I would be interested in your feedback, questions, comments, etc, regarding these forum rules changes.
As you'll see, I've simplified the rules a lot so that it's all boiled down into much fewer precise words. Keep in mind, just because some specific wording might be missing from the new rules, it doesn't mean something is now allowed that was once not allowed. The minimalist in me would rather give less rules and leave more allowance for the admin(me) and moderators to judge the application of the rules more on an individual case by case basis.
I want it to be more clear that all are welcome who can be respectful (respect for each other and also for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and principles of Liberty). The rules are mostly about how we are expected to treat each other. Most of the problems that arise on the forum are not related to any particular topic being discussed but rather how we discuss it and how we treat each other.
LDSFF is not a police state and never will be. And because of that I cannot guarantee people won't sometimes get away with violating the forum rules. It's the same as any proper justice system should be -> the "leaders" of a free people must rely on the people to bring forth the accused to be judged for the things they have done.
For what it's worth, these are some of the scriptures I had in mind while considering the rules changes:
For those who might be wondering: "What's the deal?! Did you just remove a bunch of the previous rules statements to open the doors to anti-Mormons and those outside of mainstream LDS thought?"”And see that there is no iniquity [on LDSFF], neither hardness with each other, neither lying, backbiting, nor evil speaking” (D&C 20:54)
From Alma 30:7: "..there was no law against a man's belief; for it was strictly contrary to the commands of God that there should be a law which should bring men on to unequal grounds..."
Joseph Smith said: "I did not like the old man being called up for erring in doctrine. It looks too much like the Methodist, and not like the Latter-day Saints. Methodists have creeds which a man must believe or be asked out of their church. I want the liberty of thinking and believing as I please. It feels so good not to be trammeled. It does not prove that a man is not a good man because he errs in doctrine." (DHC 5: 340.)
We understand from D&C 121 that "Influence can or ought to be maintained by... persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; by kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile..."
"We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may." (Articles of Faith 1:11)
Answer: LDSFF is not a good fit for anti-Mormons and most likely not a good fit for bitter ex-Mormons. LDSFF has always appealed to LDS outside of the mainstream. That's not going to change. It was created over 10 years ago primarily for those who found themselves "awakening to our awful situation" and that type of Mormon is definitely outside of the mainstream. I've also never claimed or pretended to be a "mainstream" Mormon. Before LDSFF, I participated on other forums (such as the Nauvoo forum) and found that there was no room for a Mormon like me. They didn't tolerate any discussion of secret combinations at all. Some forums had restrictions on political discussion in general and there wasn't a good LDS forum for constitutionalists. I found that there was a need for a forum that allowed discussion of the more controversial gospel topics - and thus LDSFF was born.
I would be interested in your feedback, questions, comments, etc..
