Bottom Line
The Church does not tell people not to research. In fact, it funds and provides some of the most transparent historical research archives in global religion. The “don’t research” claim is a smear — and Elder Oaks never said what they say he said.
| Podcast | Mormonism Live |
|---|---|
| Episode | Joseph Smith: Hypnotist |
| Category | False Claim about Church Policy |
| Quote | “The Mormon church will tell you believe everything we say and don’t research. And I’m serious because Elder Oaks said that. My suggestion is ‘research is not the answer’ is the quote.” — Randall Bell, 00:03:00–00:03:30:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} |
| Core Claim | The LDS Church discourages research and promotes blind belief, quoting Elder Oaks as saying “Research is not the answer.” |
| Conclusion | False / Quote Misattribution |
| Logical Questions |
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🔍 Core Finding
This quote is a fabrication and distortion. Elder Dallin H. Oaks has never said “research is not the answer” in any official or published Church source. The actual quote critics misrepresent comes from a 1985 talk entitled “Criticism,” where Elder Oaks discouraged personal attacks on leaders, not research itself. He stated:
“Criticism is particularly objectionable when it is directed toward Church authorities… It does not have to be true to be wrong.”
— BYU Address, 1985
The Church actually encourages study and research:
- D&C 88:118: “Seek learning even by study and also by faith.”
- Elder Uchtdorf: “We are not afraid of truth. Truth has no fear of the light.” (Oct. 2013)
- Joseph Smith Papers, Church History Catalog, and Gospel Topics Essays were created to promote open historical research.
⚖ Legal & Logical Analysis
- Misattribution Fallacy: Falsely claiming a General Authority said something he never did.
- False Light Risk: Misrepresenting LDS leaders as hostile to inquiry.
- Emotive Framing: Leveraging a fake quote to suggest cultic control.
Bottom Line
The Church does not tell people not to research. In fact, it funds and provides some of the most transparent historical research archives in global religion. The “don’t research” claim is a smear — and Elder Oaks never said what they say he said.