God would not want a church to convert people with half-truths or omissions. +8

Reasons to agree

1. The Ninth Commandment - Thou Shalt Not Lie
   


2. "Only error needs to fear freedom of expression" Hugh B. Brown


3. "Now I have mentioned freedom to express your thoughts, but I caution you that your thoughts and expressions must meet competition in the market place of thought, and in that competition truth will emerge triumphant. Only error needs to fear freedom of expression. Seek truth in all fields, and in that search you will need at least three virtues; courage, zest, and modesty. The ancients put that thought in the form of a prayer. They said, 'From the cowardice that shrinks from new truth, from the laziness that is content with half truth, from the arrogance that thinks it has all truth—O God of truth deliver us'." ~ Hugh B. Brown


4. 1. Oh say, what is truth? ’Tis the fairest gem That the riches of worlds can produce, And priceless the value of truth will be when The proud monarch’s costliest diadem Is counted but dross and refuse. 2. Yes, say, what is truth? ’Tis the brightest prize To which mortals or Gods can aspire. Go search in the depths where it glittering lies, Or ascend in pursuit to the loftiest skies: ’Tis an aim for the noblest desire. 3. The sceptre may fall from the despot’s grasp When with winds of stern justice he copes. But the pillar of truth will endure to the last, And its firm-rooted bulwarks outstand the rude blast And the wreck of the fell tyrant’s hopes. 4. Then say, what is truth? ’Tis the last and the first, For the limits of time it steps o’er. Tho the heavens depart and the earth’s fountains burst, Truth, the sum of existence, will weather the worst, Eternal, unchanged, evermore. Text: John Jaques, 1827–1900


5. According to LDS doctrine an uninformed choice is not a valid exercise of agency for which someone is held accountable or rewarded +3


6. Even if the Church is true, you have to choose the church knowing the truth about it, in order to be rewarded from the God of truth, or else your choice doesn't mean anything

Reasons to disagree

1. Jesus seemed to believe there was a difference between full immediate disclosure and telling half truths and omissions. Jesus seemed to argue for holding some things back, when he said to feed people milk at first, before meat. Maybe the real Jesus never said this, and so we still have to think about if we agree with it, or it fits in with other things that make up the fundamental core of Jesus's teaching. That being said I agree that there are certain things that the Church should teach, that they are not now, before someone gets baptized, including polyandry, blacks and the priesthood, etc. This is the ideal view, but are Catholics going to do the same thing? Scientology? Atheist? Does every atheist that tells puts you down for your belief, also tell you of the problems with atheism? The bad things atheist have done? Republicans tell their stories ignoring that the French Revolution was a nightmare extreme version of the extreme survival of the fittest system that allows uncontrolled aristocracy. Democrats will tell you their doctrines are bulletproof, but they ignore the nightmares of communism. I agree that the Church should confront, discuss, and disprove (if they can) criticisms or mistakes from the past, but the Church would be truly exceptional if it did. Almost every group thinks that the ends justify the means. But I don't think this issue is that extreme.

Score:

# of reasons to agree: 6

# of reasons to disagree: -1

# of reasons to agree with reasons to agree: 3

# of reasons to disagree with reasons to agree: 0

Total Idea Score: 8

Scriptures that agree

1. 
   
   

Scriptures that disagree

1.  

Interest of those who agree

1. 
   
   

Interest of those who disagree

1.  

Common Interest

1. 
   
   

Opposing Interest

1. 
   
   

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