liberty Jail, the prophet Joseph Smith cried out in his agony not only at the mobocrats who turned the jail key on him, but those of the church who charged him with transgression, whose hearts were corrupted. Listen to the telling words of the Lord, “Cursed are all those who lift up the heel against mine anointed, sayeth the Lord, and cry they have sinned when they have not sinned before me, sayeth the Lord, but have done that which is meet in mine eyes and which I commanded them.” Those who cry transgression do it because they are the servants of sin, and are the children of disobedience themselves. Whoa unto them. Because they have offended my little ones, they shall be severed from the ordinances of mine house. Their baskets shall not be full. Their houses and their barns shall perish. They themselves shall be despised by those that flattered them. They shall not have a right to the priesthood, nor their posterity after them from generation to generation.

The budding apostate closes his eyes to these statements and, of course, will not apply it to himself. The word of the Lord to Oliver Cowdery through the prophet applies to all members of the church. Though shalt not command him who is at thy head, and at the head of the church, for I have given him the keys of the mysteries and the revolutions which are sealed until I shall appoint another in his stead. Oliver Cowdery was permitted to write his own interpretations, but not by way of commandment, that being left to the president of the church. No one shall be appointed to receive commandments, the Lord said, and revelations, in this church except my servant Joseph Smith Junior, for he receiveth them even as Moses until I shall appoint unto them another in its stead.

The church has never been without its false claimants of revelations and authority. As early as 1831, some members of the church were disturbed by false assertions of those claiming revelations. As an example, one of the members, Hiram Page, claimed to be receiving revelations for the church through a certain stone in his possession. Some members had already been deceived by his statements. The Lord sought to protect innocent members from danger by commanding Oliver Cowdery to stop the deception. Take thy brother, Hiram Page, he said, between him and thee alone and tell him that those things which he hath written from that stone are not of me, and that Satan deceiveth him.

This is understandable in the early days, when all the members were recent converts from churches with wholly different standards, doctrines and practices. They did not understand that inspiration and even revelation to every individual for himself. To every head of family, for his family. To every bishop, for his ward. To every stake president, for his stake. Yet none of these will receive revelations for the church. Any revelations they receive for themselves will always parallel and never counter the major ones to the prophets of the Lord.

To offset these spurious claims and false teachings, the Lord revealed through the prophet Joseph, “Behold, verily I say unto you that ye have received a commandment for a law unto my church through him whom I have appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations from my hand.” This was addressed to the elders of my church. And this ye shall know assuredly that there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken. Now, how would anyone dare to lift up his heels against the Lord’s anointed? How would one have the rashness to swear falsely against the Lord’s servants? How would one dare to be critical when severance from the church and the ordinances of the house of the Lord would follow, bringing a loss of the priesthood, even the loss of his own posterity and the damnation of his own soul? It may be the penalty.

When we think of the certain increasing deceptions of the latter days, we return to the 28th section where the Lord stated again to Oliver Cowdery, “For behold, these things have not been appointed unto him. Neither shall anything be appointed unto any of this church contrary to church covenants, for all things must be done in order and by common consent in the church by the prayer of faith.”

Again, this succession to authority, to the keys, to the oracles, to the revelations, is covered in section 90. Therefore, thou art blessed from henceforth that bear the keys of the kingdom given unto you, which is coming forth for the last time. Verily I say unto you, the keys of this kingdom shall never be taken from you while thou art in the world, neither in the world to come. Nevertheless, through you shall the oracles be given to another. Yea, even unto the church. The prophet Joseph Smith conferred upon the church the 12 apostles, every key, rite, authority and power, to be held by them in a dormant state to be activated when the proper time came. The death of the prophet left all the keys in the hands of the 12. Brigham Young being the president of the council of the 12, and properly called the Lord, approved by the council of the 12 and the people became the new president. The keys he had held many years now became operative.

This followed in succession through the various church presidents, from Joseph Smith to president David. O. McKay. If the spirit of the Lord is still striving with the apostasizing individual he may yet be recovered. If he, like Martin Harris, boasts in his own judgement and strength and ignores the councils of God and follows after the dictates of his own will and carnal desires, there is little hope for him and none except through real repentance. Joseph Smith was chastized by the Lord for turning over the plates to him who has set up not the councils of God and has broken the most sacred of promises which were made before God and has depended upon his own judgement, and boasted in his own wisdom.

The story of Martin Harris has some very sad chapter. If one rejects the Holy Spirit, then the spirit of the Lord will not always strive with him. Leaves him to his own devices, to fight out his own battle with the master of deception. To the sincere, honest but confused person, there is a way back. Recovery is possible. One must live all the principles of the gospel, he must repent of all of his sins and errors, and he must build back his faith and confidence in the leadership of the church by severing all his ties with those who are at variance with the Lord’s church and his leaders.

