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FROM THE PULPIT Church is or how God interacts with us. Just as many Pythagoreans lived and died content in their belief that all was integers, so we may live lives where our false expectations of the RUE AND IVING HURCH Church are never challenged. But this is not A T L C likely. When error is exposed, it is testimony- shattering for many—because we have the By Brian Chapman habit, as Elder John Widtsoe warned, to re- ject the whole when only a part is found to be false.2 Elder B. H. Roberts wrote of the need for the Saints to be a people who expected adult answers to adult questions.3 Becoming Saints who are comfortable with hearing adult questions is very challenging. Becoming Saints who can answer adult questions is even more challenging. I won’t pretend that I have arrived at such adult sainthood. But I believe that I have been journeying toward it for a while and along my journey have found some principles that have been invaluable. My objective today is to share with you some of these principles in the hope that they might make your journey smoother than it might otherwise be. In Doctrine and Covenants Section 1, we read the Lord’s declaration that this church is “the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth.” I will address three important topics related to this declaration: 1. We are not God’s sole agents. 2. We are not always inspiring or inspired. 3. We are collectively responsible for making the Church true and living. The first two topics address conclusions that are not supported by the declaration. The third addresses our responsibility in regards to the declaration.

We Are Not God’s Sole Agents

ECENTLY, while I was driving a sister whom I home-teach to church, HE ANCIENT GREEKS were fasci- sailor during a voyage. His fellow sailors R we passed the East Liberty nated with mathematics, and the were so disturbed by the philosophical im- Presbyterian Church. She commented that Pythagoreans in particular were en- plications that they killed him by throwing there was a very nice food bank and daily T 1 thralled with number. The mystical him overboard to suppress his knowledge. free lunch service run through that church. Pythagoras said, “All is number.” By number, While this story hardly seems credible, “With such great need here in Pittsburgh, it’s he meant the positive integers and the ra- we are all at risk of constructing personal great that there are so many good people tional numbers that could be formed from philosophies that are not quite built upon willing to be helpful,” I replied. She con- them. A legend exists regarding the discovery truth. When the errors of our foundations are curred. of irrational numbers—numbers such as Π exposed, we may respond with frightful vio- When I related this story to my bishop, or the square root of two, which cannot be lence, as the Greek sailors did. We can easily the man theoretically responsible for the wel- expressed as the ratio of two integers. It is build up a personal “testimony” based on fare of everyone living within the Pittsburgh said that this discovery was made by a young false premises about what the restored First Ward boundaries, his response was something like, “You can’t believe how BRIAN CHAPMAN is a faculty member in biomedical informatics at the University of grateful I am that there are lots of helpful Pittsburgh. When he isn't doing something he has to do, he enjoys photography, bicycling, people in Pittsburgh.” and reading to his kids. A version of this talk was delivered in the Pittsburgh First Ward According to statistics published in the sacrament meeting 27 January 2007. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Western Pennsylvania

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has the lowest proportion of Mormons Bangerter tells of President Hinckley’s re- Church for such purposes, neither among its population of any place in the sponse to that question when it was raised by in time nor place. We hold that all United States. Coupled with the level of a group of ministers as they toured the great teachers are servants of God, poverty here—Fayette County, which com- Jordan River Temple prior to its dedication. inspired men appointed to instruct prises the Uniontown Branch of our stake, is President Hinckley asserted that the Lord did the children of God according to one of the poorest counties in the country— not say that. But it is a common belief. the condition in which they are living in Pittsburgh is certainly an opportu- Early in my , I challenged a zone found.7 nity to recognize what a small part the conference talk given by a Church leader that More recently, President Howard W. