Jeffrey R. Holland's "Musket Fire" Talk

What's the "Musket Fire" talk?

On August 23, 2021, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland[BIO] addressed BYU faculty, asking them to both build and defend the Church, comparing their role to Nauvoo temple builders wielding a trowel in one hand and a musket in the other.[1] He also spoke on defending teachings on gender and same-sex marriage.[2] The media later dubbed it the "musket fire speech."[3]

What was the main focus of the talk?

Elder Holland's talk focused on BYU's unique character, history, and responsibility to teach gospel principles.[4] However, during a portion of the 40-minute address, he asked the faculty to defend the Church's position on LGBTQ+ issues.[5]

So what did he mean by "musket fire"? Did Elder Holland encourage Church members to be violent against LGBTQ+ people?

No. Elder Holland referenced Nauvoo Temple builders working with "a trowel in one hand" to build the temple and "a musket in the other" to defend against those who attacked the Church, using it as a metaphor to encourage BYU faculty to defend the teachings of the Church.[6] In the latter part of the talk, he also referred to the idea of musket fire as a metaphor.[7]

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's Use of the "Musket" Metaphor in His BYU Speech

Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Second Half of the Second Century of Brigham Young University," August 23, 2021.[8]

. . . in 2017, Elder Dallin H. Oaks, not then but soon to be in the First Presidency, where he would sit only one chair—one heartbeat—away from the same position President Nelson now has, quoted our colleague Elder Neal A. Maxwell, who had said:

In a way [Church of Jesus Christ] scholars at BYU and elsewhere are a little bit like the builders of the temple in Nauvoo, who worked with a trowel in one hand and a musket in the other. Today scholars building the temple of learning must also pause on occasion to defend the kingdom. I personally think this is one of the reasons the Lord established and maintains this university. The dual role of builder and defender is unique and ongoing. I am grateful we have scholars today who can handle, as it were, both trowels and muskets.

To this, Elder Oaks then challengingly responded, “I would like to hear a little more musket fire from this temple of learning.” He said this in a way that could have applied to a host of topics in various departments, but the one he specifically mentioned was the doctrine of the family and defending marriage as the union of a man and a woman. Little did he know that while many would hear his appeal, especially the School of Family Life, which moved quickly and visibly to assist, some others fired their muskets all right, but unfortunately they didn’t always aim at those hostile to the Church. We thought a couple of stray rounds even went north of the Point of the Mountain!

My beloved brothers and sisters, “a house . . . divided against itself . . . cannot stand,” and I will go to my grave pleading that this institution not only stands but stands unquestionably committed to its unique academic mission and to the Church that sponsors it. We hope it isn’t a surprise to you that your trustees are not deaf or blind to the feelings that swirl around marriage and the whole same-sex topic on campus—and a lot of other topics. I and many of my Brethren have spent more time and shed more tears on this subject than we could ever adequately convey to you this morning or any morning. We have spent hours discussing what the doctrine of the Church can and cannot provide the individuals and families struggling over this difficult issue. So it is with a little scar tissue of our own that we are trying to avoid—and hope all will try to avoid—language, symbols, and situations that are more divisive than unifying at the very time we want to show love for all of God’s children.

. . .

Musket fire? Yes, we will always need defenders of the faith, but “friendly fire” is a tragedy—and from time to time the Church, its leaders, and some of our colleagues within the university community have taken such fire on this campus. And sometimes it isn’t friendly, wounding students and the parents of students—so many who are confused about what so much recent flag-waving and parade-holding on this issue means. My beloved friends, this kind of confusion and conflict ought not to be. Not here. There are better ways to move toward crucially important goals in these very difficult matters—ways that show empathy and understanding for everyone while maintaining loyalty to prophetic leadership and devotion to revealed doctrine.

My Brethren have made the case for the metaphor of musket fire, which I have endorsed yet again today. There will continue to be those who oppose our teachings—and with that will continue the need to define, document, and defend the faith. But we all look forward to the day when we can “beat [our] swords into plowshares, and [our] spears into pruninghooks” and, at least on this subject, “learn war [no] more.” And while I have focused on this same-sex topic this morning more than I would have liked, I pray you will see it as emblematic of a lot of issues our students, our communities, and our Church face in this complex, contemporary world of ours.

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Who was the audience for this talk?

