The reaction to the Mormon feminist group, All Enlisted’s, fairly gentle efforts to nudge our culture toward more gender equality has got me thinking. A lot. First it was pants, now it’s a letter-writing campaign asking General Authorities to allow women to pray in General Conference. Neither activity goes against any official policy or doctrine of the church. Both are benign, simple, and (in my mind anyway) relatively uncontroversial requests.
But judging by the uproar, you’d think they’re lobbying for people to sacrifice their firstborn children.
Before I go any further, you should know that I’m not much for activism and protest — at least not in church. It’s not that I don’t sympathize with the objectives of the organizers; it’s just that I’m ambivalent about whether or not the same kinds of politically-charged activities we employ in a secular space belong in the Body of Christ. (No, I’m not saying I’m against it per se. I’m saying I’m ambivalent. I’m still sorting out how I feel about it.)
But I confess that the backlash really gets to me. To hear them tell it, a letter writing campaign or wearing pants to church is opening the door to spiritual destruction. It is joining hands with the devil and leading precious souls to hell.
If only I were exaggerating:
It’s amazing how Satan weaves his way into our lives little by little to cause doubt or disbelief in the gospel and for those of you whom are constantly finding new ways to “change the church” to what you would like it to be…he’s doing a great job!
If hevenly father wanted a woman to pray in general conference…He would tell the prophet to have one pray!!!! This is selfish and against the prophet!!!!
You may think your intentions are good, but you are unknowingly starting some women with weaker testimonies down a disastrous path to apostasy.
As I’ve reflected, I’ve come to believe that one of the reasons the pants initiative and the letter-writing campaign have struck such a nerve is because they threaten cherished narratives that have become, in many people’s minds, the gospel itself.
In other words, they have become idols.
We don’t think about idolatry much in this day and age. It kind of feels like something that happened in antiquity, when you could make sacrifices to various gods on your way to the morning market. But idolatry is alive and well: I have felt its stirrings in my own heart. It is a subtle temptation that takes us away from the source of truth and leaves us bowing before falsehood. It dims our connection to God — and ultimately, as we spend more and more of our love, soul, and strength on our idols — it can destroy it totally.
What are some of the idols that these campaigns are threatening? Here are a few I can think of off the top of my head…
1. The Idol of Infallible Leadership. There is a passage in the Book of Mormon that has always intrigued me. It’s found in Mormon 9. Moroni is speaking to future readers of the record, begging them not to disregard what he, his father, and his forbears have written because they find errors.
Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my father, because of his imperfection, neither them who have written before him; but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been.
This plea strikes at the heart of what it is to be a servant of God. It is a narrative found all throughout scripture, and is arguably THE good news of the gospel: servants of God make mistakes, some of them quite serious, yet by his grace still find favor and accomplish mighty miracles. The cast of fallible, human characters in scripture is long, and includes…well, every single last one of ’em.
And yet, in church, in the Ensign, even in General Conference there are active and repeated admonitions to “obey the Brethren.” This is NOT a charge you will see in scripture. In scripture, we are admonished to obey God. If those sound roughly the same to you, if you see no difference between them, this is idolatry, and is a perfect example of the problem of which I speak.
2. The Idol of Rigid Gender Roles. Over the past 70 years or so, Mormonism has evolved quite a complicated theology of gender, much of it an apology for practices and policies that grow ever more dissonant as time marches on. What made perfect sense in the 19th Century became questionable in the 20th Century, and is nearing darn near indefensible in the 21st Century. From this, we’ve hatched all sorts of strained sentiments: talks about how “incredible” LDS women are and pleas for women not to “lobby for rights.” These sorts of statements — from soft patriarchy to retrenchment — are an attempt to preserve as divine an ideal that is merely a cultural, (literally) man-made construct.
Because we have asked our women to sacrifice so much upon its altar, we’re having a particularly difficult time letting this idol go. I believe that much of the backlash we see to pants and prayer is because of this.
3. The Idol of Outward Appearance. This is manifest in comments such as, “You’re making us look bad!” Did it occur to us that we’re making us look bad…and that, furthermore, there are worse things than looking bad? “Saving face” isn’t the point of the gospel. Jesus never said, “Whatever you do, don’t embarrass me! Don’t let people think you’re weak! And above all else, don’t ever, ever, ever be wrong!”
Instead, he said things like, “Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are the hungry and thirsty.” Recall that Jesus allowed himself to be publicly scourged, tortured, and humiliated without even a word of protest. The teachings and example of Christ lead in the exact opposite direction of being worried about “what people think.” And yet many of us bow before the Idol of Outward Appearance — an idol that stalls repentance, breeds dishonesty, and fuels shame.
