RE: [AML] RE: Beck, Leaving the Saints

Thom Duncan replies to:


Vietnam War-- he was not one to continually wear rose colored glasses. We
need more Hugh Nibleys and less Martha Becks.

[Thom]

But we have both, and they both come from the same culture. I find that
intensely interesting, how a single LDS family can produce members seemingly
so diametrically opposed. It's like Cheney and his Lesbian daughter. There's
a dynamic in families going on here, too, that is fascinating.

As a closet liberal while at BYU (I only came out of the closet after
leaving the institution), Nibley was my patron Saint. He was able to express
(and get away with) a lot of the things I and others were secretly thinking.
(His famous "Robes of a false Priesthood" speech is a classic in my
liberation theology.He was an icon of critical yet faithful Mormon thought.
He has no equal nor heir apparent today, imo. As a young convert, I would
devour his articles in the Era (can you even imagine the Ensign publishing
something of similar profundity today -- ah, the good old days!).

And then there is Martha, the "black sheep." How can it be explained? Steve
Benson comes from another line of Mormon royalty. I know there are some
General Authorities with less then picture perfect families.

In dismissing Martha, let's not be too flippant. She comes from the same
culture that produced her father. Her kind is not an anomaly.

I contend we need all the Martha Becks we can handle, and all the Steve
Bensons, and all the other children or relatives of prominent leaders who go
by the wayside. We need them because their mere existence can serve as a
reminder to us that, despite our family home evenings, family prayers,
sealings in the temple, home teaching, and genealogy, that we are, in many
ways, just like everybody else on the planet. Better in some things (we
don't divorce as much, but, we DO divorce), the same or maybe worse in other
things.

Thom