Should one limit consideration of “Mormonism” to what minimalists deem “official” and “binding”?

Mormon Coffee (Mormonism Research Ministry) ^ | Oct. 24, 2011 | Aaron Shafovaloff

[Colofornian]

When comparing and contrasting Biblical Christianity with Mormonism, should one limit consideration of “Mormonism” to what minimalists deem “official” and “binding”?

I answer “NO” for a number of reasons:

• Mormons, even minimalist Mormons, disagree amongst themselves over what constitutes “official” and “binding” doctrine. Some restrict it to recently emphasized teaching via institutional channels (regardless of whether it is in the Standard Works). Some restrict it to the Standard Works alone. Some restrict it to what is recently emphasized by the Church which is ALSO in the Standard Works. Some restrict it to what a particular individual has an emotionally epiphanous testimony on.
• The LDS Church has no binding and official position on what constitutes a binding and official position. Even its related, relatively recent LDS Newsroom article is ambiguous and leaves unsettled the internal Mormon debates on what constitutes official doctrine.
• The LDS Church teaches that it is the authoritative intepretative grid/lens for understanding the Standard works. So even if one somehow tries to restrict “official” Mormonism to the Standard Works, the LDS institution and tradition still come out as having final say.
• Even if we restrict consideration of Mormonism to what is taught in the Standard Works, it leads to absurdities. For example, we would have to speak of “Mormonism” as a religion which encourages the drinking of beer (D&C 89:17), something modern Mormons would lose a leadership position and temple recommend for doing.
• The thrust of LDS institutional teaching and tradition fosters a “prima ecclesia” (primacy of the Church over scripture) approach to doctrine, that the living oracles are more vital than the Standard Works, and that living oracles override or upgrade scripture if there is ever a perceived conflict.
• Mormon culture fosters a sense of different levels of accessible knowledge. Some metaphorically speak of this as “chapel Mormonism” and “temple Mormonism.” There is a layer of theology that Mormons assume is true yet don’t feel obligated to publicly confess or defend. A 19th century example of this was polygamy. One 21st century example is that of belief in Heavenly Mother: Mormon theology and even some institutional teaching lead most Mormons to assume her existence, yet because her existence isn’t explicated by minimalist standards of what is “official”, many Mormons feel like they can simultaneously believe in her and yet publicly deny that she is part of what outsiders may acceptably consider when critiquing the religion.
• When Jesus said to watch out for false prophets and false teachers, and that we would know them by their fruits, he did not say, “You shall know them by their fruits, but the only fruits you are allowed to consider are binding and official fruits voted on in General Conference for inclusion in the Standard Works.”
• To obscure real problems within any religion by appealing to abstract notions of what is and what is not “official” would be cruel, because it would overlook individuals affected—individuals that Jesus loves.

Mormonism sees power in ambiguity, strength in ambivalence, solidarity in equivocation, and encouragement in non-officiality. But Christ says, “and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

[Colofornian]

If you click on the link, scroll down to find the article.

From the article: When comparing and contrasting Biblical Christianity with Mormonism, should one limit consideration of “Mormonism” to what minimalists deem “official” and “binding”?...The LDS Church has no binding and official position on what constitutes a binding and official position. Even its related, relatively recent LDS Newsroom article is ambiguous and leaves unsettled the internal Mormon debates on what constitutes official doctrine.

From the article: There is a layer of theology that Mormons assume is true yet don’t feel obligated to publicly confess or defend. A 19th century example of this was polygamy. One 21st century example is that of belief in Heavenly Mother: Mormon theology and even some institutional teaching lead most Mormons to assume her existence, yet because her existence isn’t explicated by minimalist standards of what is “official”, many Mormons feel like they can simultaneously believe in her and yet publicly deny that she is part of what outsiders may acceptably consider when critiquing the religion.

Yes. Much Mormon teachings give Mormon just enough "squeak room" to allow for "plausible denials" that "Well, it's not in our standard works of canonized revelation." (Never mind that a Mother-goddess has been taught, they sing about her in their hymns, and it's imbedded deep in Mormon mythology)

[Colofornian]

From the article: Mormonism sees power in ambiguity, strength in ambivalence, solidarity in equivocation, and encouragement in non-officiality. But Christ says, “and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

Yup.

