The Long and Winding Road (To Ruin) or Eight Days a Week (Of Woe): Mormon Apostle Blames the Beatles for Society's Ills

[Everybody Wang Chung]

If you're among the people who believe the song, Here Comes the Sun, is actually about the Military Industrial Complex, or that the album Abbey Road harbors a hidden agenda to turn all the youth gay, then the Mormon church might just be the place for you.

The Mormon church has nurtured a genuine, and frankly baffling, distaste for the Beatles—yes, those Beatles. We're talking about the timeless, brilliant pinnacle of musical genius. Who hates the Beatles? It defies common sense!

Who can forget the time Thomas S. Monson, in a General Conference address, felt compelled to criticize their song, All You Need Is Love. Even more peculiar is the ongoing, bizarre obsession the Afore has with criticizing John Lennon's song Imagine, in post after plagiarized post.

This dislike is further documented in Michael Quinn's Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power, where it is noted that on April 24, 1981, Apostle David B. Haight gave the keynote address at the Annual Meeting of the Utah Association of Women. Elder Haight stated, "Many of today's problems can be traced to the music of the Beatles in the early 1960s. I witnessed the early developing of protests on college campuses, protests against the Vietnam War, with protestors using Beatle-type music to express their feelings against our government, against our military, and against authority in general."

Many of today's problems can be traced to the music of the Beatles? Protests on college campuses, against the Vietnam War? Expressing feelings against the government and authority? What in the hell was Elder David B. Haight smoking?

[huckelberry]

There is a possibility that the Beatles music encourages things other than obedient focus on an authoritarian institution focused on bland emotions and conformity.


Beatles were hardly the only such musical influence but they do stand out

[MG 2.0]

There is a possibility that the Beatles music encourages things other than obedient focus on an authoritarian institution focused on bland emotions and conformity.


Beatles were hardly the only such musical influence but they do stand out

The popular music of the day obviously has influence over the hearts and minds of young people as they mature into adulthood. I would guess that many of us here have been voluntarily subject to those influences one way or another. Some of those influences lead towards a greater good and achieving success/happiness and some lead towards degeneracy and laziness/sloth.

I think church leaders are right in being concerned about the music of the day and the possible negative influences it can have over the hearts and minds of young people and even those that are not so young.

I liked the Beatles. I also like Led Zepplin. But if those two rock groups and many others I could name were and/or had been the major drivers/influences in my life to the exclusion of influences that were/became more important in developing character and wanting to be of service to family, community, and the world, I think that would have been a detriment overall in my life.

But that's just me.

Oh yeah, I'm not a fan of Lennon's "Imagine". Neither am I a fan of his song, "God".

On the other hand, "Love" is one of his better songs. Sweet message.

To each, his or her own. I don't think anyone can argue, however, that music can and has had a HUGE influence for good or bad in our American Culture over the years.

Regards,
MG

[Everybody Wang Chung]

There is a possibility that the Beatles music encourages things other than obedient focus on an authoritarian institution focused on bland emotions and conformity.

I would hope so. Protesting against an evil war and against authoritarian institutions are great things and the hallmark of a vibrant democracy. Apparently, Elder David B. Haight disagrees.

[Kishkumen]

These are the kinds of GA statements I dearly wish did not exist.

[MG 2.0]

Also, in addition to the comments I've already made I would say that in regard to the Beatles in particular, their music was associated with anti‑war protests, sexual liberation, drug experimentation, and challenges to traditional authority. For a conservative religious leader such as Elder Haight, this cultural shift could easily be seen as destabilizing.

LDS leaders emphasized obedience, respect for authority, and family stability. Traditional values.

The Beatles’ influence, encouraging the questioning of institutions and promoting individual freedom and autonomy from authority, clashed with that worldview.

I have to give him the benefit of a doubt that he was doing what he thought was the right thing to do at the time. I'm not sure why he is being lambasted?

Regards,
MG

[Everybody Wang Chung]

These are the kinds of GA statements I dearly wish did not exist.

Exactly.

[Shulem]

I liked the Beatles. I also like Led Zepplin.

It's spelled, Led Zeppelin, u dope. Man, those were the days. I remember when radio station KZOK in Seattle played the Physical Graffiti albums on the radio right after it was released. Seattle rocked!

I recall my father once saying, "I kind of like the Beatles." We had Beatles records in our household (thanks to my older brother) and my mom even brought home the Hey Jude 45 a year or so after the release.

Have a blow for your nose, President Oaks! I remember when you could get a hit of acid for $1.50 but quickly rose to $2.00 I ate my first hit of acid when 12 years old! I was a very bad, bad, boy. And, I was never ordained a deacon! I said, "hell no." My dad was so disappointed in me. And, I had very long hair! Woohoo!

[Shulem]

I liked the Beatles. I also like Led Zepplin.

Ah.

Past tense for the Beatles but present tense for Zeppelin!

You're busted, MG. I know you like Zeppelin and you should go to the liquor store and get yourself something to celebrate while putting on your favorite record.

Yeah, MG likes to get high! Just do it. You can always repent. Then do it again!

[Everybody Wang Chung]