{"id":3984,"date":"2016-06-25T12:18:35","date_gmt":"2016-06-25T18:18:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stallioncornell.com\/blog\/?p=3984"},"modified":"2026-07-01T13:26:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T19:26:15","slug":"ces-reply-not-very-useful","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stallioncornell.com\/blog\/ces-reply-not-very-useful\/","title":{"rendered":"CES Reply: Not Very Useful"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Continuing\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/stallioncornell.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/CESReply.pdf\">my reply<\/a>\u00a0to Jeremy Runnells \u201cLetter to a CES Director,\u201d with Jeremy\u2019s original words in green:<\/p>\n<p>(Don&#8217;t worry &#8211; we&#8217;re almost done!)<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">4.Anti-Intellectualism:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">\u201cSome things that are true are not very useful\u201d:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<ol>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Boyd K. Packer gave an eye-opening talk to Church Education System Instructors and faculty at a CES Symposium on the Doctrine &amp; Covenants and Church History on August 22, 1981 entitled <a style=\"color: #008000;\" href=\"https:\/\/si.lds.org\/bc\/seminary\/content\/library\/talks\/ces-symposium-addresses\/the-mantle-is-far-far-greater-than-the-intellect_eng.pdf\">The Mantle is Far, Far Greater Than the Intellect<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ol>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Packer said the following:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">\u201cThere is a temptation for the writer or the teacher of Church history to want to tell everything, whether it is worthy or faith promoting or not. Some things that are true are not very useful.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>And I really wish he hadn\u2019t said this, as it is open to the kind of misinterpretation you\u2019re applying to it. Because when you consider the intent of his statement rather than his poor choice of words, this becomes a rather artless way of stating an undeniably true \u2013 and useful \u2013 principle.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, the CES Letter is a perfect example of Elder Packer\u2019s premise. Your purpose is to persuade people that the LDS Church is a fraud, so you cite truths that are useful to making that case, and you ignore the truths that are not. So you cite three different dubious hearsay statements about Martin Harris and repeat them over a dozen times, but you ignore the dozens of more reliable firsthand accounts that undermine your case, because those statements, while true, aren\u2019t useful to your purpose. (Actually, the analogy isn\u2019t really perfect, because the statements you quoted about Martin probably aren\u2019t true. But I\u2019m sure you get the idea.)<\/p>\n<p>The word \u201cuseful\u201d is instructive, especially when you consider the audience to whom Elder Packer\u2019s remarks were addressed. He wasn\u2019t talking to the general membership of the Church in Conference; he was talking to a gathering of CES instructors, who are in the employ of the Church for the specific purpose of building the faith of LDS youth. There are many truths that are not useful to that specific purpose. It is true, for instance, that I played the role of Schroeder in \u201cYou\u2019re a Good Man, Charlie Brown\u201d in several productions in the Los Angeles area between 1981 and 1985. Is this true? Yes. Is it a useful fact for CES Employees to use in their instruction of LDS youth? Probably not, no. (Although I\u2019m proud that I\u2019ve figured out a way to make both \u201cSeinfeld\u201d and \u201cDilbert\u201d useful in this reply.)<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Joseph using a rock in a hat instead of the gold plates to translate the Book of Mormon is not a useful truth?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Elder Packer probably didn\u2019t think so at the time, no. I think he was wrong about that, and I think\u00a0 the Church has recognized that mistake. That\u2019s why <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lds.org\/broadcasts\/article\/evening-with-a-general-authority\/2016\/02\/the-opportunities-and-responsibilities-of-ces-teachers-in-the-21st-century?lang=eng\">Elder Ballard\u2019s recent talk to a similar audience of CES employees<\/a> takes the opposite approach to Elder Packer\u2019s. This time around, Elder Ballard counseled them to know all the details of the recent gospel topics essays \u201clike the back of your hand\u201d in order to be able to provide true and useful information that allows the Church to get out in front of these controversial issues. And, yes, that includes your beloved rock in a hat.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">The fact that there are multiple conflicting First Vision accounts is not a useful truth?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>I think it would be useful to demonstrate the truth that the accounts don\u2019t actually conflict.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">The fact that Joseph Smith was involved in Polyandry when D&amp;C 132:61 condemns it as \u201cadultery\u201d is not a useful truth?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>No, because it\u2019s not a truth. Joseph Smith wasn\u2019t involved in polyandry. (Sealings, not marriage, no sex.) It would be useful, however, for CES instructors to point out the true reasons why this charge you continually repeat is not accurate.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">He continues:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">\u201cThat historian or scholar who delights in pointing out the weaknesses and frailties of present or past leaders destroys faith. A destroyer of faith \u2013 particularly one within the Church, and more particularly one who is employed specifically to build faith \u2013 places himself in great spiritual jeopardy.\u201d<br \/>\n<\/span><br \/>\nAgain, this is not the way I\u2019d teach this principle, but Elder Packer is entirely correct here. Look at the verb he uses \u2013 \u201cdelights.