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FYI: Didn’t see that anyone had posted this SL Tribune article entitled “Mormon Leaders Spread Word About Controversial Essays. If it has already been posted my apologies. Here is the link:
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsfaithblog/58446368-180/church-essays-faith-tribune.html.csp Part of the article states:
A memo dated Sept. 9 from the church’s “Priesthood Department” to “General Authorities; Area Seventies; Stake, Mission, and District Presidents; Bishops and Branch Presidents” explains the purpose of — and audience for — the controversial articles.
“The purpose of the Gospel Topics section is to provide accurate and transparent information on church history and doctrine within the framework of faith,” the memo said. “When church members have questions regarding [LDS] history and doctrine,
possibly arising when detractors spread misinformation and doubt, you may want to direct their attention to these resources.”
The memo adds that these leaders also should emphasize that “prayer, regular study of the scriptures and the teachings of the living prophets, the exercise of faith, and humility are fundamental to receiving inspired answers to sincere questions.”
I just read this – Hooray for getting the word out. I am not quite thrilled with the subtle remark “when detractors spread misinformation and doubt.” Just announce them, encourage them and their wards to read them and leave misinformation out. But am super glad that they put a priority on these, maybe the water will flow faster toward some open dialogue and discussions. Why don’t we just read and discuss them in PH and RS and let the chips lie where they fall. I agree with church0333. Why not just discuss them in the curriculum? hawkgrrrl wrote:I agree with church0333. Why not just discuss them in the curriculum?
Because they’re not correlated. They’d have to apply to the prescribed lesson in order to be allowed and since everything is from a manual or from a conference talk you’re out of luck. And for the same reason they don’t get specific in chastity lessons to the youth. They don’t want to arouse curiosity.
A couple months ago I brought up the essays in a PEC meeting while we were discussing how to answer tough questions. I said we should all be familiar with them and direct people there, and the SP fully agreed and added some detail about what they’re about. Judging by the reaction, I think he and I might be the only ones who had read any of them. I’m not even sure they were aware they existed. I followed up by sending links to each of them to everyone. I’m not really sure who the “priesthood department” is but I think it’s great they’re doing something to make people aware, especially the leadership. It would be nicer if this were one of those “to be read in sacrament meeting” letters. I like a comment Grant Palmer made about what is ‘anti-Mormon”. He said that ‘anything that is not the truth is anti-Mormon. Unfortunately, that makes the church anti-Mormon at times.” bridget_night wrote:I like a comment Grant Palmer made about what is ‘anti-Mormon”. He said that ‘anything that is not the truth is anti-Mormon. Unfortunately, that makes the church anti-Mormon at times.”
Are you saying the essays are anti?
I mentioned them in a HP lesson over the summer and virtually nobody in the group had even heard about them 
I, too, wish the church would just allow a frank discussion about them, but that just won’t happen – now. I think the leaders fear what the resulting shake up would be and are choosing to go slowly. I believe that as the power of the information age continues wielding itself, there will be more openness. Let’s not forget that the release of these essays in the first place would have been simply unthinkable only a few years ago.
Glad they are being given more air time. I have mentioned in many talks and lessons that the essays are there and have encouraged people to check them out. Though I highly doubt that anyone has done so.
-SBRed
hawkgrrrl wrote:I agree with church0333. Why not just discuss them in the curriculum?
Because some people’s heads would pop right there in the classroom.
I think the goal of the essays is to have information available for when people come looking. The fact that the member is asking questions shows that they are ready, the information can have a damaging effect if shared too soon.
The flip side of that coin. Rip the band-aid off. The children need to be taught the things in these essays now in order to prevent this same scenario from playing out in the future. The only way the children will get a consistent message is if the adults are being taught the same things.
mom3 wrote:I just read this – Hooray for getting the word out. I am not quite thrilled with the subtle remark “when detractors spread misinformation and doubt.” Just announce them, encourage them and their wards to read them and leave misinformation out. But am super glad that they put a priority on these, maybe the water will flow faster toward some open dialogue and discussions.
Agreed. Plus… the irony of that statement.
Placing hope in local units to clear up decades of “misinformation and doubt” may not be the best answer. That process is at the mercy of local leadership, the instructor, and even whether a member attends church that day. Up the game, relate this information in general conference. Besides, that may be the only forum that some people will respect. A voice in general conference carries more authority than a voice in SS – for both the orthodox and unorthodox alike. It also solves the problem of saturation. If uttered during general conference it also has a reach that extends beyond one Sunday.
DarkJedi wrote:bridget_night wrote:I like a comment Grant Palmer made about what is ‘anti-Mormon”. He said that ‘anything that is not the truth is anti-Mormon. Unfortunately, that makes the church anti-Mormon at times.”
Are you saying the essays are anti?
No, not at all Jedi…I have not read them and so don’t know, but I do know the lds church has lied about some things and those would be anti-Mormon.Last year my brother and SIL sent me CD’s of the Joseph Smith Papers to help us come back to the church. They did little to answer the questions on polygamy or polyandry. As Grant Palmer said, “He often has felt like Paul Harvey (famous radio person) when Paul would say, “And now, to the rest of the story.” If the church gave the whole story or complete picture, too many would leave. Baby steps. Baby steps. The church is SLOOOOOOW. This is because of aged global leadership, a large worldwide membership, lay local leadership (because bishops come from the congregation, they may have have 0% training in any relevant subject. This puts them in a bad spot to train anyone else.), and our Tendency to conflate our own way of doing things with the way God wants them done.
The prophet can change things in a moment (could anounce the ordination of women theoretically) but this seems to not happen unless the consequences of status quo seem particularly dire.
Baby steps. Baby steps.
A visiting HP read the multiple first vision accounts essay, word for word, as his sacrament talk. I pulled it up on my tablet and read along. The word is getting out. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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