Mormonism in the past week has learned that inspite of how much members say what they think the Church expects them to say, that members are deep down struggling much more deeply with the issues within its faith. Today on Mormon Discussion we talk about the recent Race Apology both the satire apology created by Jonathon Streeter as well as the non-existent apology and missed opportunity by the LDS Church itself. We talk about how people crave and need belonging and also authenticity but how in the first half of life, the belonging trumps the authenticity and compels us to say what the systems and institutions we belong to expect us to say. And in doing so our authenticity takes a back seat. This shows its face when people believed the Church had changed its message and what follows is a change in the rhetoric around that change only to have been based on a false belief that the Church had actually shifted. We see through these recent events that the members of the Church deep down are clamoring for a shift and deeply need the healing around issues that could only have been expressed by those members believing the Church had opened up a space for them to speak out and speak up. We end by showing that this is one more evidence that this institution has shown that every single time it can choose between helping people heal and doing the right thing versus protecting its authority and narrative, that Mormonism will do the latter every single time. And along the way I express my own sorrow for my blind spots in this experience.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Bill,
Thank you for this podcast episode. Again, you put into words what only I could say myself. I loved the line, “…the church is sick, and it’s not taking its medicine”. Thank you for being honest with us listeners, and being extra vulnerable during this episode. I could feel the hurt, anger, and sadness from this one.
As a resident of St. George, it’s good to know there are others close by who feel the same way.
Cheers.
Thank you Bill. You are a treasure. Has Darius Grey commented? I read the satire essay and knew it wasn’t from the church, but felt that it was very clever.
I am sorry I didn’t get the hurt it may have caused until it was pointed out to me.
All strength to you.
Bill it sounds like you are hurting a lot right now. I was feeling exactly the same 4 years ago. It does get better but it takes time. If you need to quit podcasting then quit if it keeps you from healing and moving on. Best wishes to you.
Easy on the rhetoric Bill, least the only people that will agree with you be those who already know and sympathize with you. All you are doing now is polarizing the issue instead of bridging the divide.
Least we make the middle way work change will not be brought forth from without, but from the grassroots within. This church is only as good as you and me. We need to have awareness of the pain and hurt it creates so it can be addressed at local and general levels.
Do you have links to the pain of the black people from the fake apology?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDMkkECmInA
I think the most important part is around minute 13 to the end. Still I think there was a longer version out there.
“Mormonism is sick and it refuses to take its medicine.”
Truth is soooo offensive when christ is gagged and locked safely in the trunk.
You said: “belonging trumps authenticity.” True.
YOu also said: “I need a break unless this thing becomes good.” That is a clear concise line–which I agree with.
Do you realize the historical place we are in with this? Jensen said apostasy is happening in numbers that have never happened since Kirtland!
I grew up my entire life in the church, and I’m on the “second half” of my life. Just from the vantage point of living in SLC, I feel like I’m on a rollercoaster. What is happening now in the church seems incredible. The people who are leaving are the “movers and shakers”–those who really are the leadership! I’ve seen the numbers and the education levels of those who are leaving. This is NOT trivial.
The next decade will be fascinating.