My Response to "The Perfect Mousetrap" -- Part 1 - McKay Platt

My Response to “The Perfect Mousetrap” – Part 1

I have heard a good deal of reaction to this talk. Some reacted viscerally to the message, including me. Having had 2+ weeks to read and re-read the transcript, I have come to realize that what I originally thought was being said is quite different from what was actually taught. I want to share my understanding of the message in the hopes that it might help some of you. 

In part 1, I will review what was taught, what wasn’t taught and what was behind my visceral reaction about the interchange between Cpt. Moroni and Parhoran. There is plenty more in the talk to critique and evaluate later but not in Part 1.

“The Perfect Mousetrap” speaks in glowing terms about some aspects of the communication of Cpt. Moroni but barely addresses his anger, unrighteous judgement, threats of violence and death.  The talk specifically endorses…

“reason(ing) through … great conflict”

“tremendous example of a forthright, spirited and difficult exchange”

“an example of resilient and candid communication”.

We were taught to develop “the same skills as these two men”. Originally, I took this as an endorsement of Cpt. Moroni’s anger, unrighteous judgement and threats of physical violence but none of those are skills and were not endorsed. The only explicit criticism of Moroni I noticed was his “mistaken assumptions”.

Anger

Moroni was angry. I thought the talk excused anger but it condemns anger. The talk cites the Lord’s statement “even strong disagreements should not provoke anger”. It condemns anger on p. 2, 4, & 10 all in words given to us by the Lord. 

Although anger is not endorsed by this talk, we are taught implicitly that other's anger is not grounds to stop dialogue and work through disagreements. Indeed, we are advised, “Learning to understand a different point of view does not mean a violent reaction is justified.”

Once I realized that the message of “The Perfect Moustrap” was about not allowing others errors and failings to control their anger get in the way of my obligation to understand, communicate and love my fellow Covenant Christians, my visceral reaction to this talk disappeared.

Unrighteous Judgement

From my perspective, Cpt. Moroni misjudged Parhoran. Christ’s commandment to “judge not” was modified by Joseph Smith in his Bible “translation” to advise “judge righteous judgement”. I don’t think Moroni did that but the message of “The Perfect Mousetrap” appears to be ‘don’t let other's false assumptions and mis-judgements prevent you from understanding, communicating and loving your fellow Covenant Christians.’

Assumptions 

This talk acknowledges Cpt. Moroni’s false assumptions. It falls short of a criticism of Moroni but doesn’t ignore that Moroni acted on false information and assumptions. Within the last year I had an online interchange with a friend that included a discussion about assumptions. He pointed out that a statement that I made was just my assumption. I had to acknowledge that he was right and then the conversation turned to whether assumptions were avoidable or inevitable. We agreed that we all act on assumptions every day. They are inevitable. 

If someone is making statements based on false assumptions, this talk encourages us to first recognize those false assumptions, communicate that clearly and not let that divide us. 

Threats

I have always been bothered by Moroni’s threats. At one point in the Book of Mormon he threatens death to Nephites who wouldn’t pick up the swords and war against the Lamanites. I suspect he was acting in compliance with their law and in his role as war general. Still it bothers me. The message of “The Perfect Mousetrap” is that even threats, based on false assumptions, are insufficient grounds to abandon dialogue and write-off the threatener as irredeemable. I think I’ve been guilty of that. 

Using Scripture

I’ve heard that some interpreted this talk as condemning the use of scripture in our dialogue and disagreements. After re-reading the talk I think it stops well short of that and condemns “…using scripture to support themselves and to tear down the other person.” That requires us each to judge why we use scripture in our disagreements but does not condemn using scripture. 

Hope this helps some. If any of you would like to discuss any aspect of this portion of “The Perfect Mousetrap” either text (801-367-4455) or email me at mckaylplatt@gmail.com and we’ll try to “reason together”.


McKay

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