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FAIR Issues is a program on the FAIR-Cast that will feature a brief look at an issue in the world of apologetics. In this, the first episode of FAIR Issues, Michael Ash asks why some people leave the Church. The full text of this episode can be found at http://www.mormontimes.com/article/9758/Challenging-issues-and-keeping-the-faith-Part-1. Brother Ash is author of the book Shaken Faith Syndrome: Strengthening One’s Testimony in the Face of Criticism and Doubt, as well as the book, of Faith and Reason: 80 Evidences Supporting the Prophet Joseph Smith. Both books are available for purchase online through the FAIR Bookstore: http://bookstore.fairlds.org/manufacturer.php?id_manufacturer=4.
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When church members receive the gift of the Holy Ghost in their lives, thus fulfilling their baptism covenant, and have the ongoing companionship of the Holy Ghost they will be in the best possible position to deal with the challenges of this life. It doesn’t matter the source of the challenge.
This doesn’t mean that that all who receive the gift of the Holy Ghost will remain faithful, but the vast majority will. There is no other course superior to fulfilling ones baptism covenant to insure faithfulness.
I can speak from experience. In the early 1970’s I became aware of the doctrinal and historical issues that are troubling so many today. I was heart sick. I couldn’t believe some of the things I learned. But it had no impact on my testimony because of the manifestations of the Spirit I had received when I plead with the Lord for a forgiveness of my sins. It was no contest, the depth of the testimony I receive easily trumped the challenges I encountered.
Based on my experience, the solution to flickering faith, whatever the source, is best found in finding the humility to go before the Lord in mighty prayer seeking a remission of personal sins until the Lord responds. The Savior tread the wine press alone so that each of us could be healed from our sins and our fallen nature.
I appreciate the strength found in apologetics, but if it doesn’t lead to acquiring the gift of the Holy Ghost then it will ultimately miss the mark.
Jared: Great comment. I definitely agree that conversion by the Spirit, and striving to keep the Spirit with you, is essential to an enduring testimony. Of course, if we were unable to defend the Church, I think it would be difficult for many people to continue to strive after the companionship of the Holy Ghost. As Austin Farrer has written: “Though argument does not create conviction, lack of it destroys belief. What seems to be proved may not be embraced; but what no one shows the ability to defend is quickly abandoned. Rational argument does not create belief, but it maintains a climate in which belief may flourish.” Expanding on this point, Daniel Peterson has commented:
“Someone who has been confused and bewildered by the sophistry of antagonists—and often, though not always, that is exactly what it is—might well justly regard apologetic arguments as a vital lifeline permitting the exercise of faith, as a way (in the words of one message board poster) of ‘keeping a spark going long enough to rekindle a fire.’ Testimony can see a person through times when the evidence seems against belief, but studied conviction can help a believer through spiritual dry spells, when God seems distant and spiritual experiences are distant memories. Even faithful members who are untouched by crisis or serious doubt can be benefited by solid apologetic arguments, motivated to stand fast, to keep doing the more fundamental things that will build faith and deepen confidence and strengthen their all-important spiritual witness.”
He further remarked:
“If the ground is encumbered with a lush overgrowth of critical arguments, the seed of faith of which Alma speaks cannot take root. It’s the duty of the apologist, in that sense, to clear the ground in order to make it possible for the seed to grow. Faith is still necessary. (I’m unaware of anybody who claims that religious belief derives purely from reason; for that matter, I’m confident that unbelief doesn’t either.) Apologetics is simply a useful tool that helps to preserve an environment that permits such faith to take root and flourish.”
The full text of his paper can be found here:
http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/publications/review/?vol=22&num=2&id=803.
I really enjoy Michael Ash. I have read his books, as well as a good amount of articles he has written, and I really appriciate his scholarship. I do wonder about one of his points. He seems to say that many who have serious crisis’s of faith have them because they have incorrect fundamental beliefs, for example they have too high of a view of prophets. My problem with this is that these funamentalist beliefs come from them taking the religion seriously. If I read, and take seriously an ensign article, or talk from those in the leadership of the church which says we need to always follow what the leaders say, even if those leaders are wrong, fundamentalist beliefs will proceed. Sometimes we make those who are struggling look like idiots, blaming the victim. We say they were offended, or did not have enough faith, but I think the truth is, and I think Ash would agree with me, that there are difficult issues that need to be academically struggled against, and perhaps because we do not have perfect access to history, we may not beable to answer all of them. I have such a strong amount of love for the church, but to come to personal explanations of the problems, I have begun to see things in a much more nuanced light. I feel very comfortable in my current beliefs, and am aware that they will continue to develop and grow, but I also feel that I am very much in the minority in how I believe things. Most people seem to be rewarded in the church for having what I consider to be dangerously fundamentalist beliefs in the church. I am not trying to be antagonistic, but it sometimes sounds like we try to protect the church by blaming those who have problems with it. What do you think?
Brian,
You have raised some important issues. I’m afraid they will not be resolved in a blog post, but I hope you will keep listening, keep studying and keep praying.
You are correct in noting that one reason people leave is that they believe incorrect things about the Church. It seems to me that this usually happens when some things are taken too seriously, or when one issue or doctrine is placed in a preeminent position before others and things are set out of balance. For example, Elder Oaks spoke in the October 2010 Conference about the importance of balance between priesthood lines of communication and personal revelation from the Holy Ghost. I’m sure you would agree that direction from our priesthood leaders is vital to our growth and progression. “But if we are solely dependent on one particular priesthood leader or teacher for our personal testimony of the truth instead of getting that testimony through the personal line, we will be forever vulnerable to disillusionment by the action of that person.” http://lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/two-lines-of-communication?lang=eng.
I agree with you that it can be easy to blame those who struggle as we try to protect the Church. It is often hard to know why any particular individual leaves the Church. Sometimes people will admit that they were offended, or did not have enough faith, but other times we are simply left to guess at the reasons. As we make our guesses, we may assume that one individual left the Church due to the same reasons explicitly stated by another. Of course, we may be wrong. However, when those close to us leave, it can be easy to feel hurt or offended ourselves and lash out at those who have left. As the formerly faithful fall away, it may cause us to question our own faith. There is a temptation to assign impure motives as we try to make sense of things. As we struggle to make sense of things, we should be careful not pass unrighteous judgment on others and stick to what we actually know.
In my personal experience, it has been essential to strive for the companionship of the Spirit. As I have spoken to friends and family members who have left the Church, and considered their stated reasons for leaving, they sometimes point to specific issues of history or doctrine. In studying those issues myself, I have sometimes come to an intellectually satisfying resolution. Other times, I have been left without a clear answer. Either way, the Spirit has been essential to this process. I have felt guided by the Spirit in my study of troubling issues, and I have felt comforted and sustained by the Spirit when I have been left without a clear answer. I think it would have been difficult for me to maintain a commitment to this Church without the influence of the Holy Ghost. I can only assume that the same is true for others. I conclude from this that the most important thing we can do to help prevent individual apostasy and to lead people back to the Church is to help promote an atmosphere within which the Spirit can flourish and touch our hearts.