Elder Uchtdorf's Council to Avoid using Fear to Motivate

[Johnnie Cake]

I surprisenly enjoyed Elder Uchtdorfs General Conference Sunday morning address.  Like Elder Uchdorf, I agree that using fear as a means to motivate while effective is not long lasting. He said:

Quote

Historically, fear has often been used as a means to get people to take action. Parents have used it with their children, employers with employees, and politicians with voters.

Experts in marketing understand the power of fear and often employ it. This is why some advertisements seem to carry the implicit message that if we fail to buy their breakfast cereal or miss out on the newest video game or cell phone, we run the risk of living a miserable life, dying alone and unhappy.

We smile at this and think we would never fall for such manipulation, but we sometimes do. Worse, we sometimes use similar methods to get others to do what we want.

My message has two purposes today: The first is to urge us to contemplate and consider the extent to which we use fear to motivate others—including ourselves. The second is to suggest a better way.

He goes on to council that: 

Quote

Unfortunately, this misguided approach to life and leadership is not limited to the secular world. It grieves me to hear of Church members who exercise unrighteous dominion—whether in their homes, in their Church callings, at work, or in their daily interactions with others.

Fear has been used throughout the history of the church as a club to beat members with to motivate them to reach church goals of compliance with commandments. Fear of the consequences of sin. Hanging the threats of eternal punishment over members heads is a fear tactic or threats of loss of greater eternal reward by failing to comply with church standards is a fear tactic. Using guilt as a means of motivation is a fear tactic. Using the tired trope of a world in constant decline is a fear tactic.  I was particularly happy to hear Elder Uchtdorf call out the use of these fear tactic in the church when he said:

Quote

One of the ways Satan wants us to manipulate others is by dwelling upon and even exaggerating the evil in the world.

Hasn't this been one of the churches favorite fear tactic? To demonize the world and paint it as a sin filled maze laying in wait to tear down and destroy? Instead of Elder Uchtdorf's more balanced approach of recognizing how wonderful the world actually is and how fortunate we all are to be living in the imperfect yet beautiful world.

Quote

Certainly our world has always been, and will continue to be, imperfect. Far too many innocent people suffer because of circumstances of nature as well as from man’s inhumanity. The corruption and wickedness in our day are unique and alarming.

But in spite of all this, I wouldn’t trade living in this time with any other time in the history of the world. We are blessed beyond measure to live in a day of unparalleled prosperity, enlightenment, and advantage. Most of all, we are blessed to have the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which gives us a unique perspective on the world’s dangers and shows us how to either avoid these dangers or deal with them.

Juxtaposed against his talk are all the past general conference talks that resorted to fear and exaggeration of world conditions and use of fear based themes in talks, the very world Elder Uchtdorf says he prefers to live in despite its problems. I was glad Elder Uchtdorf called out these fear based themes and used a more balanced positive approach. Perhaps this will lead to fear being used less in the future within the church as a means of motivation. At least that is my hope.

Edited April 23, 2017 by Johnnie Cake

[Rain]

Just to be clear before I read further - you meant "enjoyed" rather than "unjoyed" right?

ETA And to clarify - I am not picking at your English, grammar, typing skills etc. I really hate when that is done. I am just thinking that "unjoyed" could be something used which is quite the opposite of "enjoyed". 

Edited April 23, 2017 by Rain

[Jeanne]

42 minutes ago, Johnnie Cake said:

I surprisenly unjoyed Elder Uchtdorfs General Conference Sunday morning address.  Like Elder Uchdorf, I agree that using fear as a means to motivate while effective is not long lasting. He said:

He goes on to council that: 

Fear has been used throughout the history of the church as a club to beat members with to motivate them to reach church goals of compliance with commandments. Fear of the consequences of sin. Hanging the threats of eternal punishment over members heads is a fear tactic or threats of loss of greater eternal reward by failing to comply with church standards is a fear tactic. Using guilt as a means of motivation is a fear tactic. Using the tired trope of a world in constant decline is a fear tactic.  I was particularly happy to hear Elder Uchtdorf call out the use of these fear tactic in the church when he said:

Hasn't this been one of the churches favorite fear tactic? To demonize the world and paint it as a sin filled maze laying in wait to tear down and destroy? Instead of Elder Uchtdorf's more balanced approach of recognizing how wonderful the world actually is and how fortunate we all are to be living in the imperfect yet beautiful world.

