The Weight of Slander: Finding Faith Through Honest Inquiry

Brothers and Sisters, have you ever felt the sting of a lie, a slander that burrowed deep into your understanding of truth? Samuel the Lamanite, standing upon the wall, faced a city steeped in falsehood. Ammon, at the Waters of Sebus, wrestled with the weight of accusation. We, too, are called to climb those walls, to confront the darkness, and to build a foundation of understanding—a foundation of Zion.

David Alexander’s story, shared with Angeline and David of ‘Emma’s Pearls,’ is a testament to this very principle. For sixty-two years, he carried a narrative—a narrative shaped by the very first Sherlock Holmes story he read—that painted Latter-day Saints as “a pioneer sex cult of white slavers and assassins.” Imagine the insidious power of that prejudice, ingrained so early, influencing a lifetime.

He recounts how, after abandoning his Catholic upbringing, he sought truth within evangelical Christianity, a landscape often clouded by the same accusatory fog. He diligently searched, yearning for the fullness of the gospel he sensed was missing. He knew, intuitively, that a restoration was needed, that living apostles and prophets were essential. But the slander continued, a constant barrage against the Latter-day Saints, obscuring the very truth he sought.

It wasn't until later in life, after decades of searching, that he began to unravel this deeply ingrained bias. This wasn't a sudden conversion, but a slow, painful process of questioning, of examining, and of ultimately finding his way back to a clearer understanding. It echoes the words of Abinadi, boldly proclaiming truth to a King Noah and his people, even in the face of certain death. It reminds us that the path to Zion is often paved with discomfort, with challenging deeply held beliefs, and with the courage to stand against the tide.

This journey highlights a critical distinction: we are Builders, not Destroyers. The internet can be a battlefield of misinformation, a place where slander and demonization thrive. But we are here, within this gathering place, to cultivate understanding, to share truth, and to support one another in the arduous work of building a better world.

Think of the five smooth stones David gathered to face Goliath. Each represents a principle, a truth, a piece of understanding that we can wield against the giants of prejudice and ignorance. David’s story is one of those stones – a reminder that even deeply ingrained falsehoods can be overcome with honest inquiry and a willingness to seek the light.

Outback Jack reminds us: “It’s the process, not the product. The struggle, not the success.” David’s journey wasn't about achieving instant certainty; it was about the persistent pursuit of truth, even when that truth was difficult to grasp.

And as we gather, let us remember the Charity Flywheel. Your engagement here – your sharing, your commenting, your support – fuels gospel advertising in places like Ghana, bringing the message of Restoration to those who desperately need it. It supports the Missionary Fund, sending internet missionaries out into the digital wilderness to share the good news. The map of churches is a living testament to this gathering, showing the expanding network of those who seek Zion.

Claim your church. Be a digital stripling warrior. Let us be known not for the slander we repeat, but for the truth we proclaim, and for the building we do.