Deference to Biased Professionals
Church leaders rely on church historians for their history.1 Church historians have been continually warned to only present church-positive narratives and evidences at penalty of their jobs.
That historian or scholar who delights in pointing out the weaknesses and frailties of present or past leaders destroys faith. A destroyer of faith—particularly one within the Church, and more particularly one who is employed specifically to build faith—places himself in great spiritual jeopardy. He is serving the wrong master, and unless he repents, he will not be among the faithful in the eternities....Do not spread disease germs! (President Boyd K. Packer, “The Mantle is Far, Far Greater Than the Intellect”, 1981, BYU Studies, Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 259-271.)
And again,
Any who are tempted to rake through the annals of history, to use truth unrighteously, or to dig up facts with the intent to defame or destroy, should hearken to this warning of scripture: ‘The wrath of God is...against all...who hold the truth in unrighteousness.’ To anyone who, because of truth, may be tempted to become a dissenter against the Lord and his anointed, weigh carefully your action... (Elder Russell M. Nelson, “Truth—and More,” Ensign, Jan. 1986, p. 69.)
Two public examples of the enforcement of this long-standing policy are that of Leonard Arrington and Randy Bott. Arrington was called as the church historian in the early 1970s. He presided over a decade of unprecedented open access to church records and objectivity in church history. He was rewarded with a non-public release and replacement. More recently, Bott, an award winning religion professor at BYU, was pressured to retire after providing a quote accurately representing the church’s historical view on the priesthood ban during a time when the church was going to great measures to distance themselves from that history.
The reticence of church historians to provide correct information to church leaders is apparent in official teachings. For example, in the October 2014 General Conference, Elder Nelson stated, “No Prophet has ever been elected.” Brigham Young himself said, “I was unanimously elected President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” (Winter Quarters, Dec 27, 1847, Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Signature Books, 2009, page 267.) Every church historian should know the basic details of the succession crisis in order to know that Brigham Young was elected president of the church, let alone that the practice of voting on candidates for leadership began before Brigham Young and continued long after him.2 Yet, no one on the correlation committee corrected Elder Nelson.3 This is not an isolated occurrence. Historical errors riddle general conference talks and church manuals.
Church leaders perpetuate falsehoods in ignorance and will continue to do so until they view objective church history as valuable4 or until they reverse the precedent of disciplining church employees who publicize true history that happens to contradict the official actions and policies of the modern church. A first step is to realize and admit the errors they have made.5 Until active members value church history and stop relying upon church employees for their history,6 they will be blind to perpetuated historical falsehoods and historically contraindicated contemporary church policies.
Footnotes
- 1. “When I have a question that I cannot answer, I turn to those who can help me. The Church is blessed with trained scholars and those who have devoted a lifetime of study, who have come to know our history and the scriptures. These thoughtful men and women provide context and background so we can better understand our sacred past and our current practices.” (Elder M. Russell Ballard, Southern Utah Conference, Sept. 2015) “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. We do have another initiative that we have called, “Answers to Gospel Questions”. We are trying to figure out exactly what channels to deliver it in and exactly what format to put it in....we are trying to create an offering that will address these issues and be available for the public at large and to the church leaders, because many of them don't have answers either. It can be very disappointing to church members.” (Church historian Elder Marlin Jensen, Q&A at Utah State University.) ↩
- 2. An example of how sustaining operated in Joseph’s day: “[Sidney Rigdon as the Moderator of the meeting] nominated Joseph Smith jr. the first President of the whole Church, to preside over the same. All were requested to vote—who was unanimously chosen. He then made a few remarks, accepting the appointment requesting the prayers of the Church in his behalf. President Smith then nominated Prest. Sidney Rigdon to be one of his counselors—who was unanimously chosen. He then nominated Fredrick G Williams to be his next counsillor who was objected to by Elder Lyman Wight in a few remarks referring to a certain letter written to this place by the said Frederick G Williams Also Elder Marsh objected to Prest Williams Elder James Emmet also objected to Prest Williams. Bishop Edward Partridge said he seconded Prest. William’s nomination and should vote for him; and as to said letter, he had heard it, and saw nothing so criminal in it. President David Whitmer also made a few remarks in Prest. Williams’ favor. Elder Marsh made further remarks. Elder Thomas Grover also objected to Prest. Williams. Prest. S. Rigdon then nominated Prest. Hyrum Smith to take Prest. Williams’ place. He then called for a vote in favor of Prest. Williams’ who was rejected. He then called for a vote in favor of Prest Hyrum Smith, which was carried unanimously.” (Minutes of the Far West High Council, November 7, 1837.) God provided for the voting process to be an opportunity to express disapproval: “And a commandment I give unto you, that you should fill all these offices and approve of those names which I have mentioned, or else disapprove of them at my general conference;” (D&C 124:144.) Common consent (see D&C 26:2) means much more than just accepting the provided candidates for office—God instructs us to vote for and against leaders: “No person is to be ordained to any office in this church, where there is a regularly organized branch of the same, without the vote of that church;” (D&C 20:65.) Modifying the idea of sustaining to only meaning supporting the candidate proposed is an innovation of modern Mormonism. ↩
- 3. The stated purpose of the correlation committee is to prevent doctrinal and historical mistakes in official church publications. They proofread all General Conference talks. ↩
- 4. “That historian or scholar who delights in pointing out the weaknesses and frailties of present or past leaders destroys faith....Do not spread disease germs!” (President Boyd K. Packer, “The Mantle is Far, Far Greater Than the Intellect”, 1981, BYU Studies, Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 259-271.) ↩
- 5. Despite many attempts to point out the mistakes church history contains, the church recently claimed that it “publishes reliable information on topics of current interest...in the Gospel Topics section of the Church’s website, at lds.org/topics. The purpose of the Gospel Topics section is to provide accurate and transparent information on Church history and doctrine within the framework of faith.” (Letter to Bishops and Stake Presidents, Sept 9, 2014.) The gospel topics section is ghost written by church historian employees, and thus riddled with omissions, alterations, and fabrications. ↩
- 6. Assistant church historian Richard Turley said at a recent meeting with historically-concerned Swedish members: “Much of what you get about history comes from historians; from the people like me who do the best they can under the circumstances of their time. And then somebody else comes along later, with new discoveries, new documents, and they rewrite it, okay? So it’s—Don’t put the responsibility on the prophet; put it on ordinary people like me who do the best we know how to do it.” ↩