Church culture generally eschews public criticism/correction with the principle becoming better outlined over the last 150 years or so. In post-1890 Utah, Church leaders were going through some growing pains over politics and the establishment of a two party system. To even out the voting pattern, they actively campaigned on the Republican side. The result was hurt feelings all around and worst of all (in President Woodruff’s opinion), flamboyant political rhetoric made it’s way into public discussions between Church leaders on the campaign trail. It took some time for this to dampen out and political views are mostly held incognito now – in terms of party. But places remain in the institution where criticism is leveled, anonymously mostly, at other Church members and sometimes it’s pretty virulent.
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