Several years ago, former LDS member Ken Clark ["...Worked full time for the LDS Church Education System (CES)  for 27 years.  He also served as a bishop; a calling he enjoyed as much as full time instructor and Coordinator for the Church Education System."] wrote a copiously-researched screed on the non-official, but well-used doctrine of “Lying for the Lord”.

I first heard of this concept in 1982 as a BYU student, when my religion professor Joseph Fielding McConkie presented it to the class with a chortle of approval as he told the story of his great-grandfather, church president Joseph F. Smith, lying to Congress during the Reed Smoot hearings.

Interesting and helps explain why the concept of lying is so institutionalized. I sometimes feel like I was the only member of the church who wasn’t lying to get a temple recommend, go on a mission, etc.

If only I had known…

Actually, my inherent honesty came from my father and predates my church membership.

Pretty substantial loss in the this year’s competition.