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It Is Not Important For My Salvation... - Page 2

I hate that about sunday class, I'm sixteen and My teacher likes to do games in which we find answers within the scripture. When he asks, "What does [scripture] mean ?", I'm really trying to think of the deep teaching, doctrine, theme, and then someone just blurts out a sunday school answer like "keeping the Commandments", and they get a point. It makes me feel I'm being cheated out of a great sunday school education, , but it's fun.

Salvation My Important Not It

I hate to break the consistency of opinion in this thread, but I do have a strong opinion:

I know many that complain about the lack of study into the deeper doctrines, instead of just hammering the basic doctrines into our minds until they practically come out of our socks. I was one for a long time.

But then again, are we actually living the basic doctrines? Are we continually going through the process of faith (active belief), continual repentance, baptism (taking the sacrament), and the Gift of the Holy Ghost (sanctification through enduring to the end)? The explanations in the bracquets are mine, but I do believe they are correct parallels for members.

We are far from our goal of zion, though we are of course closer to it than any other church, since we are founded on the truth, and the authority to administer it accordingly, etc.

But going back to our potential, we can all analyze ourselves and see in how much we lack. I don't want to go into detail the difference between perfection and being clean; I recommend the book "Believing Christ" to anyone that still believes that they need to be individually perfect in order to enter into the Celestial Kingdom.

Then comes the argument that learning the deeper doctrines will enable us to live the commandments better. I have found that that is rarely the case. When it comes down to it, it is the basic doctrines that propel us forward. I will expand:

Prayer, reading scriptures, and going to church: the 3 golden answers to everything. I think it is said so often that we tend to overlook the power in it. Speaking with God through prayer (not Saying Prayers), will put us in contact with Deity. Reading the scriptures and going to church and striving to live the basic commandments will enable the Holy Ghost to teach us what we need to learn through these experiences.

Most of the revelations will be ethical in nature, or at least will reveal doctrine which will change our paradigm to move into a higher state of personal ethical standards, and we will be helped by the power of the Holy Ghost to become this new creature through the Atoning Blood of Christ.

The basic doctrines are the most profound, and as we live them more strongly through praying, going to church, reading the scriptures, having faith and charity, repenting of our sins (with an accurate concept of repentance; The Miracle of Forgiveness is a must-read, along with many GA talks), taking the sacrament, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost and visiting the Temple, we will find that the deeper doctrines will be made manifest to us by the power of the Holy Ghost. They will still be probably ethical in nature, but we will reach a point where the basic teachings of the Church will no longer satisfy to the point where we have reached (this takes a while, and most are probably not even there yet), and THEN we will have a natural tendency to search deeper into the deeper doctrines that immediately concern us and the immediate revelations relating to US.

If we pray and fast for this deeper understanding, and for a proper appreciation for that understanding when it is revealed to us, then can we not trust God that He will help us find that answer in the lesser-known areas of Church Doctrine? And if it is not even in that hemisphere (which would be highly doubtful for the average member during mortal life), then would He not then reveal it to us, if we remain worthy and steadfast in searching for the answer, through the power of the Holy Ghost?
And when we finally DO find that deeper doctrine that immediately affects us, do we then go on telling the world? I would think not, if we teach by the Spirit, because different people are at different stages.

There will probably be occasions when we will feel prompted to reveal it, whether in a talk or a private conversation, but it will not be all the time. Once again, people are at different levels in their spirituality than where we are.

I believe that this is the proper manner in which to delve into the deeper doctrines of the Church. It is highly productive, and does not lie on the extreme of basic-doctrine-parroting or deep-doctrine-craving. I use negative connotations to illustrate the manner in which both extremes are considered by the other.

Yes, there are times when we need deeper doctrines to help us. But not all the time. And most of the time it IS the basic doctrines that help us, because in and of themselves they can go deeper than probably all the other ones combined, in my opinion. We do find people with behaviours in the extremes within the church, so what are we going to do about it? Rebel and find all the deep doctrine that could possibly be found and eat it all up? Or are we going to deny anything that is taught out of primary to rid us of the heresies of the unsearchable mysteries?

I believe a more healthy view should be in place. Not that the opinions in this thread have so far been extreme, but I have as not yet seen a satisfying middle-ground, which is what I am proposing. How can we change the extremes we find in the church? By example. By patience. Perhaps speaking with them and settling differences of opinion on the matter. We must start with ourselves, then with those around us, and soon we will see a better mind-set for the attitude we take towards deep doctrine with this group. If done right, it will only be a matter of time before it spreads to the majority of the ward. Of course there will still be those who do not want to change their way of thinking, but they are doing the best according to what they know, so we will apply the basic doctrines that we might get tired of sometimes and have Patience with them and show our love for them. And if we find THIS hard, then we can apply the basic doctrine of prayer (oh my, not again!) and ask for the ability to do so, and it will be done as we strive to obey the commandments in the other areas of our lives.

