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I’m interested to hear from you all… I’m wondering who the reformers of the current Church leadership might be. What I mean by that is that in our Church, there have been leaders that have pressed for a change in the status quo of the Church. Hugh B. Brown is generally considered to have been a strong voice in the effort to repeal the priesthood ban. mackay11 recently pointed out that James E. Talmage had to some degree promoted a condensed version of the D&C; one that might have not included D&C132. Amasa Lyman pressed (unsuccessfully) for thorough investigation into the MMM, with the intent to bring the perpetrators to justice, rather than covering up for them because they were members of the Church. B H Roberts worked to replace myth with rational thought regarding the Church and its history, and acknowledged that God was bigger than the Church. But those are all leaders from the past. I admit, that because I don’t attend GC much anymore, I don’t know the more junior of the current leadership. I think I could name all 12 of the current Q12, but I might only get a B+ in that test. I couldn’t name a single member of the Seven Presidents of the Seventy or RS General Presidency.
So, help me out. Who are the current leaders of the Church that are having an impact on moving the Church into new ground? Please explain why you think so.
I would list David O. McKay and Chieko Okazaki. We have forgotten how much tread of change McKay affected. Most of us are too young to have known him, but according to my parents and others who were alive when he was in, he was a lightening rod of Christianity. I, believe, we have yet to appreciate Chieko Okazaki. She taught and modeled the power of Christ and womanhood in her life. She gave groundbreaking talks about abuse, gays, having enough, finding joy, and spoke about flaws in the church (not meanly, but as you read, you see her showing the churches human side).
Joseph Wirthlin – Seriously, go back and read many of the talks he gave in the last 5 years of his life. He had a fairly boring delivery method, and a voice that could put you to sleep, so the power of his talks often got lost in delivery. Pres. Uchtdorf – I think it’s hard to underestimate his contributions in this regard.
Pres. Eyring – Due to a couple of things that are not common knowledge and which I won’t share here, I think most members have no idea how much positive impact he has had on the Church.
Elder Holland – This one might be a surprise to some people, but much of what he has said over the past few years has been more inclusive than most people realize.
This is going to sound incredibly silly to some people, but Pres. Packer has been a positive reformer in a number of ways – but you have to remove his talks about all things sexual to see it. The problem is that he spends so much time on all things sexual that it’s hard to set them aside and see where he actually has been quite progressive.
There are two or three “junior apostles” for whom I have quite a bit of hope as reformers, but I need to see and hear more before I make that designation.
Another odd statement at first, but Pres. Julie Beck pushed hard for more independence for the Relief Society, and I believe her voice was part of the change in placing Ward Council above PEC. She should get credit for that reform aspect.
I also second Sister Okazaki. She was astounding in that regard.
I don’t know who is responsible, but the inclusion of sister missionaries in what used to be zone leader council (now mission leadership council and appointing sister training leaders has been a positive step IMO. I’m guessing somebody on the missionary committee? I think we need to identify “Reformers of what”. For example Packer wrote the Unwritten Order of Things which to me epitomizes the kind of culture that exists and which frustrates so many people. I do think Uchtdorf is good, and I loved Wirthlin’s comments about Concern for the One. I used that talk in a lesson and it got a cool reception from our ex-Bishop — who I feel epitomizes much of what is wrong with our church. So, I agree with Wirthlin on the basis of that talk. Many times, reformers come from those OUTSIDE the senior leadership of the church, but the apostles and first presidency have shown some signs of being influenced (to some degree) by people like Richard Bushman and Terryl Givens and maybe even John Dehlin a little bit, as well as other BYU administrators and historians. Senior church leaders seem to be called more to withhold the teachings in a conservative way, not be mavericks and try to establish their own name as an agent of change.
So perhaps reformers come more from outside.
Having said that…I liked the boldness of David O McKay for being willing to be unique. Spencer W Kimball certainly reformed the church. Gordon B Hinckley was also a similar prophet I think.
I’d agree with Ray, Holland and Uchtdorf seem to try to expand the minds of members, and prepare for changes and reform as the church needs it.
I thought it was interesting that President Monson immediately made a 4th mission of the church…and yet…I don’t know I see much came of that in a way of any kind of significant change or reform.
Who was behind the Joseph Smith papers project? That is certainly reform if the Council of 50s minutes are opened up. That is significant, I think.
I can’t believe I didn’t mention Marlin Jensen. He absolutely was a reformer and had a HUGE impact on the opening of our historical documents. Old-Timer wrote:This is going to sound incredibly silly to some people, but Pres. Packer has been a positive reformer in a number of ways – but you have to remove his talks about all things sexual to see it. The problem is that he spends so much time on all things sexual that it’s hard to set them aside and see where he actually has been quite progressive.
