The 1828 edition of Webster’s Dictionary—the one used during Joseph Smith’s day—defines “confound” this way:
- To throw into disorder
- To perplex
- To embarrass, cast down, or make ashamed
- To terrify, dismay, astonish, or stupefy with amazement
- To destroy or overthrow
The Lord told Joseph Smith that enemies of the gospel “shall be confounded in mine own due time” (Doctrine and Covenants 71:10). For us today, this is a reminder that we don’t need to waste our time arguing about the gospel with people who criticize and tear down the Church, who lie and misrepresent our beliefs.
The Lord will deal with them—He will confound them—eventually. Work on the things you can control, and let God take care of everything else.
How Will You React?
Imagine someone says something negative about the Church. How can you firmly stand up for the gospel without getting pulled into an angry argument? Perhaps write down what you would say.