Q&A with Marlin Jensen

[GBSmith]

Thanks, Ray, but nothing makes it any easier. Sorry for the threadjack.

[Old-Timer]

I understand. It’s cool.

[Orson]

GBSmith, the most helpful quote on the BoM historicity for me is from Leonard Arrington — basically “I couldn’t care less if it’s historical or purely spiritual – the fact that it does hold spiritual value for me is what matters.” Following his lead I have learned to become unconcerned about the debate. For me personally “is it historical?” is the wrong question to ask.

[GBSmith]

Orson wrote:

GBSmith, the most helpful quote on the BoM historicity for me is from Leonard Arrington — basically “I couldn’t care less if it’s historical or purely spiritual – the fact that it does hold spiritual value for me is what matters.” Following his lead I have learned to become unconcerned about the debate. For me personally “is it historical?” is the wrong question to ask.

I’ve about decided for myself that that’s the way I have to deal with it. The problem is keeping that compartmentalized. And another is having to be careful in disussion around those, especially leadership, that see it all as very clear and black and white. It doesn’t always make for much of a sabbath experience.

[Heber13]

GBSmith wrote:

The problem is keeping that compartmentalized. And another is having to be careful in disussion around those, especially leadership, that see it all as very clear and black and white.

I also find it challenging to discuss with others who see it differently, because of the value on certainty in knowledge by many people in the church. It often feels like we’re talking past each other because we’re viewing the same things in such a different light. I just try to find common ground to share, and leave out the rest as my personal thoughts sacred to me and my spirit.

It’d be nice if they started a class called “Gospel Doctrine for those who don’t believe in literal historicity interpretations“. That’d be a cool class! I wonder how many would attend

[GBSmith]

Heber13 wrote:

It’d be nice if they started a class called “Gospel Doctrine for those who don’t believe in literal historicity interpretations“. That’d be a cool class! I wonder how many would attend

Likely just the ones who in F&T meeting stand and say the church is “true enough” or something like that.

[DevilsAdvocate]

hawkgrrrl wrote:

…Marlin Jensen was church historian until just recently when he turned 70 (GAs automatically go to emeritus status at age 70). A few excerpts:

Quote:

The questioner then asked, “Has the church seen the effects of Google on membership? It seems like the people who I talk to about church history are people who find out and leave quickly. Is the church aware of that problem? What about the people who are already leaving in droves?”…“The fifteen men really do know, and they really care. And they realize that maybe since Kirtland, we never have had a period of, I’ll call it apostasy, like we’re having right now; largely over these issues…

…if we really are truly Christian, it has to start there. Being less judgmental. Being more open and welcoming and inclusive…we need to educate our leaders better, I think, to be sympathetic and empathetic and to draw out of these people where they are coming from and what’s brought them to the point they are at. What they have read, what they are thinking is, and try to understand them. Sometimes that alone is enough to help someone through a hard time. But beyond that, I think we really need to figure out a way to live a little bit with people who may never get completely settled.”

It would be nice to hear something more like this in lessons and talks instead of so much of the traditional correlated material about the supposed importance of testimony of the restoration (one trueness), temple worthiness, sacrifice, enduring to the end, etc. The way I see it, any people that really act like they take being Christian seriously should theoretically be nicer and easier to get along with than the average non-religious person. However, what has actually happened is that many devout Mormons have become so self-righteous and judgmental that it is almost impossible for them to live in harmony with non-Mormons and less faithful Church members very well. Adding to the seriousness of this problem is the fact that we are starting to end up with more mixed-faith marriages than before because of the internet exposing some of the problems with the LDS Church’s story that not as many members knew about 15-20 years ago.

[Heber13]

The writeup on this was taken down from the website, the link provided in the OP no longer works.

Does anyone have a copy of this information from Elder Jensen, or any other church sponsored statements that were similar in stating the Church knows people are leaving over these issues and they need to do a better job teaching some things to stop that from continuing to happen?

I was going to use this material which mentions some specific topics and how the church doesn’t teach it correctly (or however it was portrayed in an honest way), and now they’ve taken it down.

[Cylon]

I don’t know about the full remarks, but here’s the news story from Reuters that they did when the whole thing went public: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/31/us-mormonchurch-idUSTRE80T1CM20120131” class=”bbcode_url”>http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/31/us-mormonchurch-idUSTRE80T1CM20120131.

It has some pretty good quotes in there. Unfortunately, I don’t know of any other official GA statements saying the same thing.

[Author]

Posts