Playing Church History Whack-a-Mole

In 2019, both Dale G. Renlund, LDS Apostle, and his wife, Ruth L. Renlund, gave a talk at a Worldwide devotional from BYU-Hawaii. They shared a colorful parable and other colorful images to marginalize and blame doubters for their struggles with the church’s false truth claims. They seek to demonize those who listen to common sense, their own intuition, or even critical thinking as perpetual doubters who will never be satisfied with answers to hard questions but continue to question everything. They state that “doubt never leads to faith,” as they take turns berating any who doubt with condemnation and relate them to immature and childish, complete with illustrations to belittle those who doubt or choose to leave.

A stake president asked me to visit with a man whom I will call Stephen. Stephen had been a faithful member of the Church. He had served a mission and had married in the temple. He had served faithfully for many years but began to have doubts about the Church. - Dale G. Renlund, LDS Apostle, and Sister Ruth L. Renlund, Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults • January 13, 2019 • BYU–Hawaii - Church History whack-a-mole | wasmormon.org — A stake president asked me to visit with a man whom I will call Stephen. Stephen had been a faithful member of the Church. He had served a mission and had married in the temple. He had served faithfully for many years but began to have doubts about the Church. – Dale G. Renlund, LDS Apostle, and Sister Ruth L. Renlund, Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults • January 13, 2019 • BYU–Hawaii – Church History whack-a-mole

Elder Dale G. Renlund: On one occasion while attending a stake conference, a stake president asked me to visit with a man whom I will call Stephen. Stephen had been a faithful member of the Church. He had served a mission and had married in the temple. He had served faithfully for many years but began to have doubts about the Church. As I visited with Stephen, he said that he had concerns with the fact that Joseph Smith related four versions of the First Vision. He thought that this might mean that Joseph Smith made up his experience.
I put Stephen in contact with a man who had researched these four versions decades earlier. Stephen visited with the researcher. The next time I spoke with Stephen I said, “So, how do you feel about the First Vision?”
He said, “Well, I feel okay about that because my questions have been answered. That no longer bothers me. But now I’m really concerned about the polygamy that was practiced in Nauvoo and after the Manifesto in 1890. That is really troubling me.”
I asked Stephen to visit with someone who had researched these topics in reliable primary sources. After that discussion, I contacted Stephen and asked how he was doing.
He said, “Well, that doesn’t bother me anymore. I understand what happened, and my concerns have been resolved. But now I really am concerned that the priesthood was withheld for a time from those of African descent.”
Sister Ruth L. Renlund: Sadly, Stephen had chosen to be a perpetual doubter. For him, doubting pleased him more than knowing and he was digging up in doubt what he had planted in faith. As time went on, as one concern was resolved, another one was found. No matter how much anyone tried to respond and answer these questions, he found another topic on which he was anxious. He focused on the dents in the boat instead of on the capability of the boat to lead him to the blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. What Stephen was doing is a form of “Church history whack-a-mole.” You know, the children’s game where a mole pops up from a board and as soon as you hit it, another mole pops up in another place.
While further intellectual information may temporarily resolve an intellectual concern, further information is not the complete solution…
Many who have had questions, who have had doubt enter their minds, and have had difficulty finding their spiritual footing have nonetheless stayed faithful and have remained on the covenant path. Often, as they have prayed, they have received the answer Elder Neil L. Andersen received decades ago when he wondered whether he was adequately prepared to enter the mission field. As he prayed, the feeling came: “You don’t know everything, but you know enough!” At times—in fact often—the Lord’s answer will be, “You know enough to stay on the covenant path and keep My commandments.”
Elder Dale G. Renlund: Doubt is not and will never be the precursor of faith any more than light depends on darkness for its creation… This is what happened to Stephen. He let doubt and uncertainty occupy his mind. As time went on, he did not have the strength to confront the challenges that one faces as a member of the Church. He grew weary in his mind, and his faith disappeared.
“Doubt Not, but Be Believing”
Dale G Renlund, LDS Apostle, and Sister Ruth L Renlund
Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults • January 13, 2019 • Brigham Young University–Hawaii

