I'm not an ex-Mormon, so I have no experience with this. For now, without suggesting that you are wrong, may I just say that I believe some LDS believe they are protecting the church as was done from the very beginning with not telling the truth to the public or the non-leader Mormon's about polygamy (and justified as protecting the church), all the way through Hinckley's dissembling on Larry King, and Dalin Oak's speech, and Boyd K. Packer's speech, and another twenty+ things I could site?
In recent days, I've pointed out that LDS.org rewrote its page on how polygamy ended (gradually versus "ENDED") with the 1890 Manifesto since May - whether coincidentally (and incorrectly), or because of Warren Jeffs, or because of Romney's candidacy. I've noted that MormonVoices.org has . . . well . . . blatantly lied about whether the issue of 'gods over planets' is taught at LDS.org. The two LDS experts, including the Assistant Dean of Theology at BYU lied to Maureen Down last year on the same topic. One said is was unwritten lore, yet we have all of the written quotes by Brigham Young and five (was it five?) other prophets AND the current copy of Gospel Principles, and the CES materials for LDS youth . . . and many other writings.
Let's just say people are taking Apostle Dalin Oaks at his words. If you lie to protect the LDS church or a LDS member, then it's not considered morally wrong. I assume he meant to draw a line; for some people, that line is blurred.
Let’s just say people are taking Apostle Dalin Oaks at his words. If you lie to protect the LDS church or a LDS member, then it’s not considered morally wrong.
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I agree with that. My point was is that it isn’t isolated, it is part of the church culture as a whole. I was taught that about lying before Oaks’ speech and the September Six excommunication.
Although seeing others lie for the Lord does help justify it to individual members. If the leaders do it, it must be ok.