I would invite you to attend a Mormon Sunday service and go to lds.org where you can access our teachings, which are from the scriptures not from other books written by Church members.Dr. Robert L. Millet is the emeritus Dean of Religious Education at Brigham Young University, a current BYU religion professor. He says that LDS scriptures (the "Standard Works") are only one of four sources of LDS doctrine. Dr. Millet stated on April 23, 2006:
"If you want to know what constitutes the doctrine of the church . . . (1) is this doctrine or idea found within the Standard Works . . .[,] (2) is it found in what we would call official declarations or proclamations . . .[,] (3) is this a doctrine that is taught by the apostles or the First Presidency in general conference or other official church gatherings today [, or] (4) Is this found in the general handbooks of the church or in the approved curriculum material of the church? If it doesn't meet one of those four criteria it is not the doctrine of the church."
I'll take Dr. Millet's word for it that the scriptures - the Standard Works - is only one category of 'doctrine' of the LDS Church. After all, he not only was the Dean of Religion at BYU, but he was named dean emeritus, and speaks to outgoing LDS missionaries.
That said, I support the right of FR members to religious freedom and your right, and the rights of other LDS FR members, to their theological beliefs.
I sometimes get riled on here when somebody says "we don't teach that" or 'that never happened' and I quote and link current LDS CES materials (including those hidden behind the password-protected portal), lds.org, scholarly articles by LDS historians with primary source documents, the seven-volume History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, started by Joseph Smith, Jr., or similar sources, and somebody still says 'nope' (particularly when I'm quoting LDS CES materials quoting the History of the Church and providing the link), but I fully support your right to believe as you believe.
Dr. Robert L. Millet is the emeritus Dean of Religious Education at Brigham Young University, a current BYU religion professor. And a finer example of MORMONism cannot be found!!
Timeline... Subject...
0:59 "Anti-Mormons..."
1:16 "ATTACK the faith you have..."
2:02 "We really aren't obligated to answer everyone's questions..."
3:57 "You already know MORE about God and Christ and the plan of salvation than any who would ATTACK you."