Juxtaposed against his talk are all the past general conference talks that resorted to fear and exaggeration of world conditions and use of fear based themes in talks, the very world Elder Uchtdorf says he prefers to live in despite its problems. I was glad Elder Uchtdorf called out these fear based themes and used a more balanced positive approach. Perhaps this will lead to fear being used less in the future within the church as a means of motivation. At least that is my hope.

Thank you so much or this. I am very impressed with Elder Uchdorf and his recognition that fear and unrighteous dominion should be avoided.  I grew up with an instilled fear that affected many areas of my life.  I am really impressed with this man.  Thanks again.  This is so important to realize because fear begets so many other problems.  It is hard to have self respect and grow when one doesn't make changes for themselves..but because they are afraid. 

[Robert F. Smith]

1 hour ago, Johnnie Cake said:

............................  Like Elder Uchdorf, I agree that using fear as a means to motivate while effective is not long lasting. He said:

...............................

Fear has been used throughout the history of the church as a club to beat members with to motivate them to reach church goals of compliance with commandments. Fear of the consequences of sin. Hanging the threats of eternal punishment over members heads is a fear tactic or threats of loss of greater eternal reward by failing to comply with church standards is a fear tactic. Using guilt as a means of motivation is a fear tactic. Using the tired trope of a world in constant decline is a fear tactic.  I was particularly happy to hear Elder Uchtdorf call out the use of these fear tactic in the church when he said:

Hasn't this been one of the churches favorite fear tactic? To demonize the world and paint it as a sin filled maze laying in wait to tear down and destroy? Instead of Elder Uchtdorf's more balanced approach of recognizing how wonderful the world actually is and how fortunate we all are to be living in the imperfect yet beautiful world.

Juxtaposed against his talk are all the past general conference talks that resorted to fear and exaggeration of world conditions and use of fear based themes in talks, the very world Elder Uchtdorf says he prefers to live in despite its problems. I was glad Elder Uchtdorf called out these fear based themes and used a more balanced positive approach. Perhaps this will lead to fear being used less in the future within the church as a means of motivation. At least that is my hope.

The LDS Church has never been a "Hellfire and brimstone" preaching Church, and I don't see it as ever purveying fear.  I can name other churches in which fear-mongering was normal, but my experience is that it is quite abnormal in the Mormon experience.  Using Pres Uchtdorf as a club to beat and demonize the Church with seems rather odd, since what he is saying is so in line with the LDS experience and doctrine generally.

As to world conditions, when have the Brethren exaggerated them?  I should have thought that you would recognize that world conditions have been pretty bad for most of LDS history.  Pres Russell Nelson even called attention to some truly negative world conditions in an address at last October Conference, but he did nothing more than report factual conditions which we all need to be aware of.  Is that wrong?  Or do we need to be fed pablum, like innocent babes?

[MormonVideoGame]

38 minutes ago, Robert F. Smith said:

The LDS Church has never been a "Hellfire and brimstone" preaching Church, and I don't see it as ever purveying fear.

but in some wards the leaders and teachers do exactly that. As a child and teenager I was a good boy because I was afraid of god's punishment. However, I was not perfect, so every time I made a mistake I was tormented in my mind. 

I was tormented for having "impure" thoughts. No one told me that sexual thoughts and feelings were normal and okay.  To the contrary, many (including my Bishop at the time) told me they were not okay. I now understand that I was psychologically abused by my ward teachers and leaders.  I always felt extremely guilty for having so-called "impure" thoughts and desires. I thought I was going to be punished in Hell.  

I was living in a state of guilt and fear. 

Edited April 23, 2017 by MormonVideoGame

[Jeanne]

The fear and association with tithing and fire..the stress after baptism to not make any mistakes..sometimes it is just little things.

[Freedom]

2 hours ago, Johnnie Cake said:

 

Fear has been used throughout the history of the church as a club to beat members with to motivate them to reach church goals of compliance with commandments.

Can you provide an example of this? other than warning of the natural consequences of sin, I have never witnessed your description. You are making a rather inflammatory exaggeration. 

[Johnnie Cake]

1 hour ago, Rain said:

Just to be clear before I read further - you meant "enjoyed" rather than "unjoyed" right?

ETA And to clarify - I am not picking at your English, grammar, typing skills etc. I really hate when that is done. I am just thinking that "unjoyed" could be something used which is quite the opposite of "enjoyed". 

