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by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on December 19th, 2009

Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here

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MORMONS: Who speaks for you and/or the LdS Church?

Who Speaks for Mormons?
By Blair Dee Hodges - June 22, 2009

Respectful religious dialogue is becoming increasingly important as the world becomes a global village. Dialogue is critical in helping societies negotiate how to run the neighborhood in the face of inevitable conflict over politics, economics, religion, and other issues. Whether this conflict is destructive and violent or constructive and peaceful depends largely upon how world religions adapt to changes as believers from different traditions encounter each another. The tone of the conflict usually depends on the goals of each participant.

One approach I favor in religious dialogue is a respectful engagement that seeks first to understand and respect the beliefs of the other. While I believe spreading the message of my religion is important, one effective method rises from a foundation built on common ground. Morally, this approach fulfills the commandment to "do unto others." Pragmatically, it reduces the possibility of arguing past others or getting hung up on peripheral issues. One simple way to know if you understand the position of the other is by attempting to restate the position of the other to his or her satisfaction.

Significant problems remain in this approach. The beliefs of any one religion can be remarkably diverse amongst its own adherents. This is no less true for my own religion -- identifying "official Mormon doctrine" has been compared to nailing Jell-O to the wall. The idea of "doctrine" itself is difficult to pin down. Is doctrine equal to "truth"? Is doctrine something all Mormons must accept? What constitutes Mormon doctrine? In order to facilitate better communication between members of other faiths (as well as harmony among Mormons), various efforts have been made to identify a standard for Mormon doctrine1. I'd like to further discuss a few of these efforts in order to answer the question "Who speaks for Mormons?"

Based on a Judeo-Christian outlook, Mormons believe Go

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Answers. 3 helpful answers below.

  • by whew4 on January 6th, 2010
    voted: Today's LdS Prophet but NOT past prophets

    whew4

    When Joseph Smith was first organizing the Church he received many, many revelations. Many of which were written down and printed in the D&C.

    However, through the years there were so many truths revealed to Joseph, he and others taught them all at one time or another.

    Then after the Saints came to Utah, the Brethren decided to be more specific in what was taught from the pulpit. They decided that since the Church was a vehicle by which the members could get to heaven, they would only teach, those things which would help us attain our Salvation and Exaltation in the very highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom, as Church Doctrine.

    Therefore today rather that teach all the truths which Joseph Smith received, we now concentrate only on the doctrines which will bring about our Salvation and Exaltation.

    For instance, our knowing whether God had sex with Mary or not will not effect our exaltation one way or another, so it is not taught as Church doctrine.

    Whether Adam is God or not will not effect us either, and is not nor ever was Church Doctrine.

    Did God once live on another earth like ours? It doesn't matter, we believe it, but we do not go into great detail, because we do not know any more than that, so we do not spend a lot of time on this subject.

    So in short, The only things that will be found among Church doctrine will be those things that will bring about our Exaltation. All other truths are for our own enlightenment.

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  • by laie_techie on January 5th, 2010
    voted: Other (please fill in the blank)

    laie_techie

    Doctrine is a little hard to explain because we have so many sources and levels.

    Our Cannon (aka Scriptures) form the bedrock of our doctrine.

    This is supplemented by official declarations made by the First Presidency and / or the Twelve, both past and present. Newer declarations generally take precedence over older ones. Only the current President may announce proposed new doctrine.

    General Conference addresses are to be our walk and talk for 6 months. The popularity and pertinence of some discourses surpass six months and join our collection of things that are "almost doctrine". If they pass the test of time, they may join our collective beliefs.

    Ultimately, there is very little dogma which Mormons *must* believe to remain in good standing with the Church, the rest is up to the individual.

    3 comments | Post one | Permalink

  • by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on December 19th, 2009

    Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here

    Well the full article got chopped off so here it is in it's entirety:

    Who Speaks for Mormons?
    By Blair Dee Hodges - June 22, 2009

    Respectful religious dialogue is becoming increasingly important as the world becomes a global village. Dialogue is critical in helping societies negotiate how to run the neighborhood in the face of inevitable conflict over politics, economics, religion, and other issues. Whether this conflict is destructive and violent or constructive and peaceful depends largely upon how world religions adapt to changes as believers from different traditions encounter each another. The tone of the conflict usually depends on the goals of each participant.

    One approach I favor in religious dialogue is a respectful engagement that seeks first to understand and respect the beliefs of the other. While I believe spreading the message of my religion is important, one effective method rises from a foundation built on common ground. Morally, this approach fulfills the commandment to "do unto others." Pragmatically, it reduces the possibility of arguing past others or getting hung up on peripheral issues. One simple way to know if you understand the position of the other is by attempting to restate the position of the other to his or her satisfaction.

