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Close Topic OptionsWhat Is "Official" LDS Doctrine?
What Official Lds Doctrine - Mormon Doctrine Studies - Posted: 30th May, 2007 - 12:21am
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Define Mormon Doctrine
Post Date: 27th Mar, 2004 - 8:46pm / Post ID: #
What Is "Official" LDS Doctrine?
The following is an article entitled, What is "Official" LDS Doctrine, written by Michael R. Ash for the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research (FAIR). It comes directly from the www.fairlds.org Web site and is in PDF format. It consists of two pages and has a long list of references and quotes from modern-day prophets to back up its position.
My view on what is official LDS doctrine is exactly the same as what is written in this article. Yet, since posting here, I've been getting flack that such a view is inconsistent, confusing and wrong. I ask everyone to read the article and give their opinion of the facts (the quotes of the statements by prophets) presented therein so that we, maybe, might come to a better understanding of what is and what isn't official LDS doctrine. The link follows:
What is "Official" LDS Doctrine? - PDF Document
This same article is also found on the www.mormonfortress.org Web site in HTML format, under a different title, Declaring the "Word of God". It is more extensive and contains clickable links to a much greater list of references in order to research further. Here is the link:
Declaring the "Word of God" - HTML Document
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Post Date: 29th Mar, 2004 - 9:37pm / Post ID: #
Doctrine LDS quotOfficialquot What
Relative truth vs. Absolute truth. I guess the official church doctrine is the absolute truth. Anything found in the scriptures or conference talks is official church doctrine. Opinions posted on message boards may not be.
In the article you referred to above there is a link to the changes in the temple endowmwnt. This is a perfect example. The actual endowmwnt itself is Absolute truth. The methods used to teach us the absolute truth are relative and that is what has changed over the years. Critics of the church love to point to the changes in the temple ceremony and conclude that this is proof the church is bogus. Did God change his mind? Or did God get it wrong the first time and now he has made the changes to make it right?
The answer is neither. As the church progresses and times change, the Lord approves different methods to teach us what we need to know today which may be different that what they needed to know in 1850.
What Is "Official" LDS Doctrine? Studies Doctrine Mormon
There is an interesting quote by Harold B. Lee on "Stand Ye in Holy Places". He said:
| QUOTE |
| "It is not to be thought that every word spoken by the General Authorities is inspired, or that they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost in everything they write." |
In my opinion for something to become "official"doctrine must be presented to the Saints for sustaining vote, if is not, then cannot be considered as "official" doctrine neither binding. It's merely opinion.
Another quote, by J. F. McConkie from Joseph Fielding McConkie, "Answers: Straightforward Answers to Tough Gospel Questions":
| QUOTE |
| To claim that anything taught in general conference is "official" doctrine makes the place where something is said rather than what is said the standard of truth. Nor is something doctrine simply because it was said by someone who holds a particular office or position. Truth is not an office or a position to which one is ordained." |
Interesting, considering that a lot of times we think of General Conference and the words we hear as "official", it is not so.
J. Fielding Smith said clearly:
| QUOTE |
| "If what has been said is in conflict with what the Lord has revealed, we can set it aside. The standard works, he explains, are the "measuring yardsticks, or balances, by which we measure every man's doctrine." |
By doing this we will know the difference between opinion and "official" doctrine.
Thoughts?
Doctrine LDS quotOfficialquot What
I fell that all doctrine is truth but not all truth is doctrine. Doctrine is a collection of principals or beliefs that are part of a body of knowledge. There are many things that are true but that are not considered doctrine. For me I have always described doctrine as the commandments, ordinances needed for exultation, along statements that the church body or its leaders have accepted. These are all principals of our knowledge system. This would be for example the doctrine of Baptism, the gift of the holy Ghost, etc. There are many truths out there that do not fall into these categories. There may be truth they we recognize as truth but not doctrine. Meaning that they do not deal with our body of knowledge or exultation. For example quantum physics may be truth and we may accept it as truth, but to say that it is doctrine is a stretch. We may find out truths about God from personal revelation, but to say that such truths are accepted by the body of the church, or that such truth is necessary to know for our exaltation may be a stretch as well. So in my opinion truth is not necessarily doctrine.Personally one of the things I like about our church is the lack of formal doctrine. We do not have a great amount of it. We have no creeds, or procedural laws like many churches. Our church really does not have much of an atonement doctrine or theory. Other then that it involves the savior, his death, and our redemption we do not say much more then this. It is very much left alone and given for personal interpretation and experience. Our atonement theory is really a hodge-podge of other theories left for us to sort out on our own. Well I am getting off topic now so I better stop here.
