DiscussMormonism.com

I couldn't think of a more click bait title, sorry.

A recent article by Tad R. Callister in the Deseret News | Church News really bothered me, and I know I’ll probably find like-minded people here. The message of the article is a staunchly politically conservative one with themes of individual bootstrapping and Protestant work ethic. Of course these things are not necessarily bad in a vacuum, but conservatives ignore all of the systemic forces for which a government needs to step in and make corrections, but I digress. The article is all about getting one’s own house in order, and begins with:

“Tad R. Callister” wrote:If you were asked, “What is the greatest challenge facing our nation today?” how would you respond? The economy, national security, immigration, gun control, poverty, racism, crime, pandemics, climate change? While each of these is a valid concern and deserves attention, I do not believe that any of them strikes at the heart of our greatest challenge — a return to family and moral values.

And

“Callister” wrote:“The Family: A Proclamation to the World” confirms the essentiality of the family unit to the well-being of society

Really? Climate change is less important than preserving the traditional nuclear family? It is quite obvious to me that, without a planet that can sustain life, families don’t matter because they won’t exist.

Here’s the worst part. Elder Callister holds up a statement by former Attorney General William Barr as an example of how the “traditional” values and morals espoused in the article are in line with church teachings

“Callister” wrote:Former U.S. Attorney General William P. Barr addressed the critical nature of families and moral values, and in doing so addressed some governmental programs that are counterproductive to their advancement:

“William P. Barr” wrote:“Instead of addressing the underlying cause, we have the state in the role of alleviator of bad consequences. So the reaction to growing illegitimacy is not sexual responsibility, but abortion. The reaction to drug addiction is safe injection sites. The solution to the breakdown of the family is for the state to set itself up as the ersatz husband for single mothers and the ersatz father to their children. The call comes for more and more social programs to deal with the wreckage. While we think we are solving problems, we are underwriting them.”

How right he is. How often we choose worldly solutions that nurture rather than nullify existing issues of immorality. How often we adopt a new sin in an effort to cover or hide an existing one and in the process compound rather than resolve the problem at hand. This is the modus operandi of Satan.

I’m an active, believing Latter-day Saint, and articles like these do not help people who are struggling. There are times when I see the church taking positive steps forward (the essays for example), but then I see it taking steps backward in the very next beat. It’s frustrating. I hope for a future where the tent of Mormonism is big and inclusive; where we genuinely love and accept everyone like Christ did.

The end.

It would be, in my opinion, entirely valuable for Mormon leaders to just try an experiment (not not that god-damned Alma 32 noise) of adapting Mr. Rogers theme for a year. "I like you just the way you are."

I sympathize with you as sort of getting your hopes up only to have them dashed in the next instance by some other doofus in leadership who blows a perfectly good opportunity to actually use someone useful and instead quotes some yokel. It has appeared to be the Mormon leader habit now for quite some time.....

As a glutton for punishment, I often find myself drawn to Church News articles. It’s fun to see what kinds of things my Mormon family members are reading and accepting as coming directly from God to his children. Tad Callister never fails to disappoint when it comes to smugly saying stupid stuff. I wonder if Tad sees Bednar as a role model, and if being a self-righteous jerk face worked for Bednar to become an apostle then maybe it could work for Tad too.

Anyway, I was also disappointed by William Barr’s quote. It was nice of Bill to take complicated issues like drug addiction and abortion and tell us that all we need to do is to strengthen the nuclear family. And for Tad to jump on the bandwagon is sad but predictable I guess. You know what could solve drug addiction? Well if everyone became Mormon, and everyone had a loving mommy, and a daddy who is a priesthood holder, then there wouldn’t be any drug addicts.

I do agree that what the world needs now is love, sweet love, but I’m afraid that there are still going to be people suffering from substance use disorder.

When Bill Barr read the word, "My house shall be called the house of order; but ye have made it a den of thieves”, did he think it was written especially for him?

What’s interesting is in the article he includes himself in this bit:

How right he is. How often we choose worldly solutions that nurture rather than nullify existing issues of immorality. How often we adopt a new sin in an effort to cover or hide an existing one and in the process compound rather than resolve the problem at hand. This is the modus operandi of Satan.

