Our neighbor has a dog. Well, they call it a dog. It’s definitely not a ‘man’s-best-friend-bring-your-slippers’ kind of dog. It is more of a ‘sissy-Christmas-sweater-wearing-yip-yip-rodent-type’ dog. And it likes to be in the backyard yipping. Constantly.
We also have a dog. It falls somewhere in the middle. It is more of a ‘wanna-play-ball-and-dump-the-wastebasket-medium-size’ dog. He is pretty well trained, unless he hears the siren song of the neighbor’s rat-dog. Then he is like a bullet out his doggy-door where he joins in the fray.
PART I
Awhile ago, as I was going to sleep, the neighbors let their dog out. Yip, yip, yip! Made me crazy. I was powerless to do anything about it (and still love my neighbor). But, it also reminded me of a great church quote about barking dogs.
Coincidentally, the very next day a Facebook friend asked me if I knew of a quote about barking dogs and a caravan. Tah-dah! Of course I did. I quickly located the quote and posted it. (I have lds.org!)
It is a good one, and it is timely:
There sure has been a lot of barking lately. You can’t even read the news without someone snapping at the heels of the church. Whether it be pastors, playwrights, or politicians, the barking gets louder, and more shrill.
Do you even wonder why we (as a Church) don’t fight back more aggressively? You don’t see the church trotting out lawyers and PR guys to appear on “The View” or “The Daily Show”. It is more of a quiet, sophisticated response. Nobody really ever makes much of a loud public case for our side of the story. Why? The answer is probably along the lines of what Elder McConkie asks, “What does it matter?” I guess that in the long run it doesn’t.
The church will continue on its course. But in the short run, I think we would really like to be accepted, instead of mocked, respected instead of rejected. It might happen…It probably won’t happen. Bummer. But I can deal with it, and I’m not going to let it get in the way of enjoying the wonderful life that I have.
PART II
Last week I awoke at 3:00am to the sound of a yapping dog. Did I mention that it was 3:00am? As I lay there trying to go back to sleep, the yipping began to sound strangely familiar. I got up and went and looked at where our dog sleeps. Nope. Uh-oh. I went outside and there was our dog barking to the heavens. What a ruckus! I yelled at him, he slunk back through his doggie door and went to bed.
I have been part of the blogging world for over three years now. One of the saddest things I have noticed is how much barking, yipping and growling goes on within the Church membership. So many articles, protesters, bloggers and commenters are barking that “the church doesn’t understand” or “the brethren are out of touch“, or “the church needs to change this or that“. Yeah, yeah. Bark, bark. Some blogs bend over backwards so far to show their “open-mindedness” that they turn themselves into forums for apostates and dissenters. And the media that is not interested in advancing God’s work, gobbles it up. (This week happened to be Buzzfeed and the New York Times.)
Quite often I begin to read an article that deals with the Church, or a post on an “LDS” blog, or a news site, that descends into an agenda-driven rant, or a essay on self-justification. I’m learning to click away – with a feeling a heaviness in my heart. The Spirit flees. Somehow I have an easier time understanding the dogs outside the caravan nipping and barking, but it saddens me to see how many do the same thing from within.
Do they (we) even realize it?
Fortunately, I know the church is true, and I believe what Elder McConkie said. All the barking in the world can’t alter that. I know the caravan will move on.
The choice is ours: Get on board, or keep barking and snapping.
(Revised edition of a post originally published 11/8/2011)
Thanks for posting this- it’s easy for the loud voices to drown out the voices of truth. Thanks for being the right voice…
Love, love, love this! I have heard my husband say so often (and I agree) “people bend over so far to try to be open minded that their brains fall out”.
I absolutely agree with the basic premise of your post. I am careful of what I post online and I am both feet into the gospel (and even the church too!) even though I have had a faith crisis just a year or so ago.
But I do find it hard to know how to nudge/suggest for change and how that works within the church. For example, the fact that generally outside of the US you can get married with a civil service and then get sealed a few days later. In many countries it is legally required. Maybe this isn’t a huge issue within Utah, but it is a huge issue for converts out here in the mission field. It makes the church a huge negative to some when they can’t see their child get married. Many times the non-member parents have been very supportive of their child joining the church, but this policy really changes how they feel towards the church.
Given that it seems this is more policy and not a doctrinal requirement, how should one express this: among face to face interactions, on social media, and with the church leadership? I have sat in the temple for an hour asking this “what is right for me to do?” At this point I am going to keep asking, but I seem to be getting the feeling that if I am making an honest appeal for something to be considered and not deriding any leader nor the policy itself, I can express myself in a Christ-like manner even if I have some that disagree with me.
I think you have a valid point about the marriage issue, and I, too, have had non-member/worthy family members sit outside and miss weddings.
That said, I can’t imagine – even for a moment – that the brethren who are in the highest positions of the church are not already painfully aware of this situation. They know what goes on in our lives, culture and temples. Because I believe that to be true, raising my concerns to anyone who will listen does nothing to further my point, it merely causes a perception that I am “yipping.” It doesn’t strengthen myself, or anyone to complain.
