I think there are many members who are well served by having their convictions bolstered and ratified. There is definitely a place for blogs like yours. But there are others who learn better by questioning and questing. Looking hard at difficult issues and discussing how the faithful member might come to terms with them is not necessarily mockery.

For now, in reply to the general feeling I came away with after reading your comment I would like to say that as baptized members of Christ church we have been given the commandment to receive and maintain the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

I am blogging because I have received many manifestation of this gift in my life and I want to appropriately testify to church members that whatever it take for them to individually receive and maintain this gift is worth it.

Because of my experiences doubt about the truthfulness of the church isn’t part of my life. Any doubts I entertain are about my ability to keep the commandments, fulfill my purpose in life, and endure to the end.

In the end, you have to simply spit it out. Human beings rarely ever perform at their best. If we all wait around for “best,” nothing gets written.

And the reality is, when I regard the Church, it simply doesn’t read like an issue of the Ensign. Equal parts faith and doubt is how I would characterize my experience of the Church. And to portray anything less would be pretty fake and dishonest. Those who are always fighting hard to “keep their happy face on” simply aren’t very attractive to me as human beings.

In fact, they’re neurotic basket-cases. At least the ones I’ve known were…

What I have proposed may seem odd, at least initially, but if it is taken seriously it can raise the tone of discussion and be revealing and edifying.

In 2 Nephi 28:14 …they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men.

I think this verse can appropriately be applied to the bloggernacle. I feel that those who write and comment in the bloggernacle do err in many instances.

How?

I’ll suggest one way how this might occur:

Over time, when those with influence and credibility, write and comment and rarely refer to the scriptures and the words of the Apostles and Prophets, a style emerges. It’s like a fashion statement; soon it becomes chic to follow the avant-garde and anyone who breaches the style and uses the scriptures and words of the Apostles and Prophets beyond a certain convention is considered unchic, and is marginalized.

This can be measured by going to the blog and searching using key words.

I’ve thrown a small pebble into the waters of the bloggernacle. It’s created a few ripples and you’ve taken note and may not like it. If this is the case, then let’s agree to disagree, and leave it at that.

Now on the other hand, if there is something we can learn from each other, in the spirit of gospel brotherhood, then that’s a different situation. If this is the case, then this is what I propose to accomplish that end. Using just words and concepts from the Book of Mormon, which we agree is the word of God, make any point you would like, and I’ll do the same.

To start things out I suggest we read 2 Nephi 28 and then discuss the state of bloggernacle using just the concepts and words contained in said chapter. If you have another chapter in mind please let me know.

If this is your experience with the “influential” blogs, then I simply have no idea which you consider influential. Testimony, spiritual experiences, scriptural quotation and discussion, and serious thought regarding what the general authorities have spoken are regular features at the blogs Times and Seasons and By Common Consent, which are generally considered the among the most influential. I have participated in many threads there that have been spiritually uplifting. Not every thread has been: some have been silly, some have been screeds; but the vast majority are far from anything I would consider mocking (at least in a negative sense).

“However, criticism of the church and church leader’s are present and accounted for, as well as other issues dealing with women and the priesthood, blacks and the priesthood, and gay rights; issues where the brethren need to be sustained.”

I am curious as to what you mean by sustaining the brethren in this context. I can say, for instance, that I find most current explanations for the limitation of the priesthood to men troubling. However, I also believe it is, at least now, God’s will. Therefore, asking what it is we are supposed to be learning from it or what could possibly be the motivation behind God’s will for it seems to me to be just the sort of thing that faithful members could (and possibly should) do. I certainly don’t see how that act could be considered failing to sustain the brethren.

“In my estimation this lack of balance is a form of mockery.”

How?

A thoughtful comment. Thanks