The Mormon preoccupation
with “setting a good example”
| AS A MEANS of attracting converts, Mormons are big on “setting a good example.” The idea is that Mormons live such noticeably better, cleaner, happier lives that non-Mormons cannot help but be impressed. Besides promoting self-absorption and stressing appearances over substance, the teaching conveniently lets Mormons believe that keeping comfortably to themselves is a form of reaching out. Mormons back up the example-setting thing with 1 Thessalonians 5:22, where Paul advises abstaining from “all appearance of evil,” and with the Book of Mormon, Alma 39:11, where Alma says that his son’s behavior kept people from believing. Context and non-KJV translations suggest that what Paul really meant was to stay away from evil, period, which makes for better, less hypocrisy-inviting advice. As for Alma, one might have more regard for him had he not needed to blame his failure on his kid. |  Useful advice for hypocrites: “Behave. After all, someone may be watching.” |
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