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The latest discussion about polygamy got me thinking .. Have you ever heard anyone in church express doubt about any doctrine or policy?
What and where? How was it received?
I have heard it a lot – in lots of settings, from Sacrament meeting to individual discussions and from members at all organizational levels up to Stake President. Elder Holland also said clearly that he didn’t understand and couldn’t accept the justifications for the Priesthood ban, which is as close to expressing public disagreement as we probably will get from that level. Genuinely expressed doubt or uncertainty has almost always been received well when voiced by active members, except by the most orthodox, black-and-white members. The key in every case has been the tone and presentation. Some people wouldn’t receive it well if expressed in person by God – and even I wouldn’t accept it well if it came across as attacking and condemning.
I have heard only a bit and usually it was more in smaller settings, not a classroom. Once, I saw someone introduce contrarion information about claims in the Book of Mormon — something practical regarding horses or something. A massive downer went over the Gospel Doctrine class. The teacher then did a save to make the comment faithful. I remember sitting there frustrated that no one could entertain the idea that certain things in the BoM don’t add up. I have also heard doubts expressed in Gospel Essentials by investigators. Several times, however. They would sometimes come out with anti-Mormon things for me to respond to. I was OK with it. I probably gave Standard Mormon Answers (SMA’s). I don’t think I could teach that class now, however. Not with my current belief system.
In a ward we visited this summer, DH spoke up in class to question something. The lesson was on following the prophet, and was proceeding down normal he-can-never-lead-us-astray lines. DH quoted D&C 68:4, which basically says that when prophets are moved by the Holy Ghost, their words are scripture. He asked how we can tell when they have the spirit and are speaking prophetically, and when they’re not. He mentioned a couple of “doctrines” that used to be preached and have since been changed, like the priesthood ban. The teacher didn’t seem to know what to do with that, so he kind of brushed it off. (To be fair, he seemed nervous teaching anyway and probably anything off his script would have been ignored.) However, a couple people came over to talk to DH afterward and thank him for his comment, saying it had made them think.
More than once I’ve told the congregation that there is a lot I don’t understand about history and doctrine. One time I told about 1/3 of the ward that I have doubts and wonder about my own calling. But I have never been specific about what my doubts are or criticized the church. I’ve not heard any complaints about me saying I dont understand or doubt. I always feel guilty about saying stuff like that and don’t very often, so I try to temper it by talking more about things I do believe.
I’m always inspired when I hear someone say “I don’t know for sure.” I have heard it many times, not often enough because I think many people exude certainty…almost to try to convince themselves. Perhaps it inspires me because it feels genuine. Personal feelings and genuine testimonies always inspire me more than surety and boldness.
I gave a talk once in Sacrament Meeting about faith, and I focused specifically on things I can’t say I know but for which I hope. I haven’t expressed that I “know” anything regarding the gospel in many years. I have usually stated something like “I believe” or “I feel” or “I have faith that…”. I have not heard many others do this in my current ward of about 15 years. From children to teens, young adults to old adults, they all seem to spout the standard fare of “I know” in their talks and testimonies. I have not heard doubts expressed in meetings, but only in private discussions with other members. But, I live in a very conservative LDS area that was settled by Mormons migrating from Utah.
Like RoadRunner, I have expressed the idea that I have doubts and questions from the pulpit without being specific about what they are. I have never gotten any pushback and sometimes someone will thank me for being candid afterwards. This is one of the things that confirms to me that there are more people with questions than we generally think. In high council a couple months back we talked about the May young adult devotional by Elder Robbins where he discussed how we don’t have a perfect knowledge of all things as individually but can have a perfect knowledge of some things. The talk is good, our discussion was great. I’d link the talk but I’m on my tablet and it’s difficult to do.
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