I think the assumption that the leaders don’t “understand” an issue is a bigger problem than the “issue” itself.
This is an area I struggle with. I have been in a member of a few Bishoprics and we often didn’t know all what was going on. Sometimes when we were told about something that had been going on for quite a while we really wished someone would have said something earlier. I realize this is a micro-level item and the sealing / marriage ceremony is more of a macro-level issue.
I struggle with wondering if the church hierarchy was aware of all of the “smashed cupcake” and “chewed gum” lessons on morality were being given in past decades. How did they become aware of that somewhat “flawed” analogy being drawn? My assumption is that someone spoke up about it.
I work in a VERY large company in management and I know the flow of information is hard to have work well. I think my professional role makes me want to focus on this area within the church.
This is probably a deeper item than can be discussed in a blog comment section. And I hope this doesn’t come across the wrong way. I support the men and women leaders in the church and I pray for them often in my prayers. I know they are doing the best they can and are very often inspired. I have no issue answering affirmative to the question of supporting the church leaders.
I’ve been reading the blog for awhile but just have never commented. One thought just popped in my head on this issue though. How often have we heard the Church leaders read or quote in Conference from letters they have received? If we have an issue that we are concerned about, why not just write a polite letter to the Church leaders? Obviously this should be done prayerfully and with the intent to inform not dictate a solution but if done in the proper spirit I cannot see this being a “nipping dog” situation.
I agree that it is likely that the Brethren are aware of the matter but raising the issue, privately and in a respectful fashion, seems appropriate.
They do receive letters. The vast majority of them get sent back to the respective Stake Presidents, with instructions to handle the response. Personally, I have never and an issue that I felt warranted leapfrogging the line of authority to address the prophet directly. But that’s just me.
And thanks for reading and finally commenting!
The Brethren were a little more direct in this letter from October 6, 2010:
Dear Brethren and Sisters:
Members of the Church continue to place telephone calls and write letters to Church headquarters about doctrinal issues and personal matters. By reason of their callings, local leaders are entitled to the spirit of discernment and inspiration to enable them to counsel members within their jurisdiction.
Accordingly, correspondence from members will be referred back to their local leaders for handling. Stake presidents who have need for further clarification about doctrinal or procedural issues may write to the First Presidency in behalf of their members.
It is our desire that all members will feel they have the support and guidance they need; however, all things should be done in wisdom and order. We believe that both members and local leaders will be blessed as they pray and counsel together in an effort to resolve matters of concern to them.
Signed by the First Presidency:
Thomas S. Monson
Henry B. Eyring
Dieter F. Uchtdorf
I love this view. There are too many critics and complainers who change nothing and not enough workers and contributors that aid the progress of the church. Which ever group we are in doesn’t really matter (except for our self-esteem and feelings of contributing to a good cause) because as we have heard more than once, the Church will continue on its appointed path.
I remember hearing about a great sifting that will occur among the saints. I can see that happening now, I see that happening within my own family. That yipping will just get louder if we aren’t firmly planted in our testimonies. I will not be sifted…
I don’t understand all the yipping. The Church isn’t a democracy, it’s a theocracy.
THANK YOU for this! Those NYT’s articles and the response has really, really made me sad, and mad and frustrated. I didn’t know about that yapping dog quote from Elder McConkie, so thanks for sharing it. I know the church does move on, but sometimes I do wish they would just be a bit more forthright with their responses. I understand why they don’t lash out, and I’m thankful for that, and that’s why I’m worker bee in the hive and not in leadership.
I have been blogging for 13+ years, and I have seen the growth of the LDS blogging community and I have noticed a strong uptick in the dissent too. I’m not sure if it was always there and now there is a place to all connect for these people, or if the internet and social media have caused the rise, or if it’s a combination of both. What I am most tired and frustrated with, however, is the fact that LDS women have been portrayed as these downtrodden, Stepford, automatrons with no voice in the church. I don’t feel that way at all. I know the NYT would never seek out or publish the story of a happy and satisfied LDS woman, because that’s not going to sell, but still I wish there were more of that voice represented.
OOHHHH, You should blog about lots of happy, enthusiastic & satisfied friends…Start that trend! I would totally read it! 😀
Something that is so sad to me is the dissentions of the saints. Once a place I could find friends & refuge with all the moving we have done, is no longer there. I try not to associate with members because I find others outside of “the church” more uplifting & loving. One thing I wish I could remind them all (members) of is YES…you have your agency & you can complain all you want about how you don’t think the church should teach lessons on mothers being in the home & you don’t think they should be teaching about modesty, but what is so interesting is…who is teaching this? A church or God? So really, when you fight against “the church” who really are you fighting against? & honestly yes, choose what you would like, however blessings are predicated on our obedience. Just because there are “snipping dogs”, doesn’t mean God’s laws will change. My challenge with this, is watching friends & family choose the “yipping” from society & the government & pulling away from correct principles. I wish everyone could just have Jedi minds!
“I try not to associate with members because I find others outside of “the church” more uplifting & loving.” Yikes. I would suggest that not all the saints are as you describe, and all members don’t deserve to be thrown under the bus.
