



The Parable of the Counterfeit Coin

I have struggled for some time to express my feelings and motivations about why I speak out about issues with Mormon Church History. This is as close as I can come for now:

Imagine that you were a prisoner serving a life sentence. Your were held in bondage due to a debt that, if paid, would set you free. Your debt could be erased and your freedom purchased with a single 1oz gold coin presented to the king of the land – but there was a catch. Due to rampant forgeries, the king had passed a law stating that anyone caught paying a debt with counterfeit money was immediately put to death.

A Chance at Salvation

You have been laboring under your imprisonment for years until one day, while digging trenches in a chain gang, an elderly prison mate who had been your friend collapses from exhaustion. In his last moments before death he presents to you a Gold coin which he had received from a gentleman years ago as payment for a good deed. Falling short of his own debt of 2 gold coins he had held on to it waiting for the time when he would find a second coin to complete his debt. Seeing himself at the brink of death, however, he passed the coin to you in a final act of charity. He knew that it could purchase your freedom, and you had been a good and trusted friend to the old man.

You accept the coin and say farewell to your trusted friend as his life and sufferings end. Back in your prison cell you examine the coin closely. Your friend, who always acted in good faith towards you and who had never given you a reason to doubt his honesty, had assured you that the coin was real and true. The consequence of passing on a counterfeit was so dire, however, that any coin encountered deserved the closest scrutiny.

Examining the coin

You first assess the color and appearance of the coin. It shines of Gold. There are a few smudges apparent on the face of the coin, but as you take time to lightly polish the coin, the smudges fade and the gold shines more vividly than before. The ridges around the coin, designed to reveal any counterfeit or trimming of the precious metal are intact. The engravings on the coin bear the mark and seal of the realm and match the appearance of the gold coins that you have seen before. The details and relief of the coin are sharper and more crisp than any you had ever seen before, as though this coin was the result of a first run pressing. You feel the weight of the coin and it feels solid and heavy in your hand – just as you would expect a coin of gold to feel.

Serendipity

Your heart begins to quicken. You can’t believe your good fortune – the coin passes all of the tests that you know of to confirm it’s authenticity! Just as you are about to call your jailer to bring you to the King to pay your debt, the coin accidentally slips from your hand and falls to the floor. It lands solidly on the hard stone and when you retrieve it and check for damage, you notice a dark scuff on the outer rim of the side upon which it landed. You think for a moment that it almost appears as though a chip of gold plating had flaked off, revealing a darker metal underneath. Could the coin be just a slug of lead, stamped and then coated with gold plating? Could your friend have deceived you with a counterfeit?

You remember that even though you trusted your friend, his eyesight was not the best and he had clearly never seen the scuffing that you had uncovered. Maybe he was taken in by a counterfeit himself, and passed it on to you without knowing. While your friend seemed to trust the man who gave him the coin, you can only guess at the trustworthiness of the gentleman who had originally paid it to him. Doubts start to fill your mind.

Doubting your doubts

Just as you are beginning to doubt that the coin is real – you remember that the floor is dirty and the grime and soot from the floor likely left another dark smudge on the coin. You consider that this is far more likely considering all of the other aspects of the coin which point to its authenticity, and the extensive amount of filth on the floor. Your concerns about the coin start to fade as you begin to doubt the significance of the very things that made you doubt the coin in the first place. You actually feel a bit silly for doubting the coin. After all, every other feature of the coin point to it being genuine – even a superb specimen.

To reassure yourself you go through the process of polishing the coin again, wanting to clear off the scuff and again see a sparkling, unblemished golden symbol of freedom, but something happens. As you work to polish the scuff, the darkness doesn’t wipe off. In fact, it grows. Your doubts about the coin return as you realize that your additional polishing is chipping away a thin veneer of gold plating, revealing a dark slug of lead underneath.

Acceptance

You struggle to come to terms with this new realization. The doubts that once filled your mind can no longer be considered doubts. The dull, dark metal underneath the thin layer of brilliant gold that is gradually chipping away are an unmistakable testament to the false character of the coin. Each new flake of gold that falls from the coin reveals more of the dark valueless metal beneath and each time it becomes less and less surprising and unexpected.

