We Did Our Best

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https://wedidourbest.blog/elliotts-message/

Derek R Smart
Elliott Smart Thank you for your message. I appreciate your candour. I have been pondering over the content of you message for most of the day but, if I am being honest, I do not know, for a surety, what you are trying to say to me. You agree with me over the fact that it is not only socially wrong but morally wrong to give family the “Silent Treatment” but then, you seem to say, that it is tolerable because my manners on line needs to be curtailed.
Effectively, you are saying, two wrongs make it alright. But then you say “I noticed that some of the posts and blogs, whether directed at your children, their partners, or others, might be seen as not fully aligning with the spirit of those teachings” which, if true, is indeed a valid critique, however, as you have done in other messages, you have provided no evidence of your claim and when I search through my resent messages I can find nothing that falls into the realms of your claim.
I am particularly careful to be honest but diplomatic. The truth can be painful but medicinal. It is down to the intent. Nothing I say is intended to offend so if offence is taken it is usually because the truth I tell is uncomfortable to hear. I do not like being hurtful in my honesty with the truth but I do it because it will benefit the recipient in the end.
For example, I was literally dying in hospital with salmonella poisoning and you never bothered with me. I did not like that so made it clear to all and sundry hoping that your conscience would be pricked spurring you on to show some empathy and honour to your father. It did not work giving an impression that all the time we cared for you and comforted you as a child meant absolutely nothing to you. The same could be said about the success of your parents reaching 50 years of marriage, not a single rose, no birthday card or mother’s day card for your mother, no invite to Elias’ baptism, The return of birthday present and card, the failure to acknowledge your mother, stood in front of you, begging you for a hug, 3 times, in a busy foyer, without a response, and that is without mentioning the blatant manipulation of Elder Jeffrey R Hollands address on forgiveness. Apparently, you started a clandestine and secret smart sibling WhatsApp group and failed to invite Steven, possibly because you might have opposition to your assumptions about us from him.
So, I posted several copies of the Talk by Russel M Nelson, “Peacemaker Needed”, providing proof of his instruction not to give family the silent treatment so there could be no ambiguity. You have accused me here saying “whether directed at your children, their partners, or others, might be seen as not fully aligning with the spirit of those teachings.” Going against a prophets instruction to the entire congregation of the church, and expressing a personal opinion about child rearing, or such the like, is vastly different. Where Elliott, is your evidence of fact supporting your claim of misaligning personal opinion. You need to be more explicit of what you mean by “teachings” and “aligning” with them. I cannot find any. So, my belief is that it does not make giving the silent treatment to your family acceptable if I am bad mannered on the Internet.
Sadly, you concluded with these words “I believe that avoiding these types of posts could help all of us draw closer to God and strengthen our discipleship even more.” But again you have provided no evidence for your claim, that I cannot readily explain, so your claim is invalid. What types of post do you refer to.
I am thankful that you contacted me Elliott and appreciate the tone of your words. I look forward to speaking to you again. I am sure you will want to report back to the sibling group now. Contrary to what you told Donny, that you had invited Steven, I can tell you that he has not received your invite. He is now paranoid wondering why he was not asked. I HAVE JUST REALISED THAT THE LAST TWO PARAGRAPHS IN YOUR POST ARE PLAGERISED AND THEREFORE NOT YOUR WORDS. IS THERE A REASON FOR THAT?