\u201d It\u2019s one thing for a historian or scholar to acknowledge or plainly state the \u201cweaknesses and frailties of present or past leaders,\u201d especially if they do so in context and with an appropriate sense of balance. It\u2019s another thing to \u201cdelight\u201d in discussing those weaknesses above all else, as such an approach will paint a distorted picture of reality and, yes, destroy faith. It also would, indeed, place someone in spiritual jeopardy, as they would destroy their own faith, too.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Right, because being honest to members about Joseph\u2019s \u201cweaknesses and frailties\u201d of secretly marrying other men\u2019s wives while denying and lying about it to everyone for 10+ years just might destroy faith.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Again, this statement is neither true nor useful. Joseph did not secretly marry other men\u2019s wives.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">But let\u2019s not teach this historical fact because \u201csome things that are true are not very useful.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019d prefer we not teach it because it\u2019s not a historical fact.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">What\u2019s interesting about Packer\u2019s above quote is that he\u2019s focusing on history from the point of view that a historian is only interested in the \u201cweaknesses and frailties of present and past leaders.\u201d\u00a0 Historians are also interested in things like how the Book of Mormon got translated or how many accounts Joseph gave about the foundational First Vision or whether the Book of Abraham even matches the papyri and facsimiles.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Sure. That\u2019s fine. Historians should be interested in such things. CES Employees have a different responsibility than professional historians. Should a CES instructor \u201cdelight\u201d in focusing solely on controversies surrounding those other issues and not the whole picture, they would not be fulfilling their purpose, and they would be destroying their own faith and the faith of their students.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Besides, it matters in the religious context what past and present leaders \u201cweaknesses and frailties\u201d are.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>I think you\u2019re absolutely right. Key word there is \u201ccontext.\u201d Elder Packer is talking about Church employees who \u201cdelight\u201d in taking things out of context in order to focus on the weaknesses and ignore the strengths.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">If Joseph\u2019s public position was that adultery and polygamy are morally wrong and condemned by God, what does it say about him and his character that he did exactly that in the dark while lying to Emma and everyone else about it?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Thank you for providing an illustration of my previous point. This question represents a perfect example of taking something out of context in order to focus on the weaknesses and ignore the strengths.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">How is this not a useful truth?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>It is not a useful truth because it is false. But it seems to be, for you, usefully false.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">A relevant hypothetical example:\u00a0 President Monson gets caught with child pornography on his hard drive.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p>Relevant? I doubt it. I can think of few things that would be more unlikely.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">This matters, especially in light of his current position, status, and teachings on morality.\u00a0 Just because a leader wears a religious hat does not follow that they\u2019re exempt from history and accountability from others.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>I think it would matter a great deal, yes.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">The question should not be whether it\u2019s faith promoting or not to share ugly but truthful facts.\u00a0 The question should be:\u00a0 Is the right thing to do?\u00a0 Is it the honest thing to do?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>In your hypothetical, the right and honest thing to do would be to call the police and have President Monson arrested. Few things are viler in the eyes of the Lord than using ecclesiastical influence to assault the innocence of a child. As I mentioned previously, that\u2019s a truth that the Spirit confirmed to me while I was watching an R-rated movie.<\/p>\n<p>Do you truly think President Monson is depraved enough to have child pornography on his hard drive?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Criticizing leaders:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Dallin H. Oaks made the following disturbing comment in the PBS documentary,<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">\u201c<a style=\"color: #008000;\" href=\"http:\/\/youtu.be\/NvNDjND4eLI?t=51s\">The Mormons<\/a>\u201d (0:51):<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">\u201cIt is wrong to criticize the leaders of the Church, even if the criticism is true.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The full quote here is helpful:<br \/>\n<i>\u201cI also said something else that has excited people: that it\u2019s wrong to criticize leaders of the Church, even if the criticism is true, because it diminishes their effectiveness as a servant of the Lord. <\/i><b>One can work to correct them by some other means<\/b><i>, but don\u2019t go about saying that they misbehaved when they were a youngster or whatever.\u201d <\/i>[Emphasis added]<i><br \/>\n<\/i><br \/>\nAs with Elder Packer\u2019s statement, this is something I wish Elder Oaks hadn\u2019t said, as it, too, is open to misinterpretation. In addition, the snippet you link to is a sort of \u201cpreview of coming attractions\u201d for the next episode of the series, so in that footage,\u00a0 the one sentence gets yanked out of any surrounding context and is even more susceptible to being misunderstood.