Glenn

Your posts provoke the Iron Rod members who see them as controversial, challenging or unorthodox. I see this dynamic sometimes in Sunday School where certain members of the class act as the doctrine police and claim they know the orthodox opinion. I am generally of the opinion that we need to be less certain of what we think we know. In some way it bothers me because who is to say any member of the class has the final word on truth. Often differences arise because people don’t listen. And if people do question, beating them over the head with the truth may offer correct views but bad feelings.

For an example, as a youth in the 70’s and 80’s I was told I was a righteous generation and the second coming would likely be in the year 2000. Some really thought they knew this, but it didn’t turn out to be. Many missionaries would be much better off if they did question the folk stories they hear in the MTC about the Three Nephites etc.

Teryl Givens has written an interesting book called people of paradox. I says something to the effect (I haven’t read it yet) that the church is full of parodoxes such as faith and doubt, authority and egalitarianism, etc.Some people are more comfortable with ambiguity than others.

Sometimes questioning and doubts hurt more than they help. Sometimes blind obedience hurts and sometimes it might be helpful. Life is challenging. When I think of questioning prophets I think of stories like Miriam’s leprosy, those poor people swallowed by a hole for questioning Moses, or the bear mauling those who taunted Elisha.

Personally I have many questions and a few doubts. We all do I suppose. But there are times when it is liberating to let go of some of those doubts. This past week our stake president visited and hit on a point that was also expressed in General Conference. As the Stake President spoke my heart said something different than my mind. Sometimes it is good to choose faith over our doubts or questions.