rongo Posted October 27, 2017 Posted October 27, 2017 2 hours ago, Rain said: I've heard this idea several times. How was it different than other times the handbook has changed? Do you usually get a notice as a bishop? Yes. We get notices that such and such section has been updated. I think such a notice would have come, but the leak was instant and they were caught back on their heels reacting. What was awkward was the clarifications and softenings which were worded as if "this is what we actually meant" (but the original was very poorly-worded, if that were the case). And then the capstone was then in President Nelson's January YSA devotional, where he took the opportunity to specify that it was revelation. He portrayed it as if the Brethren had wrestled and carefully gone through the revelatory process on this, but the responses and clarifications came out very fast and were clearly in reaction to the blowback. The thing is, they need to understand (and hopefully do, by now) that we have moles and that sensitive and sensational things will immediately be leaked --- and act accordingly. If there are bona fide revelations, they should be presented as such and not only after months of adjustments and PR actions --- and then only in order to trump controversy. I would say that the doctrinal and practical ramifications of the November policy are significant, and that things like this should be presented as revelation instead of "just" policy changes. Defining gay marriage as apostasy is certainly a significant thing that should be explained and justified, and I think this should also have been announced and explained. I understand why it wasn't for PR reasons, but as I think most people know, I don't like PR considerations driving everything we do. 1
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