<\/p>\n<p>His point is not, as many critics imply, that the church does not tolerate disagreement. It is that public criticism, especially that which is focused on how they \u201cmisbehaved as a youngster or whatever,\u201d is the wrong way to handle disagreements. One should \u201cwork to correct them by some other means\u201d other than publicly embarrassing leaders, especially on irrelevant points that are discussed solely with the intent to embarrass.<\/p>\n<p>This is actually a Biblical principle. \u201cMoreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault <b>between thee and him alone<\/b>: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.\u201d (Matthew 18:15, emphasis added)<i><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><br \/>\n<\/i><i><\/i><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Researching\u00a0 \u201cunapproved\u201d\u00a0 materials\u00a0 on\u00a0 the\u00a0 internet:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\"> Elder Quentin L. Cook made the following comment in the <a style=\"color: #008000;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.lds.org\/general-conference\/2012\/10\/can-ye-feel-so-now?lang=eng\">October 2012<\/a> Conference:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">\u201cSome have immersed themselves in internet materials that magnify, exaggerate, and in some cases invent shortcomings of early Church leaders. Then they draw incorrect conclusions that can affect testimony. Any who have made these choices can repent and be spiritually renewed.\u201d<br \/>\n<\/span><i><br \/>\n<\/i>Why do you put the word \u201cunapproved\u201d in quotes? Elder Cook didn\u2019t use that word or anything like it. His counsel \u2013 don\u2019t \u201cimmerse\u201d yourself in materials that provide distorted or false information \u2013 is good counsel. Do you advocate immersion in materials that provide distorted or false information?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Elder Dieter Uchtdorf said the following in his CES talk \u201cWhat is truth\u201d (33:00):<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">\u201c\u2026Remember that in this age of information there are many who create doubt about anything and everything at any time and every place. You will find even those who still claim that they have evidence that the earth is flat. That the moon is a hologram. It looks like it a little bit. And that certain movie stars are really aliens from another planet. And it is always good to keep in mind just because something is printed on paper, appears on the internet, is frequently repeated or has a powerful group of followers doesn&#8217;t make it true.\u201d<\/span><br \/>\nWith which part of this entirely reasonable, common-sense statement do you disagree? And why do you cite this as evidence that the Church is cracking down on \u201cunapproved\u201d materials when President Uchtdorf doesn\u2019t use that word or anything like it?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Who cares whether you received the information from a stranger, television, book, magazine, comic book, napkin, and even the scary internet?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Certainly not Elder Cook or President Uchtdorf in the quotes you cite. There is no counsel here to avoid any medium of information; the counsel is to make sure that information is true, regardless of where it is found.<\/p>\n<p>You repeatedly use the phrase \u201cscary Internet,\u201d as if that phrase represents the mindset of the Brethren. It doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p><i>\u201cWe are blessed to live, learn, and serve in this most remarkable dispensation. An important aspect of the fulness that is available to us in this special season is a miraculous progression of innovations and inventions that have enabled and accelerated the work of salvation: from trains to telegraphs to radios to automobiles to airplanes to telephones to transistors to televisions to computers to satellite transmissions to the Internet\u2014and to an almost endless list of technologies and tools that bless our lives. All of these advancements are part of the Lord hastening His work in the latter days.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Elder David A. Bednar, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lds.org\/prophets-and-apostles\/unto-all-the-world\/to-sweep-the-earth-as-with-a-flood?lang=eng\">To Sweep the Earth<\/a>, BYU Education Week 2014<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><i>\u201cWhatever the question is, if we need more information, we search it online. In seconds we have a lot of material. This is marvelous. The Internet provides many opportunities for learning.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lds.org\/general-conference\/2014\/04\/if-ye-lack-wisdom\">If Ye Lack Wisdom<\/a>, by Marcos A. Aidukaitis (First Quorum of the Seventy), April 2014 General Conference<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><i>\u201cYou live in a world where technological advances occur at an astounding pace. It is difficult for many of my generation to keep up with the possibilities. Depending on how technology is used, these advances can be a blessing or a deterrent. Technology, when understood and used for righteous purposes, need not be a threat but rather an enhancement to spiritual communication.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n<p>&#8211;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lds.org\/general-conference\/2013\/04\/for-peace-at-home\">For Peace At Home<\/a>, by Richard G. Scott (Quorum of the Twelve Apostles). April 2013 General Conference<\/p>\n<p>And on it goes. You are making an accusation that your citations don\u2019t in any way support.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Elder Neil Andersen made the following statement in the <a style=\"color: #008000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lds.org\/general-conference\/2014\/10\/joseph-smith?lang=eng\">October 2014 General Conference<\/a> specifically targeting the medium of the Internet in a bizarre attempt to discredit the Internet as a reliable source for getting factual and truthful information:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">\u201cWe might remind the sincere inquirer that Internet information does not have a \u2018truth\u2019 filter.\u00a0 Some information, no matter how convincing, is simply not true.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>How is this \u201cspecifically targeting the medium of the Internet?