“Maybe it doesn’t matter” you think to yourself – trying hard to find that feeling of reassurance and hope that the coin gave you before you saw the deception for what it was. Maybe the gilded beauty and veneer of truth that first impressed you would be sufficient for the King. But… The King has always detected every forgery brought before him. Try to rationalize it as you might, you can’t avoid the reality. Every other counterfeit coin has had the same characteristics – all of the appearance of the genuine article with only the subtle telling defect which would reveal the bogus tender. No amount of beauty, brilliance or craftmanship could overcome the fact that the coin was not what it appeared to be. Since a counterfeit can only result in death -once you see the proof of it’s deception the only aspect of the coin in your possession that really matters is the feature that reveals it to be a fraud.

What does it mean?

To a sincere believing Mormon Truth should matter. The entire religion was founded upon the idea that other creeds had departed from God’s one true way for salvation. Even thought the church is run by flawed men, Mormons are told that their leaders will never lead the Church astray and that Doctrine accounts for the word of God. If you allow these things to contain clear and outrageous contradictions – then Mormons are guilty of the same frailties that they began by accusing the rest of the Christian world of committing.

The coin

Each Mormon born in to the church is given a worldview that encompasses knowledge about the pre-existence, the nature of God, what is expected of us while on the earth and what we have to hope for in the world to come. This includes a body of scripture, line of authority and hierarchy of power that starts with God and Jesus Christ and extends all the way down to local Bishop and male head of every household. All of these concepts which govern a Mormon’s temporal and metaphysical worldview are embodied by the coin in the parable.

Lightly polishing the smudges

There are imperfections of men, cultural traditions, interpersonal conflicts, and other peripheral problems with the church. These are problems that exist in any organization and do not reveal any legitimate foundational problem within the church. They are the smudges which are cleared away. Lightly polishing the smudges is seeing them as simply the result of imperfect humans dealing with difficulties external to the critical issues of doctrine and authority. These issues may be investigated and while they may reveal problematic men and women and troublesome historical events, they are not foundational and can easily and simply be dismissed – restoring the sheen of the church which was temporarily marred by the superficial blemish.

Examining the coin

As noted in the parable, what the coin represents to a Mormon justifies close examination. Mormons examine and test and inspect the coin repeatedly throughout their lives. How could they not detect the fraud? The simple answer is that you cannot detect that a coin is fake based on superficial appearance alone if you do not know what a real coin would actually look like and feel like in the first place.

A Mormon may spend a lifetime closely inspecting and admiring every facet and detail of the engraving on the coin – noticing the regal appearance of the King stamped on it’s face. Having never seen the king, however, they don’t really know if the image is true.

The weight of the coin seems to point to a real measure of Gold. Having never held a pure gold coin, however, they cannot know if the measure is valid.

They spend years analyzing and re-analyzing the symbols that surround complex motifs that add to the apparent craftsmanship and beauty of the coin. Sunday school, seminary, institute and personal scripture study which delve deep into the plentiful revealed ‘truths’ of mormonism can fill up a lifetime. Even made up stories and fairytales can have abundant detail and symbolism, justifying a lifetime of study to truly know. This does not make them true. The Lord of the Rings is testament to this.

They are reassured by the reeding on the edge of the coin which appears to exclude counterfeit. Mormon theology is full of proofs of it’s own validity. Any counterfeit without such deceiving reassurances would not fit the criteria of a good counterfeit. Joseph Smith’s translation of the Bible incorporated new verses in Genesis which foretold that a prophet named Joseph, son of Joseph, would restore the word of God in the last days(JST Genesis 50:33). Mormon’s blinded by the brilliance of the gold plated coin see this as reassuring proof of the authenticity of the Mormon Gospel – the ridges around the edge of the coin. Once you realize the fraud – you see this as a masterful detail by a skilled deceiver.

All of these things point to a skilled craftsman who created the coin. An artful deceiver who was able to create religion and religiosity with such great outward appearance of authenticity that it has blinded generations to the truth. Once more people see the face of the King – the greater the chance they can compare it to the imitation upon the coin. Once their eyes are open to the fraud – they will see the ornate details for the enticing trap that they are.

