Rated R

[Calm]

I think it is important to note that those who automatically question all counsel, etc. as a habit are just as likely to be blindly following a set script as any "blind follower" of the prophets.

[Storm Rider]

I think it is important to note that those who automatically question all counsel, etc. as a habit are just as likely to be blindly following a set script as any "blind follower" of the prophets.

One of the more fatuous statements I have ever seen/read is "Question Authority". Why, is authority always wrong? Are the masses so informed they know the answer to all things? Are all professionals to be ignored in reverence of the uneducated? Mao was proficient in stamping out the learned; all humanity saw the error of his ways. Interestingly, he was only interested in quashing anyone that could question his authority.

I do laugh at myself. I am a natural skeptic and don't easily buy in to what others are doing or saying. When the prophets speak, I generally listen and reflect. Most times I see the wisdom of what they offer, but there are other times when I conclude they are only sharing a personal opinion and they should tell us when they speak as a prophet and when they are speaking as men.

[Nominee]

I don't think it is so much that there are "blind followers" but rather there are so many "busy followers". It takes time and sometimes great effort to study and ponder all that we have been commanded, instructed and counseled to do in our own lives and to help others and therefore we all make choices of what things we will concentrate on and what things we will rely on others mostly or even completely. For example, there are any who have chosen to simply go to doctors when they are feeling off and then follow whatever the doctor instructs them to do without questioning or finding out more information for themselves. For many this is more than sufficient and they can lead healthy lives by doing so. There are some for whom this choice ends up being detrimental, perhaps because the doctor does not have enough knowledge, the individual needs to learn what issues are the most important so they can keep the doctor and themselves focused on the main problem and not on distracting side issues, or because it takes personal insight and knowledge to even begin to describe their disorder sufficiently well for the doctor to understand the issue, iow in these cases the patient needs to expand their ability to use the language that will communicate the correct concepts.

In terms of spirituality, I know many members who taken at face value might be called "blind followers" but many have chosen that path because they have proved those who they follow already and they see it as an efficient way to make the many decisions of what to focus on that are demanded of those trying to do good in the world with limited time and resources. Others have chosen the path as a way to consciously set themselves apart from the world. There are, in my experience, many other spiritually mature reasons for using what may, if done wisely, amount to a spiritual shortcut. One can run into problems from what I've seen if one doesn't take the time before investing someone with such confidence and authority to explore the reasons why one is doing so, for oneself and for the other because if one doesn't take care, one sets the situation up for disappointment when conflicts ultimately arises, the other is not actually worthy of such trust even in most cases, or one locks oneself into inflexibility preventing one from taking full advantage of opportunities of growth and expansion when they appear.

I think it is important to refrain from judging so called blind followers at least until one knows the motivation behind such a choice, whether it is trust based on wisdom and experience, fear or an avoidance of personal responsibility or something else.

I didn't think the people you are describing here as thoughtful people with proved sources were the people that are described as non-thinkers by falling inside the "when the prophet speaks, the thinking is done" approach. That's like saying anyone who listens to a prophet and has faith in their words is a blind man. I am surprised if there are so many that follow blindly, meaning without having the proved relationship with and faith in the prophets that you are talking about. In fact, I thought that most everyone who follows the prophet makes that choice because of the reasons you have described so well here ~ NOT because they felt the thinking was to cease. But I have read here that apparently it is "fairly common."

Edited December 5, 2011 by Nominee

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

If I had to choose between watching a really good Rated R movie like Braveheart for two hours and watching a two hour discussion among Mormons about whether it is okay to watch Rated R movies, I would choose the latter.

Loved that...must be Scot in me.

[WalkerW]

Seeing as you are CFRing a subjective experience of one of my friends, I can state that I have seen this often, especially when serving a mission with elders from the USA and also later moving to Utah.

This would be the best I could provide.

I should clarify that it is fairly common based on my personal interactions with Mormons in Texas, a mission in Las Vegas, and posting on Mormon discussion boards. If statistics are desired, I have none to offer.

[Calm]

I am curious if those making this judgment are basing it on a casual observation/ discussion or something more in-depth.

My husband had a missionary companion who forced himself to eat milk-toast each night because he had read or heard that Pres. Kimball did so, even though he personally hated the dish. To me that rates "blind obedience" but it was also true that in other ways he was perfectly willing to make excuses not to follow prophetic counsel in preparing for or doing missionary work in areas where my husband thought counsel was much more relevant.

In most of the cases I have known well where I have seen the reasoning used that I usually equate with blind obedience (as opposed to those who have chosen obedience for mature reasons like I described in my prior post) there are generally areas in their lives that I am quite surprised at their disregarding of counsel in that area. Makes me wonder if there is something going on with those engaging in "blind obedience" besides obedience.

It also seems to be something more common among youth, I encountered it much more at BYU for example than I have elsewhere in Utah and I've noticed in those I've known for a long time that their behaviour gets more thoughtful and self aware overtime.

Edited December 6, 2011 by calmoriah

[WalkerW]

I am curious if those making this judgment are basing it on a casual observation/ discussion or something more in-depth.

My husband had a missionary companion who forced himself to eat milk-toast each night because he had read or heard that Pres. Kimball did so, even though he personally hated the dish. To me that rates "blind obedience" but it was also true that in other ways he was perfectly willing to make excuses not to follow prophetic counsel in preparing for or doing missionary work in areas where my husband thought counsel was much more relevant.

In most of the cases I have known well where I have seen the reasoning used that I usually equate with blind obedience (as opposed to those who have chosen obedience for mature reasons like I described in my prior post) there are generally areas in their lives that I am quite surprised at their disregarding of counsel in that area. Makes me wonder if there is something going on with those engaging in "blind obedience" besides obedience.

It also seems to be something more common among youth, I encountered it much more at BYU for example than I have elsewhere in Utah and I've noticed in those I've known for a long time that their behaviour gets more thoughtful and self aware overtime.

I think it depends. There is an immaturity that often accompanies those who are constantly questioning, largely stemming from inexperience. However, there is a dogmatism and self-aggrandizement that accompanies those who become set in their ways and assume they know exactly how revelation works. It is difficult to find a beneficial balance and I by no means pretend to have found it.

Edited December 6, 2011 by WalkerW

[cinepro]

It also seems to be something more common among youth, I encountered it much more at BYU for example than I have elsewhere in Utah and I've noticed in those I've known for a long time that their behaviour gets more thoughtful and self aware overtime.

Since President Benson's counsel was to the youth, that would be understandable (and a good thing). I too have observed many of the LDS teenagers I knew that were strongly against watching R movies now watch them (with discretion) as adults. My wife and her sister being two of them.