You obviously, don’t live near me! Of course I don’t mean all members, silly….that was completely out of context! However, the rest of the comment says that I find others around me more “uplifting & loving”, less judgmental. I have been torn down by most the members in my wonderful area, so I just don’t associate with them, & that’s ok!! Unfortunately, this hasn’t been my experience in one place. I have moved over 20 times & been in MANY wards, I am super grateful for those who I have found that I have been able to make lasting friendships with. I would however change the statement not to be so generalized I guess, but, unfortunately that has been my experience. Thank goodness I am under the impression that the church is true, the people are not (which includes myself).
THANK YOU.
I was reading a blog that one of my (real) friends linked to. The author was sincere, and I think she earnestly thought she was doing a good thing. I didn’t agree with the points she made, but, whatever.
Then I read a comment that went along the lines of “How are you even Mormon when the men that lead the church are obviously not inspired -(which was part of her argument, in this case)- all this crap is why I’ll never join the Mormon church…” Etc…
I had never considered how this kind of blog affects non-members. I have considered how it makes me feel, and have felt heavy and worried about how it affected my friends, but not potential investigators. I wonder if these ‘nipping dogs’ realize that all of the ‘good’ work they are doing is actually having a negative impact on their ability as disciples of Christ outside of the believing membership they intend to target.
Finally, these women are faithful members of the Church, and they want us to know it. And it makes me a little sad, thinking of how they are part of the very elect…. I’m aware of that scripture, and it scares me and keeps me alert…. I just wonder how it is interpreted by some of the voices that carry out these ‘well-intended’ messages from among us.
Might need to define “faithful members.”
Touche’. 🙂
This one in particular took two paragraphs to explain how she had a testimony of the Savior and that the Church was true and was an active member, etc. She believes that Prophets and Apostles speak the words of God, but apparently members of the Seventy don’t… 🙂
On that note, it is interesting how some members of the church like to pick and choose what counsel to criticize and affirm when church leaders speak in an official capacity and acting under the mantel they’ve been given, representing the church; because obviously, they’re fallible and everything they say isn’t correct… but then when a Prophet mentions something casually in an interview meant just to introduce the Church to a wider audience, half a sentence he speaks gives them cause (it seems they almost consider it a calling?!) to challenge the Brethren and stir the pot….
Sorry, I could go on forever. You really struck a chord. 🙂
And you are right — the caravan will keep moving along. I just can’t help but mourn the potential loss of those “who fall by the way.” And I wish there was something more I could do…
This is a great analogy. The scorn from Church members is certainly harder to deal with than from non-members. I just flipped open my scriptures and came to D&C 6:34. “Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.” 🙂
I really thougth we were on the same page, us in the church that is. Guess I am wrong. I must live in a utopian ward and stake because I never hear any critical remarks from anyone. But then my kids always tell me in deaf. Just sayin…
This post sums up perfectly what has been on my mind this week….there will always be someone (many of my friends, in the last few days) finding something to nitpick the church about, forgetting that in the grand scheme of things, none of those things really matter.
I have never read that quote before, but I certainly need to keep it in mind! I love how the church responds to negative media attention – by not freaking out, like you said. Being a new convert (like, I haven’t been baptized yet but after two years of waiting I will be baptized in June), I need to develop a kind and calm response to people who put down the church. When my extended family finds out that they can’t come to my wedding…… Much barking will occur, but I intend to stick with the caravan.
<3 Marie-Rose
hopealwaysandprayconstantly.blogspot.com
It’s interesting that you posted this a few years ago, because it has been on my mind very recently for about the past year. It has saddened me greatly to see loved ones, friends, family members, associates, fall away, and not just fall away, but justify, defend, and argue their action. In one case especially, they’ve even tried their utmost to get us to follow them. To agree with them on the “flaws” that they see in the church. I recently posted what I felt was a spiritual entry on my blog about an experience that I had had at church. I made the mistake of making vague references to choices that people I know have made that led them into apostasy and how I didn’t want to make the same mistakes they had. Boy did I get flack on that one! I guess what I’m trying to say, is thank you for reposting this. I needed to read it, and it boosted my spirits.
Amen. And thank you!
I was thinking about the people who complain about this and that which the church does or does not do to their liking today when we had our lesson on Abraham sacrificing Isaac. Would that we all could swallow our doubts and trust in the commands of God even when we don’t agree with them.
You. Are. Just. AWESOME!! I *know* the Church is true! Nuf said.
Every time I read your blog there is ALWAYS something in it that I swear was meant just for me. My life (in the church) has been one monstrous dog attack of barking, snipping and biting from day one. Knowing the church is true has been my only saving grace. The saddest part is, all the barking, snapping and biting have been from other so called members. All I’ve wanted since joining at the age of 17 (many life times ago) was to marry a good man and raise a family. Never have I been more put down and gossiped about than from family and friends (cough cough) that were members. Let them continue to bark and bite and snarl because I know the day will come when it will stop, forever. Thank you for your blog. Its a place I find I can come to and just enjoy your words without feeling insulted or belittled. Its been a long fight and I’m tired, very tired, but I hang on because I have to.