I have recently and repeatedly heard a particular criticism of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Each time, it has come from within our own ranks. The gist is that church members, generally, are not thinking for themselves but instead are blindly following the brethren. As self-reflection and effort at continual improvement (think repentance) are tenets of our faith, I’m not inherently opposed to helpful feedback. This particular criticism, however, rings hollow. These internal critics posit that the zeitgeist within the Church lacks intellectual rigor regarding prophetic teachings. This observation is routinely coupled with bumptious conviction. Setting aside the inherently judgmental nature of the assertion, why not evaluate its claim?
The essence of this criticism is the notion that the general LDS community lacks independent thinkers. Those who hurl this rhetorical barb routinely use the pejorative “blind faith” to describe the phenomenon, primarily directing the criticism at “Utah Mormons.” In a recent encounter, the accusation of “blind faith” was supported by a verse from a popular children’s hymn.
Follow the Prophet, follow the Prophet,
Follow the Prophet; don’t go astray,
Follow the Prophet, follow the Prophet,
Follow the Prophet; he knows the way.
We indeed encourage members of the Church from an early age to trust and follow the teachings of our prophet. Members receive this message in primary and youth classes, from the pulpit, in their homes, and from general authorities of the Church. Those sympathetic to the “blind faith” accusation tend to emphasize that prophets are imperfect, often citing historical examples of perceived failures. In pointing to these ‘failures,’ one could wonder why we trust the voices of fallible prophets instead of relying on our own judgment. Even further, how does one reconcile the rhythmic injunction to “follow the prophet” with the notion of thinking for oneself? We pray, think, weigh, and seek to sense the confirming feelings of the Spirit’s witness.
Since our criticism, in this case, comes from within the Church, I assume that those making this accusation will be familiar with and accept the elements of Mr. Hansen’s lens. The point here is not to validate Hansen’s model; rather, it is to show that members of the Church are making an informed decision in following the prophet.
As human beings and as members of the Church, we tend to rely on intuition. For example, members might intuit that God exists and created the heavens and the earth. This “knowledge” is self-evident; we feel it in our gut and sense it in nature. We cannot prove it and may even struggle to describe how we “know” it, yet we rely on this instinct as truth (and so do billions across the globe). I would speculate that most church members have experienced an intuitive sense of “knowing” that they are children of a Heavenly Father. This instinct may have been unearthed and labeled by a parent or a prophet, but it was always there. Perhaps our intuition is soul-based and originates from before the Earth’s foundations. Perhaps forgotten eons of experience, love, and trust register deep within our souls the accuracy of this profound familial truth. When a prophet communicates, he often says things that vibrate harmoniously with our deepest instincts. This hazy remembrance that we call intuition is not the only way or even the best way to know truth, but it is one of the tools given to us to recognize it.
In addition to intuition, church members rely on sensory experience and reason when discerning truth. We see prophets, listen to their words, observe their behaviors, and measure their words and actions against scriptural-based and other prophetic utterances. We pray, think, weigh, and seek to sense the confirming feelings of the Spirit’s witness. “I will tell you in your mind and heart,” the Lord has promised. Over time, members accumulate many experiences, resulting in increased confidence and sacred trust in these apostolic witnesses. Listening, watching, acting upon, and learning from the Spirit-fortified words of prophets mature into a lived experience that no longer requires a “fact check” on every word uttered from the pulpit. This accumulated trust via our experience enables us to “level up,” ascending to greater heights rather than remaining stuck on a spiritual plateau, reassessing each prophetic statement anew from back at the trailhead. Each individual must decide whether the fruit of following prophetic leadership is good.
Moreover, modernity has granted us instant access to the brethren’s latest speeches, writings, and thoughts. This access is like having the guidance of a trusted board of directors with their collective wisdom and spiritual prowess as one navigates life’s challenges. This privilege cannot be overstated.
Of course, having access to this collective wisdom and spiritual insight doesn’t negate our agency. Agency was our first endowment, and God will not revoke this gift. We evaluate the moral outcomes of choosing to follow the prophet. We evaluate the blessings or lack thereof that come into our lives by deciding who and what to follow. Christ said, “By their fruits, ye shall know them.” Each individual must decide whether the fruit of following prophetic leadership is good. Latter-day Saints respect God’s authority given to these men, giving due weight and consideration to their words, invitations, and warnings. Over time, we observe the fruits of prophetic teachings. For example, has the guidance in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” (a stark contrast to what the world currently offers) provided direction that has blessed individuals, families, and societies? In addition, what are the fruits of living a moral life, following the Word of Wisdom, being honest, or living with fidelity to spouses and families?
It is also true that Latter-day Saints believe in giving proper deference to priesthood authority. We believe that some are called, given authority, and tasked with the responsibility to lead. These brethren have been prepared from the foundations of the world to hold priesthood keys, preside, and have stewardship at this time. Like the apostles of old, these good but imperfect men carry a heavy burden. As followers of Christ, it is our responsibility to pray for and sustain those He has called to be witnesses of His name in all the world.
It seems presumptuous to assume Latter-day Saints are ill-informed in their followership. My guess is that millions of Latter-day Saints across the globe take their devotion seriously. Rather than blindly following church leadership, I believe the vast majority of members, consciously or not, regularly use their intuition and experience, their senses and reason, and even their deference to authority in determining faith and adherence to the words of the prophets. Blindly following seems nonsensical, costly, and time-wasting. Given alternative sabbath day activities and ways to spend resources, it seems logical that church members would engage solid reasoning before voluntarily relinquishing multiple days each week and a sizable chunk of their paychecks.
So, while it is true that many members of the Church faithfully follow the prophets, they do not do it blindly or naively. Members have been taught from their youth to experiment upon the words of the prophets. Instinct, experimentation, experience, and data inform and drive member action regarding followership. As a result, many in the global church regularly attest to the tangible and intangible benefits of following the inspired guidance of church leadership. I believe the overwhelming evidence would suggest that members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints take their followership responsibilities seriously.
