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I think that one of the things that most helped me in life was to learn of something called the doctrinal shelf. (I’m not completely sure that’s what Elder Packer called it, but it works) I learned this idea from my father who learned it from Elder Packer when he was in the mission home at the beginning of his mission. After a temple session, they had the opportunity to meet with Elder Packer and ask him any questions that they wanted. Several of the missionaries started asking rather “deep doctrinal” questions. Elder Packer replied, (and I heavily paraphrase) that those were subjects that you put on the shelf. You can pull them down and think about them once in a while, but they weren’t the first principles of the gospel. When I hear “intersting” doctrine taught or some of the myths and mysticism that abound in some people’s view of the gospel. I just have to set it up on the metophorical shelf and concentrate on the core of the gospel:
1. Love God
2. Love your Neighbor
I find it interesting to muse over some of the more questionable doctrines taught in the history of the church. I also find it rather annoying how literally some people take some of the ideas taught in the church. In the end I have to admit that I don’t have all the answers, so I put those things back up on the shelf and wait until I do.
mr_musicman wrote:
1. Love God2. Love your Neighbor
One of the greatest compactions of morality, truth and enlightenment ever! Jesus was brilliant.
mr_musicman wrote:I find it interesting to muse over some of the more questionable doctrines taught in the history of the church. I also find it rather annoying how literally some people take some of the ideas taught in the church.
This sometimes causes me a little frustration when I visit the NOM forums and see posts from people who are more fresh to the disillusionment journey. I love to talk about the Church, its history and doctrines too. I sort of smile though when I see someone really worked up over some oddity in our LDS world (smile in a nice, compassionate way). They will complain and get all worked up over the fact that so-and-so taught X as the truth once upon a time. It seems ridiculous now. They take it literally and then start to come up with “literal” reasons why it isn’t logical or true.
They obviously don’t believe it, so why do they give themselves an ulcer over it? I undestand though. They need to do it. We all need to do that at times. That is the process we go through to jetison baggage and move through the dark night of our soul.
Valoel wrote:
They obviously don’t believe it, so why do they give themselves an ulcer over it? I undestand though. They need to do it. We all need to do that at times. That is the process we go through to jetison baggage and move through the dark night of our soul.Well said! I think we forget that we don’t see this journey the way that God does. We see ourselves going through hard times, and times of doubt or all out rebellion. From a worldly point of view, we might be viewed as evil or apostate. But from God’s point of view, we are merely learning a new lesson. I don’t think he gets as worked up over us as we do. He knows our hearts and he knows how difficult this life is.
I have had times of darkness and of doubt. When I emerged on the other side, I realized that God never left my side or abandoned me. He knew I needed to experience that so that my understanding would be deepened. I am learning to look at people and empathize with their situations rather than judge them harshly.
Brigham Young did the exact same thing with teachings of Joseph’s that he didn’t understand or couldn’t accept fully when he first heard them. There is an interesting post and discussion about that on By Common Consent – before the discussion got sidetracked into a discussion of homosexuality: “My shelf broke” That is a common NOM-ism, or perhaps DAMU-ism (I’m not well-travelled in the DAMU). The question your thread brings me to ask myself is whether I am putting things on a new shelf, and whether that is a good thing or a bad thing. I tend to think that the smaller and weaker the shelf is, the happier will be the person. I’ll take a frequent little failure over a great catastrophe any day.
So at the risk of exaggerating or regretting my words, I will with bluster claim that I aspire not to have a shelf any more. I resolve to keep all issues on the table, stirring around and around, arranged ever differently, and rarely settling into one place for long, however perfect and beautiful it may seem at the moment.
KM
I agree that an over-loaded shelf is not a good thing. It’s like a proper food storage shelf (can’t believe I’m using that analogy, since I’m not a good food storage example, but . . .): If the food isn’t cycled and consumed regularly it goes bad – or the shelf collapses under the weight.
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