I checked into Facebook earlier today and in my timeline was a link to an article in the December Ensign. (The Ensign is a monthly magazine published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.) The article, entitled “The Answer to All the Hard Questions,” was shared by John Dehlin, a vocal and prominent critic of the Church.

He took exception with the linked Ensign article. He started his commentary by saying “There is a lot to say about this article. Here is the money quote:”

“Some of the hardest questions come when what we believe is challenged by changing cultural fashions or by new information, sometimes misinformation, that critics of the Church confront us with. At such times, it may seem that our doctrinal or historical foundations are not as solid as we thought. We may be tempted to question the truths we’ve taken for granted and the spiritual experiences that have formed our faith. “What do we do when doubt seeps into our hearts? Are there really answers to those hard questions? “Yes, there are. In fact, all the answers—all the right answers—depend on the answer to just one question: do I trust God above everyone else?”

John then went on to point out that his biggest problem with the article is that the author really meant “do I trust LDS priesthood authority above everyone else.” After forcing words into the mouth of the article’s author, John worked his way to his ultimate feelings about those who lead the Church:

To me, this is perhaps the most insidious and damaging thing about 21st century LDS authority. After almost two centuries of often egregiously disappointing behaviors, LDS church leaders still expect church members to equate the church’s will with God’s will. So damaging. And so disappointing. We deserve better. You deserve better. Advice is fine. Suggestions…ok. But please stop insulting (and damaging) us by perpetuating the idea that you speak for God. You don’t. You do your best…and sometimes your best is helpful, and sometimes it is very, very damaging. And so it is more important than ever that we learn to discern for ourselves.

As John makes abundantly clear, he doesn’t like or trust LDS leaders. In his words, those leaders have been disappointing him for “about 184 years now.” That is an amazingly broad-brushed dismissal and damnation of Church leadership. Even if those leaders provided the apology that John says is needed, it is doubtful he would stop wielding the broad brush he uses.

It boggles my mind (and has for some time) that John chooses to stay a member of a church whose leadership he openly distrusts; a leadership who he sees as “damaging” members through their actions. Yet he stays.

That is a topic for a different post, though. The point I wanted to bring out here is that John effectively created a straw man and then, with righteous indignation, bludgeoned the straw man in the public square. He did this to the accolades of the crowd who “liked” his comments quite a bit.

What was the straw man? It can be easily seen by looking at the original article, right after the “money quote” that John used:

Truth isn’t always obvious, particularly when it has to compete with alternatives presented in attractive packages. Often we understand the truth only in part, while the whole remains yet to be learned. And in the learning, we face the uncomfortable prospect of abandoning imperfect but heretofore comforting understandings. But trusting that God has all the answers, that He loves us, and that He will answer all our questions—in His way, on His timetable—can simplify our searching. It may not always be easy, but simply trusting in God’s counsel can safely steer us through clouds of confusion.

In other words, the article’s author isn’t equating trust in God with trust in LDS priesthood authority; that is John’s straw man. The author really meant that we should trust God. We look to Him for answers; we look to Him for help in changing our imperfect understanding; we look to Him when our faith is weak; we look to Him to provide solace when we hurt.

I agree with the author of the article in the Ensign. Every one of us sees through a glass darkly, and we need to seek God’s will and God’s understanding. We need to approach Him for answers and then trust that He will provide them.

John has some of the answers, just as we all do. But he doesn’t have them all. In my opinion he has this particular answer completely wrong. His righteous indignation borders on hubris as he willfully misunderstands or misuses the words of another as a springboard to uncharitably judge the intents of those he clearly mistrusts.

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Edited to add:

Because of the ephemeral nature of Facebook posts, I figured I would include John’s Facebook post here, in its entirety, so that it is available for all to see, in context.