January 8, 2012, Deseret News writer, Joe Walker listed the top ten anti-Mormon statements of 2011, as claimed by a new internet group sponsored by FAIR, an LDS apologetic organization based at Mormon-owned Brigham Young University. (To read the article follow the link here.) Walker is critical of those public figures who are critical of Mormonism. What Walker doesn’t realize, and perhaps never learned, is that expressing one's opinion is constitutionally protected under the First Amendment. Sadly, this is something that those who are raised in the Mormon culture do not appreciate. The very essence of our country's incredible freedom is based upon freedom of speech. With narrow exceptions, such as shouting 'fire' in a crowded theater, “fighting words,” as defined under case law or defamatory statements, American citizens are free to express their opinions. None of the statements cited are outside First Amendment protection.
This is the problem with growing up a Utah Mormon. By attempting to control what Mormons read, view or otherwise learn, the LDS Church has heavily censored thoughts and the ability to reason. When an authoritarian government—whether religious or secular—acts in this manner—restricting access or promoting mind-control tactics—those subject to this tyranny suffer serious intellectual impediment. Only in a community of freely circulating ideas can one truly choose what makes sense, sounds credible and even "feels right." This is the beauty of our country.
Certainly Mormons take no pause in criticizing Catholicism and historically, even Christianity, or other such religious organizations who have many fervent believers. In history, despots Mao Tse-tung and Stalin are criticized; so is the political philosophy of communism, but that doesn’t translate into an attack on those subjected to the political philosophy. Comparing opinion statements regarding the belief system called Mormonism, doesn’t necessarily involve a criticism of the average Mormon. On the other hand, criticism of those who have chosen to step beyond Mormonism's strictures is leveled vehemently by those who remain. From the pulpit LDS leaders have even engaged in name-calling of those who have chosen to leave Mormonism behind; they are "junk yard dogs," or snakes. These are kindergarten ad hominem attacks which only reveal the ignorance of the speakers.
Our nation will always be at least a moderately pluralistic society; with regard to life philosophy or religious belief systems the only desirable limit is where those statements threaten the safety of individuals or claim as facts, things that are not. Attorney Richard Packham's version of Mark Twain's quotation comes to mind: "one man's sacred cow is another man's hamburger." And that, my friends, is just how it is—thanks to our founding fathers.
I love this quote from the article: "Instead, this is a list of statements that should be offensive to everyone, and are so disrespectful that their only effect will be to increase bigotry against Mormons. Just as with other minority groups, it should no longer be socially acceptable for public figures to incite such prejudice against Mormons or their faith."
ReplyDeleteIt would be far too easy to create a top-ten list for offensive statements made by Mormon prophets against minorities or other religions. Oh hypocrisy...
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ReplyDeleteThis quote from the article is particularly timely and to the point, "...expressing one's opinion is constitutionally protected under the First Amendment. Sadly, this is something that those who are raised in the Mormon culture do not appreciate."
ReplyDeleteRecently there has been what appears to be an orchestrated attack on Facebook Members and Pages that present the Mormon Church in a less than glowing light. Bill McKeever’s Facebook wall post editorial on the situation was clear, direct, and to the point.
“Apparently there is a campaign among Mormons to silence any and all discussion they deem unflattering to the LDS Church. Just this morning I received three warnings from Facebook that read: ‘A post you made contains content that violates our Terms of Use. This message serves as a warning. Additional violations will result in the termination of your account. Please read our Terms carefully and refrain from posting abusive material in the future. Thanks in advance for your understanding and cooperation.’ The irony is that most of what is posted on the MRM Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MormonismResearchMinistry) page are quotations from LDS sources. It is also ironic that Mormon leaders have said the Constitution is sacred, which I assume includes the First Amendment. Apparently those involved in this effort think that free speech only applies to the Mormon Church.”
Sharon Lindbloom (an associate at Mormonism Research Ministry) reported the events in greater in her Mormon Coffee blog concluding:
“Christians are not supposed to bully those who disagree with them by forcing them into silence. Christians are supposed to answer the objections and persuade opponents by speaking the truth, hoping that the lost and deceived will “come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil.”
This is what the Christians on Facebook (and here on Mormon Coffee) are endeavoring to do. What, then, is the aim of the crusaders?”
I commend Sharon for her even toned, and dispassionate blog and encourage the interested to read it via this link: http://blog.mrm.org/2012/01/silencing-christian-critics-of-mormonism/
I would remind those who would attempt to silence their critics in this matter on the Internet that they are doing so before a public, worldwide audience – literally before the watching world.
Further, I would ask them, “Do you really think that such behavior speaks well of you and/or your organization?”
Finally, I would encourage those of you who oppose such tactics to publicly and privately challenge those who engage in it. I would also ask you to express your concern to Facebook that their alerting system is being used as a tool for harassment and limiting the constitutionally guaranteed free speech of others. You can do so via this link: https://www.facebook.com/help/suggestions
MORMONISM IS NOT A CHRISTIAN RELIGION! BE CAREFUL THAT YOU ARE NOT LEAD INTO THE DECEPTION OF THIS PROVEN FALSE RELIGION!
