Does he always tell the
truth? | This is one of a series of web pages I created between 2001and 2006. I was angry and frustrated at the LDS Church. Since then I have moved on and calmed down. So please remember, if you read these pages, that they reflect my past and not my present feelings. Thanks for your understanding! - Chris Tolworthy |
Does he always tell the
truth? Why do I say these mean things? | 1-10 | 11- 20 | 21 - 30 | 31- 40
This page is based on "Stand a Little Taller," by Gordon B. Hinckley, published by Eagle Gate in 2001. That book contains a lot of very good ideas. When Hinckley says vague platitudes like "be good" he is worth following. But when he says precise, specific things, he is usually wrong.
21. Mormons can heal the sick?
22. An ever increasing number of converts?
23. Does the Lord answer every prayer?
24. Is the church on the side of truth?
25. Do people always know what is right?
26. Are people humble if they listen to the spirit?
27. Do critics of the church have not a shred of truth?
28. Is work for the dead loving?
29. Atheists in foxholes
30. Is there any greater cause than Mormonism?
"The power to heal the sick is still among us. It is the power of the priesthood of God. It is the authority held by the elders of the church." (page 9)
Is it? Anyone who has experience with healing will see that statistically, those given blessings are no more likely to get well than those who have a strong self-belief. So the power seems to be non-existent. Meanwhile, real doctors heal the sick all the time, so the healing power is really held by doctors, not elders.
On page 10, Hinckley refers to
``the ever-increasing number of converts''
Yet for the whole of Hinckley's leadership (since the late 1980s in fact) the number of converts per year has been either the same or declining.
"Call upon the Lord. He has extended the invitation, and He will answer." (page 11)
He will answer? Surely this should be "he MAY answer." Numerous people have experience of prayers that are not answered. Most people who investigate the church decide not to join. Clearly they did not hear any answer. Or maybe the answer was "don't join them!"
"We are involved in an intense battle. It is a battle between right and wrong, between truth and error, between the design of the Almighty on the one hand and that of Lucifer on the other." (page 15)
If "the design of the Almighty" is the Mormon design, it is clearly not based on truth. So it seems that Hinckley is battling on the wrong side.
"Be true to your convictions. You know what is right, and you know what is wrong." (page 16)
Plainly this is not true for most people, otherwise there would never be any serious disagreements. And plainly it is not true of Mormons, because they often do bad things and believe that they are good. The belief that "I am right regardless of what others say" is probably the most dangerous belief in the world.
"The meek and the humble are those who are teachable. They are willing to learn. They are willing to listen to the whisperings of the still, small voice for guidance in their lives." (page 18)
Past prophets have made mistakes. Yet surely they thought they were following God. Clearly they cannot tell the difference between their own feelings and the still small voice. And the prophets are supposed to lead us in righteousness. So everyone else must be even worse! Think about this. Most of the time we think we are listening to God, we are only listening to ourselves. Worse, we listen to our own ideas and think they come from God! So the people who listen to the still small voice are less teachable, less humble, less meek than others.
Hinckley was apparently speaking of critics of the church (hey, that means me!) when he said,
"Draw comfort from the words of the Master [Matthew 5:11] when we as a church are spoken of by those whose lives are torn with hate. They lash out at one thing and another. They manufacture and spread vile falsehoods behind which there is not a shred of truth." (page 23)
Yes, I hate falsehood. Yes, the church has torn my life in half. Yes I "lash out" against lies. But falsehoods? If I have made any errors on this web site I will gladly correct them. But the church, in contrast, will not admit any of its own falsehoods.
"Not one shred of truth?" I arrived at these conclusion after 34 years of faithful obedience to the church. I invite you to carry out your own research, use the church's own manuals. See if there is "not one shred of truth" in what critics say.
"Vicarious work for the dead more nearly approaches the vicarious sacrifice of the Savior Himself than any work which I know" (page 25)
The Savior (if we accept the Christian version) died to help the living, not the dead. It is too late for the dead to repent, so it can only benefit the living. And since Mormonism is not true, not even the dead benefit. Mormon temple work only helps the believers to feel good about themselves. It is therefore as selfish and wasteful as any activity ever invented.
The Savior's Sacrifice involved pain and suffering, not just shuffling through expensive carpets in a highly expensive building. The Savior made a real difference to the world, but Mormon temples make no difference to anyone. Indeed, they shut themselves in and won't allow any non-Mormons to come near. To compare temple work with the Savior's sacrifice is not just superficial, it is insulting to historians, Christians, and anyone who cares about real needs in the real world
Hinckley says no. From the Salt Lake Tribune, Monday, September 2, 1996
``As you once knew so well, there are no atheists in foxholes,'' Hinckley said. ``In times of extremity, we plead for and put our trust in a power mightier than ourselves.''
Despite what Hinckley says, there are plenty of atheists in foxholes. In fact, American Atheist Veterans recently held a conference called "Atheists In Foxholes", attended by many atheists from the military. Some, including the leader of their organization, could not attend because they are on active service... probably in a foxhole at the time. They put their lives on the line to defend people like Gordon B. Hinckley, then Hinckley insults them.
As a side note, atheists in the military do put their trust in a power greater than themselves: their batallion! They also put their trust in another greater power, their family and friends, who carry on their work after they are gone.
"There is no greater cause than that of the master." (Page 35.)
A greater cause is to end injustice and suffering. Christianity ruled the western world for a thousand years, and poverty and injustice was as bad as ever. When Christianity first gained power, poverty and injustice actually got worse. And the Mormon Church does not have a better record, for 175 years it has claimed to be the solution to the world's problems yet has not made any obvious improvement to the world. If these are "the cause of the master" then we should look for a greater cause.
Meanwhile, science and technology, and their children democracy and liberal pluralism, greatly improve whatever they touch. They are the greater cause that Hinckley says does not exist. They have given far more freedom (and hence justice) than Mormonism ever did. Mormonism is a theocracy, not a democracy. Mormonism teaches division, not pluralism. Mormonism places faith before science. Science and democracy are greater causes than Mormonism.
Well that is another 10 items, a quick glance at just the first few pages of "Stand a Little Taller." I may go on and add another page some day, but I think I have offended enough believers for now. :)
Why do I say these mean things? | 1-10 | 11- 20 | 21 - 30 | 31- 40