Elder Holland and Our Deepening Divide Over Identity

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's recent address at BYU resulted in an outpouring of frustration and anger among some Church members and observers. Among these, many expressed surprise at what they felt was a contrast between the sharpness and directness of Elder Holland's remarks, versus his expressions of love in that and other previous talks over the years. Some were troubled by his continuation of an oft-used metaphor of "musket fire," especially in a talk discussing the experience of sexual minorities. But few commentators have chosen to confront the core issue at the heart of his talk: the conflict over identity at BYU and in the broader Church. For those aware of this conflict and its implications for the Church, Elder Holland's talk was not surprising or novel or shocking; it was only another revealing of an open wound on campus, that in recent years has become intolerable.