Yes, there is some truth to this. I’ve heard that BKP is the one pushing for a shorter Sunday schedule (do away with SS), and TSM is the one standing in the way (they are not going to end SS on my watch…)
I was in a Priesthood leadership meeting with BKP, and two things really touched my. The first was his comment about pipe organs in Stake Centers. He complemented the SP for not having one in the chapel. He recounted visiting a Stake that had a new building, and the SP was so proud of the new Pipe Organ that had been purchased with donations from the members. As they were leaving the building, in the back parking lot, he say a lady in a very humble home out back hanging clothes on a line. BKP inquired about her, and the SP said she was a widow in the stake, with several kids. BKP turned to the SP and asked if it would not have been better to give the organ money to this sister.
The other story he told was about going to Mexico to establish a Stake from what had been a District. They arrived with boxes of manuals, forms, and instructions that they left with an overwhelmed newly called SP. BKP recalled that while sitting on the plane flying home, he started to cry and wondered what they had done to these poor members in Mexico, throwing all these new “programs” on them, when they had been just fine before.
If BKP could give up his preoccupation with sex and decorum, I think he might be an alright guy. But his negative persona has overshadowed his good qualities than many members never get to see. I feel lucky to have seen that side of him.
Old-Timer wrote:I can’t believe I didn’t mention Marlin Jensen. He absolutely was a reformer and had a HUGE impact on the opening of our historical documents.
Leonard Arrington?
Arrington, also. Marlin Jensen also has been instrumental in the change in how homosexuality and homosexual members are viewed at the top levels in the Church. Seriously, that man has had a far larger impact than most people realize – and he’s just a great person, as well.
One I’m optimistic about is Todd Christofferson. I do feel that when he speaks, he seems to be more concerned with the hearer than the doctrine. His video on mormonsandgays.com, for example, is pretty heart-felt. He doesn’t back away from the Church’s doctrine, but is clearly seeking to re-frame the dialog into the needs of individuals rather than a dogma-based sermon. Of course it takes more than just compassion to be a ‘reformer’, but I get a sense that TC is really trying to find a mutually-beneficial approach to the questions posed on that site. Anybody else have the same sense about him?
I noticed when I saw that site that Dallin Oaks also has a prominent presence there, but I don’t think of him as a reformer at all. In fact, I think of him as the opposite. He seems far more interested in giving pseudo-lawyer-eese justifications for doctrines and actions of the Church. On the website I’ve listed, I find his video to fall more into that category than into a conciliatory one.
On Own Now wrote:One I’m optimistic about is Todd Christofferson. I do feel that when he speaks, he seems to be more concerned with the hearer than the doctrine. His video on mormonsandgays.com, for example, is pretty heart-felt. He doesn’t back away from the Church’s doctrine, but is clearly seeking to re-frame the dialog into the needs of individuals rather than a dogma-based sermon. Of course it takes more than just compassion to be a ‘reformer’, but I get a sense that TC is really trying to find a mutually-beneficial approach to the questions posed on that site.
Anybody else have the same sense about him?
I noticed when I saw that site that Dallin Oaks also has a prominent presence there, but I don’t think of him as a reformer at all. In fact, I think of him as the opposite. He seems far more interested in giving pseudo-lawyer-eese justifications for doctrines and actions of the Church. On the website I’ve listed, I find his video to fall more into that category than into a conciliatory one.
There’s more than meets the eye with Dallin. Behind the scenes hes done some really, really good things in regards to help put down a lot crap local leaders were doing where I used to live. There was a lot of not criminal but really renegade authoritarian stuff going on in my old stakes. He came up from SLC pulled a bunch of them aside and threatened excommunications as I hear.
I think we are going to see new ground with our newly called General RS President, Sister Burton. I also wish we could have a study of Chieko Okazaki’s books as part of a RS curriculum. I think the sisters would be very well served by reading and discussing her books. The younger generation for the most part don’t even know anything about her and they would really love what she shared if they just had exposure. There are things in Elder Christofferson’s extended family that help him understand issues that the older apostles can’t understand in quite the same way. I have high hopes with him, as well. Yes, To all that you’ve shared. I agree with Sister Okazaki. But I also think that ENTIRE RS Presidency were reformers. Sister Okazaki was just the most charismatic. But I saw Sister Jack and Sister Clyde do things “behind the scenes” in the 1990s. My personal interactions showed me they were reforming the culture too!
And yes, I agree about Elder Christopherson. He met with members of “Mormons Building Bridges” this week. I second Elder Wirthlin, Elder Jensen, Elder Eyring, Elder Uchtdorf, Elder Holland. I think we’ll see positives from the new YW presidency. What about Elder Hanks (back in the day?)
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