FW - Independent Intelligence

In the oncoming turbulence of the movie The Golden Compass, I have repeatedly heard the vilifications of the book (by Philip Pullman) by BYU students that have not even opened it. I must admit that these situations have begun to try my patience, and I now find it difficult in the extreme not to become angry in my defense of the book. What makes me the most angry in these discussions is the fact that these "defenders of the faith" have not even read the books in question, but have heard that they were written by an atheist.

Since when do we as a church tell our members to believe what they are told, or what they read, by the virtue of man's authority alone? We are at Brigham Young University; the very namesake of this institution is quite likely hopping up and down (as much as a spirit can) in frustration over the gullibility/naïvety of this generation of Saints. Brother Brigham's sermon on Feb 20, 1853 described how we as church members should not take the words of the leaders of the church as truth solely on the merit of the leaders of the church being men of God, but that we should still find our own answers from the ultimate source of truth: the Living God. God alone can tell us the truth of all things, and we should build our testimonies on that fact, ability, and privilege.

This principle can be applied to literary matters as well. These books by Philip Pullman have become a hiss and a byword among many a Christian sect, much more so in the past few months than ever before. It is now fashionable for a Christian to hop onto the "Protest Pullman" bandwagon - but when has jumping on a bandwagon ever been a good idea?

Students of BYU, Latter-day Saints, people in general: learn to make decisions for yourself, based on your own observation and personal revelation (the two work together, remember). Be independent in your thoughts, relying on our God for your guidance, and not the snivellings of so-called "Christians" who have the gall to defame children's literature while defying the very precepts of the Bible they claim to follow.

"O be wise; what can I say more?"
-Jacob 6:12