Anecdotal Observations of the LC Over the Years

[OBW]

I realize that this is not entirely about the LC in the 21st century, but I don't see the kind of place to put it, so if it needs to be moved somewhere else, feel free.

As I was writing a comment for Covert's General Characteristics thread, I mentioned something about Benson Phillips. It reminded me (once again) about something that happened in Irving in the 83 to 85 range that has made me wonder a little over the years. At a Saturday morning breakfast at Benson's house with a lot of brothers prior to the Saturday morning projects on the building, he said something to me. I don't mean he said my name and said it to everyone. The time was beginning to break up and as I approached the front door, He was there and said to me (and I don't think there was anyone else nearby to hear) something like, " we've built great fences but the sheep are dying." Maybe he said "starving." I can't remember for sure at this point.

Now, this was before the undercurrent that eventually resulted in the public expulsion of John Ingalls and his so-called conspirators, so I am not sure if there was a specific event that caused this comment. Or was it that I was somehow seen by Benson as not just a toe-the-line brother who did not consider what he thought and believed. I have no idea. But he said this to me and not to anyone else. Well, maybe he said it over and over to everyone as they left, but I have no idea.

So my consideration from this was that even if Benson was ultimately a dyed-in-the-wool, drank the Kool-Aid believer, he did have some of what I would consider being a shepherdly concern for the flock — at least still at this time. Yes, he was often considered regionally like a bishop, though no one would dare say such a thing. And his more global impact was to come later as one of the preeminent among the BBs.

At this point, I can fairly safely say that he is fully on board with the notion that the actual truth is irrelevant if it speaks against the MOTA and/or his legacy, the BBs. But it does make me slower to simply roast the average local elder, even the seemingly leading elder, in many places. Like I said earlier, they may not be quite the intentional villain we like to think.

So, the point is not to discuss Benson's statement or other things about him, but to provide the event, with some context, so that we can get a glimpse into more than the global events and characterizations that those things inspire.

Do you have any observations — recent or "ancient"? They may help paint a more complete picture of the whole that is/was the LC at different points in time.