The talk was addressed to BYU faculty and staff at a training conference held the week before the new school year.[9] However, a recording of the talk was posted online,[10] and the speech is now part of the required curriculum for BYU students.[11]

What did Elder Holland mean when he brought up "friendly fire"?

While not explicitly stated, it could be an unspecific reference[12] to BYU faculty who have spoken out contrary to the teachings of the Church.[13]

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland speaking at Brigham Young University on August 23, 2021. — Elder Jeffrey R. Holland speaking at Brigham Young University to BYU faculty and staff at a training conference on August 23, 2021.

What was the reaction to Elder Holland's talk?

Many LGBTQ+ students reported feeling hurt and unsafe after learning about this talk.[14] Some BYU students and other groups organized protests.[15]

Media and social media reactions were mixed, with some criticizing the talk[16] while others expressed support.[17] At one point, it was listed by BYU as one of the top 30 most "Popular Speeches" at BYU of all time.[18]

What have critics said about the talk?

Some critics of the talk argued the imagery was inappropriate, given the historical and ongoing violence against LGBTQ+ people.[19] Others wrote of worries that this rhetoric could lead to the isolation of LGBTQ+ students who are already at risk of higher rates of suicide and self-harm.[20]

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27 Primary Sources

Footnotes

BIOJeffrey R. Holland
Jeffrey R. Holland (1940–present) was born in St. George, Utah. He was an American educator and currently serves as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Holland received a PhD in American Studies from Yale University and went on to be the president of Brigham Young University from 1980–1989. Afterwards he was called as a member of the First Quorum of Seventy in 1989 and has served as a member of the Twelve since 1994.
BIODallin H. Oaks
Dallin H. Oaks (1932–present) was born in Provo, Utah, and became an apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1984. After the death of his first wife, June Dixon Oaks, in 1998, he married Kristen M. McMain in 2000. He graduated from Brigham Young University (1954) and the University of Chicago Law School (1957). After practicing and teaching law in Chicago, he became the president of Brigham Young University from 1971 to 1980. He was then a justice of the Utah Supreme Court (1980–1984) before resigning to become an apostle. He was made the first counselor in the First Presidency and president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 2018.
BIONeal A. Maxwell
Neal A. Maxwell (1926-2004) grew up in Salt Lake City. He received a Master's degree in political science from the University of Utah and became involved in Utah politics. In 1970, he became Commissioner of Church Education and then, in 1974, became a general authority when called as an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He died in 2004.
[1]↩︎
The speech was titled "The Second Half of the Second Century of Brigham Young University," and in the print of Elder Holland's talk that incorporated the musket metaphor it was titled “A Trowel in One Hand and a Musket in the Other.”
- Elder Holland speaks to BYU faculty about the university's special mission and the LGBTQ movement.
[2]↩︎
Elder Holland spoke on the importance of defending the Church teachings, including those on gender and same-sex marriage, at BYU. For example, he stated:
But it will assist all of us—it will assist everyone—trying to provide help in this matter if things can be kept in some proportion and balance in the process. For example, we have to be careful that love and empathy do not get interpreted as condoning and advocacy or that orthodoxy and loyalty to principle not be interpreted as unkindness or disloyalty to people. As near as I can tell, Christ never once withheld His love from anyone, but He also never once said to anyone, “Because I love you, you are exempt from keeping my commandments.” We are tasked with trying to strike that same sensitive, demanding balance in our lives.
- Elder Holland speaks to BYU faculty about the university's special mission and the LGBTQ movement.
[3]↩︎
Articles from the Salt Lake Tribune, NBC News, and ABC4 News have all referred to the speech from Elder Holland as the "musket fire speech."
[4]↩︎
Elder Holland began his talk by expressing his deep love for BYU, saying:
I have loved BYU for nearly three-fourths of a century. Only my service in and testimony of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—including, most importantly, my marriage and the beautiful children it has given us—have affected me as profoundly as my decision to attend Brigham Young University. No one in my family had attended BYU before me. In so testifying, I represent literally hundreds of thousands of other students who made that decision and share that same sentiment.
- Elder Holland speaks to BYU faculty about the university's special mission and the LGBTQ movement.
[5]↩︎
