Posted by:
ronas
(
)
Date: February 18, 2012 11:51AM
You will see different opinions on here - most will probably agree with you.
I strongly believe that all or almost all of the general authorities are true believers.
Here's reasons why:
1) I know personally and very closely (including my own father, 2 brother in laws, friends, etc.) a number of people who have been bishops and stake presidents. Many of these people have been exposed to as they would call it lots of "anti-mormon" stuff. They all believe in the church completely. They just see that "anti" stuff as the buffetings of satan. They all believe they have seen multiple miracles in the course of their callings that completely prove to them that it is all true.
2) It would be very hard to be motivated enough to dedicate so much of your life to the cause if you don't believe it. These aren't just men who are dedicating their lives now - they have all spent 20-30 years or more largely dedicated themselves to serving in the church. In the case of my father, it included neglecting his wife and children while he spent most of his life in high-up church callings. It is everything to him and it would be virtually impossible for him to rethink - it would mean his entire life had been a waste.
3) Don't underestimate the power of Confirmation Bias.
http://www.michaelshermer.com/weird-things/excerpt/. We are all subject to it - it's interesting to watch it in play on this board.
4) You don't see general authorities apostacise nearly often enough for them to not be believing it. If there we some sort of secret initiation where they were told this is really all just a lie but we do it for the power and/or because we think it helps people you can be sure that those who have apostacized would have told about it.
5) When the Book of Abraham scripts were found the leaders of the church were quick to have it studied. They really thought it was going to prove what they believe hook, line & sinker to be true to be true.
6) I've been reading a lot about Myers-Briggs personality stuff lately. The type of personalities that get called into leadership positions in the church are typically STs (sensor thinkers). They are really good at working hard and holding up the institution. They are really good at syphoning through the facts and cataloging them according to their existing belief system. They aren't so good at seeing the big picture or fitting the pieces together intuitively to see how it all adds up to a big fraud.
7) IMO, by the end of Joseph Smith's life he was so used to the lie and had gotten away with it for so long he even believed himself.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/18/2012 12:00PM by ronas.