Quote:
Originally Posted by Solon
I'm glad you see it this way. I don't blame the LDS leaders (although they could be more clear), but the rank-and-file membership that wants any notion of disagreement eliminated.
The June 1945 "Ward Teacher’s Message" in the Improvement Era church magazine cautioned that Satan “wins a great victory when he can get members of the Church to speak out against their own leaders and ‘do their own thinking.’” Furthermore, the Message asserted, “When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done. When they propose a plan – it is God’s plan. When they point the way, there is no other which is safe. When they give direction, it should mark the end of controversy.” (Improvement Era, June 1945, p. 354.)
Six months after the publication of this "Ward Teacher’s Message," in response to a query on the matter by a Salt Lake City Unitarian Reverend named Raymond Cope, LDS President George Albert Smith wrote that the message had not been approved by the leaders of the church, that General Authorities had been embarrassed by the misstep and “does not express the true position of the Church.” He continued, “Even to imply that members of the Church are not to do their own thinking is grossly to misrepresent the true ideal of the Church, which is that every individual must obtain for himself a testimony of the truth of the Gospel.” (Smith’s emphasis. See Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 19, no. 1 (Spring 1986), pp. 35-39 for reprints of the "Ward Teacher’s Message," Rev. Cope’s letter, and President Smith’s response.)
Despite LDS leaders' counsel, there are many members who seem to want a ban on any type of dissenting opinion.
|
And such is the nature of imperfect people ... the most telling aspect of what you have written is that the leadership corrected the error and that gives me hope, and sustains my testimony.
Consider that the episode didn't result in a new faction of the faith starting up a part of but autonomous from the church which is often what happens in the Catholic faith. It’s remarkable. For all of the hand ringing about local leadership missteps the church is remarkably resilient -principally we are a church of service.
Many like Seattle try to obscure this truth and hold out hope that the church’s growth will cease … it’s a means of suppressing the fond feelings of the spirit experienced as a child at home and at church –the pang of which rules their very thoughts and actions. But I digress …
There is room for disagreement, it has it’s place within the context of the current leadership structure. Of course we have so much disdain voiced about that structure and processes most fail to see that structure as the opportunity it is … many here revel in the idea that leadership and stewardship should be abhorred and in turn give further credence to the disdain … when in fact they could embrace the blessing of service and seize the opportunity to teach and influence change.