Mormon Doctrine (1958–2010), RIP.

Religion Dispatches.org ^ | May 24, 2010 | Joanna Brooks

[Colofornian]

I’m holding in my hand my black hardcover copy of Mormon Doctrine by Bruce R. McConkie, one of Mormonism’s most influential books, an all-time Mormon bestseller, which went out of print this week.

A book written, I’m sure, with the best of intentions by a revered Mormon leader. And, still, a book that continued to circulate even after other high-ranking Mormon leaders recommended more than one thousand corrections to its content.

A book that called Roman Catholicism the “Church of the Devil.” And a book that elevated to doctrinal status non-doctrinal folklore about the origins of the LDS Church’s ban on conveying priesthood authority to members of African descent, claiming that blacks were the descendents of the accursed Cain.

A book that due to its authoritative presentation and doctrinal fundamentalism gave many Mormons reasons for grief.

Mormon Doctrine (1958 – 2010), RIP.

[Colofornian]

From the article: A book that called Roman Catholicism the “Church of the Devil.” And a book that elevated to doctrinal status non-doctrinal folklore about the origins of the LDS Church’s ban on conveying priesthood authority to members of African descent, claiming that blacks were the descendents of the accursed Cain.

Yet the Mormon church ensured it got ahold of the direct copyright by acquiring it from Bookcraft and published under its direct ownership umbrella (Deseret Book Publishing) in 1993.

This book was published under 7, count 'em 7, Mormon "prophets" (McKay, Lee, Kimball, Benson, Hunter, Hinckley, Monson). Only McKay conveyed strongly that alterations needs to be forthcoming.

But what do you expect? Mormons called McConkie an "apostle."
Mormons believe in continuing revelation.
And it was an "apostle," after all -- the apostle Paul -- who wrote a good chunk of the New Testament.

[svcw]

best of intentions

Pave the way to hell.

[Vendome]

I wanted to read this “All McConkie” stuff.

Any idea where I can download it?

[Alex Murphy]

....the Mormon church ensured it got ahold of the direct copyright by acquiring it from Bookcraft and published under its direct ownership umbrella (Deseret Book Publishing) in 1993.

That explains a lot. My first copy was a 2nd Ed. published in 1979.

[Mandingo Conservative]

A book that called Roman Catholicism the “Church of the Devil.”

I hate it when others put down my religion. I can say LSD, uh, I mean LDS is just another form of Islam, and I am being nice here.

[Ripliancum]

From the looks of it, doing a simple search of your postings, this is the 3rd thread you've started on the same subject in the last 4 days.

Just curious as to why this is such a fascinating subject to you? Especially since McConkie gave a disclaimer at the front of the book, stating that he alone was responsible for the doctrinal and spiritual interpretations.

_____________________________________________________

Mormon Doctrine (1958–2010), RIP.
May 24, 2010 8:40:38 PM MDT · by Colofornian · 3 replies · 105+ views

Landmark ‘Mormon Doctrine’ goes out of print
May 22, 2010 9:07:38 AM MDT · by Colofornian · 26 replies · 287+ views

Publisher Stops Printing Popular LDS Book
May 20, 2010 6:42:37 PM MDT · by Colofornian · 23 replies · 259+ views

[DemonDeac]

“I hate it when others put down my religion. I can say LSD, uh, I mean LDS is just another form of Islam, and I am being nice here.”

Mormonism is like Islam in that it incorporates some elements of Christianity and Judaism. It also is like Islam in that it isn’t a Christian faith and is based largely on the teachings of a false prophet. Mormons are good people by and large and share many conservative values but so long as they follow the teachings of Joseph Smith they are not Christians.

[reaganaut]

Shame. Mormon Doctrine is one of the best books for witnessing to the LDS.

But, as is typical, they have to distance themselves from anything that might tell the truth about what they believe.

When I was LDS, EVERY MORMON FAMILY had at least one copy and it was allowed on missions. It was the standard reference.

[reaganaut]

Order a hard copy from amazon, STAT.

[reaganaut]

I have the 1988 version.

[reaganaut]

YOu are only HALF right. There are a great many more similarities between Mormonism and Islam than most people think.

http://www.bible.ca/islam/islamic-mormonism-similarities.htm

for starters. A google search will yield many more results and similarites.

