(Sunstone, June 1996, written with Dave Ulrich)
WHY ASK WHY: Most Mormons focus on doing more, not thinking more.
A FRIEND RECENTLY OVERHEARD US CASUALLY discussing some observations about the Church — the lack of the Spirit in many meetings, the tendency of some leaders to “exercise unrighteous dominion” by imposing their personal political, social, or theological bias on others, policies that may limit rather than encourage honest dialogue, the insidious process of judging by “labeling” (right wing, liberal, feminist, intellectual, etc.), the insensitivity of many individuals/leaders to the feelings of those who feel alienated, and the stress on statistics over the Spirit. In the midst of our discussion, our friend commented, “You must really dislike the Church. Given everything you see as wrong with the Church, why do you continue being a Mormon?”
Thinking about why we remain strongly committed Mormons when we don’t agree with all programs, policies, and procedures in the Church has led us on an interesting and complex journey, the end of which is a much simpler thing than the journey itself. On our journey to answer our friend’s question, we felt like someone who had prepared for a special musical recital or an important talk, but who found the event itself anticlimactic. Our answer seemed almost too simple, too trite, and too easy: “I like being a Mormon.” However, behind this anticlimactic answer lies the resolution of the paradox of not liking everything about being a Mormon but still liking being a Mormon.
The resolution of this paradox has led us on an intellectual inquest that helps us understand what Paul calls, being of “one heart and of one soul” (Acts 4:32).