Yeah, how about these "doosies" from LDS leaders through the years:
Ah, the "grand heritage" of the so-called "living prophets":
Joseph Smith on being 'god to you': God made Aaron to be the mouthpiece for the children of Israel, and He will make me be god to you in His stead, and the Elders to be mouth for me; and if you don't like it, you must lump it. (History of the Church, pp. 319-320)
Brigham Young on 'Dictator' (his word) Joseph Smith:: When brother Joseph Smith lived, he was our Prophet, our Seer, and Revelator; he was our dictator in the things of God, and it was for us to listen to him, and do just as he told us.
Brigham Young on obeying 'right or wrong':: "...learn to do as you are told, both old and young; learn to do as you are told for the future...But if you are told by your leader to do a thing, do it. None of your business whether it is right or wrong. (Journal of Discourses, vol. 6, p. 32)
The Improvement Era was the pre-Ensign magazine. (Ensign replaced two LDS publications in 1970, The Improvement Era being one of them). LDS hold Ensign magazine, put out by the church, in high esteem. While freedom and liberty was breaking out all over Europe in June, 1945 as the allies won the war in the European theater, what was happening back home that same time in the Mormon church?
Well, let's take a look at what "ward teachers" were being told in the "Ward Teachers' Message for June, 1945: 'Sustaining the General Authorities of the Church'". When Sentinel said he has receiving FReepmail of a certain nature, it doesn't surprise me that it resembles the following excerpt from the "Ward Teachers' Message" referenced above:
Any Latter-day Saint who denounces or opposes, whether actively or otherwise, any plan or doctrine advocated by the 'prophets, seers, and revelators' of the Church is cultivating the spirit of apostasy. One cannot speak evil of the Lord's anointed and retain the Holy Spirit in his heart.
Continuing: It should be remembered that Lucifer has a very cunning way of convincing unsuspecting souls that the General Authorities of the Church are as likely to be wrong as they are to be right. This sort of game is Satan's favorite pastime, and he has practiced in on believing souls since Adam. He wins a great victory when he can et members of the Church to speak against their leaders and to 'do their own thinking.'...When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done. When they propose a plan--it is God's plan. When they point the way, there is no other which is safe. When they give direction, it should mark the end of controversy. God works in no other way... (The Improvement Era, June, 1945, p. 141, conducted under the supervision of the presiding bishopric, edited by Lee A. Palmer)
[I guess this last edict from on high explains why challengers are earmarked for such "audacity"...that we would actually have the "audacity" to think for ourselves or to encourage Mormons to do the same! That we would actually have the "audacity" to contravert the elite General Authorities, who supposedly when they speak, well, there goes "the end of controversy." As our boys in Europe were fighting for a FreeRepublic, the old men in Utah were wrestling for a stifled one...some things just don't change despite the flip in generations!]
The “When the leaders speak, the thinking has been done” policy is much more current than WWII, it is still taught openly today. I am certain it has been spoken exaclty like this in general conferences in the last few years. Most 4 and 5 year old mormons can recite this phrase from memory.