Why "Fortunate Truths"?

My favorite Star Wars movie is Return of the Jedi. One of the most moving scenes is when Luke talks with Yoda before he dies. As part of that we get this exchange:

Luke: [visibly in agony] Master Yoda...is Darth Vader my father?

Yoda: [turns away from Luke] Rest, I need. Yes, rest.

Luke: [pleading] Yoda, I must know.

Yoda: Your father, he is. [Luke looks away] Told you, did he?

Luke: Yes.

Yoda: Unexpected, this is, and unfortunate.

Luke: [surprised] Unfortunate that I know the truth?

Yoda: No. [turns to face Luke] Unfortunate that you rushed to face him. That incomplete, was your training. That not ready for the burden, were you.

Luke: I'm sorry.

Luke, who was young, inexperienced, eager to prove himself, had rushed to face Darth Vader. Clearly, he thought that his training with Yoda had completely prepared him to be able to kill Vader or at least defeat him to the degree that he would be able to single handedly be able to save his friends. But, as The Empire Strikes Back shows us. His friends (except Han) were able to escape from the Empire's clutches without Luke's help at all. In fact, they had to come rescue Luke.

By confronting Darth Vader Luke felt for himself the power of the dark side; both physically through Vader's fury and spiritually through Vader's temptation. Luke was not ready and barely survived. I like to think that had Luke stayed and completed his training, at some point Yoda and Obi Wan would have told him that Vader was his father when he was ready. 

Luke eventually embraced the knowledge that Anakin Skywalker was his father. He committed to himself that he could not kill his own father, as Obi Wan wanted him to do. He took that commitment, and as I read it, lost it for a moment while he fought with Vader at the end. I think that he was very nearly at the edge of falling to the dark side in Return of the Jedi. After he cut off Vader's hand though, he realized he was falling and threw away his weapon. He reaffirmed his commitment to the Emperor: "I am a Jedi, like my father before me."

Now, bringing things to Mormonism.
There are many things in life, that while not inherently evil, can be a burden to carry for those who are not ready. Such things can (not always) destroy both body, mind and soul. When it comes to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints there is no Darth Vader to be faced. But there are burdens, such as the messiness that is polygamy, the seer stones and folk magic, the corporation of the Church, etc. Many disaffected members of the church express "Why wasn't I told about X, Y, Z!?" This is not an easy question to answer as there are a variety of factors that differ for each individual. For some, this path leads to a faith crisis. It is unfortunate whenever anyone goes through a faith crisis. Fortunately, all of us mortals can learn and grow, even from unfortunate experiences.

I believe that we mortals can choose how to receive certain pieces of knowledge and information. Ultimately, it is up to us to decide if we receive it with a hermeneutic of belief or suspicion. I think both are legitimate. Additionally, if we are not sufficiently experienced in a given field then knowledge can be hurtful, even if it is true. Some people may not be ready for certain truths, just as Luke was, and it can be unfortunate. Others, though, when sufficiently empowered can turn those unfortunate truths into fortunate ones. The purpose of this blog is to provide my musings on topics relating to Mormonism and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am a firm believer in continuing revelation, priesthood authority, the historicity of the Bible and Book of Mormon (though there is plenty of nuance to be had). Ultimately, my purpose is to hopefully help certain things about Mormonism turn from unfortunate, to fortunate truths.