I was looking again at Elder Holland's responses to Helen Whitney when she was producing "The Mormons" documentary for PBS. In response to a question about those who have problems believing in the historicity of the Book of Mormon, he stated:


Bolding supplied.

I am wondering what Elder Holland means by his statement that one is not "unacceptable" as a "Latter-day Saint" based upon degree of "hope" or "belief." Do you think he would go so far as to allow a Priesthood Holder to exercise his Priesthood if the holder doubts that the Restoration actually occurred, but "hopes" it did? What if the Holder said, "I am pretty sure from my studies that none of that Restoration stuff actually happened, but I really hope it did and I would like to go on acting as if it did and excercising my Priesthood." Is that acceptable to him, do you think?

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Wait! Is this the same guy who said you have to crawl over or around the Book of Mormon if you think there is some explanation other than Joseph Smith translating it by the power of God?

Given the opportunity, I'd want to inquire of Elder Holland what his response
would be to those LDS members "who have problems believing in the" fact
of his professed apostleship -- or of his claim to possessing any more special
"authority" than does the least of God's creatures.

I'd also want to ask him what his response might be to those LDS members
"who have problems believing" that he has any legitimate claim to being a
special witness for Jesus Christ, or for the continuing presence of the Holy
Ghost in his life, or for having been ordained a "prophet, seer, revelator and
translator" in the Church of the Firstborn?

Of course I'd have no great interest in addressing such queries, while
standing hat-in-hand at the threshold to his apostolic office. Better that
he make himself available for such questioning in the midst of a number
of officials occupying positions of equal responsibility in other churches.

It would be interesting to hear him explain why God recognizes his
particular ordination as an elder, while at the same time rejecting those
of the Methodist, Episcopal, Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox bishops
seated beside him in this little ecclesiastical gathering.

(cue Leo McKern pic as Hindu priest Clang in the movie "Help")...

UD

The LDS Church keeps two sets of books, one for the public and one for members. Holland's statement was from the set of books created for the public.

Quoting Holland:


maybe I am missing something here, but Holland sounds rather tolerant and accepting towards those LDS members whose faith may be lacking.

It sounds like he is saying, "hey, us leaders are the ideal example of "burning convictions", and if you aren't there yet, we love and accept you anyway."

Sounds good on paper anyway.

Was this before or after the crawling remark?

He's telling members to accept those who waver, love them, and help them as you can without judging them.

I do not think this means Bishops and Stake Presidents should start baptizing, sending to the temple, or giving the priesthood to those of weak faith who do not fully accept it. However, those who do go to the temple should avoid smugness or anything of that nature.

He can say this and at the same time say the Book of Mormon is key and you can't get around it in the Church because it's true.

Sure. The real problem is with those who have stopped trying and/or actually attack the Church publically.

Before

So he's changed his mind about the worth of a questioning member.

Nice.

"He's telling members to accept those who waver, love them, and help them as you can without judging them".

So this is about those who don't like Harry Reid?

No, not liking him isn't the issue. You can love someone without liking them. However threatening his life is probably not what Elder Holland had in mind.

This man walks over, under, and around the name Shulem.