This is a personal message for one of the men on the High Council who advocated my excommunication. He is a friend. I spoke with him yesterday and, after reflecting on it overnight, have something to say to him and anonymous comments on my blog espousing similar beliefs:____________________________In LDS Mormonism there is really only one doctrine left. Everything else is subordinate and changeable. But this single demand is paramount. If you disbelieve this position, then LDS Mormonism has no place for you. The doctrine: We follow a man whom we call a prophet. If you disbelieve this, and think you… (Search hits: 7 in body, 2 in title, 0 in comments. Score: 14613.55)
…Lord that we act on His doctrine cannot be overstated. Repentance and baptism are directly related to salvation and cannot be left undone. Christ declared His doctrine in 3 Nephi 11:32-40. His doctrine came from His Father, and mentions baptism four times. Only the first is positive. The three subsequent times, it is negative. The first time: “And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God” [verse 33]. The second time: “And whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned” [verse… (Search hits: 32 in body, 0 in title, 0 in comments. Score: 1731.98)
…false doctrine was not taught. They seem to have instead insured that no doctrine is taught. In my view, correlation has failed in its purpose. It has stifled the Spirit and stripped us of doctrine which should be prized and taught. Furthermore, it has not insured the doctrine it permits to be taught is true or consistent with scripture or earlier teachings. Even though correlation has not prevented us from having errors of doctrine I do not believe an error of doctrine makes a person a bad man. Joseph Smith said: “I did not like the old man being called… (Search hits: 22 in body, 0 in title, 17 in comments. Score: 1282.75)
will aid us in knowing God. Even reading Joseph’s teachings will not save us. His knowledge and his covenant is not ours. We must find the required knowledge for ourselves. “Reading the experience of others, or the revelations given to them, can never give us a comprehensive view of our condition and true relation to God.” (TPJS p. 324.) Even Joseph’s revelations, and Joseph’s scriptures are inadequate. They must be obtained by each individual or they will be left without saving knowledge. How do we get good doctrine, good information and a valid covenant with God for ourselves? It is… (Search hits: 7 in body, 1 in title, 0 in comments. Score: 920.11)
understand, live and receive as you follow the ordinances. They are “helps” to bring you into this correct path. You will honor them, conform to them, seek for them, in order that you may inherit the blessings of the “doctrine of Christ.” Why are ordinances instituted? They are to bring you to the point where you inherit in your body and spirit these great blessings of the “doctrine of Christ.” They prepare you. Their effect is to qualify you, instruct you, advance you toward this goal of receiving the blessings found in the doctrine of Christ as expounded by Nephi… (Search hits: 16 in body, 0 in title, 9 in comments. Score: 914.7)
…appeared to us…. said to us…, etc.). You can read the original document, actually see a photostatic reproduction of the original, in the Joseph Smith Papers. I give the cite in Passing the Heavenly Gift. The record Joseph Smith left makes no mention of Elijah’s appearance. The record Oliver Cowdery left makes no mention of Elijah’s appearance. Joseph died without every explaining anything about the event, or making any mention of it. Oliver also. Both of them testified about visitations they received, and wrote about who had come to empower them, but neither of them ever mention Elijah. In talks… (Search hits: 3 in body, 1 in title, 0 in comments. Score: 703.62)
…firmament that is occupied by the moon, although the moon is 1/6 the size of the earth. From the surface of the earth they are identical in size. So much so, that when you put them on the ecliptic as they are located, one can block out the other entirely in an eclipse. Because all of these things were ordained by God to testify in the heavens about Him and about His work. And those things are bearing testimony, and they are telling you something. Go to Doctrine and Covenants section 121, beginning at verse 26. These are the neglected… (Search hits: 12 in body, 0 in title, 0 in comments. Score: 649.49)
…that a man can get closer to God by heeding the Book of Mormon than any other book, and that it was the most correct book that there is, and that if you will abide its precepts, you will come closer to understanding God. I started out with the Book of Mormon as a pedestrian looking in the book and saying, “Yeah, it’s something. And it’s part of the religion.” If I had not been called to be a gospel doctrine teacher and left in that position— I moved again into a third location. I taught gospel doctrine in Pleasant… (Search hits: 12 in body, 0 in title, 0 in comments. Score: 649.49)
…Joseph Smith. Joseph said, when a brother Brown was being threatened with excommunication for his error in doctrine: “I did not like the old man being called up for erring in doctrine. It looks too much like the Methodist, and not like the Latter-day Saints. Methodists have creeds which a man must believe or be asked out of their church. I want the liberty of thinking and believing as I please. It feels so good not to be trammeled. It does not prove that a man is not a good man because he errs in doctrine.” The price we… (Search hits: 10 in body, 0 in title, 8 in comments. Score: 584.54)
…in the Book of Mormon : “And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man according to his strength. And they… (Search hits: 10 in body, 0 in title, 0 in comments. Score: 541.24)
…where Joseph spent his time. He spent his time on the Lectures on Faith, and this is early in his ministry. This is when he wanted to make sure that the doctrine was correct. And this is the doctrine that came rolling out in that first publication. And yet, despite that, we tend to read this and not take it seriously. If you are going to be saved, you must be exactly, you must be precisely what Christ is and nothing else. O.K.? You! At that moment, that is when you are saved. As a consequence of that, to speak… (Search hits: 10 in body, 0 in title, 0 in comments. Score: 541.24)
…their decision to finally judge, reject and crucify Him. He, and not they, controlled that timing. His provocation at that time was a deliberate act on His part because His “time had come,” and His sacrifice needed to be made. Second, there are the Lord’s teachings. We have time and time again focused on the Doctrine of Christ. We have the doctrine of Christ on numerous websites, enshrined in numerous talks, and as a theme that has been adopted for conferences. Just before the doctrine of Christ He tells you what His doctrine is NOT. This is what Christ says… (Search hits: 10 in body, 0 in title, 0 in comments. Score: 541.24)
…the difference between the views that I have of Mormonism and the views that, that person has of Mormonism can largely be accounted for based upon how much study, effort, review, thoughtfulness has gone into where they are and where I am. The effort to uncover the story of the Restoration is still left undone. It’s still incomplete. But let me tell you, the search is worth it. No matter how shallow the pool is that you’ve drunk out of in trying to figure out what the history of Mormonism is, let me assure you that if you uncover a… (Search hits: 9 in body, 0 in title, 0 in comments. Score: 487.12)
…have had to endure and suffer complete and recorded. There can be no attempt to shield myself from criticism in these journals. The truth of matters should be left, and my pride should be abandoned. No man elevates himself by pretensions to being more than they are. Once called as Gospel Doctrine teacher, I remained in that position in Pleasant Grove, Alpine and Sandy, Utah for over two decades, only moving to teach Priesthood lessons when not in Gospel Doctrine. After decades of this, I was called as the Ward Mission Leader for two years, then onto the Stake High… (Search hits: 9 in body, 0 in title, 0 in comments. Score: 487.12)
…and it shall bring forth in its strength. And they shall also be crowned with blessings from above, yea, and with commandments not a few, and with revelations in their time—they that are faithful and diligent before me.” That’s from Doctrine and Covenants Section 59. Christ said that: “It behoveth the Father that it should come forth from the gentiles.” He says: “The gentiles, if they will not harden their hearts, that they may repent and…be baptized in my name and know the true points of my doctrine, that [the Gentiles] may be numbered among my people” (3 Nephi 21:6)…. (Search hits: 9 in body, 0 in title, 0 in comments. Score: 487.12)