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints implied ministers were primarily motivated Hunter taught: can do in addressing the world’s problems. by money. The foundation for my disagree- All human beings share an inheri- This fact reminds me of a favorite quote ment came from that talk by Elder Bangerter, tance of divine light. God operates from Elder Orson F. Whitney, a former which had been published in the Ensign. among his children in all nations, member of the Quorum of the Twelve: Elder Bangerter began with the story of and those who seek God are enti- [God] is using not only his cov- President Hinckley and the ministers at the tled to further light and knowledge, enant people, but other peoples as temple and went on to make the following regardless of their race, nationality, well, to consummate a work, stu- claims: or cultural traditions. . . . pendous, magnificent, and alto- It is clearly apparent that there have As members of the Lord’s gether too arduous for this little been and now are many honorable church, we need to lift our vision handful of Saints to accomplish by and devoted men and women in beyond personal prejudices. We and of themselves.4 other churches who are moving in need to discover the supreme truth Who are these other people contributing the direction of their eternal salva- that indeed our Father is no re- to God’s work? What are some of the great tion and who give righteous and specter of persons. Sometimes we works Elder Whitney had in mind? Elder conscientious service to their con- unduly offend brothers and sisters Whitney was born in 1855. If we limit our- gregations. . . . of other nations by assigning exclu- selves to events that have occurred since his Are ministers of other churches siveness to one nationality of birth, my (idiosyncratic) list might include: inspired of God? Of course they people over another.8 • Abolition of slavery are, if they are righteous and sin- • Women in the U. S. receiving the vote cere. Do they accomplish good? We Are Not Always Inspired; • Development of the germ theory of Certainly. . . . We are Not Always Inspiring disease Can ministers of other churches • Discovery of penicillin call forth blessings from God upon OD uses us as instruments despite • Quantum mechanics their people? Most assuredly they our imperfections. Some church • Picasso’s The Old Guitarist can and do.6 G leaders are arrogant; others lack tact. • The philosophy of William James Elder Bangerter’s comments are based on Some members are thin-skinned; others, rep- • The civil rights movement a deeply rooted universalist strain within rehensible. It has always been this way and • The information age Mormonism. In the Book of Mormon, we will always be this way. Joseph Smith had • Invention of the electric guitar read: deep character flaws that were difficult even Mormons have been able to play only a Know ye not that there are more for his contemporaries to accept.9 small part in these artistic, scientific, and cul- nations than one? Know ye not that David O. McKay commented that when tural works because we have been a small I, the Lord your God, have created God makes the prophet, he doesn’t unmake population who for much of our existence all men, and that I remember those the man. So it is also with stake presidents, had been trying to survive in an inhospitable who are upon the isles of the sea; bishops, presidents, Young environment. But are these works the work and that I rule in the heavens above Women presidents, Sunday School teachers, of God? For the most part, yes. Hugh B. and in the earth beneath; and I and high councilors. In every one of us are Brown, former member of the Quorum of bring forth my word unto the chil- human elements that are unlikeable. For the Twelve Apostles and counselor in the dren of men, yea, even upon all the some, finding these flaws in high church First Presidency to David O. McKay, said: nations of the earth? . . . leaders can be fatal to their testimony. Joseph Revelation does not come only For I command all men, both in Smith is a minutely documented historical through the prophet of God nor the east and in the west, and in the figure, his flaws and failures well known. In only directly from heaven in vi- north, and in the south, and in the contrast, what do we know about Peter, sions or dreams. Revelation may islands of the sea, that they shall James, or John? Isaiah, Abraham, Mary come in the laboratory, out of the write the words which I speak unto Magdalene, Adam, or Eve? For the most part, test tube, out of the thinking mind them. . . . I shall also speak unto all their flaws are long since lost to history. and the inquiring soul, out of nations of the earth and they shall George Bernard Shaw’s warning, “Beware search and research and prayer and write it. (2 Nephi 29:7, 11–12) of the pursuit of the Superhuman. It leads to inspiration.5 Early in the twentieth century, Elder B. H. an indiscriminate contempt for the human,” In all this good God is achieving with Roberts taught: could be rephrased for us as, “Beware of the other people, is he using other churches? Of Now, while the Church is one of pursuit of the Super Latter-day Saint. It leads course. But didn’t the Lord say in the First God’s instrumentalities for making to an indiscriminate contempt for the Latter- Vision that all the professors of other reli- known the truth, we do not main- day Saint.”10 Ours is the opportunity and gions were corrupt? Elder William Grant tain that he is limited to this responsibility to have a more realistic under-

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God uses us as instruments despite our imperfections. Some church leaders are arrogant; others lack tact. Some members are thin skinned; others, reprehensible. It has always been this way and will always be this way.