Yup ENjoyed it. Sorry typed on iPad fat fingers syndrome I guess even though I'm not fat

[Duncan]

1 hour ago, Johnnie Cake said:

I surprisenly enjoyed Elder Uchtdorfs General Conference Sunday morning address.  Like Elder Uchdorf, I agree that using fear as a means to motivate while effective is not long lasting. He said:

He goes on to council that: 

Fear has been used throughout the history of the church as a club to beat members with to motivate them to reach church goals of compliance with commandments. Fear of the consequences of sin. Hanging the threats of eternal punishment over members heads is a fear tactic or threats of loss of greater eternal reward by failing to comply with church standards is a fear tactic. Using guilt as a means of motivation is a fear tactic. Using the tired trope of a world in constant decline is a fear tactic.  I was particularly happy to hear Elder Uchtdorf call out the use of these fear tactic in the church when he said:

Hasn't this been one of the churches favorite fear tactic? To demonize the world and paint it as a sin filled maze laying in wait to tear down and destroy? Instead of Elder Uchtdorf's more balanced approach of recognizing how wonderful the world actually is and how fortunate we all are to be living in the imperfect yet beautiful world.

Juxtaposed against his talk are all the past general conference talks that resorted to fear and exaggeration of world conditions and use of fear based themes in talks, the very world Elder Uchtdorf says he prefers to live in despite its problems. I was glad Elder Uchtdorf called out these fear based themes and used a more balanced positive approach. Perhaps this will lead to fear being used less in the future within the church as a means of motivation. At least that is my hope.

IIRC, Other brethren have said similar things over time but I think it's been awhile and it'a always nice to hear

[Johnnie Cake]

1 hour ago, Robert F. Smith said:

The LDS Church has never been a "Hellfire and brimstone" preaching Church, and I don't see it as ever purveying fear.  I can name other churches in which fear-mongering was normal, but my experience is that it is quite abnormal in the Mormon experience.  Using Pres Uchtdorf as a club to beat and demonize the Church with seems rather odd, since what he is saying is so in line with the LDS experience and doctrine generally.

As to world conditions, when have the Brethren exaggerated them?  I should have thought that you would recognize that world conditions have been pretty bad for most of LDS history.  Pres Russell Nelson even called attention to some truly negative world conditions in an address at last October Conference, but he did nothing more than report factual conditions which we all need to be aware of.  Is that wrong?  Or do we need to be fed pablum, like innocent babes?

Speakers at conference often exaggerate world conditions, impact of the influence of alternative life choices as a motivational fear tactic...heck the Book of Mormon is full of these tactics. 

I didn't think I was beating anyone over the head Robert, thought I was complimenting President Uchtdorf's talk

[Gray]

Great talk, I gave a lesson based on it recently. I do see it as calling the church to repentance. "The world is getting more wicked and dangerous, so stay on the straight and narrow" is a popular trope in church teachings. Although as I recall Pres. Hinckley also disagreed with that kind of negativity

At the same time, I perceive the world as having gotten more wicked very recently, so maybe I'm a little more empathetic now for those who thought it was getting more wicked for the usual reasons.

[Tacenda]

3 minutes ago, Duncan said:

IIRC, Other brethren have said similar things over time but I think it's been awhile and it'a always nice to hear

It was refreshing a few years back when Pres. Packer said the youth will grow up to be grandparents, and the world wasn't going to soon end. That was so needed. I have a son who around 2012 thought the world was going to end and he didn't care to plan his future. And I have a nephew on my husband's side who said a couple of years ago that the world would be ending in probably 5 years and he was gearing up for it, in a survivalist type of way. 

[Duncan]

Just now, Tacenda said:

It was refreshing a few years back when Pres. Packer said the youth will grow up to be grandparents, and the world wasn't going to soon end. That was so needed. I have a son who around 2012 thought the world was going to end and he didn't care to plan his future. And I have a nephew on my husband's side who said a couple of years ago that the world would be ending in probably 5 years and he was gearing up for it, in a survivalist type of way. 

I was on my mission in 1999 in LA no less when Y2K was supposed to hit the fan and I recall some members getting bent outta shape out that, always wondered what happened to them! I think most of these people either wake up and smell the starbucks or just go onto another type of thing

[Johnnie Cake]

35 minutes ago, Freedom said:

Can you provide an example of this? other than warning of the natural consequences of sin, I have never witnessed your description. You are making a rather inflammatory exaggeration. 

