Rethinking Religion: If the church is true, why are we so afraid to rethink our beliefs?
“And when thou art converted, strengthen thy bretheren.” Jesus Christ (Luke 22:32) I’ve been thinking a lot lately about religious conversion and retention, particularly among our young members. I think it started conference weekend when President Nelson admonished, “Stop increasing your doubts by rehearsing them with other doubters” ( Christ is Risen; Faith in Him Will Move Mountains , 4 April 2021). Immediately following this statement, the progressive church community decried it as ridiculous while the orthodox community lauded the instruction inspired. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard this type of partisan rhetoric about doubt at General Conference. In October 2013, Elder Uchtdorf famously coined the phrase, “Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith,” which garnered similar backlash from self-proclaimed doubters ( Come, Join with Us , 5 October 2013). While I understand the sentiment, my feelings about it are complicated. Essentially, I fear that members o