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The Church Condemns Itself in its Own Handbook!
05/31/2001 - Heavenly Fodder of the recovery bulletin board
Here is a short BYU paper I wrote:


Self-Awareness Groups
The title of this paper is actually a heading under the sub-section of Medical and Health Policies in Chapter 18 of the church's General Handbook of Instructions. The rest of this paper is taken directly from the handbook except for my comments, which are in blue brackets.

Many community resources provide effective help for members who suffer from social or emotional problems. However, some groups [the LDS Church] that purport to increase self-awareness [Who Am I? Why am I here? Where did I come from?], raise self-esteem ["you're of infinite worth"], or enhance individual agency [the ultimate freedom is a complete surrender of your will] advocate concepts and use methods that can be harmful [blind faith, revisionism, doublespeak, Authoritarianism, supremacy, delusion, fear, guilt, etc.]. Some groups falsely claim Church endorsement, charge exorbitant fees [tithes, offerings, opportunity cost of time, and your very life if necessary!], and encourage long-term commitments [how about forever?]. Some intermingle worldly concepts with gospel principles in ways that can undermine spirituality and faith [How about race issues to name one?].

These groups tend to promise quick solutions to problems that normally require time and personal effort to resolve [the Mormon recipe for happiness - fast and pray, study scriptures, attend church, take sacrament, Temple rituals, pay tithing, obey, obey, obey]. Although participants may experience temporary emotional relief or exhilaration, old problems often return, leading to added disappointment and despair.

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Church members should not participate in groups that:

1. Challenge religious and moral values [The Church constantly has a force of over 50,000 volunteers challenging the religious and moral claims of others daily] or advocate unwarranted confrontation with spouse or family members as a means of reaching one's potential [Elder Scott said on campus this semester that marriage is second in importance only to your membership in the Church. What about Christ's sword of Truth that divides the family? Those who leave family associations to adhere to the Church are the heroes of conversion stories]

2. Imitate sacred rites or ceremonies [like the masons, who stole the endowment from the ancient Mormons. The Boy Scout program needs to go according to this definition too. Now I have grounds to refuse attending my own Graduation rites at BYU]

3. Foster physical contact among participants. [Like thousands of hugs and handshakes. This may be the reason that the intimate embrace of the Five Points of Fellowship was dropped from the Temple ceremony]

4. Meet late into the evening or in the early-morning hours. [Early morning seminary, Priesthood session, executive meetings, family home evening, campfire testimony meetings, and the many other church meetings that consume time early in the morning and late in the evening]

5. Encourage open confession or disclosure of personal information normally discussed only in confidential settings. [Worthiness interviews, confessions to Priesthood Authority]

6. Cause a husband and wife to be paired with other partners. [Like home teachers and visting teachers. How about the separation of husband and wife to different classes (priesthood, relief society) and separation into male and female groups in the Temple (the veil involves a more intimate 'pairing')?

Church leaders are not to pay for, encourage participation in, or promote such groups or practices. Also, Church facilities may not be used for these activities. [Why is the Church so afraid of its own practices?]