Also, it is a PR myth that Mormons are conservative, the rank and file (esp outside Utah) tend to be more liberal and closer to Reid and Romney than real conservatives (esp on abortion).

[Tennessee Nana]

A book that called Roman Catholicism the “Church of the Devil.”
____________________________________________

Joey Smith started that falsehood...

[Tennessee Nana]

“I Will Be a Second Mohammed”

In the heat of the Missouri “Mormon War” of 1838, Joseph Smith made the following claim, “I will be to this generation a second Mohammed, whose motto in treating for peace was ‘the Alcoran [Koran] or the Sword.’ So shall it eventually be with us—‘Joseph Smith or the Sword!’ ”[1]

It is most interesting that a self-proclaimed Christian prophet would liken himself to Mohammed, the founder of Islam. His own comparison invites us to take a closer look as well. And when we do, we find some striking—and troubling—parallels. Consider the following.

Mohammed and Joseph Smith both had humble beginnings. Neither had formal religious connections or upbringing, and both were relatively uneducated. Both founded new religions by creating their own scriptures. In fact, followers of both prophets claim these scriptures are miracles since their authors were the most simple and uneducated of men.[2]

Both prophets claim of having angel visitations, and of receiving divine revelation to restore pure religion to the earth again. Mohammed was told that both Jews and Christians had long since corrupted their scriptures and religion. In like manner, Joseph Smith was told that all of Christianity had become corrupt, and that consequently the Bible itself was no longer reliable. In both cases, this corruption required a complete restoration of both scripture and religion. Nothing which preceded either prophet could be relied upon any longer.

Both prophets claim they were used of God to restore eternal truths which once existed on earth, but had been lost due to human corruption.

Both prophets created new scripture which borrowed heavily from the Bible, but with a substantially new “spin.” In his Koran, Mohammed appropriates a number of Biblical themes and characters—but he changes the complete sense of many passages, claiming to “correct” the Bible. In so doing he changes many doctrines, introducing his own in their place. In like manner, Joseph Smith created the Book of Mormon, much of which is plagiarized directly from the King James Bible. Interestingly, the Book of Mormon claims that this same Bible has been substantially corrupted and is therefore unreliable. In addition, Joseph Smith went so far as to actually create his own version of the Bible itself, the “Inspired Version,” in which he both adds and deletes significant portions of text, claiming he is “correcting” it. In so doing he also changes many doctrines, introducing his own in their place.

As a part of their new scriptural “spin,” both prophets saw themselves as prophesied in scripture, and both saw themselves as a continuation of a long line of Biblical prophets. Mohammed saw himself as a continuation of the ministry of Moses and Jesus. Joseph Smith saw himself as a successor to Enoch, Melchizedek, Joseph and Moses. Joseph Smith actually wrote himself into his own version of the Bible—by name.

Both prophets held up their own scripture as superior to the Bible. Mohammed claimed that the Koran was a perfect copy of the original which was in heaven. The Koran is therefore held to be absolutely perfect, far superior to the Bible and superceding it. In like manner, Joseph Smith also made the following claim. “I told the Brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding its precepts, than by any other book.”[3]

Despite their claim that the Bible was corrupt, both prophets admonished their followers to adhere to its teachings. An obvious contradiction, this led to selective acceptance of some portions and wholesale rejection of others. As a result, the Bible is accepted by both groups of followers only to the extent that it agrees with their prophet’s own superior revelation.

Both Mohammed and Joseph Smith taught that true salvation was to be found only in their respective religions. Those who would not accept their message were considered “infidels,” pagans or Gentiles. In so doing, both prophets became the enemy of genuine Christianity, and have led many people away from the Christ of the Bible.

Both prophets encountered fierce opposition to their new religions and had to flee from town to town because of threats on their lives. Both retaliated to this opposition by forming their own militias. Both ultimately set up their own towns as model societies.

Both Mohammed and Joseph Smith left unclear instructions about their successors. The majority of Mohammed’s followers, Sunni Muslims, believe they were to elect their new leader, whereas the minority, Shiite Muslims, believe Mohammed’s son was to be their next leader. Similarly, the majority of Joseph Smith’s followers, Mormons, believed their next prophet should have been the existing leader of their quorum of twelve apostles, whereas the minority, RLDS, believed Joseph Smith’s own son should have been their next prophet. Differences on this issue, and many others, have created substantial tension between these rival groups of each prophet.

