But your blanket statement that Hinckley “denied that the LDS Church taught that doctrine” is relying on you placing your own meaning on the phrase “I don’t know that we teach it.”He's the president of the Church! He supposedly the LIVING PROPHET OF GOD!
He worked his way to the top by knowing Mormon Doctrine inside and out. If Gordon Hinckley claims that he didn't know that the LDS Church teaches that doctrine and it is Mormon doctrine as you say, then Hinkley was a liar! There is no getting around it. Scooter Libbey was sentenced to four years in prison for this kind of dissembling.
By claiming that he didn't know that the LDS Church taught that doctrine he was denying that it is doctrine.
This kind of dissembling is typical of nearly every Mormon apologist on this forum and on every other forum on the internet.
If the doctrine of eternal progression is still taught as LDS Doctrine then Gordon Hinckley was a bald faced liar.
Now you know why I left the Mormon Church. This kind of stuff has been going on since day one. Joseph Smith taught polygamy in private and denied that he was teaching it in public. Hinckley was privately teaching the doctrine that God was once a man and then in public pretending he didn't know anything about it.
How can any thinking man defend this kind of sleazy garbage?
You are completely missing my point, evidently purposefully.
I said I may well be wrong on this point. I’ll have to do some research.
You said that Hinckley denied that the Church teaches the doctrine.
He did not. He said: “I don’t know that we teach it. I don’t know that we emphasize it. I haven’t heard it discussed for a long time in public discourse. I don’t know. I don’t know all the circumstances under which that statement was made. I understand the philosophical background behind it. But I don’t know a lot about it and I don’t know that others know a lot about it.”
In other words: It is not emphasized in the Church. I (Hinckley) don’t know a lot about that doctrine (and why should he? It’s not been fully revealed), though I understand the philosophy behind it.
You are twisting the quote to say: That is not the doctrine of the Church.
This is an increasingly Pharisaical line of questioning, PM. Will you persist until you’re satisfied you’ve caught me in my own words? Is that your objective?
How can any thinking man defend this kind of sleazy garbage? HMMmm...
THE
DOCTRINE AND COVENANTS
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
SECTION 9
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to Oliver Cowdery, at Harmony, Pennsylvania, April 1829. HC 1: 37–38. Oliver is admonished to be patient, and is urged to be content to write, for the time being, at the dictation of the translator, rather than to attempt to translate. 1–6, Other ancient records are yet to be translated; 7–14, The Book of Mormon is translated by study and by spiritual confirmation.
1 Behold, I say unto you, my son, that because you did not translate according to that which you desired of me, and did commence again to write for my servant, Joseph Smith, Jun., even so I would that ye should continue until you have finished this record, which I have entrusted unto him.
2 And then, behold, other records have I, that I will give unto you power that you may assist to translate.
3 Be patient, my son, for it is wisdom in me, and it is not expedient that you should translate at this present time.
4 Behold, the work which you are called to do is to write for my servant Joseph.
5 And, behold, it is because that you did not continue as you commenced, when you began to translate, that I have taken away this privilege from you.
6 Do not murmur, my son, for it is wisdom in me that I have dealt with you after this manner.
7 Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.
8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.
9 But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me.
10 Now, if you had known this you could have translated; nevertheless, it is not expedient that you should translate now.
11 Behold, it was expedient when you commenced; but you feared, and the time is past, and it is not expedient now;
12 For, do you not behold that I have given unto my servant Joseph sufficient strength, whereby it is made up? And neither of you have I condemned.
13 Do this thing which I have commanded you, and you shall prosper. Be faithful, and yield to no temptation.
14 Stand fast in the work wherewith I have called you, and a hair of your head shall not be lost, and you shall be lifted up at the last day. Amen.
NOBODY wants - stupor of thought!!!