LDS in survey call for unvarnished history

[Jeff Lebowski]

Given some of our discussions of late, you may find this article to be interesing:

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660224413,00.html

I am very happy to see a broad consensus on a need for honest history. This is a good development.

It was interesting to read that members are yearning for honest history but not in Sunday School. They want SS to be an uplifting devotional service.

But my enthusiasm was tempered a bit when I got to the end of the article and read that most members got their basic understanding of LDS history by reading the Work and the Glory series. Argh....

[il Padrino Ute]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

Given some of our discussions of late, you may find this article to be interesing:

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660224413,00.html

I am very happy to see a broad consensus on a need for honest history. This is a good development.

It was interesting to read that members are yearning for honest history but not in Sunday School. They want SS to be an uplifting devotional service.

But my enthusiasm was tempered a bit when I got to the end of the article and read that most members got their basic understanding of LDS history by reading the Work and the Glory series. Argh....

Good to see that folks want to see the history reported as it happened. A step in the right direction it is.

As for the Work and the Glory series, I've never had a desire to read any of it or watch any of the films. Two words come to mind when my Mom talks about how great it is:

Bo. Ring.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by Jeff Lebowski

But my enthusiasm was tempered a bit when I got to the end of the article and read that most members got their basic understanding of LDS history by reading the Work and the Glory series. Argh....

I have mixed feelings about this. When young women in my ward would tearfully testify at Girl's Camp about how they knew the church was true as a result of reading the series, I worried about it.

On the other hand, it can be a wonderful way to introduce and/or solidify disparate parts of church history in a person's mind, and it can make the events interesting and engaging (via fiction) to people who would find it otherwise boring.

I read the History of the Church as a youth, and years later when Lund's series came out, I eventually read them so I could speak intelligently about them to those around me. (Much the same reason I desire to read Bushman's book for Cougarguard discussions.)

I have to believe that net effect of Lund's books has been positive, despite the risks.

[Sleeping in EQ]

After 14 years of banging this drum, it feels soooooooooo good to have some of my fellow Church members finally want a "frank and honest" presentation of Church history.

[myboynoah]

Originally Posted by Tex

I have mixed feelings about this. When young women in my ward would tearfully testify at Girl's Camp about how they knew the church was true as a result of reading the series, I worried about it.

On the other hand, it can be a wonderful way to introduce and/or solidify disparate parts of church history in a person's mind, and it can make the events interesting and engaging (via fiction) to people who would find it otherwise boring.

I agree. I think there is a place for the series for some (even for me at one point; my daughter read the whole thing by 13 but thankfully doesn't base her faith on it). For many inquiry will end there, which is fine. For others it will engender further study, which in my mind is even better.