Letter: Free agency guides my dogma

The Salt Lake Tribune article on Dec. 10 attributes the now defunct Mormon "black priesthood ban" on Brigham Young's racism rather than revelation.

What a breakthrough on Mormon mythological adoption of a "papal infallibility" type dogma stating the LDS Church president will never "lead us astray"!

I'm especially grateful for the much clearer thinking of second counselor Dieter F. Uchtdorf's statements regarding this crucial matter. He rightly says God works through his imperfect children, and "imperfect children make mistakes." He underscores what I learned in childhood Sunday School. "If it's true, you can test it," became my lifetime's credo.

Empirical evidence and independent thinking, demanded by true free agency, became guidelines for my adoption of any type religious dogma. Some of it's wonderful. Some isn't.

For instance, do we believe Heber J. Grant saying any parent worth their salt would rather see their child buried than lose "chastity" before marriage? Common sense would go a long way towards isolating rank superstition from worthwhile ideology.

Ken Roach's letter in the same day's Forum lists a few church restrictions on true free agency.

He ends with "If I agree with everything the church teaches, then my freedoms are strongly protected." Kudos, Mr. Roach!

Amelia Marie English

Salt Lake City