When members can’t find answers on their own, they can turn to home and visiting teachers, quorum leaders, bishops, and stake presidents. There is probably no charge against the Church that has not been adequately refuted by someone. When members lack answers, they should learn what Church leaders and reputable scholars have said and written. Only then will they know “whether it be of God” ( John 7:17). Members should invite those with questions about Church doctrine and practices to read latter-day scriptures and to study the restored gospel, thus tasting the gospel fruit for themselves. The First Presidency has encouraged Church members to convey their response to questions and criticism “in the form of a positive explanation of the doctrines and practices of the Church” ( Church News, 18 Dec. Paul taught that coming to Christ requires “speaking the truth in love” ( Eph. “We encourage all our members to refuse to become anti-anti-Mormon,” he said ( Ensign, Nov. Ashton of the Quorum of the Twelve has instructed Church members not to retaliate against attacks. Latter-day Saints should be sufficiently grounded in their testimonies and knowledge of Church doctrine and history that they can answer questions in a non-contentious and informative way. Hinckley of the First Presidency ( Ensign, Sept. Constructive discussion is a privilege of every Latter-day Saint,” said President Gordon B. “Fundamental to our theology is belief in individual freedom of inquiry, thought, and expression. The Church encourages gospel scholarship and the search for truth. Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve has sometimes called “uncontested slam dunks.” Church critics and enemies should not be permitted to make what Elder Neal A. This cautionary counsel should not be misconstrued to justify laziness on our part in seeking answers, or giving glib, superficial replies when someone sincerely wants to know the truth after being exposed to anti-LDS material. Nor does the Church ban literature, but Latter-day Saints should be wise in choosing what to read. Such advice must not be interpreted to mean that the Church is against honest scholarship or has anything to fear or hide. The seeds which they plant in the minds and hearts of men grow like cancer and eat away the Spirit” ( Ensign, Nov. … Avoid those who would tear down your faith. Asay of the Seventy has warned against those who attempt to “sow doubts and to disturb the peace of true believers. President Ezra Taft Benson has advised against purchasing material derogatory to the Church buying this material will only “help sustain their cause” (address to religious educators, 17 Sept. Because of their great concern for the membership, Church leaders have given guidance concerning anti-LDS material and have cautioned against those things designed to destroy belief and cause pain and suffering. The Church discourages teachings contrary to such goals. The restored gospel centers on teachings that save, strengthen, uplift, inspire, and bind individuals and families. “What does it matter if a few barking dogs snap at the heels of the weary travelers? … The caravan moves on” ( Ensign, Nov. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve likened the Church to a great organized caravan following an appointed course. Gospel principles are God-given eternal truths that bless faithful members and the world at large. Latter-day Saint doctrines and practices are not on trial. However, when the occasion requires a response, Church leaders do answer specific critics and criticisms in order to set the record straight. They know, as the Lord revealed to Isaiah, that “no weapon formed against thee shall prosper” ( Isa.
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Their primary work is to “bear testimony of the restoration of the gospel and that Jesus is the Christ” ( Church News, 18 Dec. Their responsibility is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. Today, as in President Young’s day, General Authorities usually do not comment on negative information about the Church.
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Widtsoe, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1978, p. When President Brigham Young was asked why the Church did not publish the truth regarding lies circulated about the Latter-day Saints, he replied, “We might do this if we owned all the papers published in Christendom” ( Discourses of Brigham Young, ed.
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Scharffs, instructor and executive assistant, Salt Lake University Institute of Religion.