I’m sure Freud would have something to say with regard to that statement. Well, Elder Callister, what worldly solutions have you been choosing that are immoral? How often, Elder, have you been covering and hiding your sins and what are they? Are you in line with Satan?

Whatever the case maybe, it’s interesting to me that the Mormons, through this proxy, yet again attack homosexuality and gay marriage. I’m not sure how many of those guys really want to [deleted], but good Lord they’re obssessed with gayness. Like. Really obsessed. I wonder how many of them have wide stances when [deleted]?*

- Doc

* https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Craig_scandal

This bit has stuck in my brain:

more ethical employees

I dunno why that rubbed me the wrong way, but I get the feeling that he feels if couples are committed to a nuclear family that the options for an employee to bail on an employer would decrease. More "ethical" employees. What does that even mean?

- Doc

The message is staunchly politically conservative because Mormonism is political conservativism. The essays were a desperate play that was part of a strategy to remain the embodiment of political conservativism. Anything from the Church that "seems like progress" is the Church conceding the minimal amount possible because at that time, they don't have another play.

If progress is measured by the Church slowly -- very slowly -- conforming to secularism, it's hard to understand in what way it's leading the world with a prophet, seer, and revelator. Why not just forget about the Church and be secular, since you can do so without the Church? Why spend 10% of your income to get to the place you think the prophet needs to go, when you can just go there anyway yourself, you can do so more quickly, and it doesn't cost anything?

Yes, by the way, the talk is predictable nonsense.

I can’t fully agree with your sentiment, but I do understand it. The church is an institution so far mostly led—in the mortal realm—by conservative leaders. I’m sure that dates back to the beginnings when the government was seen as a persecutor. This is unfortunate as American right-wing ideologies are abhorrent.

That doesn’t mean it has to be this way. I believe the church is ultimately led by Christ, and of course he was accepting and liberal. And I, as a liberal, can’t just “go there anyway.” The group goes with us.

Gadianton wrote: ↑

Sun May 30, 2021 6:20 pm

The message is staunchly politically conservative because Mormonism is political conservativism. The essays were a desperate play that was part of a strategy to remain the embodiment of political conservativism. Anything from the Church that "seems like progress" is the Church conceding the minimal amount possible because at that time, they don't have another play.

If progress is measured by the Church slowly -- very slowly -- conforming to secularism, it's hard to understand in what way it's leading the world with a prophet, seer, and revelator. Why not just forget about the Church and be secular, since you can do so without the Church? Why spend 10% of your income to get to the place you think the prophet needs to go, when you can just go there anyway yourself, you can do so more quickly, and it doesn't cost anything?

Yes, by the way, the talk is predictable nonsense.

Test for what is terribly wrong in the world from my perspective as an evangelical.

Look in my right hand holding a Bible and you,world,ask yourself this question : How much time do “you” spend reading in the Bible, and “listening “ to the Lord about what in your life matters to God, then how much time do you spend acting on your relationship with the Lord?

Now look at the Iphone in my left hand and ask : how much time do you,world, spend on/using your Iphone each day?

Then think about it! What’s terribly wrong in the world and it is corrupt morally is a matter ,at the core, of distraction of time spent in the Bible versus on the Iphone!

Let the attacks begin- I have a bullet proof Bible over my heart!

Just tryin to figure things out,
k

I believe in families. They are a help and a strength for individuals and society. I believe a good work ethic is very good for individuals families and society. Is that the article? Whats to complain about? There seems to be something else going on in the article that is not really made very clear. I do not know what the fence at the top is supposed to be. Well it separate those of us on the road with a job and family from those who are stuck at the bottom with problems. So what is the fence and what is it supposed to do. It could be a barrier that keeps those at bottom from climbing back up to join the good people. Is that really what is wished? Well I do not see mention of helping people up the cliff. How about making sure drug users get arrested and sent to jail. That keep a good barrier up to make sure it is much more difficult for somebody to recover.