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The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints Essay

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When analyzing conflicting sources on specific topics, it is important to consider the background of the author to reveal his or her motivation behind writing the piece. When writing about cults, there are inside sources (current members) and outside sources that encompass everything from ex-members to the media. Jessica Longaker, a non-affiliate of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, posted a critique of the patriarchal influence on Mormonism and how it affects the role of women in the church. Sheri L. Dew, a current member of the church that serves as the Relief Society General President, gave a speech was published on the Church’s official website. In this speech, Dew describes how Mormonism empowers women and emphasize the importance of their role. When analyzing conflicting sources, it is crucial to analyze the author’s position in order to detect motivations and bias that can influence the message that is being portrayed. In order to offset this bias and gain a complete understanding of the topic, researchers must analyze points of intersection, similarities, and differences between the two sources. According to Longaker, “all Mormon men are ordained as members of the “priesthood,” with the absolute authority to preach the gospel…and generally speak for God” (Longaker). She continues by stating that women have the “important ability to bear children, men need the power of the priesthood merely to remain equal with them.” (Longaker). Longaker emphasizes

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