Posted on 05/12/2010 6:53:06 PM PDT by delacoert
Mormonism is essentially a sacramental religion, defined by ordinance and ritual more than doctrine or belief. Any effort to define “Mormon doctrine” is fraught with difficulty and virtually certain of error, although one might venture that the “belief” portion of the temple recommend interview defines doctrine.[1] As Edward Kimball says, “Church history shows that General Authorities frequently declare, clarify, refine, and qualify interpretations of doctrine, but these statements generally constitute only informed opinion.”[2]
On the other hand, there are numerous statements, writings and beliefs that have been put forward as doctrine, or believed as doctrine, at one time or by some people, that we can be fairly confident are not doctrine. We have somewhat more confidence about what is not doctrine than what is.
Only half-jokingly, one might start with the obvious-to-most-adult-Mormons statement that your high school seminary teacher was not a reliable source of doctrine.
So what do we know is not doctrine? Here is a short collection of ideas about “doctrines” we might reject, meant to invite comment and addendum. These are presented in no particular order, although the inspiration for this investigation is chapter 11 of Lengthen Your Stride, which depicts Spencer W. Kimball’s contributions to the discussion of doctrine and even more “not” doctrine.
A. Neither ‘Man, His Origin and Destiny’ by Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, nor ‘Mormon Doctrine’ by Elder Bruce R. McConkie, is an official publication of the Church.[3]
B. Despite numerous requests (and positions stated or implied in the publications noted in A above), the Church has never taken a definitive position on the matter of organic evolution.
C. “We denounce [the Adam-God Theory] and hope that everyone will be cautioned against this and other kinds of false doctrine.”[4]
D. Other churches are not all wrong. “The great religious leaders of the world such as Mohammed, Confucius, and the Reformers, as well as philosophers including Socrates, Plato, and others, received a portion of God’s light. Moral truths were given to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals.”[5]
E. References to blood atonement (leaving aside the atonement of Christ), if understood as applying to modern circumstances, ‘do not . . . represent the official stand of the Church.’[6]
F. Elder McConkie’s talk at BYU on “The Seven Deadly Heresies” (including acceptance of organic evolution, a belief that God progresses in knowledge, and the idea that progression from kingdom to kingdom in the afterlife is possible) were Elder McConkie’s personal views and not doctrine.[7]
G. The Joseph Smith Translation is “not the official Bible of the Church.” It is “interesting,” a “fruitful source,” and an “invaluable aid to biblical interpretation and understanding.”[8]
H. Church policy set in 1967 allowing only Melchizedek or Aaronic Priesthood holders to pray in sacrament meetings had no scriptural basis and should be abandoned.[9]
I. The practice of polygamy after 1890 is not in accord with the teachings of the Church.[10]
J. There is no ban on priesthood ordination of Black men after 1978.[11]
K. There is no authoritative or doctrinal explanation why the ordination of Black men was not allowed before 1978.
L. There is not an absolute prohibition on abortion.[12]
M. The Lectures on Faith are not doctrine.[13]
| [1] | In modern form the belief questions are: “(1) Do you have faith in and a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost? (2) Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Christ and of His role as Savior and Redeemer? (3) Do you have a testimony of the restoration of the gospel in these the latter days? (4) Do you sustain the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and as the only person on the earth who possesses and is authorized to exercise all priesthood keys? Do you sustain members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local authorities of the Church?” These four questions are, of course, not wholly self-defining and lend themselves to a number of interpretations. |
| [2] | Lengthen Your Stride, The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball, by Edward Kimball (Deseret Book 2005), at page 95. |
| [3] | Letters and journal entries from President David O. McKay in 1959 and 1960, among other sources. |
| [4] | Spencer W. Kimball at October General Conference in 1976. |
| [5] | Statement by the First Presidency on February 15, 1978. |
| [6] | Bruce R. McConkie, in 1977, responding to a question at the request of the First Presidency. |
| [7] | Lengthen Your Stride at page 101 and clarification in the version published in 1980 BYU Speeches of the Year, changing “we” to “I” and saying “my reasoning causes me to conclude.” |
| [8] | Quotes from the dictionary included in the LDS edition of the Bible. |
| [9] | Priesthood Bulletin 3, no. 3 (July/August 1967). |
| [10] | Official Declaration 1. |
| [11] | Official Declaration 2. |
| [12] | General Handbook of Instructions, which describes certain exceptions where abortion could be the better choice. |
| [13] | Not included in the 1979 and 1981 editions of the standard works. Ed Kimball notes in Lengthen Your Stride that inclusion was proposed at that time but not approved, and that “Several studies had recently concluded that Sidney Rigdon was the principal author of the lectures.” |
I went to see Robin Hood this afternoon...
may the Force be with you...