And no, it’s not only those who have reacted badly to pants and prayers that are tempted by idolatry. We all are. Though this post in particular is a response to those reactions, I confess that I have fallen on my knees in adoration before the Idol of Intellect, the Idol of Feminism (or Progressivism or any other number of isms), the Idol of Being Right, the Idol of the Love of Wealth, the Idol of Popularity, and dozens of others. It’s not that these things are necessarily bad in themselves. It’s that, unchecked, they can strain or supplant our relationship with God.
The only surefire fix is real communion with God, for God’s presence leaves the rest looking like the weak, flimsy, flickering substitutes that they are. Communion with God fills us with radical love: the kind of love that had Jesus begging the Father, “I pray that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.” It fosters caring, understanding, compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, acceptance, honesty, grace.
Whatever drives a wedge between us, whatever compels us to respond with anger instead of patience, to condemn instead of embrace, to reject instead of include, to fear instead of love, even when — no, make that especially when — we’re sure we’re right: this is an idol.
We all have our unique collection of idols, of false gods we worship. But we’ll never build Zion until we cast them aside. I hope we find the strength to do so.
I love this, Katie. A lot to think about here.
I read a book once (twice, actually) called The Kitchen Boy–fascinating historical fiction about the tsar and tsarina in Russia, the whole Anastasia story. In it, the tsarina often holds little religious idols in her hands and rubs them when she gets nervous/antsy/afraid. I remember reading it and thinking it was odd, but then thinking: Oh yeah, I do that, too–but figuratively, not literally. Get attached to ideas/ideologies and keep them around for good luck, use them to make myself feel better, etc.
Maybe you have to read the book to appreciate it. Ha ha.
Wow, what a poignant image. I have a few favorites that I rub in my hands when I get nervous/antsy/afraid, too. Looks like I have a new book for my reading list. :)
It’s a good read. Not THE BEST book you’ll ever read in your whole life, but it’ll suck you in. I’ve read it twice, for two different book clubs, and enjoyed it both times.
So well said. Can I leave this here? I was having the -exact- same thought along the lines of your 2nd idol there, and would be happy to link back to this post from the image if you approve.
http://feministmormonhousewives.tumblr.com/post/41145584070/i-belong-to-the-church-of-jesus-christ-of
Certainly! Feel free.
I’m with you there on both counts. One thing we haven’t done in modern Mormonism is develop a model of dissent or even of official bottom-to-top influence. The political activism model is problematic in a theocratic hierarchy, but I don’t know what alternatives there are. Back in the days of the early church (the 1830s, that is, not the first century), there was a stronger understanding of common consent, and it wasn’t unheard of for faithful members reject proposals of the prophet or to not give a sustaining vote to callings. But how often does that happen in the modern church? But I’m not sure how in a multi-million-member international church it would be possible to revive the principle of common consent.
Anyway, good post. It has caused me to think about what idols I have.
I LOVE this point, Eric, and could not agree more. It’s difficult for me to articulate why I have such reservations about the political activism model in the church, and I think it’s because we actually have no language in Mormonism for “faithful dissent” — so we’re left to the secular alternatives.
Over on Feminist Mormon Housewives, Nickel made a comment exactly to this effect that got me thinking about it. I’d never realized it before, but it’s so, so true.
Cuz! Not knowing who authored the above, I read it because Q left it up on the computer. I expected to dislike it because the feminist charge rings hollow to me more often than not. LOVED IT! Amen, and amen! Then found out YOU wrote it! Incredible! Great points. I think I’m out of touch when it comes to church activism, so I had not heard of these various campaigns or the reaction to them. In general, I agree with Anna Pavlova who said in essence, and I’m paraphrasing, “Equal rights! What a ridiculous notion that brings woman down to man’s level.” I want feminists to change the world, not by women condescending to be equal to men, but by elevating the world to see women in all the glory they posses. Keep me posted on any activism with that as the end goal! :)
There’s a thought-provoking blog post by Rachael Givens and a great discussion on just this topic at Peculiar People.
Interesting post to ponder. I’d never classify myself as a feminist, and frankly I don’t really care who gives the prayers in General Conference. I’ve got so much of myself to change that something like that really doesn’t strike me as important now or ever.
I do agree with you that there are many practices or “traditions” in the church that are held onto as “doctrine” when really they have no bearing on anyone’s eternal salvation. It’s sad that we get so caught up in them sometimes that we condemn others for even suggesting something different. I’ve let go of a few myself and it’s not always an easy process! :)
The scripture you quoted reminded me of Elder Andersen’s talk from this last conference. He also quoted that scripture. I liked what he said so much that I highlighted it (good thing – since now I know how to find it for you, haha).