\u201d It\u2019s specifically targeting information that is not true. In the same talk, Elder Andersen mentions false information that appeared in Time Magazine. Are we to interpret that as Elder Andersen specifically targeting Time Magazine? I don\u2019t think so.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">With all this talk from General Authorities against the scary internet<\/span><\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ve provided no examples of \u201ctalk from General Authorities against the scary internet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">and daring to be balanced by looking at what both defenders and critics are saying about the Church,<\/span><\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ve provided no examples of General Authorities counseling anyone to avoid \u201clooking at what both defenders and critics are saying about the Church.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">it is as if questioning and researching and doubting is now the new pornography.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ve provided no examples of General Authorities saying anything that would justify this ridiculous analogy.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Truth has no fear of the light.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Agreed. Which is why General Authorities are encouraging members to seek truth and not falsehood in the statements you\u2019ve provided.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">President George A. Smith said, \u201cIf a faith will not bear to be investigated; if its preachers and professors are afraid to have it examined, their foundation must be very weak.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Correct. You\u2019ve provided no examples of General Authorities discouraging investigation of their faith.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Under Cook\u2019s counsel, FairMormon and unofficial LDS apologetic websites are anti-Mormon sources that should be avoided.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s like saying \u201cthe sky is green.\u201d Elder Cook said nothing that could possibly be tortured into meaning this.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Not only do they introduce to Mormons \u201cinternet materials that magnify, exaggerate, and in some cases invent shortcoming of early Church leaders\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Elder Cook\u2019s verb was \u201cimmersed,\u201d not \u201cintroduce.\u201d Big, big difference. FairMormon does not immerse people in material that magnifies, exaggerates, or invents shortcomings of early Church leaders.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">but they provide many ridiculous answers with logical fallacies and omissions while leaving members confused and hanging with a bizarre version of Mormonism.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ll just have to agree to disagree on that one. The logical fallacies and omissions that have piled up in the CES Letter give this accusation a \u201cmote v. beam\u201d vibe.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">What about the disturbing information about early Church leaders and the Church which are not magnified, or exaggerated, or invented?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>What about it? All the statements you cite here encourage people to seek truth and not falsehood. We have nothing to fear from truth, no matter where it\u2019s found.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">What about the disturbing facts that didn\u2019t come from the flat-earthers or moon-hologramers but instead from the Church itself?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lds.org\/broadcasts\/article\/evening-with-a-general-authority\/2016\/02\/the-opportunities-and-responsibilities-of-ces-teachers-in-the-21st-century?lang=eng\">Elder Ballard\u2019s recent talk<\/a> insists that you should learn as much as you possibly can about them.<\/p>\n<p><i>\u201cChurch leaders today are fully conscious of the unlimited access to information, and we are making extraordinary efforts to provide accurate context and understanding of the teachings of the Restoration. A prime example of this effort is the 11 Gospel Topics essays on LDS.org that provide balanced and reliable interpretations of the facts for controversial and unfamiliar Church-related subjects.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>It is important that you know the content in these essays like you know the back of your hand. If you have questions about them, then please ask someone who has studied them and understands them. In other words, \u201cseek learning, even by study and also by faith\u201d as you master the content of these essays.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>You should also become familiar with the Joseph Smith Papers website and the Church history section on LDS.org and other resources by faithful LDS scholars.<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i>The effort for gospel transparency and spiritual inoculation through a thoughtful study of doctrine and history, coupled with a burning testimony, is the best antidote we have to help students avoid and\/or deal with questions, doubt, or faith crises they may face in this information age.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><br \/>\n<\/i><i><\/i>&#8211; M. Russell Ballard, \u201cThe Opportunities and Responsibilities of CES Teachers in the 21st Century,\u201d February 26, 2016<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Are those facts invalid when someone discovers them on the scary internet?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>No, and, again, no General Authority has ever referred to the \u201cscary internet.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">What happens when a member comes across Elder Russell M. Nelson\u2019s obscure <a style=\"color: #008000;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.lds.org\/ensign\/1993\/07\/a-treasured-testament?lang=eng\">1992 talk <\/a>or the Church\u2019s December 2013 <a style=\"color: #008000;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.lds.org\/topics\/book-of-mormon-translation?lang=eng\">Book of Mormon Translation<\/a> essay where they learn \u2013 for the first time in their lives \u2013 that the Book of Mormon was not translated as depicted in Sunday Schools, Ensigns, MTC, General Conference addresses, or Visitor Centers?