The 'classic' assessment from Freeper Ejonesie22:

Official sites are sites supported by LDS officials unless said official sites are consider unofficial by said officials. At that point such sites are unofficial unless officially referenced for official purposes by officials who can do so officially. This should not be misconstrued as an indication that official sites can be unofficially recognized as official nor should it be implied that unofficial sites cannot contain official information, but are not officially allowed to be offical despite their official contents due the their unofficialness. Official sites will be official and recognized as official by officials of the LDS unless there is an official reason to mark them as unofficial either temporally or permanently, which would make the official content officially unofficial. This is also not to imply that recognized sites, often used here by haters cannot contain official information, it just means that content, despite its official status, is no longer official and should be consider unofficial despite the same information being official on an official site else where. Even then the officialness my be amended due to the use of the unofficial information which may determine the officialness of anything be it official or unofficial depending on how and where it is used officially or unofficially. I hope this clear things up for the lurkers out there. As I said the haters tend to make things complicated and confusing when it is all crystal clear....
Source: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2573705/posts Post #24

[svcw]

Brilliant: When Jesus said to watch out for false prophets and false teachers, and that we would know them by their fruits, he did not say, “You shall know them by their fruits, but the only fruits you are allowed to consider are binding and official fruits voted on in General Conference for inclusion in the Standard Works.

Again Brilliant: Mormonism sees power in ambiguity, strength in ambivalence, solidarity in equivocation, and encouragement in non-officiality.

[ejonesie22]

Sounds official, unless it isn't.

But I cannot speak officially on official subjects unless we look at them unofficially.

[svcw]

Absolutely correct unless of course its not, then we will have to reconsider or not and I am not deviating from that official stance unofficially of course.

[ejonesie22]

Thank you for clarifying your officially unofficial position.

[Vendome]

“Mormons feel like they can simultaneously believe in her and yet publicly deny that she is part of what outsiders may acceptably consider when critiquing the religion. “

LOL

Talk about your conflicted beliefs.

[Godzilla]

“whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord...” (Lds “scripture” Doctrines & Covenants 68:4).

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

****Yes. Much Mormon teachings give Mormon just enough “squeak room” to allow for “plausible denials”****

As others have said, “Like trying to nail Jello to a wall”.

[ejonesie22]

With nails made of play-dough...

[Elsie]

Mormons, even minimalist Mormons, disagree amongst themselves over what constitutes “official” and “binding” doctrine.

But our PAID officials agree on things UNAMIMOUSLY!

--MormonDude(So why DO we need 12 yesmen then??)

[Elsie]

power in ambiguity, strength in ambivalence, solidarity in equivocation, and encouragement in non-officiality.

“War is Peace” Freedom is Slavery” and “Ignorance is Strength”

[Elsie]

...“whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture...

Except when we declare it not to be.

[Elsie]

As others have said, “Like trying to nail Jello to a wall”.

What could a reasonable person expect; when their GOD is this precise:

Doctrine and Covenants

Section 124:144

http://lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/124?lang=eng 

And a commandment I give unto you, that you should fill all these offices and ^aapprove of those names which I have mentioned, or else disapprove of them at my general conference;

[Elsie]

Speaking of 'precise'; can ANYone explain these two "...and so forth." phrases??

---

Here is MORMONism's own creed:

---

 

 

Articles of Faith

The Articles of Faith outline 13 basic points of belief of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Prophet Joseph Smith first wrote them in a letter to John Wentworth, a newspaper editor,
in response to Mr. Wentworth's request to know what members of the Church believed.
They were subsequently published in Church periodicals.
They are now regarded as scripture and included in the Pearl of Great Price.

 

THE ARTICLES OF FAITH
OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
History of the Church, Vol. 4, pp. 535—541

 

 

1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
   
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.
   
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
   
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
   
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
   
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
   
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
   
8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
   
9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
   
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
    
11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
    
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
    
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Joseph Smith