“A few question their faith when they find a statement made by a Church leader decades ago that seems incongruent with our doctrine. There is an important principle that governs the doctrine of the Church. The doctrine is taught by all 15 members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve. It is not hidden in an obscure paragraph of one talk. TRUE PRINCIPLES ARE TAUGHT FREQUENTLY AND BY MANY. Our doctrine is not difficult to find. The leaders of the Church are honest but imperfect men.”
(I didn’t know how to bold it so I put it in caps instead.) I take that to mean that yes, there will be imperfections in what they teach us. However, if we listen to ALL of what they say we will find the true principles within. And I might add that if we are trying to listen with the Spirit, then the Spirit will be a great sifter of the information you hear.
When I consider the scope of leading a world-wide church with many different cultures and traditions, I believe the messages you hear of “follow the brethren” refer to this. That as you listen to their messages as a whole, you will find true principles and the Spirit will speak to your soul to help you in your personal journey to Christ. You know firsthand, Katie, the interesting things that can come up in church (not to say it doesn’t happen in the US, I’m just saying that Bulgaria was a treasure trove). If the members worldwide are taught that following their leaders is important, but then they hear things from local leaders that may be inconsistent with the doctrine of the gospel, they can know that following what the 1st Presidency and Apostles say is probably more correct in that instance.
That was longer than I originally intended it to be and now my 2-year-old has helped herself to a mountain of snacks. :)
That’s an interesting take on “follow the brethren” that I hadn’t considered before, Kim. Thanks.
What an outstanding post! I enjoyed reading the comments as well. I remember in 1976, President Kimball gave a talk about the false gods we worship, which he catagorized as materialism, immorality, and militarism. Perhaps each of these idols result from pride: wanting to have more than others, caring more about our own carnal desires than caring about God, and falsely believing that one nation should control others through violence and conflict.
I would suggest that the pure love of Christ helps us eliminate from our lives any form of idol worship, which results in enmity from God and others. Kindness, compassion for others who believe or act differently than we do, respect, humility, and patience help us overcome the natural tendencies of pride and self-centerness. Hopefully, our imperfect leaders will show the same compassion for the Saints that they want to be shown to them.
As our discourse and thoughts become centered on the Savior, our church leaders will accept the fact that only the Savior has been infallible, that he cherished and valued women as much as men, and that He set the perfect example of looking beyond the outward appearance.
There was a time when I, too, was riled by some of these teapot tempests. But I’ve come to realize that for most Latter-day Saints, they are far beyond (or perhaps beneath) the mark. Those who spend their spiritual energy wresting these “idols” may be worshiping some of their own, whichever side of the argument they are on. Perhaps Christ cares whether or not the sisters wear pants to church or what the gender distribution of Conference prayers is, I don’t know. But faith and faithfulness is mostly an inward climb and each saint is on his or her own rung. To judge the collective membership or the leadership by the perspective any one of us has from our particular perch, is at best, a flirtation with folly. I will leave such matters to those much wiser and trust that the Lord knows His people in all their strengths and weaknesses and can work His will with each one of us, if we’re humble, within the framework of His Church as it is in any given moment.
I’m not sure if you’re referring to me when you speak of people who take the time to “wrest these idols,” but just in case: the purpose of my post is less a “wresting” and more a (hopefully) loving but passionate plea to consider the idols each of us worships so that we can eliminate them from our lives. The three I identified are among the most pervasive I see in contemporary Mormonism. Because the events are so recent, pants and prayer have simply highlighted the deeper spiritual problem I see, and gave me an avenue/angle from which to address it.
Great job! I really liked it !
Amen. Seriously. AMEN. This really spoke to me. Thanks.
Wow! This is such a profound post. Sincerely one of the best I’ve read in as long as I can remember, and I find myself not only agreeing with my mind but with my heart. Thank you.
I’m glad you liked it, Clean Cut. Haven’t seen you around the interwebs for a while (could be we’ve just been in different places), but I’m glad it resonated with you. (I’m Katie L who hangs out over on LDS and Evangelical Conversations a lot.)
I really love this post.
I have recently pondered verses like D&C 21:5-6, 35:19, and 107:22. These verses remind me that an important part for us to play in experiencing the blessings of having prophets is to pray for them. I asked myself, “how often do I really, sincerely, and fervently pray for the prophets?” and “How observant am I to how such prayers are answered? Do I offer such prayers with real intent?”. Of course that’s not the only thing to consider, but I think it’s one of the most important, and also most commonly overlooked.
This is one of the best posts I have ever read. Thank you so much!