As I visited with Stephen, he said that he had concerns with the fact that Joseph Smith related four versions of the First Vision. He thought that this might mean that Joseph Smith made up his experience. I put Stephen in contact with a man who had researched these four versions decades earlier. Stephen visited with the researcher. The next time I spoke with Stephen I said, “So, how do you feel about the First Vision?” He said, “Well, I feel okay about that because my questions have been answered. That no longer bothers me... - Dale G. Renlund, LDS Apostle, and Sister Ruth L. Renlund, Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults • January 13, 2019 • BYU–Hawaii - Church History whack-a-mole | wasmormon.org — As I visited with Stephen, he said that he had concerns with the fact that Joseph Smith related four versions of the First Vision. He thought that this might mean that Joseph Smith made up his experience. I put Stephen in contact with a man who had researched these four versions decades earlier. Stephen visited with the researcher. The next time I spoke with Stephen I said, “So, how do you feel about the First Vision?” He said, “Well, I feel okay about that because my questions have been answered. That no longer bothers me… – Dale G. Renlund, LDS Apostle, and Sister Ruth L. Renlund, Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults • January 13, 2019 • BYU–Hawaii – Church History whack-a-mole

But now I’m really concerned about the polygamy that was practiced in Nauvoo and after the Manifesto in 1890. That is really troubling me.” I asked Stephen to visit with someone who had researched these topics in reliable primary sources. After that discussion, I contacted Stephen and asked how he was doing. He said, “Well, that doesn’t bother me anymore. I understand what happened, and my concerns have been resolved... - Dale G. Renlund, LDS Apostle, and Sister Ruth L. Renlund, Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults • January 13, 2019 • BYU–Hawaii - Church History whack-a-mole | wasmormon.org — But now I’m really concerned about the polygamy that was practiced in Nauvoo and after the Manifesto in 1890. That is really troubling me.” I asked Stephen to visit with someone who had researched these topics in reliable primary sources. After that discussion, I contacted Stephen and asked how he was doing. He said, “Well, that doesn’t bother me anymore. I understand what happened, and my concerns have been resolved… – Dale G. Renlund, LDS Apostle, and Sister Ruth L. Renlund, Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults • January 13, 2019 • BYU–Hawaii – Church History whack-a-mole

But now I really am concerned that the priesthood was withheld for a time from those of African descent” ... Sadly, Stephen had chosen to be a perpetual doubter. For him, doubting pleased him more than knowing - Dale G. Renlund, LDS Apostle, and Sister Ruth L. Renlund, Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults • January 13, 2019 • BYU–Hawaii - Church History whack-a-mole | wasmormon.org — But now I really am concerned that the priesthood was withheld for a time from those of African descent” … Sadly, Stephen had chosen to be a perpetual doubter. For him, doubting pleased him more than knowing – Dale G. Renlund, LDS Apostle, and Sister Ruth L. Renlund, Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults • January 13, 2019 • BYU–Hawaii – Church History whack-a-mole

He was digging up in doubt what he had planted in faith. As time went on, as one concern was resolved, another one was found. No matter how much anyone tried to respond and answer these questions, he found another topic on which he was anxious. He focused on the dents in the boat instead of on the capability of the boat to lead him to the blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. - Dale G. Renlund, LDS Apostle, and Sister Ruth L. Renlund, Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults • January 13, 2019 • BYU–Hawaii - Church History whack-a-mole | wasmormon.org — He was digging up in doubt what he had planted in faith. As time went on, as one concern was resolved, another one was found. No matter how much anyone tried to respond and answer these questions, he found another topic on which he was anxious. He focused on the dents in the boat instead of on the capability of the boat to lead him to the blessings of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. – Dale G. Renlund, LDS Apostle, and Sister Ruth L. Renlund, Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults • January 13, 2019 • BYU–Hawaii – Church History whack-a-mole

What Stephen was doing is a form of “Church history whack-a-mole.” You know, the children’s game where a mole pops up from a board and as soon as you hit it, another mole pops up in another place. While further intellectual information may temporarily resolve an intellectual concern, further information is not the complete solution. - Dale G. Renlund, LDS Apostle, and Sister Ruth L. Renlund, Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults • January 13, 2019 • BYU–Hawaii - Church History whack-a-mole | wasmormon.org — What Stephen was doing is a form of “Church history whack-a-mole.” You know, the children’s game where a mole pops up from a board and as soon as you hit it, another mole pops up in another place. While further intellectual information may temporarily resolve an intellectual concern, further information is not the complete solution. – Dale G. Renlund, LDS Apostle, and Sister Ruth L. Renlund, Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults • January 13, 2019 • BYU–Hawaii – Church History whack-a-mole