There is nothing in the doctrines of to God; and by the second, they are the Church which makes it neces- apt to altogether eliminate the in- sary to believe that [men are con- fluence of God from human affairs; stantly under the inspiration of the I pause in doubt as to which con- Holy Spirit], even . . . men who are clusion would be the worse.11 high officials of the Church. When These mistakes Elder Roberts refers to we consider the imperfections of range from the trivial to the painful. As a men, their passions and prejudices, simple example, consider the building pro- standing of how God interacts with men and that mar the Spirit of God in them, gram. In the 1960s, we spent excessive women. happy is the man who can occa- amounts of money constructing large build- Last year as part of my high council as- sionally ascend to the spiritual ings for very small congregations throughout signment, I attended ward conferences heights of inspiration and com- the world. This drove us nearly to bank- throughout our stake and talked about intel- mune with God! . . . ruptcy. In a perhaps overcorrection, in the ligent discipleship and classroom instruction. We should recognize the fact 1990s, we built buildings that were too After one of the conferences, a young man that we do many things by our own small, such as our meetinghouse, a problem came up to me to discuss a conceptual diffi- uninspired intelligence for the is- to which I’m sure many of you here would be culty he was struggling with. He had been sues of which we are ourselves re- glad to attest. reading about J. Reuben Clark. When David sponsible. . . . He will help men at More serious mistakes exist, and there is O. McKay became Church president, he se- need, but I think it improper to as- no way to hide from them, nor should we. lected Stephen L. Richards as his first coun- sign every word and every act of a An upcoming PBS documentary will outline selor and President Clark to be his second man to an inspiration from the many of them in unflattering and perhaps bi- counselor. Presidents McKay and Richards Lord. . . . Hence, I think it a reason- ased detail. It is imperative that our under- were personally close and philosophically able conclusion to say that con- standing of Church leadership be mature and similar. President Clark was the odd man stant, never-varying inspiration is sound. out. He would arrive at every First not a factor in the administration of Often mistakes are rooted in the cultural Presidency meeting virtually assured that he the affairs of the Church; not even baggage our leaders inherit. As an example, would be outvoted 2–1 on all the major good men, no, not even though consider the topic of waltzes. Brigham Young topics of the day. they be prophets or other high offi- banned waltzing; however, John Taylor and This young man asked me, “How could cials of the Church, are at all times Wilford Woodruff allowed it on a limited the Spirit be inspiring these men in two op- and in all things inspired of God. It scale. The general question of whether to posite directions?” is only occasionally, and at need, waltz or not to waltz, the preferred form of “Why must we assume that the Spirit was that God comes to their aid. dancing at the time being square dancing, directing these debates?” I asked back. That there have been unwise continued to bubble around in meetings of The very structure of the Church assumes things done in the Church by good the Quorum of the Twelve and the First that we are imperfect, not always inspired. If men, men susceptible at time to the Presidency until well into the twentieth cen- not so, we wouldn’t have councils, presiden- inspiration of the Spirit of God, we tury. By 1912, waltzing had been accepted as cies, bishoprics—we would have only presi- may not question. Many instances the social norm, and Church leaders were dents and bishops. in the history of the Church, now debating the propriety of jazz and Latin The Reed Smoot hearings were a time through three quarters of a century, dancing. Eventually they realized that sexual when the questions of Church theocracy and prove it, and it would be a solecism chastity of youth was the gospel principle claims of infallibility were being debated in to say that God was the author of they were concerned with, not the manner of the U.S. Senate and in public opinion at those unwise, not to say positively their dancing.12 large—perhaps the time in Church history foolish, things that have been done. Was God directing these discussions re- when we were under the closest public For these things men must stand garding dancing? Or were the leaders strug- scrutiny. During the hearings, the responsible, not God. gling to differentiate their merely cultural