Long-serving Apostle Boyd K Packer famously said that “some things that are true are not very useful,” he also stated that “the truth is not uplifting, it destroys”. Seems to contradict the idea that “the truth will set you free,” no?
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:32
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/john/8?lang=eng&id=32#p32
Apostle Boyd K. Packer was the general authority who inteniewed me for joining BYU’s history depatment. He lectured me for forty-five minutes, the highlights of which were these statements: “I have a hard time with historians,” Elder Packer said, “because they idolize the truth. The truth is not uplifting; it destroys. … Historians should tell only that part of the truth that is inspiring and uplifting.” I spoke of balance, perspective, context. He just shook his head, and said, “You’ll learn.” I did.
Apostle Boyd K. Packer, as related by D Michael Quinn, “Pillars of My Faith,” talk delivered at Sunstone Symposium, Salt Lake City, August 19, 1994
https://sunstone.org/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/100-50-57.pdf
What the church leaders say seems to differ from what the scriptures say and even what the church lesson manuals say. They have learned how to control the masses and are working hard at continuing to control the information. They know what they are doing, and they know they are not being honest, it is by design. They tell the stories that make people believe because that is their end goal. Lying for the Lord, even though the Lord says the truth will set you free, the church leaders don’t like the truth. They don’t “idolize” the truth, they see their role, not as telling the truth, but as inspiring and uplifting others – sometimes meaning they hide the truth in favor of easier lies.
It’s no surprise that the church came up with a narrative of church history that represents an alternate reality at best. Today, they work to back-pedal the narrative since even faithful historians admit it is neither true nor sustainable. The brethren knew what they were doing though, they knew that the true narrative wouldn’t keep the pews full or grow the church. The truth wouldn’t retain members or grow the church, and hence the grow the value of the church’s holdings.
The lessons on truth are clearly different than the church leader’s ideas on truth. Here’s an excerpt from the youth program called For the Strength of Youth encouraging the youth of the church to follow and value truth and that “even if you have to stand alone” you show that you value truth by standing for what you know is right:
Your Heavenly Father is a God of truth. He is all-knowing. All truth comes from Him and leads to Him. You show that you value truth as you seek learning, live with integrity, and bravely stand for what you know is right—even if you have to stand alone.
For the Strength of Youth: A Guide for Making Choices, Truth will make you free
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/for-the-strength-of-youth/07-truth
Maybe the church manual for the youth is darkly ironic, or maybe it too does not tell the truth. Does the church expect the youth to stand alone because the church and it’s leaders are not living with integrity or standing for what is right? Standing alone because the church and the leaders are nowhere to be seen. They are not being truthful, valuing truth, living with integrity or standing bravely for the right. They are cowering behind bureaucratic policies and faith-promoting stories rather than following the source of truth.
This is literally the experience of many church members who decide to leave the church behind. They learned and internalized the principles and values of honesty and truthfulness so much that once they see the church as clearly lacking in those values, they have to choose between their values and their church. Many state that they leave the church because they chose to follow their integrity and ironically the church is what taught them about integrity. Though many will point out that integrity and honesty are perhaps innate, and certainly, the Mormon church doesn’t have a monopoly on truth or honesty. It shows in many many instances that it barely understands or values these principles because it is repeatedly caught lying for the Lord.
What was your experience learning about the Mormon truth crisis? Did you feel like you were the problem? What helped you through the feelings of faith crisis? Do tell your story, it helps others who are struggling through their own dark night of the soul. Join hundreds of others who have left Mormonism and share their “I was a Mormon” story at wasmormon.org.
More reading:
- Some things that are true are not very useful to the Mormon church
- Elder Packer’s Mantle Is Far, Far Greater Than the Intellect
- https://sunstone.org/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/100-50-57.pdf
- On Being a Mormon Historian from Michael Quinn
- Mormon Excommunication For Change – The September Six and More
- https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/john/8?lang=eng&id=32#p32
- https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/for-the-strength-of-youth/07-truth?lang=eng