Am I jaded or has the tone of the forum changed?

[Seed Starter]

Is it "digging for dirt", or simply helping people see the contrast? If a member never sees the difference, they'll never know they were living or believing a false idea or tradition. Knowing the difference is extremely important IMO. I have also found that many members have no idea what the church actually teaches on various topics. "Digging" is simply striving for understanding. I had to know what the church actually taught before I could compare that to the scriptures and what Christ was teaching me through the Spirit.

When I say "digging for dirt" I mean concerning finding fault within an individual. I think that sometimes we humans may have a tendency to cross that line between thoughtful investigation and satisfying our lusts by looking for more than necessary. Only we ourselves know our motivation for searching facts regarding individuals. For example, I just read in another post that GBH may have been involved in some gay sex orgies or something to that effect. All I care is that he was the one that built the mall and that is good enough for me. I don't need to know anymore and if I spent time trying to find out more about this story then I think it would be more to satisfy my lusts than for any worthy purpose. This is kind of where I was coming from in the comment. I hope this helps.

Also, I agree with your comments.

Mike

While we could discuss the degree to which we individually feel the need to expose corruption in the church, D&C 123 seems to be quite clear on the issue. I don't think effort spent exposing evil is a waste of time:

12 For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it—

13 Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven—

14 These should then be attended to with great earnestness.

If we are to seek out and expose dark beliefs that corrupt the mind, what greater purpose would there be in exposing physical abuse and bringing to light the hidden actions of potentially wicked people?

I thought it was interesting how often the phrase "we owe" is used in 123:
7 It is an imperative duty that we owe to God, to angels, with whom we shall be brought to stand, and also to ourselves, to our wives and children, who have been made to bow down with grief, sorrow, and care, under the most damning hand of murder, tyranny, and oppression, supported and urged on and upheld by the influence of that spirit which hath so strongly riveted the creeds of the fathers, who have inherited lies, upon the hearts of the children, and filled the world with confusion, and has been growing stronger and stronger, and is now the very mainspring of all corruption, and the whole earth groans under the weight of its iniquity.

8 It is an iron yoke, it is a strong band; they are the very handcuffs, and chains, and shackles, and fetters of hell.

9 Therefore it is an imperative duty that we owe, not only to our own wives and children, but to the widows and fatherless, whose husbands and fathers have been murdered under its iron hand;

11 And also it is an imperative duty that we owe to all the rising generation, and to all the pure in heart—

This sounds important. And yet people say all is well in Zion, doubt your doubts, and the Lord will fix what men break. We must feed starving children even though God could but we must let our hands hang at our sides when it comes to calling out corruption and fixing anything in the church. It is our duty to awaken and "waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven." Why would someone chastise another for doing this instead of focusing on learning more about and fixing the problem? Do some people enjoy iron yokes?

[Reluctant Watchman]

Why would someone chastise another for doing this instead of focusing on learning more about and fixing the problem? Do some people enjoy iron yokes?

The "why" can vary, but in general, you are questioning the very voice of God when you question a church leader. That's a "no-no" in church culture. According to them, they speak for God.