WHY NO CENSORING FOR THIS GROUP
All Latter-day Saints social media groups allow uncensored discussion, unless comments are uncivil, inflammatory, or employ inappropriate language. Ideally, all viewpoints can be presented and truth defended because as President J. Reuben Clark famously said, “If we have the truth, it cannot be harmed by investigation. If we have not the truth, it ought to be harmed.” When the discussion is censored, members with honest questions are prohibited from receiving answers, and conflict festers beneath the surface.
The vast majority of Facebook groups censor discussion. Progressives censor traditionalists and sometimes some claiming to be traditionalists censor progressives. For example, some progressive groups cut members if they mention they do not support Rough Stone Rolling or progressive New Mormon History. Free dialogue was a difficult issue when this nation was founded with Puritans struggling to communicate and dialogue with Anglicans, with followers of Roger Williams, with Quakers, and vice versa.
Freedom of speech and freedom of religious expression and worship, according to the demands of your conscience should be upheld as a non-negotiable principle. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught this repeatedly throughout his life and encouraged liberty and freedom within the Church in his day. In 1843, Joseph Smith told the Saints of a member of the Church, Pelatiah Brown, who was “hauled up for trial before the High Council” because he was teaching an interpretation of Revelation 5 which those leaders did not agree with. The Prophet condemned this infringement on Brother Brown:
"I never thought it was right to call up a man and try him because he erred in doctrine, it looks too much like Methodism and not like Latter-day Saintism. Methodists have creeds which a man must believe or be kicked out of their church. I want the liberty of believing as I please, it feels so good not to be trammeled." (https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/discourse-8-april-1843-as-reported-by-william-clayton-b/3)
In this instance, Brother Brown was actually wrong in his interpretation and Joseph Smith later took an opportunity to teach him the truth. Still, Joseph Smith criticized those who tried to silence Brother Brown. Joseph Smith would sometimes allow Catholic priests and Evangelical ministers to preach in Latter-day Saint meetinghouses, further showing how he encouraged open dialogue knowing that with freedom and honesty out in the open, the truth will always win out.
All Latter-day Saints social media groups allow uncensored discussion, unless comments are uncivil, inflammatory, or employ inappropriate language. Ideally, all viewpoints can be presented and truth defended because as President J. Reuben Clark famously said, “If we have the truth, it cannot be harmed by investigation. If we have not the truth, it ought to be harmed.” When the discussion is censored, members with honest questions are prohibited from receiving answers, and conflict festers beneath the surface.
The vast majority of Facebook groups censor discussion. Progressives censor traditionalists and sometimes some claiming to be traditionalists censor progressives. For example, some progressive groups cut members if they mention they do not support Rough Stone Rolling or progressive New Mormon History. Free dialogue was a difficult issue when this nation was founded with Puritans struggling to communicate and dialogue with Anglicans, with followers of Roger Williams, with Quakers, and vice versa.
Freedom of speech and freedom of religious expression and worship, according to the demands of your conscience should be upheld as a non-negotiable principle. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught this repeatedly throughout his life and encouraged liberty and freedom within the Church in his day. In 1843, Joseph Smith told the Saints of a member of the Church, Pelatiah Brown, who was “hauled up for trial before the High Council” because he was teaching an interpretation of Revelation 5 which those leaders did not agree with. The Prophet condemned this infringement on Brother Brown:
"I never thought it was right to call up a man and try him because he erred in doctrine, it looks too much like Methodism and not like Latter-day Saintism. Methodists have creeds which a man must believe or be kicked out of their church. I want the liberty of believing as I please, it feels so good not to be trammeled." (https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/discourse-8-april-1843-as-reported-by-william-clayton-b/3)
In this instance, Brother Brown was actually wrong in his interpretation and Joseph Smith later took an opportunity to teach him the truth. Still, Joseph Smith criticized those who tried to silence Brother Brown. Joseph Smith would sometimes allow Catholic priests and Evangelical ministers to preach in Latter-day Saint meetinghouses, further showing how he encouraged open dialogue knowing that with freedom and honesty out in the open, the truth will always win out.
WHY NO CENSORING FOR THIS GROUP
All Latter-day Saints social media groups allow uncensored discussion, unless comments are uncivil, inflammatory, or employ inappropriate language. Ideally, all viewpoints can be presented and truth defended because as President J. Reuben Clark famously said, “If we have the truth, it cannot be harmed by investigation. If we have not the truth, it ought to be harmed.” When the discussion is censored, members with honest questions are prohibited from receiving answers, and conflict festers beneath the surface.
The vast majority of Facebook groups censor discussion. Progressives censor traditionalists and sometimes some claiming to be traditionalists censor progressives. For example, some progressive groups cut members if they mention they do not support Rough Stone Rolling or progressive New Mormon History. Free dialogue was a difficult issue when this nation was founded with Puritans struggling to communicate and dialogue with Anglicans, with followers of Roger Williams, with Quakers, and vice versa.
Freedom of speech and freedom of religious expression and worship, according to the demands of your conscience should be upheld as a non-negotiable principle. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught this repeatedly throughout his life and encouraged liberty and freedom within the Church in his day. In 1843, Joseph Smith told the Saints of a member of the Church, Pelatiah Brown, who was “hauled up for trial before the High Council” because he was teaching an interpretation of Revelation 5 which those leaders did not agree with. The Prophet condemned this infringement on Brother Brown:
"I never thought it was right to call up a man and try him because he erred in doctrine, it looks too much like Methodism and not like Latter-day Saintism. Methodists have creeds which a man must believe or be kicked out of their church. I want the liberty of believing as I please, it feels so good not to be trammeled." (https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/discourse-8-april-1843-as-reported-by-william-clayton-b/3)
In this instance, Brother Brown was actually wrong in his interpretation and Joseph Smith later took an opportunity to teach him the truth. Still, Joseph Smith criticized those who tried to silence Brother Brown. Joseph Smith would sometimes allow Catholic priests and Evangelical ministers to preach in Latter-day Saint meetinghouses, further showing how he encouraged open dialogue knowing that with freedom and honesty out in the open, the truth will always win out.
