On November 1, 2021, Mormonstories posted an ensemble episode focused on a trip to the UK by three members of the Quorum of the Twelve.
The phrase "Mormon British Rescue" was coined by the podcasters, presumably invoking the "Swedish Rescue" from 2012.
But was it a rescue mission? Or simply a visit to missionaries and members in the UK to express encouragement and gratitude?
The cup is half empty or half full...
The Church's press release on the trip described it this way: "Apostles Conclude Ministry Visit to Great Britain: President Ballard, Elder Holland and Elder Cook speak to Latter-day Saints in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales."
The show notes outline the program:
[John is] joined today by the folks who have been dubbed “The Britvengers”, a collection of progressive and post Mormons who all have one thing in common, they’re British!
They will be discussing what is being called “The British Rescue”. On Halloween Weekend 3 Senior Apostles are coming and addressing the UK membership. Is this a rescue?
The Britvengers are:
Nemo the Mormon https://www.youtube.com/c/NEMOTHEMORMON
Peter Bleakley https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNYIeulcLs85NLINDyxzHQQ
21st Century Saints https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLESyNtVAdYF52HVt5Cu-Ew
Laura & Julian Heath https://www.facebook.com/groups/143828186747679
Priesthood Dispatches https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx5yNRufseSR_JxYC8GJ2iA
The program follows the typical Mormonstories formula: critics complaining because their expectations were not met.
The underlying premise is that the critics' expectations were reasonable to begin with.
This is an interesting case because we see two completely different framings of the visit. The critics complained that Church leaders did not give the UK Latter-day Saints enough specific instruction and guidance. From what I heard and saw, the Church leaders were instructing and encouraging the UK Latter-day Saints to be spiritually and temporally self-reliant.
Maybe there's a parallel between religion and politics in a sense. Some people want the government to solve their problems, typically through programs that involve regulation combined with taxation and redistribution of wealth. Others prefer to be self-reliant and think government should be limited to those actions that only government can do, accommodating systems that encourage self-initiative and work.
There are legitimate arguments for both approaches, which explains the ongoing tension between the two basic philosophies.
It's similar with religion.
Critics tend to expect "the Church" to solve their problems, right every wrong, answer every question, etc. Others expect "the Church" to provide basic doctrines and systems that help members serve one another, become self-reliant, and build Zion with their respective talents and efforts.
People interpret Church teachings through these respective lenses, as we see in this podcast.
An alternative perspective of the trip was summarized this way:
Elder Holland, who served as the Area President in England in the early 1990s, observed that during his return to the country this week he has felt optimistic for the future of the Church.
“The great days of the United Kingdom are still ahead of us,” Elder Holland said. “We don’t look to the past to say, ‘Oh, only if it were yesterday.’ The great, great days of this island are still ahead of us in the gospel.”
Elder Holland was optimistic. The critics were pessimistic. I suppose we'll see which version of reality pans out in the future.
