“The Mormons often promote themselves as the wise, who can rescue us from our naïveté. We should disconnect, immediately and completely, from listening to the proselytizing efforts of those who have lost their critical thinking, and instead reconnect promptly with reason.”

The statement above is one I do not stand by. I do not believe Mormons have lost their critical thinking skills, nor do I believe they have abandoned reason. It is evident to me, through my many acquaintances, that Mormonism can take many forms and expressions, and that most Mormons certainly retain their critical thinking and reason — and often incorporate them into the expression of their own sense of spirituality. Certainly, there are many aspects of Mormonism I disagree with; however, attempting to classify all 15,000,000 members of the Mormon faith into a single, negative, and simplistic category would be laughable at best — and despicable at worst.

This week, Elder L. Whitney Clayton, a high ranking leader in the Mormon Church, stood in front of a vast audience of BYU graduates and made a very similar declaration during commencement exercises: “The faithless often promote themselves as the wise, who can rescue the rest of us from our naïveté,” Clayton said. “We should disconnect, immediately and completely, from listening to the proselytizing efforts of those who have lost their faith, and instead reconnect promptly with the holy spirit.”

First, it is imperative to point out the blatant hypocrisy in the words of this man. Mormonism is known throughout the world for its proselytizing efforts. Seeing a young man with a white shirt and a tie down the street sends a clear message to everyone around: the Mormons are here and they want to tell you all about their Church. There is no question that Mormonism is seeking to constantly expand. Furthermore, this expansion is not of a mere informative origin and purpose — it is born out of a literal desire to save others. President of the Church, Thomas S. Monson, said “Amid the storms of life, danger lurks. Men and women, boys and girls find themselves stranded and facing destruction. Who will guide the lifeboats, leaving behind the comforts of home and family, and go to the rescue?” It is clear from this, and many other quotes, that Mormons are indeed attempting to be saviors for others through their proselytizing efforts.

Elder Clayton, do you realize that one of the very foundations of your religion is the exact behavior you are condemning as condescending and “better-than-thou?” Do you realize that, while setting a straw man’s argument against Church critics in assuming they are seeking to save you, you have failed to point out that the very purpose of your missionary work is to “save?” Can you see how easily missionary work can come off to non-Mormons as Mormons promoting themselves as the wise, who seek to rescue everyone else from their naïveté?

I served a Mormon mission and I taught missionaries for 2 years at the Missionary Training Center. It is from personal experience that I believe most Mormons do not see themselves as better than the rest of the world. Yes, they are actually attempting to “save” others, but I know many who do not see this salvation as “me saving you” but rather as a “let’s walk home together.” Thus, I cannot stand by your statements. I refuse to paint an inaccurate, simplistic — and honestly insulting — view of Mormons. However, I can say the exact same about Church critics. Most Church critics do not believe everyone else to be naive and in need of their salvation. They have, however, found something that has value to them and seek to share it, not because of a perceived ignorance of others, but because of the worth they see in it. It is indeed inaccurate, simplistic, and insulting to paint such an inaccurate picture of those who have left the Church or who disagree with it.

Elder Clayton, if you have any respect for missionaries worldwide, and for missionary work itself, you should recognize how inaccurate this generalization is. Just as I try to give Church members the benefit of the doubt whenever they share their thoughts on God and spirituality with me, I hope you also do the same when you find someone who does not agree with you, even if their differences are stark.

Second, I must decry the dangerous rhetoric in the second part of your statement.

As Mitt Romney launched and ran his political campaign for President of the U.S. in 2012, the Mormon Church saw an opportunity to clear up misconceptions about its members, so it launched the “I am a Mormon” campaign all over the U.S. The campaign was lovely indeed — showcasing the different lives that Mormons lead all over the world and inviting outsiders to take a look, to learn a little more, and to maybe even consider learning more about the Church. Many people learned a little more about the Church, even from Mormon missionaries passing cards and pamphlets around as people exited the theaters playing The Book of Mormon Musical. Indeed, this campaign did cause some people to join the Mormon Church, and it also helped inform the general public and hopefully built more empathy towards Mormons in general.

Mark Twain said, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”

I propose to you, Elder Clayton, that it is not only good, but necessary, for every single person, Mormons and non-Mormons alike, to spiritually travel. Just as it was necessary for Christ to travel into the highways and byways of our lives in order to execute His all-powerful sacrifice in the Garden, it is necessary for us to embark into spiritual journeys often, exploring every limit to our experience. Just as a question prompted Joseph Smith to go and pray to God, we must also let questions push us forward in understanding others and learning truth. Just like Mother Eve understood the fruit to not only be desirable, but necessary for humanity’s progress, it is also necessary for us to inquire and learn, to expand out minds and break the glass ceiling of our knowledge — to strive for divinity indeed.

Your statement, Elder Clayton, is as un-Christian as it is counterproductive to the Mormon Plan of Salvation. If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? Furthermore, do we not realize that we are all walking each other home (as we are all in the desert) and that we need to constantly question our safety by continuing to move forward together? Division does not promote salvation nor progress, it delays it indeed. By refusing to listen to those we disagree with the most, we miss our most powerful opportunities for understanding and learning. True, we may not agree with them even after hours of listening to one another; however, both parties will come out elevated to higher grounds of truth when they are both invested in listening and building mutual understanding.

It is my hope that next time you speak to a multitude celebrating knowledge (which, by the way, was only obtained by asking those forbidden questions and pushing into the darkness of the unknown) you may use that opportunity to build, to promote knowledge, to increase understanding, to destroy stereotypes, and to elevate all of us into the higher ground of empathy and community — for this is the only way we can all grow.

— Samuel the Lamanite