A number of interesting posts have appeared in the LDS blogosphere over the last few days. I will probably write a bit more in-depth commentary on one or more of these when I have a little more time (or someone else will). For the moment, let me just point out:
Dave’s examination of a Methodist committee report on whether Mormons converting to Methodism need rebaptism.
Jan’s not-to-be-missed discussion of church authority and spousal abuse.
and Logan’s discussion of what church meetings women may conduct.
Several different sources have observed that the blogosphere tends to be more libertarian or conservative than the intellectual classes in general, and have speculated that aforesaid types felt marginalized and found a niche in this new medium.
I’ve noticed that LDS blogs and bloggers tend somewhat to be more, I don’t know, flexible (unorthodox? questioning? Insert adjective you find inoffensive here) in their approach to church matters than the run of the church. I wonder if a similar dynamic is at work?
Jan’s tragic story made me think a lot. On her site I mentioned one branch I knew of that to me, as a greenie missionary, sure didn’t seem very Mormon and had *lots* of problems.
I recall J. Golden Kimball’s old addage about the “tions” of leadership positions: inspiration, revelation, desperation, and relation. (The latter a little poke at himself as well as the large number of GAs who were descended from the faithful leaders from Nauvoo)
Sometimes leaders get called for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes we forget that, especially in smaller areas, there isn’t a lot to choose from. I remember when my parents moved to where I grew up, most of the church leadership couldn’t read or write. My dad pretty much had to do most of the paper work.
Of course this doesn’t only happen in the mission field. I was shocked at one friend telling me about going to a Stake President at BYU because of concerns regarding the historicity of the Book of Mormon. Their Stake President told them that he felt the Book of Mormon was inspired fiction! I had reasonable information about an other who had a homosexual relationship while Bishop!
So horrible leadership situations aren’t that uncommon. I do hope that, relative to the whole, statistically unlikely.
The question then is, how to respond to those circumstances. I can recall one temple interview when I was very conflicted about still being single in my late 20’s. My bishop during the interview asked why I wasn’t married and then told me that he had a friend whose kids all ended up doing drugs, an other who was in an abusive relationship, but that they were all better off than someone single! Needless to say I didn’t have a high opinion of the person and I suspect that in part it led to a few conflicts down the line I had. (Which doesn’t excuse them of course)
Still, it seems that the most difficult trial of faith we all face is how to respond to an unrighteous (or at least confused) leader. Those who get upset often end up leaving the church and fall away. I sometimes think of early church history. There was a time where Brigham Young was publically chastised by Joseph Smith for something that Joseph had more or less told him to do. Without going through the details of the history, I’ve always thought that Brigham’s response showed tremenduous faith and humility: a quality we often don’t view as Brigham’s strength. I hope that I can do that if the situation ever arises again.
Hi, Clark. If I’m thinking of the same story, it’s that Brigham simply asked what Joseph would have him do.
That’s not always the right answer, though. What your bishop said was wrong. What if you asked what to do and he married you off to the next single girl closest in age?
I believe we shouldn’t get angry and leave the church over hurt feelings or even bad counsel. I believe we should take it up to the next level of leadership when we can’t resolve it in our minds.