Improvement Era, the Church’s official organ, It is well nigh as dangerous to preferences from gospel principles? A scrip- edited by President Joseph F. Smith, pub- claim too much for the inspiration tural illustration of this struggle is found in lished a sermon by B. H. Roberts, the of God, in the affairs of men, as it is the New Testament character of Peter. Peter Church’s acknowledged “defender of the to claim too little. By the first, men had to overcome his cultural sense of what faith,” that laid out what can reasonably be are led into superstition, and into was unclean in order to learn “what God considered the Church’s position on the rela- blasphemously accrediting their hath cleansed, that call not thou common” tionship of inspiration and revelation in own imperfect actions, their blun- (Acts 10:15). Despite Christ’s charge at his Church government: ders, and possibly even their sins, Ascension to preach the gospel to every crea-

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I need humility to recognize that I might be wrong. I need tolerance to allow others to make different mistakes than those I make; I need tolerance to allow others to make a different choice among equally plausible options than I would have made.

ture, Peter required a later vision to realize which, in some part, the world that “God is no respecter of persons: but in lacks. But there is an incomprehen- every nation he that feareth him, and wor- sibility greater part of truth which keth righteousness, is accepted with him” we must yet discover. Our revealed (Acts 10:34–35). But even with this realiza- truth should leave us stricken with tion, Peter struggled to let go of the tradi- the knowledge of how little we re- tional Jewish separation from Gentiles, ally know. It should never lead leading Paul to rebuke him at a conference in to an emotional arrogance based Making the Church True and Living Jerusalem. (See Galatians 1–2.) upon a false assumption that we If we look at how the Church came to ex- somehow have all the answers— Y final point is that we are respon- tend priesthood to all worthy men, we can that we in fact have a corner on sible for making the Church true see a complex mix of cultural tradition and truth. For we do not.15 M and living. This can be a painful social interactions, of confronting chal- I need humility to recognize that I might responsibility. My favorite example of an in- lenging problems and receiving or waiting be wrong. I need tolerance to allow others to dividual striving to make the church true and for inspiration. As the Church started to ex- make different mistakes than those I make; I living is that of Chieko Okazaki. As her life il- pand out in the world, it encountered on a need tolerance to allow others to make a dif- lustrates, we help to make the church true large scale the implications of the priesthood ferent choice among equally plausible op- and living by being positively different than ban: thousands of people joining the Church tions than I would have made. I need to the mean, creating a gradient force pulling in Nigeria without any means of weekly ad- have the patience to remember that dra- others towards progression. Unfortunately, ministration of the sacrament or the forma- matic changes are rarely effective; I need pa- being different can be dangerous, as Sister tion of basic Church government; multitudes tience to remember that fostering Okazaki describes: of would-be converts in South America who defensiveness in leaders usually slows Ed and I and our boys have spent couldn’t prove that they did not have any change; I need patience to remember that a big chunk of our lives being dif- Negro ancestors; governments refusing to of- even great ideas are often only accepted over ferent. There have been many, ficially recognize the Church. This exposure centuries. many occasions when Ed and I prompted President McKay to make a vig- These virtues are necessary, but they are could have taken offense. . . . orous internal examination of the practice, not sufficient. We must also have a mean- But she knew she had an important con- leading to administrative decisions that re- ingful relationship with our Heavenly Father. tribution to make to the Church, that the duced the scope of the priesthood ban. In the fall of 1993, I found myself very upset Church would be something less true and Apostolic committees concluded that there with the Church. While reading a Eugene living if she were not participating in it. She was no scriptural basis for the ban, and fur- England essay, I came across a Hugh Nibley learned to respond strategically to her prob- ther policy changes were proposed and de- quotation suggesting what to do when one is lems. From her life