Jeremiah 28

In the days of Jeremiah there were many false prophets that exercised priestcraft, speaking lies for personal gain.  Nephi taught his people -

"...priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion."  (Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 26:29)

In my reading this morning, we read of several false prophets that exercised priestcraft, We read that Hananiah prophesied -

"Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.
3 Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the LORD's house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon:
4 And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the LORD: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 28:2 - 4)

Jeremiah then sarcastically answered the prophecy of Hananiah in front of all the leaders of Judah -

"...Amen: the LORD do so: the LORD perform thy words which thou hast prophesied, to bring again the vessels of the LORD's house, and all that is carried away captive, from Babylon into this place.
7 Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people;
8 The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence.
9 The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 28:6 - 9)

After what appears to be a little scuffle, in my mind, Hananiah was angry and broke the symbolic wood yoke around Jeremiah's neck suggesting that the leaders should not believe Jeremiah.  The Lord then tells Jeremiah that he yoke of the Babylon's would be even an iron yoke which could not be broken.  Because of Hananiah's priestcraft, we learn how the Lord deals with false prophets as Jeremiah prophesies -

"Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.
16 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD.
17 So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 28:15 - 17)

Jeremiah continues to prophecy that Judah will be in captivity for seventy years, and because of that, they should build homes, have families, and continue to strive to live righteously.  We learn of two more false prophets from Judah in Babylon that were exercising priestcraft where Jeremiah writes the word of the Lord -

"Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, of Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, which prophesy a lie unto you in my name; Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes;
22 And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of Judah which are in Babylon, saying, The LORD make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;
23 Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours' wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the LORD."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 29:21 - 23)

And finally there was a Shemaiah the Nehelamite that was carried away to Babylon who wrote back to Judah that Jeremiah should be put in prison in stocks because of his prophecies, to which the Lord answered -

"Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Because thou hast sent letters in thy name unto all the people that are at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying,
26 The LORD hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that ye should be officers in the house of the LORD, for every man that is mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in prison, and in the stocks.
27 Now therefore why hast thou not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, which maketh himself a prophet to you?
28 For therefore he sent unto us in Babylon, saying, This captivity is long: build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them.
29 And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah the prophet.
30 ¶ Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,
31 Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith the LORD concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in a lie:
32 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man to dwell among this people; neither shall he behold the good that I will do for my people, saith the LORD; because he hath taught rebellion against the LORD."  (Old Testament | Jeremiah 29:25 - 32)

In each case, these liars did so for personal gain.