The leaders of the Church are imperfect. Of course they are. They’re human beings and human beings, no matter their religious status, are imperfect.
I say this because it is a frequent apologetic used to discredit critics of the Church and its leadership. It’s an apologetic which I actually believe. It would be silly to think that men, even those righteous enough to be called into positions of leadership in a worldwide religion, could ever come close to perfection.
How perfect should they be, though? Surely, they should be better people than you or I. Perhaps, if not better, they should do certain things slightly less. Lying, for example. You’d expect, at the very least, honesty from the leaders of the Church. Yes, they might fall prey to temptations of the temporal man (be it judgment, lust, selfishness, greed, etc.) but honesty? Honesty should be the very minimal requirement for an apostle. Much less a prophet.
How much is too much, then? How much dishonesty must there be for these men to no longer be simply imperfect men, but actual liars? How much imperfection should we tolerate? The evidence, I believe, is stacked against the Church leaders. It shows that these imperfect men are not just imperfect like you and I. They are liars and charlatans; con men and thieves. Let us examine the evidence. [1]
Dallin H. Oaks and the Electroshock Conversion Therapy Denial
In 1976, homosexuality was at the forefront of Latter-day Saint conversation. At BYU, it was even more so.
Dr. Ford Mcbride of BYU conducted a study on homosexual students of BYU in 1976. The study went like this:
Students experiencing “same-sex attraction” were invited to participate. They were sat in a chair. Electrodes were attached to their bodies, capable of delivering an electric shock at the whim of the researcher. Gay pornography was shown to the students. Men, typically. If the student became aroused at the homosexual pornography, a painful shock was delivered. The research aimed to condition homosexual arousal with pain, training the students to associate pain with their natural desires, thus conditioning them away from homosexuality.
It didn’t work.
In 1977, the study became publicized when BYU student Cloy Jenkins along with professor Lee Williams anonymously published “The Payne Papers,” an expose of the study and the practices of leadership of BYU at the time.
Who was the president of BYU in 1976? One Dallin H. Oaks.
He was aware of the study. Perfectly aware. As Church leadership began discussing how to best eliminate the embarrassment from “The Payne Papers,” Dallin H. Oaks corresponded with Boyd K. Packer in a letter, saying:
“After our phone conversation this morning, it occurred to me that you should be informed about a recent national publication attacking Brigham Young University and the Church on the subject of homosexuality.” [2]
The publication he references was “The Payne Papers.”
The expose was covered in “The Advocate,” a national publication. Oaks was made aware of this by his friend James Bean, who informed Oaks of the contents of the article, and enclosed the article itself.
Oaks was aware of the study. He apparently took no issue with it. Why, then, did he say this in 2021, at a University of Virginia Q&A session?
“Let me say about electroshock treatments at BYU, when I became president at BYU that had been discontinued earlier and it never went on under my administration.” [3]
Oaks knew it happened and he lied. Openly. Blatantly. Completely.
M. Russell Ballard and the Hidden Information Lie
In a 2017 “Face 2 Face” event (a spiritual Q&A directed to the young single adults of the church,) M. Russell Ballard denied the claim that LDS leaders had ever attempted to hide something from the members:
“There has been no attempt on the part, in any way, of the church leaders trying to hide anything from anybody…We’re as transparent as we know how to be in telling the truth. We have to do that. That’s the Lord’s way.” [4]
Honesty may be the Lord’s way, but it is not the way of the apostles. I’ve shown in a previous section many ways that leadership has hidden information. M. Russell Ballard knows this. He lied.
Russell M. Nelson told a similar lie when he said this in a 2019 BYU speech:
“Prophets are rarely popular. But we will always teach the truth!” [5]
Russell M. Nelson knows this isn’t true. He knows this better than most.
Russell Nelson and the Plane of Death Lie
I’ve heard the story multiple times. He’s told it multiple times. It’s in videos, talks, speeches, ensigns, and his books. It’s everywhere.
I’ll let him tell you himself. This is from the 1992 General Conference, though it’s in about a hundred other places as well.
“I remember vividly an experience I had as a passenger in a small two-propeller airplane. One of its engines suddenly burst open and caught on fire. The propeller of the flaming engine was starkly stilled. As we plummeted in a steep spiral dive toward the earth, I expected to die. Some of the passengers screamed in hysterical panic. Miraculously, the precipitous dive extinguished the flames. Then, by starting up the other engine, the pilot was able to stabilize the plane and bring us down safely.
Throughout that ordeal, though I “knew” death was coming, my paramount feeling was that I was not afraid to die.” [6]
It’s an inspiring story, if it’s true. But it’s not.