Elder Holland said:
I personally think this is one of the reasons the Lord established and maintains this university. The dual role of builder and defender is unique and ongoing.
And later he added:
Your trustees are not deaf or blind to the feelings that swirl around marriage and the whole same-sex topic on campus—and a lot of other topics. I and many of my Brethren . . . have spent hours discussing what the doctrine of the Church can and cannot provide the individuals and families struggling over this difficult issue.
- Elder Holland speaks to BYU faculty about the university's special mission and the LGBTQ movement.
[6]↩︎
Elder Holland used this quote, originally from Elder Neal A. Maxwell:
In a way [Church of Jesus Christ] scholars at BYU and elsewhere are a little bit like the builders of the temple in Nauvoo, who worked with a trowel in one hand and a musket in the other. Today scholars building the temple of learning must also pause on occasion to defend the kingdom. I personally think this is one of the reasons the Lord established and maintains this university. The dual role of builder and defender is unique and ongoing. I am grateful we have scholars today who can handle, as it were, both trowels and muskets.
- Elder Holland speaks to BYU faculty about the university's special mission and the LGBTQ movement.
[7]↩︎
Elder Holland stated that "musket fire" was a metaphor, saying:
My Brethren have made the case for the metaphor of musket fire, which I have endorsed yet again today. There will continue to be those who oppose our teachings—and with that will continue the need to define, document, and defend the faith.
- Elder Holland speaks to BYU faculty about the university's special mission and the LGBTQ movement.
[8]↩︎
The full text and video of Elder Holland's talk is available online on the BYU Speeches website.
- Elder Holland speaks to BYU faculty about the university's special mission and the LGBTQ movement.
[9]↩︎
Elder Holland began his talk by addressing "the full university family," specifically mentioning "faculty, staff, and administration."
One online source noted that the talk was given to an audience of professors:
In his talk Elder Holland is addressing staff at Brigham Young University (BYU) during the first day of the institution’s 2021 University Conference.
- Questioning LDS is critical of Elder Holland's "musket fire" talk.
- Elder Holland speaks to BYU faculty about the university's special mission and the LGBTQ movement.
[10]↩︎
In an article published less than a week after the speech, Genelle Pugmire of the Daily Herald noted that the audience of the speech was faculty, writing, "Holland’s address was specifically tailored toward faculty and staff — no students attended — but naysayers and Holland supporters have been stepping up on social media and causing public protests and confrontations."
- The Daily Herald describes protests in Provo in response to Elder Holland's BYU speech.
[11]↩︎
The press reported in March 2024 that the talk had been made part of the curriculum for freshmen for the new class UNIV 101: BYU Foundations for Student Success, a New Chapter for BYU.
- Emi Tuyetnhi Tran refers to Elder Holland's talk as the "musket fire speech."
- ABC4 News refers to Elder Holland's talk as the "musket fire speech."
[12]↩︎
In his speech, Elder Holland said, "Musket fire? Yes, we will always need defenders of the faith, but 'friendly fire' is a tragedy."
He continued, "Some others fired their muskets all right, but unfortunately they didn’t always aim at those hostile to the Church. We thought a couple of stray rounds even went north of the Point of the Mountain!"
The Church office building is located north of BYU in Salt Lake City, past a geographic landmark known as the "Point of the Mountain" which marks the division between Utah County where BYU is located and Salt Lake County where the Church office building is located.
- Elder Holland speaks to BYU faculty about the university's special mission and the LGBTQ movement.
[13]↩︎
There have been various reports of faculty members expressing ideas counter to the teachings of the Church. For example, in 2020, the BYU Daily Universe reported "some Brigham Young University students claim their professors teach principles opposite those of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."
For example, in March 2021, the Salt Lake Tribune quoted a BYU student saying:
I had a professor who said that the only commandments we needed to keep were to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and [heal] the sick and that all other commandments...were not valuable. And that we don’t necessarily have to follow them.
- Peggy Fletcher Stack reports on growing feeling that BYU is becoming "too liberal."
- Daily Universe reports students feeling their professors teach things not in harmony with Church teachings.
[14]↩︎
Openly gay BYU graduate Matt Easton wrote in an open letter to Elder Holland published in the Salt Lake Tribune how "within an hour of your remarks, three current BYU students expressed to me how unsafe and scared they felt knowing that church leaders instructed the university’s faculty to use metaphorical 'musket fire' to defend the 'doctrine of the family' and push back against LGBTQ+ inclusion."