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Depends on the person, I guess. You and I certainly reacted differently. In any case, we\u2019re about to find out, as the Church is making a concerted effort to get this information in front of as many members as possible.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Is this member in need of repentance when he\u2019s troubled by this inconsistency and deception?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>I wasn\u2019t, as I didn\u2019t consider it inconsistency and deception. And no General Authority said that doubts make anyone in need of repentance.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Is it the member\u2019s fault for discovering the Book of Mormon translation deception still perpetuated by the Church?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>This is a \u201cwhen did you stop beating your wife\u201d sort of question. It is not axiomatic that people who learn about the infamous rock in the hat will assume that it is a \u201ctranslation deception still perpetuated by the Church.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Why is the member required to repent for coming to the conclusion that something is very wrong?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>I think the Church is confident that if members get all the facts and context, they won\u2019t come to that conclusion.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Most of the information I discovered and confirmed online about the Church is found from Church friendly sources. I confirmed Joseph\u2019s polygamy\/polyandry from LDS- owned FamilySearch.org.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p>Except you have woefully distorted and misinterpreted that information. Joseph was not engaged in polyandry. Sealings, not marriage, no sex.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">I confirmed Adam-God theory and other doctrines taught by Brigham Young from the Journal of Discourses.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>And you have interpreted that information in the worst possible light by ignoring how this anomalous theory fits in a broader historical context.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">I confirmed Nelson\u2019s rock in the hat endorsement from his 1992 talk buried on LDS.org.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>What rock in what hat?<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">Even reading the scriptures and seeing all its problems can cause members to question and doubt.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Of course. That\u2019s why <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lds.org\/general-conference\/2013\/10\/come-join-with-us?lang=eng\">President Uchtdorf said<\/a>, \u201cIt\u2019s natural to have questions\u2014the acorn of honest inquiry has often sprouted and matured into a great oak of understanding. There are few members of the Church who, at one time or another, have not wrestled with serious or sensitive questions. One of the purposes of the Church is to nurture and cultivate the seed of faith\u2014even in the sometimes sandy soil of doubt and uncertainty.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">If it wasn\u2019t for the internet, I\u2019d still find the information from physical books. Like the internet, books contain positive and negative as well as true and false information about the Church and everything else on earth.\u00a0 Are physical books to be avoided as well?<\/span><\/p>\n<p>No. And neither is the Internet. That\u2019s why no General Authority has ever counseled people to avoid the Internet.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #008000;\">\u201cAnd it is always good to keep in mind just because something is printed on paper, appears on the internet, is frequently repeated or has a powerful group of followers doesn&#8217;t make it true.\u201d\u00a0 The exact same thing can be said of Mormonism and LDS.org.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Yes. The exact same thing can be said of any information found anywhere.<\/p>\n<p><em>Next: Purging Dissidents?<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Continuing\u00a0<ahref=\"http:\/\/stallioncornell.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/CESReply.pdf\">my reply\u00a0to Jeremy Runnells \u201cLetter to a CES Director,\u201d with Jeremy\u2019s original words in green:(Don't worry - we're almost done!)<span style=\"color: #008000;\">4.Anti-Intellectualism:<\/span><span style=\"color: #008000;\">\u201cSome things that are true are not very useful\u201d:<\/span><ol><\/ol><ol><ul>     <span style=\"color: #008000;\">Boyd K. Packer gave an eye-opening talk to Church Education System Instructors and faculty at a CES Symposium on the Doctrine &amp; Covenants <\/span><\/ul><\/ol> ... <a title=\"CES Reply: Not Very Useful\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/stallioncornell.com\/blog\/ces-reply-not-very-useful\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about CES Reply: Not Very Useful\">Read more<\/a>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3984","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stallioncornell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3984","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stallioncornell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stallioncornell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stallioncornell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stallioncornell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3984"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/stallioncornell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3984\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5257,"href":"https:\/\/stallioncornell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3984\/revisions\/5257"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stallioncornell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3984"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stallioncornell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3984"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stallioncornell.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3984"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}