Elder Ballard on approaching challenging issues forthrightly and head-on

Last night — Friday night — Elder M. Russell Ballard, of the Council of the Twelve, delivered a fireside address to the seminary and institute teachers of the Church.  What he had to say was striking, and very welcome.

He said, flatly, that earlier Church Education System curriculum was not adequate to today’s challenges from critical materials on the Internet, etc., and that it left our young people unprepared.  They are no longer “sheltered.”

He repeatedly spoke about “inoculating” students against difficulties and faith crises by candidly approaching such specific, controversial issues as polygamy and past statements and practices regarding race.

He said that we can no longer dismiss issues by telling students “don’t worry about it,” or avoid grappling with challenges by merely bearing testimony.

He exhorted teachers to know the Church’s new “Gospel Topics” essays “like the back of your hand.”

He acknowledged his own reliance upon experts when his personal knowledge was inadequate to a topic, and he encouraged teachers to make use of solid scholarship in their teaching, and to be ready for honest, faithful discussions on difficult topics.

https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/watch/evening-with-a-general-authority/2016/02?lang=eng

Elder Ballard’s remarks begin at about 21:30.

I’m grateful to Ben Spackman for calling my attention to this talk.  I agree with him that it represents a “sea change.”  It’s very important, and I hope that it foreshadows genuine and much-needed change.  I’m very pleased with it.

I wouldn’t be a believer if I weren’t confident that the “difficult issues” can be adequately addressed.  Still, I think we can address them more adequately than, on the whole, we have been.