The Daily Herald reported that LGBTQ student groups in Provo organized a protest in the days following the speech, and also quoted Tom Christofferson, the openly gay brother of Elder D. Todd Christofferson, as saying, "I grieve to think that a student at BYU today might feel they need to do what I did there: hide, pretend, just try to get through another day, semester and year."
- The Daily Herald describes protests in Provo in response to Elder Holland's BYU speech.
- Matt Easton responds to Jeffrey R. Holland's "musket fire" talk.
[15]↩︎
The Daily Herald reported on August 27, 2021, that "public protests and confrontations" had arisen in response to Elder Holland's talk.
- The Daily Herald describes protests in Provo in response to Elder Holland's BYU speech.
[16]↩︎
For example, writers with the blog Exponent II posted critical responses to Elder Holland's talk, specifically for his use of the musket metaphor. Katie Ludlow Rich wrote:
Elder Holland, today is the day to turn swords and muskets into plowshares. Put down the weapons and words of war that would turn LGBTQ+ member of the BYU community into target practice. Cultivate a nurturing, nourishing environment at BYU that allows all student to grow to their greatest potential—and not just metaphorically.
Another writer called the talk "dangerous" and "badly done."
[17]↩︎
Some writers, such as those in the Deseret News, the Salt Lake Tribune, and Meridian Magazine, spoke in defense of Elder Holland.
Hal Boyd of the Deseret News wrote:
As for “musket fire” — a metaphor Elder Holland deployed to describe how professors might use their intellectual gifts to defend and honor the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ when it’s misrepresented — there is a strong Christian tradition of standing up and sharing one’s beliefs.
Daniel C. Peterson wrote in Meridian Magazine that the history of this metaphor can be traced back to an account in Nehemiah 4 of Jewish builders working with a sword in one hand.
Stuart Reid, writing to the Salt Lake Tribune, in support of Elder Holland:
Holland should be applauded for his courageous effort to reorient BYU faculty and staff to the proper prioritization lest they forget “the glory of God is intelligence” to be obtained only through obedience to His laws — an obedience demonstrating first and foremost love for Him: “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
[18]↩︎
In 2023, Elder Holland's speech "The Second Half of the Second Century" was listed on a BYU Speeches page listing the 30 most popular speeches.
Note that this talk is not ranked in comparison to other talks, and the website does not list the number of streams, views, or citations.
- List of the top thirty most popular BYU speeches of all time.
[19]↩︎
One blogger on the Exponent II website wrote:
[Elder Holland's] choice of metaphor, given the larger context of school violence, is terrible. There are already radicalized far-right extremists in this country . . . who are clearly armed and ready to act violently. Now we have the undesirable situation where . . . violent extremists can point to three different apostles (Elders Maxwell and Oaks having been quoted by Elder Holland) seeming to approve of using gunfire to defend Church ideology.
This writer found Elder Holland’s remarks to be "dangerously distasteful" and expressed concern for student safety on campus: "When so many students and faculty have a fully justified fear of being killed in their classrooms, why on earth would you suggest that faculty and students should be prepared to take up arms against people they see as ideological enemies?"
- A writer for Exponent II criticizes Elder Holland's choice of the musket metaphor.
[20]↩︎
Katie Ludlow Rich expressed concern with Elder Holland's talk, calling it "dangerous . . . in the context of the long history of violence against LGBTQ+ people around the world." Another writer, Abby Maxwell Hansen, voiced concern for LGBTQ+ students at BYU who were already experiencing thoughts of self-harm:
I loved BYU, and realizing that my blissful ignorance happened in the same environment that some of my peers contemplated suicide is heartbreaking to me. There were plenty of queer students at BYU with me back then, and there are just as many of them now. I don’t want any of them to feel as painfully isolated as my closeted friends did in the past.
- Katie Ludlow Rich addresses an open letter to Elder Holland about the musket empire in his BYU speech.
- Abby Maxwell Hansen describes the Y lighting.
[21]↩︎
In 2019, political science valedictorian Matt Easton said he was “proud to be a gay son of God” during his graduation speech which was met with cheers and applause. His comments about his sexuality generated attention on social media, as reported by the Daily Universe.
Elder Holland said of this event:
If a student commandeers a graduation podium intended to represent everyone getting diplomas that day in order to announce his personal sexual orientation, what might another speaker feel free to announce the next year, until eventually anything goes?