experiences, she makes bated but not accepted. President McKay upset with the Church: this plea to all of us: earnestly sought a revelation but did not re- Be the importunate widow and If you experience the pain of exclu- ceive one. Finally, in 1978, a definitive reve- complain. Itemize your griefs, your sion at church from someone who lation eliminated the priesthood ban. The doctrinal objections, your personal is frightened at your difference, time frame for all of this? Decades.13 tastes. Lay them out in full detail please don’t leave. Don’t become Being a church that is entitled to revela- and get it out of your system. . . . inactive. You may think you are tion to a prophetic leadership but yet where With this understanding—you will voting with your feet, that you are the leaders are often left on their own can do all this before the only Person making a statement by leaving. You create challenges that may be unique to our qualified to judge either you or are, but your absence may be wel- church. The challenges may be different for your tormentors.16 comed and encouraged by those leaders and members, but the primary I followed Nibley’s advice and went into who don’t understand or value virtues for coping with these challenges are our living room, knelt down, and in prayer you. They see your diversity as a the same: humility, tolerance, and patience. laid out all my complaints about the Church. problem to be fixed, as a flaw to be In the preface to his play, Saint Joan, I received a very distinct answer to my corrected or erased. If you are George Bernard Shaw wrote, “The Churches prayer. I wandered back to our bedroom gone, they don’t have to deal with must learn humility as well as teach it.” with an uneasy peace in my soul. The unease you any more. I want you to know President Brown warned Church leaders to came from the fact that I didn’t receive an an- that your diversity is a more valu- remember that they are fallible14 and offered swer that I was wrong and that everything in able statement.17 this broader call to humility for all of us: my church was how it should be. The answer B. H. Roberts drew great significance from We have been blessed with much was simply yet directly, “This is not your the name of our church. It is not “The knowledge by revelation from God battle.” Church of Jesus Christ,” nor is it “The

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The burden of making the Church true and living does not just fall on President Hinckley. It falls on all of us.

available in libraries and on the Internet. We NOTES need to develop a Church curriculum that 1. This story is told in Keith Devlin, Mathematics creates robust testimonies in the presence of and the Science of Patterns (New York: Scientific this information. Another challenge is to American Library, 1994), 17. better incorporate the knowledge and in- 2. John A. Widtsoe, “Is It Wrong to Doubt?” in sights of women into Church government. Evidences and Reconciliations (: Along these lines, Elder Ballard has coun- Bookcraft, 1960), 31–33. seled that we should replace one of the 3. “B. H. Roberts on the Intellectual and Spiritual Quest,” sermon reprinted in Dialogue: A Journal of monthly ward PEC meetings with an addi- Mormon Thought 13, no. 2 (Summer 1980): 123–28. tional ward council meeting where the 4. Quoted in Howard W. Hunter, That We Might women leaders attend and contribute. This Have Joy (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1994), 60. Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter Days.” It counsel is not yet canonized, yet it illus- 5. Edwin B. Firmage, ed., An Abundant Life: The is “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day trates the realization that we are underutil- Memoirs of Hugh B. Brown (Salt Lake City: Signature Saints.” The parallelism “of Jesus Christ of izing an important resource in the Church Books, 1988), 138. See also Hugh B. Brown, The Abundant Life (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1965), 88. Latter-day Saints” invoked in Elder Roberts’s and that a discussion is underway about 18 6. Elder William Grant Bangerter, “It’s a Two- mind a sense of joint ownership. We are re- how to do better. Way Street,” Ensign, July 1986. sponsible for the Church being true and 7. B. H. Roberts, “Relation of Inspiration and living. The Church remains true and living as Conclusion Revelation to Church Government,” Improvement Era, we individually personify the great gospel March 1905, 362. ideals, as we examine our lives and recognize BEGAN this talk with a mathematical 8. Hunter, That We Might Have Joy, 60, 74. the patterns of divine influence and from that legend related to a false premise. I will 9. For discussion of Joseph Smith’s