Mormonism and doctrine

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Mormonism and doctrine

LDS Newsroom, "Approaching Mormon Doctrine"

LDS Newsroom, (May 4, 2007)

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.

April 2012 General Conference, Sunday Morning Session., "The Doctrine of Christ"

Elder D. Todd Christofferson,  April 2012 General Conference, Sunday Morning Session., (April 1, 2012)

The President of the Church may announce or interpret doctrines based on revelation to him. Doctrinal exposition may also come through the combined council of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Council deliberations will often include a weighing of canonized scriptures, the teachings of Church leaders, and past practice. But in the end, just as in the New Testament church, the objective is not simply consensus among council members, but revelation from God. It is a process involving both reason and faith for obtaining the mind and will of the Lord.

At the same time it should be remembered that not every statement made by a Church leader past or present necessarily constitutes doctrine. It is commonly understood in the church that a statement made by one leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well considered, opinion not meant to be official or binding for the whole Church. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that a prophet is a prophet only when he is acting as such.

Ensign, "Trial of Your Faith"

Elder Neil L. Anderson,  Ensign, (November 2012)

There is an important principle that governs the doctrine of the Church. The doctrine is taught by all 15 members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve. It is not hidden in an obscure paragraph of one talk. True principles are taught frequently and by many. Our doctrine is not difficult to find. The leaders of the Church are honest but imperfect men. Remember the words of Moroni: “Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my father … ; but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been.” (Mormon 9:31)

Official or "core" Mormon doctrine

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• "Official" Mormon doctrine

Establishing new Mormon doctrine

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• Procedures to establish or modify Mormon doctrine
• Church publications as doctrine

Mormon doctrine of the past

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• Statements made by past prophets as "scripture"
• The Law of Adoption: The sealing of men and women as children to prominent Latter-day Saint leaders

Statements made by past prophets as "scripture"

Summary: Are statements of past prophets considered doctrine? It is claimed that anything that is, or ever was, officially published by the Church ought to represent doctrine.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Did Brigham Young state that everything he said could be considered "scripture"?
• Question: When are the writings or sermons of Church leaders entitled to the claim of scripture?

The Law of Adoption: The sealing of men and women as children to prominent Latter-day Saint leaders

Summary: Critics point to the early practice of sealing men and women as children to prominent LDS leaders as an example of changes in LDS belief.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: What is the "Law of Adoption" practiced among 19-century Mormons and why has it changed?
• Question: What is the history behind the Mormon practice called the "Law of Adoption"?
• Question: Why were men sealed to other men during the early days of the Church?
• Question: Did Joseph Smith perform marriages between brothers and sisters?

Repudiated concepts in Mormonism

Summary: Some teachings previously considered doctrinal have since been repudiated by the Church.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Why would a current prophet repudiate the teachings of an earlier prophet?
• "Blood atonement"
• Mormonism and the concept that some were "neutral" in the "war in heaven"
• Mormonism and the "curse of Cain"
• Brigham Young's Adam-God theory

Why would a current prophet repudiate the teachings of an earlier prophet?

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: If a doctrine is repudiated, does that mean that it was false when it was being taught?
• Neil L. Andersen: "The doctrine...is not hidden in an obscure paragraph of one talk...The leaders of the Church are honest but imperfect men"
• Question: Does the repudiation of a doctrine that was once taught by a prophet mean that that prophet is now considered a "heretic"?

"Blood atonement"

Summary: It is claimed that during the administration of Brigham Young apostates were secretly put to death, and that the teachings of LDS leaders at the time were that apostasy was the unforgivable sin, and that the only thing an apostate could do to redeem himself was to give his own life, willingly or unwillingly.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: What is "blood atonement"?
• Charles Penrose (1912): "Do you believe in "blood-atonement"?
• Question: Did early Mormon leaders teach that apostasy was the unforgivable sin, and that the only thing an apostate could do to redeem himself was to give his own life, willingly or unwillingly?
• Question: Were apostates secretly put to death by "blood atonement" during the administration of Brigham Young?
• Question: Was Thomas Coleman (or Colbourn) "blood atoned"?
• Question: Did Brigham Young's preaching style induce people to perform "blood atonement"?
• Utah crime and violence

Mormonism and the concept that some were "neutral" in the "war in heaven"

Summary: Is it true that LDS scripture states that those with lighter skin color "are favored because of what they did as spirits in a pre-earth life?" Is it true that some Church leaders taught that people who were born with dark skin were "neutral" in the pre-existence?