- Jenna Alton reports on Matt Easton coming out as gay during his BYU commencement speech.
- Elder Holland speaks to BYU faculty about the university's special mission and the LGBTQ movement.
[22]↩︎
The Salt Lake Tribune reported that Elder Holland apologized to the parents of Matt Easton.
The apostle wrote a letter to [Matt] Easton’s father, an active Latter-day Saint, Easton said. In it, the church leader apologized for any pain he may have caused the graduate’s parents. “He did not,” Easton explained, “attempt to make contact or restitution with me.”
- Tamarra Kemsley reports on Elder Holland apologizing to the parents of Matt Easton.
[23]↩︎
Elder Holland said:
We hope it isn’t a surprise to you that your trustees are not deaf or blind to the feelings that swirl around marriage and the whole same-sex topic on campus—and a lot of other topics. I and many of my Brethren have spent more time and shed more tears on this subject than we could ever adequately convey to you this morning or any morning. We have spent hours discussing what the doctrine of the Church can and cannot provide the individuals and families struggling over this difficult issue. So it is with a little scar tissue of our own that we are trying to avoid—and hope all will try to avoid—language, symbols, and situations that are more divisive than unifying at the very time we want to show love for all of God’s children.
- Elder Holland speaks to BYU faculty about the university's special mission and the LGBTQ movement.
[24]↩︎
Elder Holland credited the origin of the metaphor this way:
Three years later, in 2017, Elder Dallin H. Oaks, not then but soon to be in the First Presidency, where he would sit only one chair—one heartbeat—away from the same position President Nelson now has, quoted our colleague Elder Neal A. Maxwell, who had said: In a way [Church of Jesus Christ] scholars at BYU and elsewhere are a little bit like the builders of the temple in Nauvoo, who worked with a trowel in one hand and a musket in the other. Today scholars building the temple of learning must also pause on occasion to defend the kingdom. I personally think this is one of the reasons the Lord established and maintains this university. The dual role of builder and defender is unique and ongoing. I am grateful we have scholars today who can handle, as it were, both trowels and muskets. To this, Elder Oaks then challengingly responded, “I would like to hear a little more musket fire from this temple of learning.”
- Elder Holland speaks to BYU faculty about the university's special mission and the LGBTQ movement.
[25]↩︎
In 2015, Ronald A. Rasband addressed the Church’s stance on LGBTQ issues at the beginning of the first BYU school year after same-sex marriage was legalized nationwide. He called for fairness toward LGBTQ individuals while urging supporters of the LGBTQ+ movement not to discriminate against the Church.
In a 2019 devotional titled "The Love and Laws of God," President Russell M. Nelson emphasized that the definitions of marriage and gender are unchanging gospel principles rooted in love.
In 2017, M. Russell Ballard spoke to BYU students about LGBTQ civil rights, acceptance, and the risks of suicide within the LGBTQ community. While reaffirming the Church’s teachings on marriage and gender, he acknowledged the need for improvement, stating that members "must do better than we have done in the past so that all members feel they have a spiritual home."
[26]↩︎
The Daily Universe reported on "an unidentified man [who] dumped water on the chalk drawings and used an anti-gay slur" against protestors. The article quoted BYU officials' condemnation: "We unequivocally condemn behavior and language that is disrespectful and hurtful. There is no place for hateful speech, or prejudice of any kind, on our campus or in our community."
According to the Universe, "The individual who used the anti-gay slur was previously a BYU student but is not currently enrolled."
- The Daily Universe addresses chalk art drawn in protest to Elder Holland's talk and a student washing it away.
[27]↩︎
Holland made this comment on an episode of the Church News podcast. He also stated: "But I am also and was then responsible for the direction of a university. I just wanted to get the supporting doctrine of the Church across."
- Jeffrey R. Holland expresses sorrow if anyone was hurt by his speech.
[28]↩︎
The Church News podcast episode featured President Holland and was hosted by a guest host, Sister Sheri Dew. According to the listing, the episode discussed "how the gospel can help provide comfort in trials and bring joy in triumphs."
- Jeffrey R. Holland expresses sorrow if anyone was hurt by his speech.
[29]↩︎
The press reported in March 2024 that the talk had been made part of the curriculum for freshmen for the new class UNIV 101: BYU Foundations for Student Success, a New Chapter for BYU.
- ABC4 News refers to Elder Holland's talk as the "musket fire speech."
- Emi Tuyetnhi Tran refers to Elder Holland's talk as the "musket fire speech."