    Significant problems remain in this approach. The beliefs of any one religion can be remarkably diverse amongst its own adherents. This is no less true for my own religion -- identifying "official Mormon doctrine" has been compared to nailing Jell-O to the wall. The idea of "doctrine" itself is difficult to pin down. Is doctrine equal to "truth"? Is doctrine something all Mormons must accept? What constitutes Mormon doctrine? In order to facilitate better communication between members of other faiths (as well as harmony among Mormons), various efforts have been made to identify a standard for Mormon doctrine1. I'd like to further discuss a few of these efforts in order to answer the question "Who speaks for Mormons?"

    Based on a Judeo-Christian outlook, Mormons believe God reveals His will to His children in order to help them return home to Him. This revelation can be given to particular individuals for themselves or to leaders for the Church as a whole. According to the founding prophet Joseph Smith, this revelation is continuing and "adapted to the circumstances in which the children of the kingdom are placed." Mormons look to written scripture and the words of living prophets and apostles for guidance in belief and practice.

    However, Mormons do not believe these scriptures or prophets are perfect. Prophetic declarations reflect aspects of the culture in which they occur and can later take on new meanings in different circumstances or be overlooked altogether. The dynamism of continuing revelation makes it difficult to take a "snapshot" of Mormon belief as a whole at any given time. Different Mormons may understand LDS doctrines differently.

    Joseph Smith objected to various creeds that require strict belief in officially defined doctrines, but Mormons are generally expected to agree on some fundamentals. For example, in order to be baptized, one must profess belief in Jesus Christ as Savior of the world and in prophets who help guide the LDS Church. More than intellectual doctrines, however, Mormons also rely on a community forged by ordinances and the living of a continuing sacred history as depicted in scripture. What Mormons become through righteous acts and faith in Christ is often considered more important than any specific peripheral doctrines Mormons might believe.

    Mormonism is lived and experienced as much as it is believed. Moreover, various "folk" doctrines tend to spring up from time to time, some becoming generally accepted and others jettisoned along the way. As Mormonism becomes more of a global religion, official statements and publications have become narrower in scope, streamlined, and applicable to the growing diversity in the Church.

    Considering these circumstances, how can Mormon doctrine be determined in order to facilitate healthy interreligious discussion? There is still no comprehensive and official answer to this question; Mormons continue to answer the question differently. For instance, Robert Millett, a Mormon professor of religion, has described an "authoritative approach" wherein official Mormon doctrine is defined by appealing to what are considered authoritative sources like scriptures and the statements of prophets2. Sociologist Armand Mauss described a "scale of authenticity," ranging from canonical to popular or "folk" doctrine3. Mormon philosopher James Faulconer has argued that Mormonism is "atheological," consisting more of keeping covenants between humans and Christ rather than of various unchanging doctrinal facts.4

    Given this variety of Mormon views, perhaps the most practical way to discover "who speaks for Mormons" is to develop an awareness of the diversity itself. In any given dialogue this variety can be acknowledged and a basis for what a particular Mormon accepts as authoritative can be discussed. If the goal of dialogue is constructive discussion rather than polemical debate it is important to allow each individual the right to speak for his or her own faith. This approach requires patience, time, effort, trust, and respect, but it bears the fruits of interreligious understanding.

    About the Author:
    Blair Hodges is a student at the University of Utah majoring in Mass Communications and minoring in Religious Studies. He is the former News Editor of The Signpost, the newspaper at Weber State University, and a frequent blogger.

    FOOTNOTES:
    1 One useful discussion on this topic is Loyd Ericson's "The Challenges of Defining Mormon Doctrine," Element, vol. 3 Issue 1-2 (Spring and Fall 2007), pp. 69-90.

    2 See Robert L. Millett, "What Do We Really Believe? Identifying Doctrinal Parameters Within Mormonism," Discourses in Mormon Theology, James M. McLaughlan and Loyd Ericson, eds., pp. 265-281. An official statement from the Church's Public Affairs department emphasizes aspects of Millett's authoritative standards. See "Approaching Mormon Doctrine," LDS.org Newsroom, May 4, 2007, http://www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/commentary/approaching-mormon-doctrine.

    3 See Armand L. Mauss, "The Fading of the Pharaohs' Curse: The Decline and Fall of the Priesthood Ban Against Blacks in the Mormon Church. Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, vol. 14, no. 3, Autumn 1981.

    4 See James E. Faulconer, "Why a Mormon Won't Drink Coffee but Might Have a Coke: The Atheological Character of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," Element vol. 2 Issue 2 (Fall 2006), pp. 21-37.

    Link to source = http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Who-Speaks-for-Mormons.html

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