D
dianaiad
Guest
The question here now is…since when is Bruce R McConkie the entire arbitor of LDS belief? Yes, he wrote a book called “Mormon Doctrine,” and it is/was valuable. He was also told to FIX it because it had some problems. It is not one of the Standard Works, and although McConkie was a wonderful man, knowledgable and spiritual, he never did become the President of the church.
In fact, he wrote it when he was in the Quorum of Seventies…not an Apostle at the time, and he neglected to submit it to the Church’s Reading Council before he published it. That alone makes it his responsibility, not an official declaration of Mormon Doctrine. AMOF, two Apostles, Mark E. Peterson and Marion G. Romney found over a thousand corrections that needed to be made before a second edition was published, and the then President of the Church, David O McKay, didn’t want it published again, corrected or not.
It was, with a bunch of those corrections made, and with the very notable disclaimer that it did NOT reflect the official Doctrine of the church.
In fact, McConkie got into trouble for his rather blunt personal opinions reflected in the book, on topics that the church either held no positions in, or had official positions that contradicted McConkie’s words… (like organic evolution, “pre-Adamites,” death before the fall of man, the resurrection of still born children and, oh yes, the conception of Jesus). President McKay, Romney and Peterson all landed on him for presenting his personal opinion on these matters as doctrine—when his opinion was not doctrine.
McConkie, though, in spite of his very strong personal opinions, was a very strong and spiritual leader. “Mormon Doctrine” is a book that is very valuable in learning about us–as long as you remember what it is–and what it is NOT.
I keep hearing people insist that we nail down our doctrine on everything; we need a catechism, or a creed, or something that tells everybody exactly what to believe about everything.
Sorry, but that’s just not us. The problem is, we are viewed from outside as some mind controlled goosestepping cult that doesn’t want the members doing any thinking–so the outside demands are for those things we are supposed to BE thinking.
In reality, our basic core doctrines are simple…and outside of those core doctrines, we are very much allowed to think for ourselves. I keep hearing that 'figuring out Mormon Doctrine is like nailing jello to a wall" said in a frustrated and derogatory manner. The trouble is, it’s true. you AREN"T going to get official statements about what we MUST believe about drinking cola and the Word of Wisdom, or what we MUST believe in terms of evolution, or what we MUST believe about life on other worlds or what deification ultimately means, because y’know what?
We get to think for ourselves. There are a few very basic things that are core…and a few things that others insist that we must believe–that we don’t. One of those things is about the virginity of Mary at Jesus’ birth. She was virgin. Period.
Another of those things our description of the Godhead…Three Persons, separate, but equal in intent, power–and that thing called 'being God." Jesus is the Savior…the Only Begotten Son of God Who died for us and was resurrected. God created the entire universe through His Son, Jesus Christ, Whose Name is the only one by which we can be saved. Baptism is required, for everybody, and God has made it possible for all men to receive its blessings.
There is a living prophet guiding the church, with twelve apostles right up there with him…and yes, they do receive public revelation for guiding the church when required. Because there IS such a leader, we have an open canon.
Oh…just have a look at the thirteen articles of faith. After that, it is not reasonable of anybody to insist that we nail everything else down. It’s not required–it’s not ‘salvific.’
I don’t think it is my place to point them out to you.