Questioning the believability of Nelson’s story, a critic began looking into SkyWest’s flight catalogs from the time of Nelson’s travel. He located the flight logs. He located the day. He located the very flight. And, he discovered that his suspicions were correct: President Nelson was telling a lie. Here are the logs that he found:
“Nov. 11, 1976 involving Piper PA 31 N74985. Pilot experienced rough engine on scheduled flight between Salt Lake City and St. George. 3 passengers on board. Engine was feathered and precautionary landing made at Delta, Utah, per instructions in company manual. Investigation revealed cylinder base studs sheered. As result of occurrence Sky West changed maintenance procedures by checking torque studs at each 100 hour inspection. No damage to aircraft. No injuries to crew or passengers.” [7]
It’s an easy lie to tell. Who’s going to search through old flight maintenance catalogs from 1976? But, the evidence is clear: President Nelson lied.
Neil L. Anderson’s Claim to Poverty
Elder Anderson, speaking for the Church to the Vice President of Zimbabwe, made the bizarre and dishonest claim that the Church is not wealthy. It’s an audacious claim for a church worth nearly $300 billion:
“Elder Andersen said the significance of the meeting with Vice President Mohadi was to ‘express to him our desire to help improve Zimbabwe.’ He noted that Vice President Mohadi had made a specific request for support with the development of clean-water wells in more remote areas of Zimbabwe.
‘We want to help in every way we can,’ said Elder Andersen. ‘We are not a wealthy people but we are good people, and we share what we have,’ he added.” [8]
As Douglas Stilgoe points out,
“The Ensign Peak fund of the Church in 2018 stood at $100 Billion.
The GDP of Zimbabwe in 2018 was $19.2 Billion.
To say you are not a wealthy people, when Ensign Peak is over five times larger than the GDP of Zimbabwe, is dishonest and insensitive.”
What could be the advantage of such a lie? Perhaps it was told to appear more humble than what is true. More sinister, it seems it may have been told as a way to avoid giving substantial financial help.
Advocations for Dishonesty
Worse than personally uttered dishonest statements are statements which encourage dishonesty from members. The encouraged dishonesties from Church leaders typically take the form of lies of omission—lies told by not sharing the whole story, or leaving out important information. There are many of these statements.
Dalin H. Oaks counseled against reporting truth, in favor of a more positive reporting of a Church leader.
“In the course of writing history, I said that people ought to be careful in what they publish because not everything that’s true is useful.” [9]
Oaks again decried true criticisms of Church leaders (of which, it should be mentioned, he is one.)
“Evil speaking of the Lord’s anointed is in a class by itself. It is one thing to depreciate a person who exercises corporate power or even government power. It is quite another thing to criticize of depreciate a person for the performance of an office to which he or she has been called of God. It does not matter that the criticism is true.” [10]
No one is above the truth. Oak’s claims to the contrary suggest an appreciation for dishonesty which benefits him. It is gross to place oneself above truth, in the name of “righteousness”.
The statements do not end there.
Boyd K. Packer spoke against truth in favor of uplifting, half truth stories.
“I have a hard time with historians, because they idolize the truth. The truth is not uplifting; it destroys.”
“Historians should tell only that part of the truth that is inspiring and uplifting.” [11]
Packer again spoke against truth, especially that truth which isn’t useful (namely those things that are true but that do not promote faith.)
“There is a temptation for the writer or the teacher of Church history to want to tell everything, whether it is worthy or faith promoting or not. Some things that are true are not very useful.” [12]
On another note, there are many examples of leaders of the Church encouraging academic or intellectual dishonesty. These statements manipulate members, encouraging them to distrust any information of which the leaders do not approve — even if that information is true.
Russell M. Nelson warned against listening to non-believers. They might say things that are “true [but] not very useful.” He warned against using the internet for finding answers to questions. He placed himself in the answerers throne, and commanded the members to look no further.
“When someone you love attacks truth, think celestial, and don’t question your testimony. The Apostle Paul prophesied that ‘in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils…There is no end to the adversary’s deceptions.’ Please be prepared. Never take counsel from those who do not believe. Seek guidance from voices you can trust—from prophets, seers, and revelators and from the whisperings of the Holy Ghost.” [13]
But can we trust those voices of Prophets, seers, and revelators? It seems that we cannot. What if the counsel from non-believers is true? What if it is good? What then? Should we throw it away and accept the counsel of dishonest men?
Russell M. Nelson again spoke against non-believers, the internet, and social media. Again, he assigned himself the responsibility of answering all questions, whether honestly or dishonestly.
“Some things are simply true. The arbiter of truth is God—not your favorite social media news feed, not Google, and certainly not those who are disaffected from the Church.” [14]
Boyd K. Packer spoke against scholars and intellectuals, gays, lesbians, and feminists. He, he thought, was a better speaker for truth than those. He’d tell you the things that were “useful,” and you wouldn’t have to worry about the things that were “true.”
