Hot news! Or is it? Have you heard? It can't be!

In case you haven’t heard, Thomas Monson, President of the LDS church, has received a summons to appear in court to defend some of the church’s claims in England.  With the “big” news of the day being a hot topic in the mirco world of unofficial Mormon online forums and groups, watching some of the discussions in various forums had me thinking.

 

I know many of us are a bit jaded even if in different ways.  Jaded at feeling misled.  Jaded at misinformed criticisms.  Jaded that no efforts seem real or will ever make a difference.  Cautious about being misled again.  Being generally cynical about things as a first response.  And tired of hoping for something that will crack through the church’s shell to make a difference.  But while this latest lawsuit needs time to be verified, time to show if it has any affect, and no one should be celebrating as if any victory has been has been had on either side, the amount of condescending dismissals (not necessarily from a specific forum, though certainly from some I’m in) gave me pause about the way we discuss so many issues regarding the LDS church in forums.

 

Why are people so quick to dismiss and criticize the summons on Monson in some forums?  Will it go anywhere?  Probably not.  However, the conversation from believers, to middle way, to exmos, on many topics sounds so much like everyone would love answers and accountability from the church, but no one believes it’s really ever going to happen.  Is this possibly the one hope we all have in common?  Maybe people are right, maybe it is a waste of time or silly idea.  But maybe, if we all want the same thing, we should be more supportive of efforts to make it happen even if they seem like a long shot, or aren't in the favor of how we view the church.  For each of these efforts, it really took someone some guts.  For each of these ideas, even if they seem crazy to us, maybe we should pause and be cautiously supportive as a first response.  Maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss peoples efforts.  Seems instead like so many conversations on forums sound like this:

 

-          Why can’t we get straight answers and accountability?

-          You can’t expect men to be perfect, of course mistakes were made.

-          But good people still admit when they make mistakes, apologize and attempt to make things right.

-          I wish there was a way to make them be accountable and honest.

-          It’s silly to expect an apology, it will never happen. 

-          All we get is poor apologetics and ignored.

-          In light of what I’ve learned I see the lack of answers doing nothing to clarify the criticisms so I’ll wait for clarity and choose to believe because I still find spiritual value in it.

-          In light of what I’ve learned I see the lack of answers as further evidence that the criticisms are more likely correct.  The silence is deafening to me and I choose to no longer believe.

-          Someone organized a mass resignation?  That outta get their attention.

-          Few people attended, it means little in the scope of things.  These angry exmos didn’t make a difference.

-          Delhin met with some important people, I can’t wait to hear the results of his visit.  Maybe now they a finally starting to listen.

-          Well they didn’t ex him or put him in discipline…I suppose that’s progress.

-          Did you hear about the General Authority who left…did you hear about the temple president that left…did you hear about the institute teacher who left?  They must be freaking out at the COB now!

-          I still believe in something.

-          Women are wearing pants.  This’ll get their attention for sure, right?

-          How will wearing pants change anything?  Empty pews will do more to change things.

-          Hey did you see FAIR finally wrote an article that wasn’t complete BS?  It was even kinda nice to exmos.  Does this mark a change?

-          Did someone just get called in by their bishopric for being a part of ordain women?  When will they ever listen?

-          Did you guys hear Uchtdorf say nice things about people who leave in conference?

-          Did you ignore the standard BS in the rest of his talk?

-          I heard they just purchased another 380k acres of Florida for like $569 million?  I wish they’d be transparent.  These guys are making crazy money.

-          You can’t prove it was from tithing.

-          I wish someone could figure out a way to make them be honest.

-          Hey did you hear they’re releasing official answers to some of the biggest questions causing people to leave?  I can’t wait!

-          Did they really just blame the whole thing on Brigham and say look at how diverse we are?  Are the average members even aware of these articles?

-          Looks like it’s more of the same.

-          Hey here’s your October surprise Monson has been summoned for lying in England!

-          This is silly and will go nowhere.

-          When will we get accountability?

-          When will we get answers?

-          When will they change?

-          That’ll never work…

 

Personally I doubt this goes anywhere.  The church has deep pockets.  Individually the same could be said for many attempts to get the church to answer and change.  Such as women wearing pants to church, Mormons in the gay pride parade, everyone writing letters resignation, blogging, arguing with people who can’t do anything in forums, and so on.  Many people have tried many things.  Separately they all seem futile or crazy to some.  But even if this attempt is as useful as spitting in the wind.  I’m glad they did it.  I’m glad they all did it.  In every case, for every reason.  I’m glad for all the efforts from everyone.  Screw the people who say you’re wasting your time.  Even if you are!  Good on ya.  And thanks.

 

 

To see what the hell I'm talking about visit mormonthink at this link.  http://www.mormonthink.com/monson-summons.htm

 

And if his is in any way a hoax.  Please watch the following VIDEO.