Foxxy have you and the gang been rumbling with the BYU kids again?
At your age you could hurt yourself with those clubs and chains, and don't get me started about the switchblades with your eyesight...
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.” |
You are not an asset to FR.
I’m not defending anything. I’m attacking you for attacking mormons. There’s a big difference.
This is the Religion Forum, not the Smokey Backroom. Posts must have a theological context otherwise they are just flame bait.
Discuss the issues, but do not make it personal.
I’ll tell you what’s personal. You are. You are not fit to serve as a moderator when you inject yourself personally into the discussion thread.
Take your complaints to Jim Robinson.
Good morning everyone.
Settling in for de festivities ja?
Foxxy have you and the gang been rumbling with the BYU kids again?
At your age you could hurt yourself with those clubs and chains, and don't get me started about the switchblades with your eyesight...
(BTW; those rites CANNOT be found in ANY of their scripture.)
But can be found in Masonic Lodges everywhere (Where they came from originally.)
Ja Ja!
Righteousness guides my arm ;) And, the ammo is provided by the mormon leaders in their own words.
Hi Resty, when you quote from the bible, I completely disregard your point, since you yourself cannot tell me which parts of the bible are translated incorrectly.
But otherwise, it’s been a while - how are you girl?
“there are those who don’t have a problem letting people spend eternity separated from God “
How do you people sleep at night? With all that condemning other people to the eternal fires of hell. I am scared for you.
Heavenly Father is my Judge - not you. And because of the Blood of the Lamb of God, I do not have to worry about my salvation. The Holy Ghost is my Witness.
I am a Mormon and not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Get over yourselves and stop promoting the business of anti Mormonism.
Hi Sandy,
His name is God. And he has three aspects - God the Father, God the Son (who is eternal and not created) and God the Holy Spirit.
Not three Gods. One God.
Just a little Christianity 101.
I wish and hope and pray you will become a Christian.
Oh, and Jesus Christ will be your judge. And mine.
With all that condemning other people to the eternal fires of hell. I am scared for you.
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Lots of tears for your mormon prophets eh ???
With all that condemning other people to the eternal fires of hell. I am scared for you.
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You really ought to try the God of the Christian Bible then since the mormon god just fills you with fear...
Heres what the Christian God has to say about Himself...
God has not given you a spirit of fear...
2 Timothy 1:7
That verse goes on to say the Christian God will give you a sound mind in place of that fear...
How do you people sleep at night?
________________________________
Very well thank you...
The God of the Christian Bible gives us a clean concience
Get over yourself and stop promoting the business of anti Christianity
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