“The dangers I speak of come from the gay-lesbian movement, the feminist movement (both of which are relatively new), and the ever-present challenge from the so-called scholars or intellectuals.” [15]
Carlos E Asay of the Presidency of the Seventy instructed members to shun those who would tear down faith, even, supposedly, if those things the “faith-killers” say are true.
“Avoid those who would tear down your faith. Faith-killers are to be shunned. The seeds which they plant in the minds and hearts of men grow like cancer and eat away the Spirit.” [16]
D. Todd Christofferson encouraged the same shunning behavior of those whose beliefs differ from those of the Church.
“The challenge we may confront is remaining loyal to the Savior and His Church in the face of parents, in-laws, brothers or sisters, or even our children whose conduct, beliefs, or choices make it impossible to support both Him and them…So although familial love continues, relationships may be interrupted and, according to the circumstances, even support or tolerance at times suspended for the sake of our higher love.” [17]
L. Whitney Clayton, as the Senior President of the Quorum of the Seventy, spoke in favor of shunning (or at the very least ignoring) those who have lost their faith. Truth again has lost the battle between what is true and what is helpful.
“We should disconnect, immediately and completely, from listening to the proselytizing efforts of those who have lost their faith and instead reconnect promptly with the Holy Spirit.” [18]
This is not honesty. This is not openness. This is fear-mongering manipulation, taught to keep the members glued to the Iron Rod.
When did Christ ask his apostles to ignore the Pharisees? Never. When did he encourage them to only ask Him questions, and never find answers themselves? Never.
These are the words of the leaders of the true Church of Jesus Christ. They are the words of dishonest men. They are words of manipulation. They need you to hold on. They need you to believe them. Believe their lies. Listen to them. Do not listen to anyone else. Everyone else lies. Only they tell the truth. Only them. Do not search for answers. Stay in the Church. Stay in the Church. Do not falter. Do not search. Do not question. Do not doubt. Stay in the Church. Do not listen. Only trust.
[1] Douglas Stilgoe, known more commonly as Nemo the Mormon, provided many of the quoted citations and much of the research for this section.
[2] This apparently refers to “The Heterosexual Solution: A Dilemma for Gay Mormons,” published in the February 22, 1978 edition of The Advocate, which is a summary of The Payne Papers.
Dallin H. Oaks to Boyd K. Packer, February 14, 1978
[3] The 2021 Q&A session was posted by “Latter Gay Stories,” a group which focuses primarily on the lives and stories of gay Latter-day Saints.
[4] M. Russell Ballard, “Face 2 Face,” 2017
[5] Russell M. Nelson, “The Love and Laws of God,” Devotional given at Brigham Young University, 17 Sept. 2019
[6] Russell M. Nelson, “Doors of Death,” General Conference, 1992
[7] James H. Stevenson, letter to Billy L. Abram, dated March 30, 1977, included in filing for Dockets 27907, 27908, Hughes Airwest, Deletion—order 77-4-50 adopted April 11, 1977; included in Civil Aeronautics Board, Economic Decisions of the Civil Aeronautics Board, Volume 73 (1977), 1090
[8] Neil L. Anderson to VP Mohadi, reported in the Church Newsroom, 9 Dec. 2018
[9] Dallin H. Oaks in an interview with Helen Whitney for the PBS special, “The Mormons,” 2006; taken from the transcript.
[10] Dallin H. Oaks, at a Latter-day Saint Student Association fireside in the Salt Lake Tabernacle on 4 May 1986. Edited version published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Feb. 1987 Ensign.
[11] Apostle Boyd K. Packer, as related by D Michael Quinn, “Pillars of My Faith,” talk delivered at Sunstone Symposium, Salt Lake City, August 19, 1994
While D. Michael Quinn was not at all times “friendly” to the Church, Packer’s frequency in saying things equivalent to this only serve to authenticate Quinn’s quotation of the prophet.
[12] Boyd K. Packer, address to religious educators at a symposium on the Doctrine and Covenants and Church history, Brigham Young University, 22 August 1981; published in Teaching Seminary: Preservice Readings
[13] Russell M. Nelson, “Think Celestial,” General Conference, Oct. 2023
[14] Russell M. Nelson, “The Love and Laws of God,” Devotional given at Brigham Young University, 17 Sept. 2019
[15] Boyd K. Packer, All-Church Coordinating Council, May 18, 1993
[16] Carlos E. Assay, “Opposition to the Work of God,” General Conference, Oct. 1981
[17] D. Todd Christofferson, from a Church Educational System devotional address, “Saving Your Life,” delivered at Brigham Young University on September 14, 2014
[18] L. Whitney Clayton, “Getting and Staying Connected,” speech delivered at Brigham Young University, 21 Apr. 2016
