I have a habit of playing “devil’s advocate” when discussing controversial issues. Some people mistakenly think the arguments I make are a reflection of how I really feel, and get all hot and bothered about it… There are two controversial issues recently that have weighed on my mind.
It all started early in the fall of last year, with the “Prop 8″ debate. In June, the First Presidency asked church members in California to “do all [they] can to support the proposed constitutional amendment.” I observed how many of my friends jumped on the bandwagon and eagerly joined “Yes on 8″ groups on Facebook, adding it to their statuses (stati?) and canvassing their communities with their support. I had good friends on both sides of the debate, so I honestly couldn’t show that sort of enthusiasm… I would be lying if I joined a group for or against Prop 8. I chose, instead, to read both arguments and try to decide based on facts, not propoganda. Even today though, months after the proposition has passed, I remain undecided.
I strongly believe in looking at both sides of every issue, and I try not to demonize either party. It seems like if I joined either side, I’d be subjecting myself to the “us vs. them” mentality. I’m afraid that if I did that, it would be harder to find a more balanced perspective.
The second issue just arose recently, when I found out that HBO was going to air an episode of “Big Love” featuring characters in temple dress and the inside of an LDS temple. Naturally, this upset a lot of my friends on Facebook. But once again, I found my first reaction to be… undecided. It’s not that I’m okay with HBO exploiting a very sacred practice. Taken out of context, I can totally see how the temple ceremony and attire could be wrongfully portrayed. It is wrong to exploit very sacred things, no matter what is involved. So why, then, do I feel so neutral about it all? Am I just trying to mediate both sides of this argument? IS there another side to this, aside from the outrage of members? I don’t want to condone HBO’s actions. I guess what I want, more than anything, is to understand… are the producers intentions really to mock sacred ceremonies? Even so, what power do I have to express disapproval? Does it really do any good to join a facebook group? Is that even what I should do??
Out of all the articles I found on the topic, this one, from the LDS Newsroom, proved to be the most helpful. I appreciate the counsel given to us as we deal with these issues:
As Elder M. Russell Ballard and Elder Robert D. Hales of the Council of the Twelve Apostles have both said recently, when expressing themselves in the public arena, Latter-day Saints should conduct themselves with dignity and thoughtfulness.
Not only is this the model that Jesus Christ taught and demonstrated in his own life, but it also reflects the reality of the strength and maturity of Church members today…with a global membership of thirteen and a half million there is no need to feel defensive when the Church is moving forward so rapidly. The Church’s strength is in its faithful members in 170-plus countries, and there is no evidence that extreme misrepresentations in the media that appeal only to a narrow audience have any long-term negative effect on the Church.
I don’t intend to play “devil’s advocate” merely to be a nuisance. I sincerely want to understand everything that’s involved- to see each issue in greater depth before coming to any conclusion. Does this make me a fence-sitter? I hope not. When I do make up my mind, I can be quite stubborn about it. So why jump to conclusions early and get stuck on the wrong side? Or even if I choose the right, how can I have peace of mind without studying the issue thoroughly?
I realize that some of my friends may be shocked when I say something “ultra liberal” or play “devil’s advocate” at times… It hurts to hear some friends accuse me of being a bad Mormon just because I don’t subscribe to conservative rhetoric. Now, it’s not that I feel hurt by the name-calling. Really, I’m more hurt to think that said friends refuse to listen or even try to understand me. I’m not trying to create controversy. I’m just trying to find the truth.