Doubt is not and will never be the precursor of faith any more than light depends on darkness for its creation... This is what happened to Stephen. He let doubt and uncertainty occupy his mind. As time went on, he did not have the strength to confront the challenges that one faces as a member of the Church. He grew weary in his mind, and his faith disappeared. - Dale G. Renlund, LDS Apostle, and Sister Ruth L. Renlund, Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults • January 13, 2019 • BYU–Hawaii - Church History whack-a-mole | wasmormon.org — Doubt is not and will never be the precursor of faith any more than light depends on darkness for its creation… This is what happened to Stephen. He let doubt and uncertainty occupy his mind. As time went on, he did not have the strength to confront the challenges that one faces as a member of the Church. He grew weary in his mind, and his faith disappeared. – Dale G. Renlund, LDS Apostle, and Sister Ruth L. Renlund, Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults • January 13, 2019 • BYU–Hawaii – Church History whack-a-mole

Dale Renlund mentions some serious concerns folks have with the church history narrative, namely that there are 4 different accounts of the first vision that Joseph Smith shares, that polygamy not only happened and is canonized in church scripture, but it was practiced much earlier than the revelation was given, and much later than the supposed Manifesto that stopped it in 1890, and the church was categorically racist and discriminated against black members from 1852 through 1978. Rather than address any of the resolutions to these issues in a faithful context in their talk, the Renlunds both dismiss the doubter and blame them for their doubts. If they could share how they resolved just these three issues, this talk would perhaps be the most informative talk in the history of the church. However, rather than share knowledge, they shame those who ask questions. They show that it is not ok to question the church narrative and that those who do are to be ridiculed, rejected, and left to leave.

They paint a picture that they did everything possible to resolve “Stephen’s” concerns, but that he “chose to be a perpetual doubter,” and doubting pleased him more than “knowing,” or at least more than pretending to know and ignoring all his personal intuition, doubt, and critical thinking. Members are expected to put their heads into the sand and avoid thinking about church concerns, but accept it and move on.

Their story suggests that there are valid answers to these concerns, which will resolve the doubt, but again, they do not offer a single resolution. They ridicule this man as a perpetual doubter.

Forest for the Trees

Why not blame the church and the messy history for having so many unaddressed and problematic issues in church history to give us concern? There are too many issues to even focus on them all at one time. Once you open your eyes to acknowledge them, these church history issues are everywhere! We can’t see the forest for the trees, if we notice it’s a forest, we instantly understand that there’s no way to resolve all the concerns. That’s the point of things like the CES Letter, even starting a brief list of issues is exhausting. If each issue was a mole holding a sign, this would be a massive game of Church history whack-a-mole! If you played, you could barely miss hitting something since the shelf items would seem endless!

The Renlunds are completely dismissive even in explaining the game as “the children’s game where a mole pops up from a board and as soon as you hit it, another mole pops up in another place.” They are very disingenuous and victim-blame those few who are brave enough to speak up with their doubts as the problem, rather than the house of cards and manipulation the church uses to prop up a culture of submission and gaslight doubters into feeling like they are the problem.

Deflecting from the Real Issue

The Renlund’s devotional talk includes a pointed analogy directed at those who struggle with doubts about the history of the LDS Church. He labels such individuals as playing a game of “Church History Whack-a-Mole,” suggesting that those who question the church’s narrative are engaging in an endless, almost frivolous, cycle of doubt. But rather than exposing a weakness in the doubters, this analogy inadvertently highlights a much bigger issue: the sheer number of troubling historical facts that need “whacking.”

A Flood of Historical Issues, Not Just a Few Dents

Renlund’s analogy assumes that the problem lies with those who keep encountering disturbing aspects of church history, rather than with the overwhelming number of problems themselves. When someone investigates Mormon history in depth, they are not simply playing a game of doubt for amusement or stubbornness. They are uncovering an astonishing number of contradictions, deceptions, and omitted details that the church has long sought to downplay or conceal. Each “mole” in this game represents an inconvenient historical reality:

Joseph Smith’s treasure digging and folk magic
The multiple, contradictory First Vision accounts
The Book of Abraham translation issues
The Kinderhook plates hoax
Joseph Smith’s secret practice of polygamy and polyandry
The origins of the temple ceremony and its similarities to Freemasonry
Brigham Young’s Adam-God doctrine
Racist teachings and the priesthood ban
The Mountain Meadows Massacre and church cover-up
Blood Atonement doctrine
The changing narrative of the church’s stance on LGBTQ+ issues
The suppression and excommunication of intellectuals and historians
Financial secrecy and the $100 billion Ensign Peak investment fund
The shifting doctrine on the nature of God and eternal progression
The evolving stance on women’s roles in leadership and the early history of female priesthood blessings
The whitewashed and faith-promoting versions of pioneer and missionary stories

If there were only one or two questionable issues, then perhaps faith could smooth over the rough edges. But when the list runs into the hundreds, it becomes clear that the problem is not with the people raising concerns—it’s with the institution that demands those concerns be ignored.

