Why Some People Don’t Trust What Mormons Say.
by admin ~ November 30th, 2009. Filed under: Belief, Evolution of Mormonism, Mormonism and Other Religions, Truth.I have said for years that the LDS Church and it’s members are not exactly truthful with outsiders about their religion. In fact, many times they are purposely deceitful about beliefs, practices or doctrines that are problematic. Mormons tell me this is simply not true— that there is no systematic deception in the Church.
I know better. I used to be on their team and call it what you want— “milk before meat”, avoiding casting “pearls before swine”, or “coded language”, it’s all lying as far as I’m concerned. If the answers are designed to mislead the questioner then clearly there’s some deception going on whether or not the deceivers have justified it their own minds .
I bring this up because in his recent Mormon Times article, Hugh Nibley’s coded language and the minority mind-set, Boyd J. Petersen discusses this phenomenon. He talks about ” the divided sense of self that” LDS who migrate out of Mormon communities “often experience in the larger society.” Peterson also refers to this condition as a “divided self” or “double consciousness.”
Peterson says:
“Mormons would like nothing more than to see themselves as fully American and fully Mormon,” Petersen said, ‘but they are constantly forced to see their Mormonness through the lens of ignorance and misconception that their fellow Americans have.””
Peterson then talks about the use of coded language:
“One coping mechanism minorities use is to develop a special coded language. It allows them to speak to two different audiences at once. It is a form of doublespeak, and Mormons use it to both give information and to hide information, according to Petersen.
One example Petersen used involved a response Mitt Romney gave during his presidential run when asked about doing baptisms for the dead. Romney said, ‘I have in my life, but I haven’t recently.’
Outsiders might deduce a mild renunciation of the practice. Most Mormons, however, know that baptisms for the dead are usually performed by youths.”
While I understand the complexities of trying to explain a culture or lifetstyle to those outside of it, I can’t help but think that doublespeak and coded launguage only make the problem worse. How can people begin to understand Mormonism when the members themselves are unwilling or unable to tell the truth about the belief system? And how will outsiders learn to trust Mormons when they have reason to think everything they are told by LDS members is some sort of coded dodge?It’s just plain dishonest as well.
So I ask, “What has happened to the proud LDS tradition of boldy telling the truth that is taught in Sunday School and in Conference?” Is that all doublespeak as well?
November 30th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Being a Mormon myself, I think I understand where they are coming from. I think that we Mormons tend to not give detail in a number of area’s. The reason for this is because some subjects cannot be understood outside of a larger doctrinal picture. As a result, people inexperienced with Mormon doctirine are unable to understand and then take it wrong. Much of the anti mormon stuff on the internet is a result of this, except that some anti mormon folks intentionally get it wrong, making Mormons an offender for a word.
An example of this is the statement that Mormons believe Jesus and Satan are brothers. This is actually true but looks bad on the surface.
In Mormon doctrine, God the father is a real father with many spirit children who existed before the creation of the earth. God gives each of his children freedom to choose. This is a sacred gift that God never violates, thus there are wars and lots of bad stuff that God allows. Those who were faithful before being born were given the opportunity to come to earth to be further tested and become more like God. Jesus is the first born spirit child of God and as the faithful son, volunteered to be the saviour of the world. While Satan is the angry, rebellious son who was cast out along with many who followed his leadership. The war in heaven between satan and his followers and those who were born on the earth, is still being waged. So you need to understand the doctrine of the pre-existence before you can understand that Christ, Satan and us are all spirit siblings.
December 1st, 2009 at 7:16 pm
Thanks for the comment, Peter.
I agree with you that there are some parts of Mormon theology (or any theology for that matter) that need some background and context in order to be understood. I do however think that the “milk before meat” argument is too often just an excuse for Mormons to avoid uncomfortable topics about their faith.
If you read my post the Mitt Romney quote is a prime example of a crafty use of language designed to mislead. Understanding whether Mitt participated in baptisms for the dead requires no doctrinal foundation however the response was designed to imply a rejection of the practice rather than it being a current ordinance mostly done by the youth. I’ve seen it more than I can care to recall and even did it myself as a missionary— so personally I find the milk before meat excuse as a little hollow and arrogant. From my experience is it a dodge rather than a teaching method.
Hell, the Church won’t even give lifelong members the so-called ‘meat’, why would anyone expect them tell the truth to investigators and questioners.
December 9th, 2009 at 12:53 am
Great post. Looking back on my youth, I feel I was taught to love the idea of “honesty” but meanwhile I was trained to be politically correct. It took me a long time to realize that my political correctness was perhaps less than authentic.
When I finally figured that out, I also realized that “political correctness” (doublespeak, or evasive vagueries or whatever) exists to manipulate - to elicit a desired response from the audience.
It’s so ironic to me, considering my earlier view of the LDS church as so pro-agency!
(Oh, I was taught to be bold too…so I’m not sure that use of doublespeak and boldness is an either/or issue?)