The Church's Changing Position on the Legalization Same-Sex Marriage

[Jeff Lebowski]

Frankly I trust the church leaders, but not 100% and I probably trust them less than most members of the church.

Now there is a ringing endorsement, folks.

What is it about LDS leadership that makes them worse than most members? I am really curious why you think this way.

[Jeff Lebowski]

As for the content of the article, there's nothing of much interest in it. Members of the church sympathetic to the ruling are chastised for their unfaithfulness. No one's doubting that there aren't lots of quotes and lots of evidence from church leaders available to the author to support his condescending call to repentance of those that take issue with him. The word 'prophetic' is wielded often and indiscriminately. None of this is unfamiliar to anyone.

But I can't help but get the "R Gary" vibe from this piece. For the uninitiated, "R Gary" is an LDS blogger who imaintains a blog whose primary purpose is to marshal statements of LDS leaders against evolution. He's kind of like one of those hoarders and apocalyptic types but instead of ammo, he stockpiles random quotes from General Authorities present and past. (nice analogy, huh?). But he is oddly tone-deaf and seems to know nothing at all, and take no interest in, the subtler turns of how LDS rhetoric and policy (I won't say 'doctrine') develops over time. For R Gary, anything ever said by a General Authority is, by default, true unless explicitly and directly repudiated by the Church through some kind of official channel.

Here's the analogy as I see it. There is absolutely no doubt that the church has issued pronouncements on a number of issues related to DOMA and gay marriage in general. More sensitive and thoughtful observers of the church need to not only take these positions into account but the subtle and understated ways in which positions evolve, soften, and mature. One would look in vain for a General Authority that dared directly contradict BKP or Elder Bednar's statement on this or that. But, again, a sensitive observer would note that things indeed are moving in the church, albeit slowly.

Yep. Typical stuff from Meridian Magazine.

[Indy Coug]

Now there is a ringing endorsement, folks.

What is it about LDS leadership that makes them worse than most members? I am really curious why you think this way.

I think he meant his trust level of church leaders is less than the level of trust most other members have for the leaders. But if he really meant it the way you read it, I think Moliere needs to take a serious step back and reconsider.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I think he meant his trust level of church leaders is less than the level of trust most other members have for the leaders. But if he really meant it the way you read it, I think Moliere needs to take a serious step back and reconsider.

Aha... That is probably what he meant. My bad.

[Bo Diddley]

Aha... That is probably what he meant. My bad.

And I thought you were tongue in cheek about it, cause that was pretty funny.

[Moliere]

I think he meant his trust level of church leaders is less than the level of trust most other members have for the leaders. But if he really meant it the way you read it, I think Moliere needs to take a serious step back and reconsider.

Thanks Indy. I suck at English.