(I apologize for the sarcasm. I guess I am just a little annoyed that this mind-set has not been proposed yet.)

Message Edited... I just separated your message in paragraphs for easy reading.

Edited: LDS_forever on 1st Dec, 2006 - 12:12pm

It Is Not Important For My Salvation... Studies Doctrine Mormon

Wordswriter, I will like to address some of your points.

I am not quite sure if there is such a thing as "deeper" doctrines. The fact that doctrines such as Plural Marriage, Making your Call and Election Sure (Just an example) were taught and discussed in Church in the early days, it shows to me there was a need for these things to be taught and learn.

Now regards to your questions, maybe in fact a lot of people are pass beyond the "basic" (and I am not talking about me!) What do you do with those people who want to learn more anddiscuss those issues if everybody around still in "kindergarten" doctrinally speaking? I understand that each one of us is at a different level, yet many times it is used as a good excuse to NOT learn anymore, after all, "It is not important for my Salvation" leaving a lot of members behind, who really want to learn and discuss these things openly. (Note: If you decide to upgrade, you will see the Mature LDS board where we discuss lots of these things).

I think you are a being a little extreme here. Just because someone wants to learn more about the "deeper doctrines" does not mean they are going to rebel or deny the basic doctrines. Both can be done perfectly fine. The issue becomes a problem when the person thinks they know more than anybody else and they do not need the counsel of the Lord or the Prophet anymore. Then again, this is a problem all throughout the Church and out and is not related alone to those who seek to study the less-known Church doctrine.

First of all, I do not think is the job of anyone to change the mindset of another member. Second, why do you assume they are doing their "best" according to what they know? And third, your "golden" answers again..."show love for them?" How?

Rather off topic, but... QUOTE I apologize for the sarcasm. I guess I am just a little annoyed that this mind-set has not been proposed yet. Annoyed? The reason the mind-set you proposed has not been discussed as a "proposal" is because what you are in fact saying are the same "golden answers" we are talking about on this topic. *shrugs*

Edited: LDS_forever on 1st Dec, 2006 - 1:09pm

Annoyed? The reason the mind-set you proposed has not been discussed as a "proposal" is because what you are in fact saying are the same "golden answers" we are talking about on this topic. *shrugs*

Page 2 Salvation My Important Not It

Is it ever appropriatte to say "I don't know, so I really can't add anything to the topic right now, but I will look into it"?
I feel this way often with subjects that I just do not understand. I feel inadequete discussing some of these topics.

I hope I never say "it is not important to my salvation so I do not want to talk about it" as I feel that all truth is important for exalted being to know at some time.

Salvation My Important Not It

Actually it would not be considered constructive to answer any Topic here with words to the effect that you do not know so you will not add anything. I mean what will be the purpose to reply and say that anyway? Same with the people who say "It's not important for salvation" - the ironic thing is probably no one said it was. I believe the classic part to all this is that we are actually encouraged by the Lord to seek after His mysteries and research, but there are those who oppose this because it makes them feel uncomfortable.

Lastly, (speaking generally) if you feel inadequate why not ask questions? I often ask questions in Threads not necessarily because I do not know, or do not have an opinion, but I am interested in what others have to say or know about it, so my question brings it out - that is the Art of Discussion. It is so much better than trying to 'end' the interest others have.

It Is Not Important For My Salvation...

I think folks generally like to say its not important for your salvation 'cause they dont know the answer of whatever question you have you know what am I saying..... Some feel odd ya know so they say the infamous phrase just to nicely brush you off 'cause they're clueless just say you dont know.

It Not Important My Salvation... - Page 2

There are many truths that are not important for our salvation, but that does not preclude us from learning of things that can magnify our understanding of the world and of the Kingdom of God.

Joseph Smith said

I believe ideally we should have very open minds to truth and explore the history of the church , good and bad and explore the doctrines comfortable and uncomfortable. I also believe without reservation that sometimes we learn something that we assume is a truth, that in the future we have to modify due to more accurate information. I do not believe God will not condemn us if we are looking for truth with all of our hearts and we happen to come across some falsehoods that we embrace, if we are willing to modify our beliefs if we come to the knowledge of higher truth, but that is just my opinion.

It Not Important My Salvation... Mormon Doctrine Studies - Page 2

After church today I was telling a friend that I always try to seek for truth so when I ask a question and someone gives me that crappy answer of "Its not important for our salvation" or "we have an eternity to find out" I just deleted them mentally from my brain you know what am I saying? If you dont know the answer then just say so or research but stop trying to tell others what they should learn or seek ya know, its very irritating sometimes when someone tries to end up a conversation like that.