Fear has always been at the foundation of the church.  The church seeks obedience from members it achieves this in part through fear.   Fear of losing God's favor, the fear of forever dividing an "eternal family". Fear of divorce for questioning and doubting. But that's only half of the story because the church has exaggerated the extent of the so called wickedness of the world inorder to accomplish its aims   

Take a recent LDS lesson manuals blatant use of fear:

Quote

Teachings of Brigham Young

The last days will be a period of great turmoil.

All we have yet heard and we have experienced is scarcely a preface to the sermon that is going to be preached. When the testimony of the Elders ceases to be given, and the Lord says to them, “Come home; I will now preach my own sermons to the nations of the earth,” all you now know can scarcely be called a preface to the sermon that will be preached with fire and sword, tempests, earthquakes, hail, rain, thunders and lightnings, and fearful destruction. What matters the destruction of a few railway cars? You will hear of magnificent cities, now idolized by the people, sinking in the earth, entombing the inhabitants. The sea will heave itself beyond its bounds, engulfing mighty cities. Famine will spread over the nations and nation will rise up against nation, kingdom against kingdom and states against states, in our own country and in foreign lands; and they will destroy each other, caring not for the blood and lives of their neighbors, of their families, or for their own lives (DBY, 111–12).

Does this not scare you to be a good obedient Mormon?  I'm actually surprised you would even question this

these end of time fear tactics have been quite a common topic at GC. Fear has been a tool of motivation to be a good Mormon since it's founding...again I'm surprised you are unaware of them

Edited April 23, 2017 by Johnnie Cake

[Bobbieaware]

2 hours ago, Johnnie Cake said:

I surprisenly unjoyed Elder Uchtdorfs General Conference Sunday morning address.  Like Elder Uchdorf, I agree that using fear as a means to motivate while effective is not long lasting. He said:

He goes on to council that: 

Fear has been used throughout the history of the church as a club to beat members with to motivate them to reach church goals of compliance with commandments. Fear of the consequences of sin. Hanging the threats of eternal punishment over members heads is a fear tactic or threats of loss of greater eternal reward by failing to comply with church standards is a fear tactic. Using guilt as a means of motivation is a fear tactic. Using the tired trope of a world in constant decline is a fear tactic.  I was particularly happy to hear Elder Uchtdorf call out the use of these fear tactic in the church when he said:

Hasn't this been one of the churches favorite fear tactic? To demonize the world and paint it as a sin filled maze laying in wait to tear down and destroy? Instead of Elder Uchtdorf's more balanced approach of recognizing how wonderful the world actually is and how fortunate we all are to be living in the imperfect yet beautiful world.

Juxtaposed against his talk are all the past general conference talks that resorted to fear and exaggeration of world conditions and use of fear based themes in talks, the very world Elder Uchtdorf says he prefers to live in despite its problems. I was glad Elder Uchtdorf called out these fear based themes and used a more balanced positive approach. Perhaps this will lead to fear being used less in the future within the church as a means of motivation. At least that is my hope.

In consideration of the undeniable fact that the scriptures (all four books of the LDS Standard Works) are quite literally filled to the brim with repeated stark warnings against unrighteousness  -- blunt declarations that will often unavoidably cause fellings of fear and/or resentment in the target audience -- one wonders what President Uchtdorf would have to say about the method he seems to  condemn being used so often throughout the word of God? I'm sure he would say that the multitude of those unalloyed scriptural warnings are absolutely necessary, but great care must be taken to balance those words of warning of with the many messages of hope, uplift and spiritual positivity also found throughout the scriptures. Perhaps this balanced approach is well-exemplified in the following well-known verse of modern scripture:

43 Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy; (D&C 121)

Critical thinking -- not the advocation of pet projects and causes -- is needed when one attempts to rightly divide the word of God.

[William Jones]

7 minutes ago, Johnnie Cake said:

Fear has always been at the foundation of the church.  The church seeks obedience from members it achieves this in part through fear.   Fear of losing God's favor, the fear of forever dividing an "eternal family". Fear of divorce for questioning and doubting. But that's only half of the story because the church has exaggerated the extent of the so called wickedness of the world inorder to accomplish its aims   

Take a recent LDS lesson manuals blatant use of fear:

Does this not scare you to be a good obedient Mormon?  I'm actually surprised you would even question this

World conditions seem to be getting better.  There is less hunger worldwide, less poverty worldwide, and violent crime in the US has been going down over the last 25 years http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/uscrime.htm

Maybe it's the best days instead of the last days?  Or maybe it's the prelude softening prior to when it gets really juicy????? Stay tuned on the fear channel ......