The Gold Plating

Believing church members will enthusiastically describe the great things the Church does in their lives. Good morals, clean living, a strong work ethic, and a culture that values respect, intelligence, charity and love. A structured society that provides ample opportunity for service and a social safety net to provide for the less fortunate. A system of preparedness that is ready in the event of disaster. The name of Christ in the name of the Church and a theology that bears his name throughout. All of these are put forward as proof of the authenticity of the Church.

This is the outward appearance of gold that the coin displays. Remember that both an authentic solid gold coin and a false gold plated coin will have a similar outward appearance. Even to a Christian, much of the LDS church is desirable – but that alone does not justify or prove the church to be true. Jesus himself said that there would be people who would do many great things in the name of Christ, and yet were unknown to him.

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Matthew 7:21-23

A well run secular organization can do the things that the LDS church holds out as the unique fruit that they bear. The various other churches that Mormons stand in opposition to provide these solutions in various degrees to their own congregations and do so under the banner of Christ’s name. These outward manifestations would be an essential part of any of the false prophets and religions that Christ warned about.

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

Matthew 7:15

The “sheeps clothing” referred to in this warning is the outward appearance of divinity, wholesomeness and legitimate truth that a convincing deception must have. The critical realization is that before you discover the coin to be counterfeit, it’s gold appearance is appealing and comforting. After you discover the deception, you see the gold plating as a dangerous thing because of the likelihood that others will fall for the lie and be subject to the consequences of a counterfeit.

The Prison

The prison represents our lives in this existences while under the influence of oppressive forces. To a Mormon or Christian it represents sin and the fallen state of the world.

The King

To a Christian The King represents God and Christ. It is He who can identify the authentic coin that bears his image. It is he that can liberate the soul of the prisoner from bondage. To an atheist the King may represent reason and truth.

The Penalty for Counterfeit

Not knowing God (or truth). Giving time, devotion, money and your life to deceiving men who stand between you and God, acting as gatekeepers without authority or power. (Matthew 23:13)

Someone who is in possession of a counterfeit coin without realizing it is fake will stop looking for the real article. Feeling that they have all they need to present to the king, they stop searching. It is possible that they will stumble across a genuine coin of gold if it is placed right in front of them, but it will be harder for them to see because their gaze is fixed to the false coin. Only when they discover the fake will they be able to cast it aside and begin to seek for authentic gold.

Dropping the Coin

This is the event that initially uncovers something beneath that does not match the outward appearance of the coin. It may be learning about an event from the lives of the early Church Prophets, an epiphany upon reading and comparing doctrine between Mormonism and Christianity or seeing the actions of the current leaders of the church out of harmony with principles that you hold dear. There are many other forms that it can take.

Many people may have the coin drop and yet not bother to examine it closely to see if a counterfeit is revealed. For most people raised as a Mormon, a single drop of the coin is not enough to turn your gaze from the shiny face of the coin to the chipped plating on the edge or backside. It takes several drops and more extensive exposure of the darkness underneath before you are willing to even look. Years ago I learned that Blacks were previously barred from the priesthood – but I never examined the issue closely to see what it implied regarding the prophets of the church. I was made aware that there were some similarities between Masonic rituals and what goes on in LDS temples, but I never thought to investigate how this came to be and examine the implications. I had read about and knew that there was a unjust paradox in Doctrine and Covenants 132 where a woman must give consent in order for her husband to take another virgin as a wife, but would be condemned if she refused. Again – I never allowed my mind to follow these threads to see what significance they carried in the bigger picture of the claims of the church. I knew that the coin had dropped – but I refused to examine the scuff marks. I didn’t want to even entertain the possibility that the coin was counterfeit.

In protecting this blind spot, as I look back on it now, I revealed that my real fear was not of the consequences of presenting a fraud to the King, but rather of not having any coin at all to hold onto. If I were to determine that the coin was fake, then I was afraid that I would have nothing to give me hope of freedom at all. The truth, it turns out, is so much more powerful than the false hope that kept me enthralled by the counterfeit. More on this later.

The grime and soot on the floor

As I mentioned before, when you start to examine the scuffs exposed by the dropping of the coin, overcoming your desire not to see is a great obstacle. When you identify real problems in the Church history or doctrine there is tremendous psychological pressure to rationalize it away. Your own mind provides much of the rationalization, but apologetics and well meaning friends and leaders contribute to the mix. Your whole life in Mormonism you are told that the world outside of Mormonism is full of evil influences and people who would love to see you fall away and are working to tear down the kingdom of God. Anytime any bad or troubling fact is brought up about the church, it is usually blamed on either these outside influences or church members themselves who were too prideful or iniquitous. These elements are the grime and soot on the floor.

