When reading the following excerpts from “Being Orthodox in Religion,” I was reminded of some of the more vocal critics within the Church one often encounters, including one atheist who, until recently, larped as a Latter-day Saint as his pay cheque depended on it:
Now what is necessary to be orthodox,
or “correct and sound in the doctrine” of Christianity? To what must we
subscribe? In answer to this question, I might, with propriety, quote the long
list of Christian principles which are considered fundamental in the Christian
doctrine. But I am not going to do this. I am going to try to simply and condense
this answer. The answer I propose is this: Accept Christ for what He said he
was. If we can really do this, we will be orthodox.
I have never been able to understand
how intelligent, educated men could reconcile and the acceptance of that portion
of the record of the Savior which sets forth His incomparable teachings and
philosophy, and at the same time deny the correctness of the same record which
proclaims His divine Sonship and Lordship and miraculous powers. What justification
is there for credence in a part of the record and not all of it, or for believing
some of the things that Master said and not all that He said? I admit that it
may be easier, in that it requires less faith to accept some parts, rather than
other parts, but from the standpoint of the authenticity and validity of the
record itself, which is admittedly the source from which we obtain our
knowledge and information of the Christ, how can one part be true without all
being true? To that question I have never been able to discover a satisfactory
answer. (Stephen L. Richards, “Being Orthodox in Religion,” in The Church in
War and Peace [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1943], 52)
Now I do not contend that the authorities
and policies of the Church are beyond criticism. If the criticism were
constructive and if it could reach those who could remedy defects when they are
shown, it might be very profitable. I know, without being told, that the men
who administer the affairs of the Church are men with human frailties, but I
know, too, that they are humble men and that they diligently and prayerfully
seek to give to the service of their fellows the best that is within them. There
may be a few exceptions, but they are very rare indeed. With such a disposition
manifest in Church leaders and officers, surely it is not going too far to ask
for forbearance of judgment and kindly, tolerant consideration, and particularly
a full investigation of all the facts before adverse criticism is either entertained
or uttered. I believe that if we could once and for all abandon the practice of
long-range, ill-considered, intemperate criticism, thousands of people would
save themselves and their faith. It is my desire not so much to save the Church
from criticism as to save the critics from themselves. (Stephen L. Richards, “Being
Orthodox in Religion,” in The Church in War and Peace [Salt Lake City:
Deseret Book Company, 1943], 55-56)