[Duncan]

Just now, Bobbieaware said:

In consideration of the undeniable fact that the scriptures (all four books of the LDS Standard Works) are quite literally filled to the brim with repeated stark warnings against unrighteousness  -- blunt declarations that will often unavoidably cause fellings of fear and/or resentment in the target audience -- one wonders what President Uchtdorf would have to say about the method he seems to  condemn being used so often throughout the word of God? I'm sure he would say that the multitude of those unalloyed scriptural warnings are absolutely necessary, but great care must be taken to balance those words of warning of with the many messages of hope, uplift and spiritual positivity also found throughout the scriptures. Perhaps this balanced approach is well-exemplified in the following well-known verse of modern scripture:

43 Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy; (D&C 121)

Critical thinking -- not the advocation of pet projects and causes -- is needed when one attempts to rightly divide the word of God.

Maybe Pres. Uchtdorf's thinking we get enough in the scriptures we don't need to pile on guilt, fear or "spiritual armtwisting" (that was the theme of a zone conference presentation, I still have the sheet somewhere)

[Johnnie Cake]

Or what about this classic quote from Boyd K Packer 

Quote

"The world will soon be blown all apart and come to an end.” 

If that's not fear based I don't know what is...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PS: Yes packer said this and yes it was taken completely out of context to be funny

[Jeanne]

Thank goodness this has been brought to awareness and fixed in and outside the church.  It hasn't been a year yet but it is nice to know that fear for young women reporting rapes or any sexual harassment has been removed.  The worry of losing school and church discipline kept many silent.

[William Jones]

3 minutes ago, Johnnie Cake said:

Or what about this classic quote from Boyd K Packer 

If that's not fear based I don't know what is...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PS: Yes packer said this and yes it was taken completely out of context to be funny

Watch out, you'll get banned again for this comment ........

[Rain]

As a parent I think there is a difference of teaching my children by fear and informing my children about things they need to hear that may cause them to fear. It can sometimes feel like a very fine line. 

I would not be a good parent if I didn't teach my children that fire is hot and can burn them.  I would also be a poor parent if I never let them cook because of the potential burn. Better to teach them that cooking is wonderful, but they have to be careful and wise or they will get burned. 

I would not be a good parent if I didn't teach my children the bad consequences of using their agency. I would also be a poor parent if I never let them use their agency because of the potential of bad consequences. Better to teach them that agency is wonderful, but they have to be careful and wise or bad choices and consequences will hurt them. 

People in the church have not always been good about this. I think often we love our children and others so much that we cross the line from informing them into instilling fear. 

The problem comes in determining where that line is. I suspect that many of us will never agree on that.

[Johnnie Cake]

20 minutes ago, William Jones said:

Watch out, you'll get banned again for this comment ........

Admin has a sense of humor right?  Plus he actually did say this. It's an actual quote from one of his Conference talks 1989 taken completely out of context

Edited April 23, 2017 by Johnnie Cake

[Johnnie Cake]

1 minute ago, Rain said:

As a parent I think there is a difference of teaching my children by fear and informing my children about things they need to hear that may cause them to fear. It can sometimes feel like a very fine line. 

I would not be a good parent if I didn't teach my children that fire is hot and can burn them.  I would also be a poor parent if I never let them cook because of the potential burn. Better to teach them that cooking is wonderful, but they have to be careful and wise or they will get burned. 

I would not be a good parent if I didn't teach my children the bad consequences of using their agency. I would also be a poor parent if I never let them use their agency because of the potential of bad consequences. Better to teach them that agency is wonderful, but they have to be careful and wise or bad choices and consequences will hurt them. 

People in the church have not always been good about this. I think often we love our children and others so much that we cross the line from informing them into instilling fear. 

The problem comes in determining where that line is. I suspect that many of us will never agree on that.

Great analogy Rain

[William Jones]

6 minutes ago, Johnnie Cake said:

Admin has a sense of humor right?  Plus he actually did say this. It's an actual quote from one of his Conference talks 1989 

Hopefully so.  I know your intentions are benign at best.

[Bobbieaware]

2 hours ago, Duncan said:

Maybe Pres. Uchtdorf's thinking we get enough in the scriptures we don't need to pile on guilt, fear or "spiritual armtwisting" (that was the theme of a zone conference presentation, I still have the sheet somewhere)

Good point. With the scriptures, we have plenty of potentially fear-inducing prophetic warnings.

Edited April 24, 2017 by Bobbieaware