Gaslighting the Faithful

Renlund’s framing is a textbook example of gaslighting. Instead of acknowledging the legitimacy of these historical concerns, he suggests that the very act of questioning is evidence of a character flaw in the doubter. This rhetorical move shifts responsibility away from the church and onto the member who is simply seeking truth. If doubt is inherently bad, then sincere seekers are shamed for their curiosity. This manipulative tactic pressures members to ignore their critical thinking in favor of blind obedience. Faith should never require intellectual dishonesty or the suppression of valid concerns.

The Bigger Question: Why So Many Moles?

The real question that Renlund’s analogy raises is this: Why are there so many moles to whack in the first place? Why does church history contain so many disturbing elements that require constant damage control? An organization that claims to be led by divine revelation should not have a history riddled with so many ethical and doctrinal contradictions. The fact that so many members struggle with these issues is not an indication that they are seeking to doubt for the sake of doubting—it’s evidence that the church has a serious credibility problem. Rather than asking why members are persistently troubled by these issues, the church should ask itself why its history is so deeply problematic to begin with. A church that claims to be the only true church should not have to rely on revisionist history to maintain its credibility.

The Church’s Response: Minimizing the Issues

Church leaders work to minimize these issues by comparing them to chipped paint or stale crackers. But these are not small, insignificant flaws. They are foundational cracks in the very structure of the church. When the foundation of a building is compromised by numerous fractures, dismissing them does nothing to prevent collapse. The church frequently describes the Book of Mormon as the keystone of its faith, and its core doctrines as pillars supporting its truth claims. But what happens when these pillars are eroded by overwhelming evidence contradicting them?

The foundational issues include:

The First Vision
The Priesthood
Prophecy
The Restoration
Church Leadership following Revelation
Church Leaders Preaching False Doctrines – Racism, Sexism, etc.
The Book of Mormon Translation
The Book of Mormon as Scripture

Being able to play whack-a-mole with all these issues is not a problem caused by doubters. The fact that there are so many issues is another red flag in itself.

A Sinking Ship: Ignoring the Holes Won’t Save It

Renlund wants struggling members to focus on “the capability of the boat,” as if acknowledging the “dents” in it is petty and insignificant. But when a boat is full of holes, ignoring them doesn’t keep it from sinking. At a certain point, a person must ask whether they should keep trying to patch up a crumbling vessel or step onto firmer ground. Instead of accusing those who raise concerns of being unfaithful, church leaders should address these concerns with transparency and honesty. If the truth is really on their side, they should have nothing to fear from honest questions. If the church had confidence in its foundations, it would welcome scrutiny instead of discouraging it.

[He] chose to be a perpetual doubter.
As one concern was resolved, another one was found. “Church history whack-a-mole.” The children’s game where a mole pops up from a board and as soon as you hit it, another mole pops up in another place. - Dale G. Renlund, LDS Apostle, and Sister Ruth L. Renlund, Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults • January 13, 2019 • BYU–Hawaii - Church History whack-a-mole | wasmormon.org — [He] chose to be a perpetual doubter. As one concern was resolved, another one was found. “Church history whack-a-mole.” The children’s game where a mole pops up from a board and as soon as you hit it, another mole pops up in another place. – Dale G. Renlund, LDS Apostle, and Sister Ruth L. Renlund, Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults • January 13, 2019 • BYU–Hawaii – Church History whack-a-mole

Share Your Story

Stephen, are you out there? Are you a real person or just made up in order to be a humorous doubter in an object lesson? Either way, Stephen, you are not alone. You have many valid reasons to doubt. The sheer quantity of concerns you can come up with is itself a warning sign, if you see dozens, hundreds, or thousands of problems and the only resolution is to choose to believe anyway, this is not a solution but a blinder. These people are interested in your obedience and submission more than in you understanding the truth or being honest with you.

For those who have experienced their own struggles with doubt and historical contradictions in the LDS Church, you are not alone. Many have walked this path before and found freedom in pursuing truth, wherever it leads. The journey can be painful, but you deserve the right to examine your beliefs without shame or coercion. If you feel that your doubts are dismissed or your concerns are belittled, we invite you to share your story at wasmormon.org. Your experiences matter, and sharing them can help others who are also navigating their own journey toward understanding. By speaking out, you help create a world where faith is a choice, not an obligation imposed by fear or social pressure.

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