What are religions for?

To censor what their followers can know? That may be what people take from the story of Adam and Eve, who disobeyed the commandment not to eat of the tree which would give them knowledge of good and evil, and brought hardship and death into the world.

That's not how Mormons view it, though. We believe that we lived with God before this life, that we grew there in knowledge and ability until, in order to progress further, we had to leave his presence. But if it was to happen, it would have to be through life in a fallen world. We believe that without the decision to disobey one commandment they would have disobeyed the greater one, to multiply and replenish the earth. They could not have had children without a change in their bodies that made them mortal and gave them physical desire. So, "Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have joy." Joy comes from knowing the sweet from the bitter, failure and success, fear and faith.

Most religions view Adam and Eve as traitors and failures. We honor them as great and honorable parents who made mortality possible along with even greater growth and progress. So we view knowledge as essential to growth and happiness. We disapprove of sin, because it weakens us and drives away the spirit of God, and we believe that our society would be better if we chose to deny ourselves of some things. But to deny freedom and knowledge of evil as well as good doesn't make any sense. That's why trying to block criticism or turning us into automatons who lack understanding or freedom to choose makes no sense and is contrary to the purpose of our lives. A religion that tries to prohibit criticism of itself, discussion and reason is serving itself and not God. If it cannot deal with others head on with confidence and reason, it will become apostate.