THX1138
Robin Hood,
Robin Hood,
With his band of men...
“Think of all the Christians you worked with at YWAM?
Are they ‘apostates’?
Of course not; YWAM has some of the Truth - the basic Truth that Jesus Christ is the Savior. Talk about working for their salvation!! If you think Latter-Day Saints have a work-ethic focus, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
Actually, when I was with YWAM - remember, I was in the jungles of Belize - we worked our butts off “for the Lord.” If you think the heat here in Fresno is hot, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!! Belize is like a sauna and worse.
I do not regret my time with YWAM for it was during that time that I felt something amiss. What was missing was the total authority and power of God. YWAMers are working their butts off out of duty or image or something. They are sincere believers in Christ, don’t get me wrong.
You brought up YWAM this time and I have given you my heart-felt response. Now rag on . . . .
What's the REST of it?
Truth exposed. I suppose many mormons are learning more or are seeing more than they’d like posted on these pages.
It is painful to see something that is believed in so earnestly torn apart by its very own words and actions. I pray for my wife who believes that all her work, 4 meetings after regular ward meetings today, will save her. It’s after 4p.m. as I post this and her regular meetings ended over 2.5 hours ago. Yet, many mormons would see nothing wrong with this. It’s expected. Afterall, “it’s the lord’s work” right?
How much does the mormon lord demand of his followers? Quite a lot. Spending time with family on the weekend is an afterthought to the church. Meetings are more important.
It doesn’t matter how much you wail against the posters who post the material. It only demonstrates a complete state of denial. A denial of the basic tenets and truths about mormonism that are being exposed as non-Christian.
I note you did not respond to my post regarding “our” Jesus vs. “your” jesus. Why is that?
So, tell me, who is breaking whose heart if to a mormon families are forever and are at the very core of the mormon’s belief system?
Would not the mormons be breaking the heart of the mormon holy ghost by denying and disobeying a basic tenet of the mormon faith? You do remember the proclamation issued by SLC about families don’t you?
GMTA! Fuzzy and Pearls are two of my favorites.
For a person who claims to have worked for YWAM, I am at a loss to figure out how you do not know that.
Salvation is a gift.
Could you please cite some stat and or reference for that statement?
But I don't have the time at the moment....
"Is a"..."Is the"...( Shrugging shoulders...) Old saying....."It's either about the money/gold/silver..etc...or sex." Twas pretty true in the Bible...as today.
FRegards,
The Mormon works to be saved.
The Christian works because he/she are saved.
The Christian works because he/she are saved.
Oh; but NOTHING can take the place of CALVIN!
...and his buddy; too!
Looks like II and the Mod!
“For a person who claims to have worked for YWAM”
First of all, nobody works for YWAM. In fact YOU PAY THEM for the privilege. After you have lived in the jungles of Belize for 6 months and served a mission there for 18 months, then come back and talk to me.
Until then, shut up talking about YWAM and my walk with the Lord. You do not know what you are talking about.
“The Mormon works to be saved.”
That is a stupid ignorant comment. We have callings to provide service and to love one another and our communities - not because we HAVE to, but because we WANT to.
Please stop saying dumb stuff about me and my faith. As usual, you don’t know what you are talking about.
Furthermore, you are breaking the Savior’s Heart with your anti Mormon propaganda.
For the record, I have come to the conclusion that many, if not most, of the anti Mormon posters here have some kind of financial stake in promoting the anti Mormon agenda. Just look at all the books, tapes, CD’s, DVD’s, church classes, sermons, seminars, speeches, and other business enterprises that depend of promotion of anti Mormon materials.
There are no paid clergy in the LDS Church. We are all volunteers.
But I will grant you this: We are a peculiar people.
Ah but Sandy, were they “workin’ their butts off” to try to be good enough for God, to earn salvation (which of course can’t be done), or were these people already saved and they were “workin’ their butts off” out of unspeakable gratitude to God?
Pity, pity, pity the former and look in awe upon the latter. They’re pretty much unstoppable. You ain’t seen nothin’ yet :-)
BTW, the latter belong to an open club, and there are no secret (oops, I mean scared) ceremonies to join. You just have to give up what you cannot keep in order to gain what you cannot lose.
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