There are lines of defense for him who has been assailed by the deceivers. If the confused one is in doubt, let him ask of the pretending leader were you sustained and approved by the body of the church? Early the Lord indicated this safeguard against imposters. Changes in policy, practice or doctrines will be approved by common consent of the church. Hear the Lord. Though shalt not leave the place until after the conference, and my servant Joseph shall be appointed to preside over the conference by the voice of it. What he sayeth to thee, thou shalt tell. Neither shall anything be appointed unto any of this church contrary to church covenants, for all things must be done in order and by common consent in the church.

Outlining procedures for the church, the Lord said no person is to be ordained to any office in this church where there is a regularly organized branch of the same without the vote of that church. Again, all things shall be done by common consent in the church by much prayer and faith. Now I give unto the church in these parts a commandment, that certain men among them shall be appointed, and they shall be appointed by the voice of the church. Once more on a commandment I give unto you that you shall fill all these offices and approve of those names which I have mentioned or else disapprove of them at my general conference.

Accordingly, the voice in sustaining by the people is the most vital element in leadership. In the apostolic times, men did not set themselves up in offices, but were called and sustained. The case of Matthias is a good example, or in other words, the vote that was cast for Matthias was the vote of the church and made it operative and proper. Again, one is assured protection through the guidance of the holy spirit. Everyone is entitled to the revelations of the Lord for himself, and by the power of the holy ghost, he may know the truth of all things. If one lives in total harmony and faith, sustaining of the authorities of the church and lives all the principles, the spirit will guide him. If he gets arrogant and sets himself up as a final judge, he may be deceived. Oh, the vain-ness and frailties and the foolishness of men. When they are learned, they think they are wise, and they harken not unto the council of God. They set it aside, supposing they know of themselves wherefore their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not, and they shall perish.

Those of us who have had experience with many people who are on their way to apostasy know that to be true. The spirit will strive and plead and persistently encourage one in the path of correct thinking. There comes a time finally when he is driven away enough times by one who is boastful and proud of his own knowledge and power, and one who admits the deceiver. Behold, the heavens withdraw themselves. The spirit of the Lord is grieved. When it is withdrawn, amen to the priesthood or authority of that men. Behold, ere he is aware he is left unto himself to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints and to fight against God.

Wisely, the Lord gave men still another fortification against the enemy of lies and deceit. Paul gave it to us. He gave some apostles and prophets and pastors and so on, you’re familiar with the scripture. For what purpose, til we all come in unity of the faith and the knowledge of the son of God and to a perfect man under the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Why that we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, carried about by every wind of doctrine and the slight of man and the cunning and craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive.

To every member of this church, the Lord has given leaders on 3 levels. The bishop or branch president, stake president or the mission president and the general authorities. These are dependable. One of them may be limited in knowledge, education or training, but he is entitled to the revelations of the Lord for his people and he has the channel open to God himself. The leaders will never deceive the earnest, confused one. These pastors, teachers, apostles and prophets are given for that very purpose, to counteract the wavering, deceived and frustrated person who like children are tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine.

Apostasy was in the primitive church. Disputations as to doctrine and procedures and performances were prevalent. Paul knew that there would be deceivers, deliberate, intentional, vicious ones. Also, blind guides who would lead themselves and their followers into the ditch. Inspired Paul gave us the key which is always dependable. Chosen, approved, ordained leaders will protect us against the slight of man and the cunning craftiness. Like the oft repeated camel story, and individual does not go sour in a day. It’s a gradual process. You remember the proverbial camel which begged his master to let him put his nose through the flap of the tent to get out of the blasting storm of the desert? With his nose in, he next asked to put in his eyes and head, which were being sandblasted. When they were in, he begged protection for his front quarters, his torso, his hind quarters and tail. When solidly set in the tent, he kicked the master out.

The best protection against one ever leaving the church in apostasy is to keep the flap door closed. Lucifer cannot enter a locked door. He’s ready always to accept invitations, and when he has a toe hold, his legs follow with his body, his head and all his evil machinations. Each individual then may be certain of a place if he will keep his hands clean, his heart pure, his faith undaunted, his trust in the Lord and in church leaders. I give to you absolute assurance that the time will never come when the kingdom established will ever fail. That it will ever be given to other people, or that the chosen leaders will ever falter. Some individuals may falter and lose the faith, but the church, never.

I know that President McKay, as well as his predecessors, is called of God for this high place as the leader of this people. I know that he not only occupies the chair of the prophet of God, he is the divinely appointed one and holds all the keys of the kingdom. May you always keep your armor on, and your defenses up, and fully protect yourselves against the foe and his subtle deceptions. Satan would like to have you, to sift you as wheat. You are precious, each of you. We love you much. God bless you. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.