Posted by:
runtu
(
)
Date: January 20, 2011 04:04PM
Me: That is one of my basic problems with Mormonism: it lacks any morality other than obedience. Abdicating moral authority to another human being is dangerous stuff.
Apologist: Arguably, another cheap shot. I disagree, but we have already discussed that. It teaches us to follow our own testimonies and consciences - since the very acceptance of that obedience is a covenant we freely accept. It's called "self-determination". I'm sorry if you did not understand that as an 8 year old. My son did before he was 9 and was not baptized until he was ready, and the same with my daughters, but they felt "ready" earlier. If they had not understood that, they would not have been baptized.
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Once again, I'm told I was hopelessly (naïve, stupid, Pharisaical, take your pick) to have obeyed the counsel of my church leaders. Even a 9 year old kid, apparently, knows what I didn't: it's fine to say "no" to your church leaders.
Yes, I know we were taught that we should strive to gain a testimony of everything we were told to believe and do, but there was never a possibility that the answer would be that the leaders got it wrong. Seeking a testimony of a commandment, say, was not about determining whether the commandment was right, but rather it was about aligning our wills and desires with the commandments, which are right simply because they are right.
Growing up, I was taught that the leadership would never let us astray. President Benson taught me that I should obey my leaders and be blessed, even if I thought they were dead wrong (of course, he said, they wouldn't be). The story of the stripling warriors in the Book of Mormon was told to remind us that we were to "obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness."
On my mission, it was simply unthinkable to say no to your mission president. We were to memorize the rules in our "white bibles" and keep them scrupulously. Missionaries on occasion put themselves in danger because they obeyed with exactness, and of course, two missionaries were shot and killed because they followed the mission president's counsel to stay in their area and just be more faithful, and the Lord would protect them from the danger that was obvious to everyone.
As elders quorum president, I delivered a letter to two armed and dangerous nut jobs, even though I knew it was stupid to go over there. I did it because my bishop and stake president told me to. Until I moved out of that ward a month later, I endured threats of violence to myself and my family.
So, yes, I was taught to obey with exactness and not delay. I was told to ignore my own conscience and common sense because my leaders would not lead me astray. And I obeyed. I did what I was told, and I did it with trust and faith that I was doing what a good priesthood holder should do.
It is clear now that I was wrong. When asked to do something, I should have taken time to fast and pray and gain a testimony of that action. After all, "self-determination" is paramount.
I wish someone had made me aware of this 40 years ago or so.