Mohammed taught that Jesus was just another of a long line of human prophets, of which he was the last. He taught that he was superior to Christ and superceded Him. In comparison,

Joseph Smith also made the following claim.
“I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him, but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet.”[4] In light of these parallels, perhaps Joseph Smith’s claim to be a second Mohammed unwittingly became his most genuine prophecy of all.
________________________________________

[1] Joseph Smith made this statement at the conclusion of a speech in the public square at Far West, Missouri on October 14, 1838. This particular quote is documented in Fawn M. Brodie, No Man Knows My History, second edition, (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1971), p. 230–231. Fawn Brodie’s footnote regarding this speech contains valuable information, and follows. “Except where noted, all the details of this chapter [16] are taken from the History of the [Mormon] Church. This speech, however, was not recorded there, and the report given here is based upon the accounts of seven men. See the affidavits of T.B. Marsh, Orson Hyde, George M. Hinkle, John Corrill, W.W. Phelps, Samson Avard, and Reed Peck in Correspondence, Orders, etc., pp. 57–9, 97–129. The Marsh and Hyde account, which was made on October 24, is particularly important. Part of it was reproduced in History of the [Mormon] Church, Vol. III, p. 167. See also the Peck manuscript, p. 80. Joseph himself barely mentioned the speech in his history; see Vol. III, p. 162.”

[2] John Ankerberg & John Weldon, The Facts on Islam, (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 1998), pp.8–9. Eric Johnson, Joseph Smith & Muhammed, (El Cajon, CA: Mormonism Research Ministry, 1998), pp. 6–7.

[3] Documentary History of the [Mormon] Church, vol.4, pp.461.

[4] Documentary History of the [Mormon] Church, vol.6, pp.408–409.

[Belteshazzar]

“I mean LDS is just another form of Islam, and I am being nice here.”

Apostle Parley P. Pratt beat you to this observation ... before he was told to shut up.

[aruanan]

“I mean LDS is just another form of Islam, and I am being nice here.”

Both appeal to long lost descendants of Abraham to give them a genetic link to a major religious figure, both claim that the truth was subsequently covered up by the religious establishment, both claim to be God's way of bringing the truth about it all back to the world, both have special instructions for the nether regions (Islam, the proper way to poop and pee; Mormon, the special underpants), both promoted polygamy, both explain away the significance of Jesus, both depend on a certain level of xenophobia to keep the group together.

[Belteshazzar]

You speak as one who knows better than I.

I merely noted that Parley P. Pratt, apostle and, if I recall rightly, editor of the longest running LDS publication, “Millenial Star,” made such observations and comparisons as you do more than a hundred years ago.

[aruanan]

Oh, here’s another: if you pulled out of either one everything that came from the Bible and attendant Christian doctrines, there would be almost nothing left.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Or as Resty said, and I predicted on another thread, now it’s just one man’s opinion!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2518904/posts?page=26#26

To: Colofornian
** Bruce R. McConkie’s Mormon Doctrine, one of the most influential LDS books of the 20th century, has quietly gone out of print.***

Save your copies! When they write a new version of doctrine the old ones will suddenly become...”Just one man’s opinion”.

26 posted on 05/23/2010 10:37:47 AM PDT by Ruy Dias de Bivar ( Viva los SB 1070)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies | Report Abuse]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2518271/posts?q=1&;page=301

***

To: Colofornian
Bruce R. McConkie like the Pratt brothers had their opinions on things there were times they struck gold and other times they got carried away.

No man is perfect in all things nor is the LDS we all have our baggage which will influence our thoughts so that is why in John it said always try the spirit no one can escape the opposition trying to detract us.

Even the Prophets teach all of the LDS to pray and get a confirmation for ourselves when a revelation is given.

317 posted on Monday, May 24, 2010 12:00:56 AM by restornu
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 316 | View Replies | Report Abuse]

[Belteshazzar]

I remember surmising something to that effect in south-semitic (i.e., Arabic) resources library at the University of Minnesota many moons ago when I was young and foolish. Someone whispered to me to shut up, or there would be trouble. Little did I know how right he was.

[Colofornian]

That explains a lot. My first copy was a 2nd Ed. published in 1979.

That was the 3rd Ed. -- lst was 1958; 2nd was 1966 -- '66 was a revision.