We left our fellow deeply concerned that Charles Taze Russell (Part 5), founder of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, had left him without hope…

[Begin the Man in the Well BLOG Series from the first installment, the Greek Orthodox Priest]

Suddenly, I heard some clanking metal—and I saw above the well a man who claimed the noise emanated from some Golden Plates.  As he approached the well, however, he seemed eager to help.

He explained to me that the reason I was still here was that I was listening to humans in order to get the wisdom needed to get out of the well.  I should only rely on God.  Therefore, I should listen to him (since God uses prophets, of which he is the only one).  In fact, he said, because of the “great apostasy,” he is the only one to whom God has given the wisdom and authority needed to get people out of the well for almost two centuries.

“Give me your wisdom, then,” I pleaded.  “How do I get out of here?”

“All you need to do is to keep all of God’s commandments,” he replied.  “You’ll be pleased to know that God used to be in that well.  If He got out, you can too!  And you can be like Him one day!”

I pondered this and I recalled what I’d read from the Bible. I’d read that there is one God, and none would be formed after him.  And I read that if I break the least of God’s laws, it’s the same as breaking all of them.  So I realized that this requirement was perhaps the most impossible of all.

When I explained this to him, he tossed down to me the Book of Mormon, entreated me to read it and pray about it and see whether I get the “burning in the bosom.” If I get this sensation, he explained, then that means that what he was telling me was true.

Joseph Smith departed and when I failed to get this sensation, I remained in the well in great distress.*

Next week (Part 7a), join us for other teachers who come by such as leaders of Theosophy, Spiritism, Adventism, Unity, Christadelphianism, Unitarianism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Islam and more…

*Joseph Smith section contributed by Mark Fraser, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 1994

Part 1, Greek Orthodox Priest

Part 2, Jewish Rabbi

Part 3a, Roman Catholic Priest

Part 3b, Roman Catholic Priest

Part 4, Mary Baker Eddy of Christian Science

Part 5, Charles Taze Russell of the Jehovah’s Witnesses