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Verfasser: Salomon

Datum: Dienstag, den 18. Juli 2006, um 16:41 Uhr

Betrifft: Ist im grunde ganz einfach

Posted Jul 18, 2006, at 07:47 AM.
Thoughts On Doctrine And Speculation
TOPIC: OPINION -You Can Link To This Article!-
AUTHOR: rmw

TOP
What is Doctrine?

Firstly, true "doctrine" of the LDS faith must be canonized as such. Probably around 1950 or so, the LDS church moved to a system whereby all "official" statements and "revelations" must be UNANIMOUSLY endorsed by the first presidency and twelve apostles. Those fifteen individuals hold the keys to declaring doctrine.

Secondly, the fifteen leaders of the church can "override" any previous doctrines. The Lord apparently changes His mind occasionally and transmits this knowledge to his only true and living leaders on Earth. The LDS leadership can then declare a "change" in the doctrine. This is what occurred with the Priesthood and the blacks and the "Adam-God" doctrine.

Thirdly, all "doctrines" must coincide with scripture. If anything is said to be doctrine, but clearly violates scripture, then we can conclude it was NOT doctrine, but "speculation."

Doctrine vs. Speculation:

LDS members have often been told that anything a church leaders says over the pulpit is doctrine. Some believe it can only be during "General Conference". However both of these ideas are false. In order for something to be doctrine, the "prophet" of the church must state specifically "We the First Presidency and the Council of Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints declare . . ." Only then is it doctrine.

This can be very confusing since most leaders of the church freely speak about topics that HAVE been canonized by the Church. But their "spin" and "embellishment" of those doctrines may be speculative. Others just speculate opening without any reference to any doctrine. Therefore, members of the LDS church really have a difficult time separating doctrine from speculation.

Confusion Abounds:

Because of this "fine line" between doctrine and speculation, it is very difficult to for LDS members to know what they really believe. An example of this is as follows:

LDS members have often been taught that they lived in a Pre-Existence where there were two "plans" presented â€“ one by Lucifer and one by Christ. We chose Christ’s plan and rejected Lucifer’s. Lucifer and his followers were cast out and sent to earth as "spirits" to tempt the rest of us. That is in scripture. That would be considered doctrine.

However, many Mormon leaders have embellished that story to include that our "position" here on earth was determined by our level of "valiancy" in the Pre-Existence. Those that are in a disadvantaged area (Africa and China are mentioned) were sent there because they "wavered" in their devotion and loyalty to God in the Pre-Existence. Therefore they were sent to a disadvantaged area on Earth. Those that were very loyal and devout were sent to an "advantaged" area (United States) where finding the secret "codes" and path back to God would be easier.

It is further stated that some were "pre-ordained" in the Pre-Existence as leaders here on earth. Many LDS lessons indicate that those living today are "choice spirits" because they were preserved for the "last days" in an advantaged situation and must have been the choicest of all "spirits" in the Pre-Existence.

All of that "embellishment" is nothing but speculation. It is not doctrine. If you were to ask ANY member of the First Presidency and Twelve Apostles if our "valiancy" in the Pre-Existence has ANYTHING to do with our station in life on Earth, they would indicate that they don’t know and it would be speculation. Yet, most Mormons believe it as doctrine because it is spoken of and taught over the pulpit and in lessons.

Conclusion

It’s all bullshit!