Using of the Official Doctrine Essay in Sunday School

[Anonymous]

I was teaching a class today, and we discussed the Second Coming, with its first and second resurrections. Although I like the Plan of Salvation as a means to help me understand the possiblilities after this life is over, it often prompts more questions that can’t be answered by an appeal to the scriptures when you teach it at Church.

Today was one of those days, and someone asked a question about which there aren’t a lot of answers. It led to all kinds of speculation, or quoting of scripture which I didn’t feel really answered the question definitively. At one point, one member emphatically corrected another member which made it a bit tense. There was also discussion about books written by Gerald Lund and Cleon Skousen…

I then launched into the Official Doctrine article concepts, explaining that there is a process or accepting doctrine in the Church, ending with a sustaining vote by the members, and usually the inclusion of the accepted doctrine in the scriptures – examples — the Manifesto, the lifting of the priesthood ban, Joseph F. Smith’s vision, etcetera.

And then, extended into some of the discussions we’ve had here — that even statements made by General Authorities are sometimes merely their opinion, and that each person needs to filter their comments through their own personal belief system and circumstances to arrive at what is right for them. And that books by Lund and Skousen need to be viewed in the same light — not as doctrine, but as opinion and scholarly thought.

I was actually surprised at the reaction. A LOT of long-standing members nodded their heads emphatically as I mentioned the personal interpretation of GA’s comments.

So, encourged, I went on and indicated that not even the Handbook of Instructions is necessarily Church doctrine — it’s policy, and is subject to change and interpretation at any time — the new CHI coming out is a case in point. Also, that the proclamation is merely a guideline, and not official revelation or doctrine. There was uncertainty from the crowd, but then silence followed by what I felt was general consent to the idea, and then people piped up how personal study can lead to personal enlightenment….etcetera…and moved on.

I felt I was breaking new ground in that class today, as these are not usually the kinds of things we discuss in Sunday School. I just kind of blurted it out because I’ve been thinking so much about it….and yet, it seemed to fly very well. I left that class feeling liberated that I was able to share that much and have it accepted by so many people with TBM leanings.

I thought I’d share this because this whole idea that doctrine has to be accepted before the Church to be truly doctrine was new to almost everyone in the room — including some people who had served long and hard for decades in the Church. And I saw that many of the members in the room were receptive to the idea that you don’t necessarily hang on every word from general authorities.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for sharing this experience, SD. I know it wouldn’t have the same reaction in all wards and branches, but I also know it would have that reaction in far more units than most people who are struggling believe.

[Anonymous]

Old-Timer wrote:

Thanks for sharing this experience, SD. I know it wouldn’t have the same reaction in all wards and branches, but I also know it would have that reaction in far more units than most people who are struggling believe.

I realized I was taking a bit of a chance. What surprised me is that many of the Traditional Beleiving Mormons (ex-Bishopric, etcetera) were actually the ones nodding their heads emphatically as I said it…..it was a total surprise.

[Anonymous]

It is really good to be well-armed with that information from the article. This topic came up a couple months ago in EQ for me. They were talking about conference and talk by GA’s. They were talking about how General Conference is “scripture.” I brought up the processes of canonizing official doctrine. I didn’t get that same consensus. Even though they understood what I was saying, there were too many people in the room insisting that everything that a GA says is scripture (for us, in our time). It got a little too tense, so I let it go and stopped pushing. I made my point though.

I am glad I brought it up, even if everyone didn’t agree with me. That’s OK.

[Anonymous]

Brian, I wonder if in that situation a distinction between scripture and official doctrine would have been helpful. Maybe that not all scripture is canonized.

[Author]

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