Doctrine LDS quotOfficialquot What
| QUOTE (Isiah53) |
| Our atonement theory is really a hodge-podge of other theories left for us to sort out on our own. |
You are right, not only is that off topic, it has no basis or backbone to it, it is purely opinion and should be stated as such. The Atonement is left for the Focus on Christ Board and depending on the length / depth of your knowledge the LDS Mature Board.
Official Doctrine of the Church used to be based on name and 'seal' of the Church being established in/on the Book being used, however, in recent times we have found that even so there are many things because of policy that has placed a new rank of officialdom on things and that is it is subject to the one who is Presiding at the time. That is the way is taught in the Church - like it or not like it, agree or disagree - it does not change - hence official is a term used generally for the current interpretation in my opinion.
What Is "Official" LDS Doctrine?
The Church (not sure who, I suppose PR) released a press statement concerning Church doctrine, a very interesting one. Please ensure to read all and give your insights:
| QUOTE |
| SALT LAKE CITY 4 May 2007 Much misunderstanding about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints revolves around its doctrine. The news media is increasingly asking what distinguishes the Church from other faiths, and reporters like to contrast one set of beliefs with another. The Church welcomes inquisitiveness, but the challenge of understanding Mormon doctrine is not merely a matter of accessing the abundant information available. Rather, it is a matter of how this information is approached and examined. The doctrinal tenets of any religion are best understood within a broad context (see here and here), and thoughtful analysis is required to understand them. News reporters pressed by daily deadlines often find that problematic. Therefore, as the Church continues to grow throughout the world and receive increasing media attention, a few simple principles that facilitate a better understanding may be helpful: * Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not meant to be officially binding for the whole Church. With divine inspiration, the First Presidency (the prophet and his two counselors) and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (the second-highest governing body of the Church) counsel together to establish doctrine that is consistently proclaimed in official Church publications. This doctrine resides in the four 'standard works" of scripture (the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price), official declarations and proclamations, and the Articles of Faith. Isolated statements are often taken out of context, leaving their original meaning distorted. * Some doctrines are more important than others and might be considered core doctrines. For example, the precise location of the Garden of Eden is far less important than doctrine about Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice. The mistake that public commentators often make is taking an obscure teaching that is peripheral to the Church's purpose and placing it at the very center. This is especially common among reporters or researchers who rely on how other Christians interpret Latter-day Saint doctrine. Based on the scriptures, Joseph Smith declared: "The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it." * Because different times present different challenges, modern-day prophets receive revelation relevant to the circumstances of their day. This follows the biblical pattern (Amos 3:7), in which God communicated messages and warnings to His people through prophets in order to secure their well-being. In our day, President Gordon B. Hinckley has repeatedly emphasized the importance of the family in our increasingly fractional society. In addition, the Church does not preclude future additions or changes to its teachings or practices. This living, dynamic aspect of the Church provides flexibility in meeting those challenges. According to the Articles of Faith, "We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God." * Latter-day Saints place heavy emphasis on the application of their faith in daily life. For example, the active participation of Latter-day Saints in their community and worldwide humanitarian programs reflects concern for other people. As Jesus Christ declared, "By their fruits ye shall know them." * Individual members are encouraged to independently strive to receive their own spiritual confirmation of the truthfulness of Church doctrine. Moreover, the Church exhorts all people to approach the gospel not only intellectually but with the intellect and the spirit, a process in which reason and faith work together. * Those writing or commenting on Latter-day Saint doctrine also need to understand that certain words in the Mormon vocabulary have slightly different meanings and connotations than those same words have in other religions. For example, Latter-day Saints generally view being born again as a process of conversion, whereas many other Christian denominations often view it as a conversion that happens in one defining moment. Sometimes what some may consider an argument or dispute over doctrine is really a misunderstanding of simple differences in terminology... |
TOPIC: What Is "Official" LDS Doctrine?