Here's the Scenario

I'm watching general conference and President Monson says something that doesn't sound quite right. Did I catch that or did I misunderstand? I wait a few days until the transcript is available online and I read the entire context. Nope! I understood perfectly well but it still doesn't sound right so I'm even further confused. I turn to the scriptures as well as other sources including past prophets and apostles who have spoken on the same topic. They all seem to agree with me so something is not right. I need further help to figure this out so I turn to a trusted friend or a relative and I share my dilemma hoping to get another point of view. I show them the transcript and, when they finish reading it, I explain my confusion and without any further investigation, they launch into a rationalization including scriptures and quotes from other church authorities about following the prophet, which, in their mind at least, seem to show how the prophet is right. After all, the prophet is ALWAYS right... right? 

So, wanting to further understand and reconcile the seeming contradiction, I push a little deeper and try to show them another discrepancy on the topic that Boyd K. Packer recently said in the previous general conference. They immediately cut me off refusing to hear it and accuse me of being argumentative and guilty of just trying to find anything wrong with the church that I can. In an impassioned almost angry tone, they fervidly bear their testimony that the Church is true and, in an elevated voice declare that they know what I'm trying to do and I am NOT going to change their mind. They KNOW what they know... and they storm off and refuse to associate with me anymore.

I'm running out of friends..!

If Joseph Smith lied and I stumble across evidence that seems to suggest that's the case and I look closer hoping to disprove that evidence but only find more confirming facts, why is that MY fault? Why am I viewed with suspicion and called "apostate" while everyone who reveres Joseph Smith view him and themselves as infallible and prefer to maintain their ignorance?

The issue of what is true and what is not true is of paramount importance to me. This factors in to my views about religion, politics, the environment, and my day to day decisions. It is difficult, but I must remain open to challenging all of my assumptions, and be willing to go where the evidence leads me. Isn't that what the missionaries are telling their investigators? I think that the Lord wants that of His children. He instilled that in me. Otherwise, if I don't, my fear is that I'm settling for a group delusion... controlled and manipulated by others.