Apart from a brother who has been inactive for many years, I come from a family whose members have been active and faithful their entire lives. I am something of an oddity (read: black sheep) with my concern and interest in the intellectual side of the gospel.

My siblings evince little if any interest in the things that matter to me about the church. Over the holidays I spoke to one sister about the Delbert Stapley letter to George Romney. While she was not hostile, she believed that his attitude was common for people of his generation. That may be true enough but I doubt that few Americans or members for that matter believed that those who promoted the cause of blacks in America should have feared for their lives.

I would be interested in knowing how others have dealt with their families’ concerns if indeed those concerns exist at all. Have they hidden their interests? Have they ever opened up and expressed any doubts publicly? Or is family treated the way the Stake president is? I.e. only say what you are expected to say. Continue reading…