Doing what is right vs. Protecting the image of the church

[@morjulies]

Im with you! I pray that the church will rise up and do what is right and the consequence follow! I will not be a 'good global citizen." Im quite ashamed that the church is going along with this narrative and it's hard to want to encourage friends that are not members to investigate such a luke warm organization.... Even though we have truth and I love the doctrines of the church!

[@psmith535]

Daily thoughts from my own mind. I too strive to not be a “good global citizen“. Thank you for sharing.

[@FromtheFoyer]

this was an excellent musing, particularly the last third of it after you 'covered' the AZ saga. Interesting that Dallin H. Oaks would refer to the House of the Lord as 'our' temple. Yes, 'our' is just one word, but a true House of the Lord should never be referred to with a possessive adjective that denotes it would belong to anyone other than Jesus Christ. Who are these temples 'dedicated' to? It seems like after nearly five decades of full-time church service, he has somehow forgotten.

[@kahina937]

Doing what is right is always better. And maybe it would actually be better for the image for the church overall if it presented itself as a church that does not tolerate minor's abuse and holding the abusers accountable.

[@michaelangeloevans2722]

I absolutely agree with you

[@elchilero7091]

The problem with “the image of the Church” is that it’s unsustainable. Pretending we are perfect, immune from sin, or exempt, is destined to fail and tarnishes the image worse. I’d rather the Church’s image be tied to a fierce protection of the vulnerable, especially when the perpetrators happen to be members or leaders of the church.

[@allthingsarepossiblethruchrist]

So Tree of Liberty came out with information about Russell M Nelson being a member of Skull and Bones. What are your musings on this topic?

[@psmith535]

I would love to know more about that as well.

[@allthingsarepossiblethruchrist]

@@psmith535 type in tree of liberty ben McClintock skull and bones it should take you to the video. I have a link to take you directly to the university of Utah yearbook where the picture is on page 214 but can't add links here.

[@537537]

Cowardly appeasement and wise navigation can appear the same on the surface. Jesus taught us to be harmless as doves and yet wise as serpents. Having said that, I worry some PR-workers within the corporation of the church will be held accountable for fearing man more than God.

[@TPIR_Fan_1972]

Just found your channel, although I've been familiar with the Libertas Institute for years. These videos are great. I was just going to say: it's too bad Jesus didn't have a PR team. He might have been more popular, right?

[@orenlewis8679]

The thing is, the image of the church comes at the expense of repentance. Even if local repentencs is only at a local level. It would go a long ways to fix some things. Apologies are at minimum a recognition of pain caused to others. They may still be or get hurt, but acknowledgment of the pain caused helps to bring about a conversation to fix it. It is crazy how we want peace at any price instead of true understanding on the earth of God and His plan.

[@kirstenmcomie6929]

having seen and been involved with families on this issue, i have seen how unfettered reporting with out careful consideration can ruin a family. a good mother and father were trying to help their first born. this child was tested over and over and still was falling, running into things and had bruises all the time and multiple broken bones. it wasn't found till the child was close to 6 or 7 that this child had an inner ear problem. something that a series of doctors missed. they were reported as abusive and were threatened with the removal of their child because of one doctor that thought he was being careful and didn't do his job. anecdotaly i have heard of several instances of neighbor or acquaintances calling authorities because of assumption and hurt feelings. with a confession, as in the case of those in AZ, after multiple times working with the family, YES, the bishop should have said something. but to make a law concerning exactly when you can and cant report something would be misused. especially in a justice system that is replete with examples of injustice for convenience and power.

[@ckynaston9774]

Please don't encourage the law change. I understand why the draw to do it, but that is putting even more power in the hands of people who are even LESS trustworthy. We have seen those in govt abusing their power in the 3 letter acronyms at the top to harm those opposed to their agenda. They will do even greater harm to, giving them more power over, families. One single, even huge, problem like in Arizona shouldn't be the reason for changing this law. It has done well for us in 99% of all the other cases! It usually works as it is supposed to. And if it doesn't, then change the church, don't involve politicians and more govt.

[@michaelangeloevans2722]

how do you know it is working well in the other cases?

[@daleclark7127]

Amen on all said. We have a problem in our current church that seems to be more concerned with image vs standing up for what is truth and right. Where is the condemnation on the Oct 7th attack on Israel? Where is calling out that event and the following antisemitism in our country. The response has been weak and not concise. We don’t need to apologize we need to admit wrong when wrong occurs. At least that could bring some honor back to Church that would be helpful. Repentance is required for all of us and including the Church itself.

[@WalterReade]

It's not clear to me whether the bishop was aware of active, ongoing abuse, or whether the individual confessed to a past incident (and said, e.g., it had stopped). If the former, it's hard to see how the bishop *wasn't* in the wrong. If the latter, there *may* be some leeway, particularly depending on how the bishop was advised by the hotline. Regardless, I can't see by any stretch of the imagination how the bishop not reporting could be construed as either a "cover up" as the media spun it or "trying to protect the image of the church". Plenty of bishops have, due to recommendation by the hotline, reported abuse. As they should. FWIW, I happened to be in Indiana over the weekend. Indiana is a mandatory reporting state; anyone who suspects a child has been neglected or abused is mandated by state law to make a report. No exceptions, including for attorneys.

[@ScottCampanaro]

Does anyone remember how we dealt with sexual predators in Deseret? It was a much more rational time. Before the Pedos and Ba'al-Peor took control of our society.