When we are “doubting our doubts” about the church, as in the parable, the easiest impulse is to simply assume that these grimy and dark influences are trying to trick us into believing our coin is counterfeit. We say that the darkness we see is a smudge or grime rather than a revealed deception. We turn our gaze back once again to the brilliant gold plating and the reassurance that it represents. This rationalization may work for a while – keeping us under the spell of the coin.

Scrubbing away the scuff reveals more

As part of doubting their doubts about the church, many mormons are driven to read and study more about the issues which troubled them. Hoping that they may discover greater knowledge which will put their mind at ease and explain the troubling matter that fueled their doubt. This is the vigorous scrubbing referred to in the parable. This is a deeper and more extensive probing than the lightly wiping away of the superficial smudges previously alluded to. By this time, the seeker is interested in truth. They feel confident that more study will open up greater understanding about the scuff that they can no longer ignore.

The problem they invariably encounter is that greater study reveals greater evidence of the fraud. More and more of the gold plating falls away and greater lies and deceptions are uncovered. Far from finding reassurance and comfort, this in depth seeking and scrubbing provide the greater evidence needed to not only remove the “doubt about their doubts” but also to take those original doubts and transform them into certainties.

Once you discover one fraud by a con man, you re-examine their other actions allowing your mind to entertain the possibility of fraud – and it is that possibility that you finally have given yourself permission to consider that lets the scales fall from your eyes. The curtain is removed and you see the Wizard working at his dials. You finally see that the Emperor has no clothes and allow yourself to say it out loud.

Wanting it to be real

Belief is more powerful that truth. Even in the face of an abundance of evidence of fraud, a Mormon raised in the church will still want to return to the comforting state that they enjoyed before the coin dropped and they started to scrub our the scuffs. They may have recurring bouts of fear that their own searching has led them into deeper paths of deception. These bouts of uncertainty are an inevitable counterpart to the process. The coin provided comfort precisely because it gave a promise of freedom and took away the need to search elsewhere for a source of liberty. Even though the coin was false, what it represented in the mind of the individual was real. Discovering the fraud of the coin produces the same psychological damage as taking away the true article. The only difference, which may provide some comfort, is the knowledge that by discovering the fraud you avoid the consequence of presenting a counterfeit to the King. This gives you time to rediscover your world and find the authentic article.

Discarding the coin

Counterfeit coins are not put back into circulation once their true character has been discovered. Those who work to protect unsuspecting people from the dangers of this fraud research and share what is learned about each new advancement in the counterfeiting arts. This is not driven by a hatred of the counterfeiter, but by a love of those who might fall under their spell. It is not enough to set the false coin down. There it may be picked up by anyone else who may not have the fortune of detecting the counterfeit before presenting it to the King. It is also important to remember that counterfeit coins are pressed in large batches and there are many other prisoners who have this same counterfeit in their possession. Telling all who will listen to test their coins to discover the fraud for themselves, if it be there, is not an act of hatred or malice. It can be an act of caring and compassion.

The Great Hidden Secret

Having been fooled by a cunning gospel once, it is tempting to discard everything associated with that fraud. I do not blame anyone for making that choice. While branching out on your own to discover truth apart from the self-serving lies of men can be daunting, it is at the same time liberating and empowering. Even after discarding the coin and warning others of it’s deception, you are still left with the prison and the king.

The great secret is that all coins minted by men and passed around as tokens of truth are counterfeit. The gold that they are plated with is not of sufficient purity to pay your debt. The only offering that the King in truth accepts is a heart of gold, forged in love, authentically manifested in your life. Love shown out of a desire to earn favor in heaven is not authentic love, but a wage sought of an employer. Love freely given for no reason other than the compassion that justifies it is authentic and an approved offering.There are many people of all faiths or lack of faith who discover this secret and have transformed their lives accordingly. It is possible to come into the great secret while still holding onto the counterfeit coin – but it is far more difficult to see while your gaze is fixed on the glittering and gilded deceptions of men.