An Inconvenient Faith: dealing with questions in a modern religion

The online documentary recently appeared on YouTube “An inconvenient truth” about our faith, by many still called the mormonism called. In contrast to the negative and questionable report that Humo recently made, I find this series quite OK. It contains criticism, but I find them fair questions and remarks, and above all, the different viewpoints are balanced. In such a case, I have no problem at all with ex-members and opponents presenting their views. Moreover, I welcome the debate.

It is clear that many people struggle with their faith and the complexity of the church, but this series shows that there are ways to deal with it. Our faith is a high demanding religion, a faith that for those who fully embrace it, is more than going to church on Sunday. It is not just a religion, it is a life philosophy that shapes your life every day. I honestly confess that when I got to know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I also wondered if I it was going to be able to do it all. Now I know: it all is unattainable in this life without the atonement of Christ. It's good that there is a documentary that seeks answers. I therefore try to present the different viewpoints below.

In summary: The inconveniences of faith and dealing with imperfection

The series emphasizes that faith is often uncomfortable. In a world that is increasingly secularizing, many people leave their religion. For members of a demanding religion like the LDS church, this can be a particularly painful process, as it is not only a change in lifestyle but also a loss of identity and social structure. Many of these challenges stem from historical facts and doctrines that we don't like to talk about.

The reasons for leaving the church are complex. Many people struggle with historical and doctrinal issues, such as the history of the church they discover online, in contrast to what they learned in church. These ‘inconvenient facts’ and the unwillingness to discuss them in church can lead to a faith crisis. Yet, some believers see this struggle as a valuable part of their faith.

The meaning of prophets and revelation

Mormonism places a strong emphasis on prophets, seers, and revelators. These leaders speak on behalf of God and members look forward to hearing them speak during general conferences. There is a ‘celebrity culture’ around these leaders, and there is a tendency to consider them infallible.

This infallibility paradigm is, however, problematic. History shows that prophets and leaders have made human errors. Examples include Brigham Young's theological stances (such as blood atonement and the Adam-God theory) and the priesthood ban for black people. Moreover, recent statements by leaders, such as those on homosexuality, were later retracted or edited. This shows that our leaders, although they are capable and wise men, are a product of their time and canmake.

The church is led by a council system that requires unanimity of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, which serves as a 'spiritual guardrail' against the agenda of one person. This system is inherently conservative and slow. God's revelation always comes through imperfect people, meaning there is human 'contamination' in the message. The Apostle Paul already recognized this, and it is naive to assume that God always dictates literally.

Individual members are encouraged to take the council of leaders seriously, but also to seek their own personal revelation. Mormonism offers both vertical (from top to bottom) and horizontal revelation (from bottom to top). It is the responsibility of each individual to determine how to apply the general doctrines of the gospel to their personal circumstances. The concept of 'sustaining' a prophet or apostle does not mean that one literally takes every word that comes out of their mouth as theword of God. It often means that one considers them reliable guides in the faith.

Historical and social challenges

The priesthood ban for black people

The ban on the priesthood for black people, which was in effect from 1852 to 1978, is a painful part of church history. Black members were excluded by the ban from the temple and the priesthood, which are seen as essential for salvation and eternal families. Some leaders and members justified this policy with racist theories and doctrines, such as the ‘curse of Cain’. These theories have been revoked by the church. Although the church officially lifted the ban in 1978, the aftermath of the traumas itcaused continues to exist, and the history of the ban is sometimes still not fully acknowledged.

Polygamy and the character of Joseph Smith

The practice of polygamy under Joseph Smith is another major challenge. Church history, including the church's 'essay series,' acknowledges that he had more than 30 wives. This raises questions about his character and integrity. Some of his marriages were with young girls and with women who were already married. On the other hand, and in contradiction to this, critics of Joseph Smith argue that these marriages had more to do with 'sealing' families into a large family link, a universal sealing. Thisraises the question of whether the practice, even though problematic, was rooted in a deep religious insight into the essence of community. Many Latter-day Saints are troubled by this history but do not see it as a reason to leave the church. Many emphasize that prophets are imperfect, and that God can work through imperfect people.

LGBTQ issues 

The church faces major challenges regarding LGBTQ members. The doctrine of the eternal family, with a father and a mother, is a core concept of the church. This leads to a tension in faith for many LGBTQ members and their families. The November 2015 policy, which labeled homosexual couples as apostates and denied their children baptism, caused enormous grief and confusion. Although the policy was reversed in 2019, it has had a deep impact and raised questions about the process of revelation and theinfallibility of leaders.

Despite official doctrine, which focuses on traditional heterosexual families, studies show that the best outcomes for the well-being of LGBTQ members occur when they can integrate their religious and sexual identities, rather than separating them or leaving the church.

Women and authority

Feminism is an important issue in Mormonism. The LDS Church is generally considered patriarchal. Women may feel inferior in the church because their opinions can be ignored by male authorities. The focus on motherhood and bearing children as the primary role of women can feel restrictive. In the past, however, women had more authority, including giving blessings, which makes some hope that the church will return to these practices. In the contemporary church, isthe authority of women is recognized in their ecclesiastical callings and in the temple, and women and men are considered equal partners.

My suggestion: embrace the questions you have

I don't think it's wrong to have questions. Our church was founded by a young man who presented his faith questions to God. We learn that we don't know everything yet and that a lot of knowledge will still be shared, line upon line, precept upon precept. That revelation alone gives you the right to ask questions, but also instructs you to be patient when not everything is clear yet. We have living prophets because God is not finished teaching us. Consequently, after this moment, there will be a future with more truth.

And that is not easy in a faith that asks so much of us and contains parts that later need clarification and improvement. Many people have already said it: you cannot expect total salvation from a faith that asks almost nothing of you. And at the same time, it is to be expected that a faith that encompasses your entire life (but does not consume it) easily provides loopholes to escape when sudden questions arise for which no easy answer can be found. This 'An inconvenient faith' documentary certainly helps better to understandwhy there are questions and members become inactive, but it might also give those who have questions enough answers to persevere. Highly recommended to watch.