In today’s New York Times is an op-ed piece by Cadence Woodland, an LDS writer and an admitted Church dissenter whose LDS faith “has crumbled,” and who, in December, “stopped attending [LDS Church] services” with “no plans to return.”
Her piece is titled, “The End of the ‘Mormon Moment.” The “moment” to which she refers is the recent wave of positive public interest in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—spawned, at least in part, by public relations campaigns like “I’m a Mormon,” the public’s awareness of the rising number of Mormons in politics, the candidacy of Mitt Romney, and even “the prevalence of Mormon ‘mommy bloggers’ and negative publicity created by the Broadway musical, “The Book of Mormon.”
These and many other public events and issues have cast an unprecedented and worldwide spotlight on the Church, its doctrines, and the Latter-day Saint lifestyle. But instead of taking advantage of this great publicity, Woodland asserts that the Brethren have blown their golden opportunity to help the Church “stay relevant in the 21st century.” Her definition of “relevant” means that Church leaders should have acted on the demands of Kate Kelly, recently excommunicated for her public demands that the Church change its stance on ordaining women to the priesthood, Woodland says that because the Brethren did not cave to the demands of Kelly and her adherents, the Church “killed its own moment.”
Sounds like the Church faces a pretty dark future—but consider two things:
1. The Church is not just another man-made and man-run organization. The Brethren are not in charge—the Lord is, and in a very “hands-on” way. He directs its affairs. Church policy is determined by the Lord Himself. This means, because the Church operates on the unchanging principle of revelation, that anytime we refer to a decision or position taken by “the Church,” we really mean a decision or position taken by the Lord Himself through His authorized servants.
That definition and clarification helps us understand that what Woodland is really saying (because of her “smarter than God” attitude) is it’s the Lord who has blown a perfectly golden opportunity to make His Church “relevant in the 21st century”—and all because He won’t cave to Kate Kelly’s demands.
The Lord and His servants do not stick their fingers up to see which way the winds of public opinion are blowing before announcing Church policies or doctrines. Popularity wasn’t Christ’s aim when He walked among men, nor is it His aim now. His ways are not our ways. He has greater purposes in mind.
And …..
2. I am reminded of the following statement made by President Gordon B. Hinckley during his annual address to Church educators on September 14, 1984:
I noted from last Sunday’s papers that a new book is off the press, put together as a “history” of this work by two men who have spent much time gathering data. I have not read the book, but the conclusion, reported one reviewer, is that the future of the Church is dim.
Without wishing to seem impertinent, I should like to know what they know about that future. They know nothing of the prophetic mission of this Church.
Nor do writers of op-ed pieces who believe the Lord and His Church have missed a pivotal “moment” in history by not caving in to demands for tolerance and inclusion.
Link to the article: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/15/opinion/the-end-of-the-mormon-moment.html?emc=edit_th_20140715&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=60893940&_r=1
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