Blessed Are The Peacemakers

[KevinG]

I want to start with an apology to Mercyandgrace for not publicly acknowledging her olive branch on the now closed thread. I was glib in my responses to her due to frustration and in making my point I did not consider her position as well as I should.

- - -

This brings me to the underlying frustration with answering or engaging the more virulent critics of our faith. What is the best way to approach criticism? Here are some basics:

My dear brethren of the priesthood, my beloved fellow disciples of the gentle Christ, should we not hold ourselves to a higher standard? As priesthood bearers, we must realize that all of God’s children wear the same jersey. Our team is the brotherhood of man. This mortal life is our playing field. Our goal is to learn to love God and to extend that same love toward our fellowman. We are here to live according to His law and establish the kingdom of God. We are here to build, uplift, treat fairly, and encourage all of Heavenly Father’s children. - Elder Uchdorf 2012 General Conference

- - -

"Why do the Elders of the Church hold their peace, instead of contradicting the various falsehoods, which are published concerning them and their principles? The answer is, it would require a standing army of writers and printers in constant employ; for no sooner are our enemies detected in one falsehood, than a thousand more are put in circulation by them: and there are many who love a lie so much more than the truth, that we are quite willing they should enjoy their strong delusion." (Parley P. Pratt,Mormonism Unveiled, 1838)

- - -

"Every disciple of Christ will be most effective and do the most good by adopting a demeanor worthy of a follower of the Savior. Discussions focused on questioning, debating, and doubting gospel principles do little to build the kingdom of God. The Apostle Paul has admonished us to not be “ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16). Let us all stand firmly and speak with faith in sharing our message with the world. Many of you are returned missionaries and can carry on a meaningful conversation in the language you learned on your mission. Your outreach can be international.

As you participate in this conversation and utilize the tools of the new media, remember who you are—Latter-day Saints. Remember, as the proverb states, that “a soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). And remember that contention is of the devil (see 3 Nephi 11:29). There is no need to argue or contend with others regarding our beliefs. There is no need to become defensive or belligerent. Our position is solid; the Church is true. We simply need to have a conversation, as friends in the same room would have, always guided by the prompting of the Spirit and constantly remembering the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, which reminds us of how precious are the children of our Father in Heaven." - Elder Russel M Ballard, BYU Hawaii address 2007

- - -

If I had to sum these up in a few words it would be stand in holy places, defend the truth and do so in a demeanor fitting of a Saint.

• It is difficult to distinguish trolls from genuine investigators who have run across bad information.
  
• It is hard to avoid getting entangled with those who publish lies simply to catch people in snares.
  
• It is difficult to engage in a conflict without becoming contentious.
  

so what are your ideas and guidelines?

[KevinG]

PS - it goes without saying don't perpetuate the disagreements on the closed thread. This is a discussion on how to best proceed in the face of opposition and misinformation.

[Log]

Topic already exists, at least in part. Edited May 17, 2012 by Log

[thesometimesaint]

Simply tell the truth to best of your ability. Sometimes even use words.

[KevinG]

Topic already exists, at least in part.

Hmmm.... can the mods merge this?

[Darren10]

When you follow this standard while talking about he gospel:

5 And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.

6 Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence.

D&C 4:5-6

You're pretty much on safe groud

[altersteve]

Simply tell the truth to best of your ability. Sometimes even use words.

If I could give you a high five for that comment, I would.

Edited May 17, 2012 by altersteve

[The Nehor]

It's "Blessed are the Cheesemakers"

[Scott Lloyd]

I want to start with an apology to Mercyandgrace for not publicly acknowledging her olive branch on the now closed thread. I was glib in my responses to her due to frustration and in making my point I did not consider her position as well as I should.

- - -

This brings me to the underlying frustration with answering or engaging the more virulent critics of our faith. What is the best way to approach criticism? Here are some basics:

My dear brethren of the priesthood, my beloved fellow disciples of the gentle Christ, should we not hold ourselves to a higher standard? As priesthood bearers, we must realize that all of God’s children wear the same jersey. Our team is the brotherhood of man. This mortal life is our playing field. Our goal is to learn to love God and to extend that same love toward our fellowman. We are here to live according to His law and establish the kingdom of God. We are here to build, uplift, treat fairly, and encourage all of Heavenly Father’s children. - Elder Uchdorf 2012 General Conference

- - -

"Why do the Elders of the Church hold their peace, instead of contradicting the various falsehoods, which are published concerning them and their principles? The answer is, it would require a standing army of writers and printers in constant employ; for no sooner are our enemies detected in one falsehood, than a thousand more are put in circulation by them: and there are many who love a lie so much more than the truth, that we are quite willing they should enjoy their strong delusion." (Parley P. Pratt,Mormonism Unveiled, 1838)

- - -

"Every disciple of Christ will be most effective and do the most good by adopting a demeanor worthy of a follower of the Savior. Discussions focused on questioning, debating, and doubting gospel principles do little to build the kingdom of God. The Apostle Paul has admonished us to not be “ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16). Let us all stand firmly and speak with faith in sharing our message with the world. Many of you are returned missionaries and can carry on a meaningful conversation in the language you learned on your mission. Your outreach can be international.