character, see Bushman’s biography Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling recognition form a more powerful testimony I end by quoting from Shakespeare’s (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2005), 249–50, of God and Jesus Christ. The Church re- Sonnet 130: 294–304. See also B. H. Roberts, “The Prophet’s Self- mains true and living as we constantly ex- Revealment to the Intelligent Disciple,” A amine the fundamental principles of the My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun . . . Comprehensive History of the Church of Jesus Christ of gospel of Jesus Christ and examine how well Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City: , we are realizing them, seeking changes indi- I love the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- 1930), 2:355–61. 10. George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman, vidually and collectively as needed. The day Saints. I know that this institution is the Act III. burden of making the Church true and living seed of the kingdom of God on earth. I am 11. Roberts, “Relation of Inspiration,” 365–66. In does not just fall on President Hinckley. It grateful for the restoration of the priesthood an interview published with Joseph Smith in the falls on all of us. and the blessings I have received through it. I Pittsburgh Gazette on 15 September 1843, the reporter There have been and will be great debates am grateful for the opportunities I have had writes, “Speaking of revelations, he [Joseph Smith] within Mormonism about important topics: to attend the temple and receive personal stated that when he was in a ‘quandary,’ he asked the Lord for a revelation, and when he could not get it, he the nature of God; the breadth of the Fall; the revelation for my life. I am grateful for the ‘followed the dictates of his own judgment.’” See blessings of the priesthood; who are sheep privilege I have to work within this institu- Dean C. Jessee, ed., The Papers of Joseph Smith (Salt and who are goats. Sometimes, as with tion to bring about the salvation of mankind. Lake City: Deseret Book, 1989), 1:443. blacks and the priesthood, these debates are I am grateful that there are millions of good 12. See Thomas G. Alexander, Mormonism in resolved through revelation; sometimes we men and women outside of the Church who Transition: A History of the Latter-day Saints, 1890–1930 seem to progress linearly, continually refining are working with us, knowingly or unknow- (Urbana: University of Illinois, 1986), 150–51. our understanding and practice; other times ingly, to achieve this salvation. I am grateful 13. I drew this synopsis from Gregory A. Prince and Wm. Robert Wright, David O. McKay and the Rise our changes seem more cyclic, with ideas that I am part of a living church that seeks of Modern Mormonism (Salt Lake City: University of and practices coming in and out of favor. change, seeks greater insight. I am grateful Press, 2005), 60–105. See also, Armand L. One thing is certain: we need to keep an God has invited each one of us to be his Mauss, “The Fading of Pharaoh’s Curse,” Dialogue: A open mind, to seek and accept the changes partner in accomplishing these changes. I am Journal of Mormon Thought 14, no. 3 (Fall 1981); needed to more fully realize the Gospel of grateful that I have come to accept and love Leonard J. Arrington, Adventures of a Church Historian Jesus Christ. The promise of continuing reve- the Church despite its imperfections. (Urbana: University of Chicago Press, 1998), 175–83. 14. Firmage, An Abundant Life, 123. lation means that in the future, we will do Though Shakespeare recognized his 15. Hugh B. Brown, address to BYU student body some things differently than we do now; we lover’s eyes were less bright than the sun, her 13 May 1969, reprinted as “An Eternal Quest: will think differently about some things in lips less red than coral, and that her beauty Freedom of the Mind,” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon the future than we think now. fails in several other ways, he concludes: Thought 17, no. 1 (Spring 1984): 77–83. There are many challenges facing us 16. Cited in Eugene England, “On Spectral today that we need to contribute to solving. And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare Evidence,” Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought 26, no. 1 (Spring 1993): 151. For example, compared to twenty years ago, As any she belied with false compare. 17. Chieko Okazaki, Cat’s Cradle (Salt Lake City: when I graduated from seminary, a flood of Bookcraft, 1993), 60–61. information about the Church has become In the name of Jesus Christ, amen. 18. Roberts, “Relation of Inspiration,” 362.

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