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• Gospel Topics: "Today, the Church disavows the theories advanced in the past that black skin is a sign of divine disfavor or curse, or that it reflects actions in a premortal life; that mixed-race marriages are a sin; or that blacks or people of any other race or ethnicity are inferior in any way to anyone else"
• Joseph Fielding Smith: "We know of no scripture, ancient or modern, that declares that at the time of the rebellion in heaven that one-third of the hosts of heaven remained neutral"
• Question: Was the idea that Blacks were neutral in the "war in heaven" ever official doctrine?
• Question: Did Church leaders ever teach that Blacks were neutral in the "war in heaven?"
• Question: Did the Church repudiate the idea of neutrality in the "war in heaven?"

Mormonism and the "curse of Cain"

Jump to Subtopic:

• Gospel Topics: "Today, the Church disavows the theories advanced in the past that black skin is a sign of divine disfavor or curse, or that it reflects actions in a premortal life"
• Gospel Topics: "Even after 1852, at least two black Mormons continued to hold the priesthood"
• Question: What are the "curse of Cain" and the "curse of Ham"?
• Question: When did a biblical curse become associated with the "Hamites?"
• Question: When did the "mark of Cain" become associated with black skin?
• Question: How did the "curse of Ham" or "curse of Cain" become associated with Mormonism?
• Question: Is interracial marriage prohibited or condemned within the Church?
• Question: Do the Book of Abraham and the Book of Mormon link a person's skin color to their behavior in the pre-existence?
• Question: Do the scriptures promote racism?
• Question: How can one reconcile the patriarchal blessings given to blacks during the priesthood and temple bans?

Brigham Young's Adam-God theory

Summary: Brigham Young taught that Adam, the first man, was God the Father. Since this teaching runs counter to the story told in Genesis and commonly accepted by Christians, critics accuse Brigham of being a false prophet. Also, because modern Latter-day Saints do not believe Brigham's "Adam-God" teachings, critics accuse Mormons of either changing their teachings or rejecting teachings of prophets they find uncomfortable or unsupportable.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: What is the Adam-God Theory?
• Question: What is the history of Brigham Young's Adam-God Theory and why was it rejected by the Church?
• Stephen E. Robinson: "Yet another way in which anti-Mormon critics often misrepresent LDS doctrine is in the presentation of anomalies as though they were the doctrine of the Church"
• Matthew Brown (2009): "Brigham Young repeated these ideas and expounded upon them during the next 25 years. His viewpoints have been variously classified as doctrine, theory, paradox, heresy, speculation, and some of the mysteries"
• Question: If the Adam-God doctrine isn't true, how come D&C 27:11 calls Adam the Ancient of Days which is clearly a title for God in Daniel 7?
• Question: What attempts have been made to reconcile the Adam-God Theory with the doctrines of the Church?
• Question: Was the "Adam-God" theory ever taught as part of the temple endowment ceremony as something called "the lecture at the veil"?

Mormon views of various beliefs

Rapture and LDS theology

Summary: What is the "Rapture"? Do Latter-day Saints believe in this or a similar doctrine?

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: Do Mormons believe in the "rapture"?

The Law of Adoption: The sealing of men and women as children to prominent Latter-day Saint leaders

Summary: Critics point to the early practice of sealing men and women as children to prominent LDS leaders as an example of changes in LDS belief.

Jump to Subtopic:

• Question: What is the "Law of Adoption" practiced among 19-century Mormons and why has it changed?
• Question: What is the history behind the Mormon practice called the "Law of Adoption"?
• Question: Why were men sealed to other men during the early days of the Church?
• Question: Did Joseph Smith perform marriages between brothers and sisters?