As you participate in this conversation and utilize the tools of the new media, remember who you are—Latter-day Saints. Remember, as the proverb states, that “a soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). And remember that contention is of the devil (see 3 Nephi 11:29). There is no need to argue or contend with others regarding our beliefs. There is no need to become defensive or belligerent. Our position is solid; the Church is true. We simply need to have a conversation, as friends in the same room would have, always guided by the prompting of the Spirit and constantly remembering the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, which reminds us of how precious are the children of our Father in Heaven." - Elder Russel M Ballard, BYU Hawaii address 2007

- - -

If I had to sum these up in a few words it would be stand in holy places, defend the truth and do so in a demeanor fitting of a Saint.

• It is difficult to distinguish trolls from genuine investigators who have run across bad information.
  
• It is hard to avoid getting entangled with those who publish lies simply to catch people in snares.
  
• It is difficult to engage in a conflict without becoming contentious.
  

so what are your ideas and guidelines?

Be wise as serpents yet harmless as doves.

[why me]

I want to start with an apology to Mercyandgrace for not publicly acknowledging her olive branch on the now closed thread. I was glib in my responses to her due to frustration and in making my point I did not consider her position as well as I should.

- - -

This brings me to the underlying frustration with answering or engaging the more virulent critics of our faith. What is the best way to approach criticism? Here are some basics:

My dear brethren of the priesthood, my beloved fellow disciples of the gentle Christ, should we not hold ourselves to a higher standard? As priesthood bearers, we must realize that all of God’s children wear the same jersey. Our team is the brotherhood of man. This mortal life is our playing field. Our goal is to learn to love God and to extend that same love toward our fellowman. We are here to live according to His law and establish the kingdom of God. We are here to build, uplift, treat fairly, and encourage all of Heavenly Father’s children. - Elder Uchdorf 2012 General Conference

- - -

This is a nice quotation. But this quotation is about treating others with respect and dignity in everyday life. However, when people attack the church, mock posters who defend the faith, bash LDS leaders etc, I do believe that a response is necessary. Also, when having a dialogue with a critic who is repeatedly not nice, a defender can be a little aggressive toward the poster. Since mormonism is not a cult, people have the right to be hard hitting toward such posters. They are allowed to show human emotion as Joseph Smith did to his critics and to critics of the lds church.

The problem comes with the lecturing of defenders by people who do not hold the same standards for critics and remain silent toward them. In a way, the lds church is at war on the internet and it seems to be losing the war. And on critic boards they can be harsh, mean, spiteful etc and receive no rebuke. Also, the faithful are often banned from such boards for posting a challenge to the critic interpretation.

I admire Joseph because he was true to himself. He showed anger toward antimormons and valued his friends. He was not meek in his defense of truth because he knew what was at stake.

Edited May 17, 2012 by why me

[Scott Lloyd]

The problem comes with the lecturing of defenders by people who do not hold the same standards for critics and remain silent toward them. In a way, the lds church is at war on the internet and it seems to be losing the war. And on critic boards they can be harsh, mean, spiteful etc and receive no rebuke. Also, the faithful are often banned from such boards for posting a challenge to the critic interpretation.

There is validity to what why me says here.

I think it's largely a matter of familiarity breeding contempt.

In our family home evening lesson this week on "love at home," we discussed the fact that one's behavior is often the harshest toward those he should love the most, i.e. the members of his own family and household. Our fellow believers deserve at least as much courtesy, patience, forbearance and loyalty as we show toward outsiders, especially those whose avocation is to attack the faith of the Latter-day Saints.

Now therefore ye are no more ^astrangers and foreigners, but ^bfellowcitizens with the ^csaints, and of the ^dhousehold of God;

(Ephesians 2:19)

I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.

(Doctrine and Covenants 38:27)

Edited May 17, 2012 by Scott Lloyd

[Kevin Christensen]

Nibley, in "Brigham Young and the Enemy" quoted Brigham on his urgent desire that the Saints should "learn to know people as they are, and not as you are." We have biographical differences, cultural differences, personality type differences (ESTJ vs INFP, for instance), developmental differences of various kinds (such as described in the Perry Scheme), paradigm differences (so I find it pays huge dividends to pay close attention to the stories that a person chooses to generalize from in defining their paradigms), and knowledge resource differences. Getting a pure knowledge of such things, I think, greatly enlarges the soul, without hypocrisy and without guile. Impure knowledge does the opposite, contracts the soul, with attendent consequences. Trying to perform personality surgery on another requires clear vision, which the motes in our own eyes can easily obstruct. Lacking access to Dumbledore's Pensive, we have to rely on other means to know people as they are. God gives us patterns in all things, that we might come to know the truth of all things, yes. But a difference between relying on valid patterns rather than succumbing to stereotypes, will show up, I think, in whether they enlarge the soul or contract it.

Lynch mobs can be wonderfully sincere, as Rene Girard has pointed out. But he showed that the difference between Christianity and the Myths was in the unquestioned assumption that the "other" is guilty. The first thrown stone is crucial, because that one sets a pattern that can be imitated by a group.

Shining light on a subject is quite a different thing than throwing stones, metaphorical or otherwise. Light can be unpleasant at times, till the eyes adjust, and can make a difference only when comprehension follows. It's getting more well known that a ration of five positive messages to one negative is optimum in a marriage. A less favorable ratio is a very good predictor of divorce.

FWIW

Kevin Christensen

Pittsburgh, PA

[Freedom]

I do not believe the internet war is a loosing battle. With the growth of such sites as Huffington Post and others, and the resulting vile posts that they generate, most people see the cruel attacks for what they are.

[rpn]

This is kind of like what President Uchtdorf was saying in his just "STOP IT" talk. We each need to quit thinking of what we do as defense and correction and battling, and start thinking of redeeming, loving, and setting an example for.