ReplyDeleteI read this book and highly recommend it for everyone who is looking in to this blasphemous religion that can take your soul to hell. The author grew up in the Mormon Church and it is a completely FALSE RELIGION!
Arm yourselves! Read the book: “CAN MITT ROMNEY SERVE TWO MASTERS? The Mormon Church Versus The Office Of The Presidency of the United States of America”
An excellent article, Kay, and as one who is friends with Richard Packham, I can tell you his commitment to secular ideals and exposing the tactics of the LDS Church is unwavering. Like many he suffered from their excesses and transformed the experience into a powerful voice for change.
ReplyDeleteThere's an interesting dynamic in the "choices" Walker made in castigating "anti-Mormon statements." I Googled the original article, and seven of the "top ten" choices involve criticism of LDS issues from essentially a "Christian" point-of-view. There's a subtle use of this "persecution complex" to steer away from addressing secular challenges to the LDS Church. LDS members in California and elsewhere were extensively solicited to fund "anti-gay marriage" ballot issues, for example, and the non-existent separation of church-and-state here in Utah is shuffled aside as well. Mormons teach that the Constitution was a divinely inspired document, but engage in extensive revisionist history (per W. Cleon Skousen) aimed at disputing the historical reality that the founding fathers wanted freedom from religion every bit as much as they wanted freedom of religion.
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ReplyDeleteGreat blog, Kay. Here are a few quotes from LDS Apostles, particularly Dallin Oaks, who was a judge and asked once to sit on the federal bench.
ReplyDelete"When we say anything bad about the leaders of the Church, whether true or false, we tend to impair their influence and their usefulness and are thus working against the Lord and his cause." (Dallin H. Oaks, "Elder Decries Criticism of LDS Leaders," quoted in The Salt Lake Tribune, Sunday August 18, 1985, p. 2B)
"Evil speaking of the Lord’s anointed is in a class by itself. It is one thing to depreciate a person who exercises corporate power or even government power. It is quite another thing to criticize or depreciate a person for the performance of an office to which he or she has been called of God. It does not matter that the criticism is true." (Dallin Oaks, Ensign, Feb 1987 http://lds.org/ensign/1987/02/criticism?lang=eng&noLang=true&path=/ensign/1987/02/criticism)
Of course, the founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith, ordered his men to destroy a printing press that published unfavorable accounts of him. http://solomonspalding.com/docs/exposit1.htm
"Indeed, in some instances, the merciful companion to truth is silence. Some truths are best left unsaid." (Russell M. Nelson, “Truth—and More,” Ensign, Jan. 1986, page 69)
“Some things that are true are not very useful.” ( Boyd K. Packer, "The Mantle is Far, Far Greater Than the Intellect", 1981, BYU Studies, Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 259-271)
"Thus, if Mormon Enigma reveals information that is detrimental to the reputation of Joseph Smith, then it is necessary to try to limit its influence and that of its authors." (Dallin Oaks, footnote 28, Inside the Mind of Joseph Smith: Psychobiography and the Book of Mormon, Introduction p. xliii)
Kay, as an active Mormon I have read your pages with interest. I fully understand your objective, but offer some advice in reaching your goals: 1--there is too much vitriol in the content--it is too Mormon-bashing to appear to the casual reader to have credibility and balance; 2--don't be afraid to mention the extensive human service that the Mormons render; anyone seeking a credible resource of asking Mormon questions would find the omission of their goodness to be suspect.
ReplyDeleteSome books critical of Mormonism are kept in the closed stacks in my Utah city library. They told me that these books were regularly stolen from the open stacks, never to be seen again. That's tantamount to book-burning and it's sad to see it happen in this country.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see Kay write an argument on why the LDS church should not qualify as a non-profit organization and all of the tax benefits that entails. A corporation that perpetuates itself through manipulation and lies shouldn't also be subsidized by the American taxpayers.
ReplyDeleteI would appreciate this too.
DeleteThere is a long tradition among the LDS faith in citing persecution of outside forces (real or imagined). Joseph Smith regularly turned his detractors into devils via character assassinations. This ploy of vilifying anyone or anything which disagrees with you creates cohesion within a group of faithful - us vs them. It is a very effective tool for solidifying members and convincing them that Satan is truly working hard against the TRUE church and them. It halts the investigation of outside sources, things written by "them", and if such things are written by one of "us" they soon are booted out to become one of them.
ReplyDeleteThe big question for me is, is freedom of speech protected within the LDS church? Can a person bring conflicting facts up during LDS meetings without being expelled? I know many a story of such happening - excommunication for bringing up valid documented church history and critical evaluation of things spoken by LDS prophets and general authorities. Is this freedom of speech? Especially if what is said can be shown to be true? Does a rational intelligent person really have a voice within the LDS church?