What is Official Mormon Doctrine?

Mormon Doctrine

What’s Official, And What Isn’t?

Copyright 2010, Donald L. Ashton



What Is Official Doctrine, and How Is It Established?

1830, Bible and Book of Mormon were officially accepted with the organization of the Church 1835, Doctrine and Covenants, first 103 sections were officially accepted 1880, Doctrine and Covenants additional 32 sections were accepted along with the Pearl of Great Price 1890, Polygamy was repealed (Official Declaration, p. 291) 1976, D&C sections 137 & 138 were officially accepted 1978, The priesthood was made available to all worthy males regardless of race (Official Declaration 2, p. 292)

Lectures on Faith

The Church has confined the sources of doctrine by which it is willing to be bound before the world to the things that God has revealed, and which the Church has officially accepted, and those alone. These would include the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price; these have been repeatedly accepted and endorsed by the Church in general conference assembled, and are the only sources of absolute appeal for our doctrine. ” 2



I hold in my hand the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and also the book, The Pearl of Great Price, which books contain revelations of God. In Kirtland, the Doctrine and Covenants in its original form, as first printed, was submitted to the officers of the Church and the members of the Church to vote upon. As there have been additions made to it by the publishing of revelations which were not contained in the original edition, it has been deemed wise to submit these books with their contents to the conference, to see whether the conference will vote to accept the books and their contents as from God, and binding upon us as a people and as a Church. 3



the Church is willing to be bound before the world to the things that God has revealed, and which the Church has officially accepted.

“The First Presidency … and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles… counsel together to establish doctrine that is consistently proclaimed in official Church publications. This doctrine resides in the four “standard works” of scripture (the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price).” 4



“It is not to be thought that every word spoken by the General Authorities is inspired, or that they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost in everything they write. I don't care what his position is, if he writes something or speaks something that goes beyond anything that you can find in the standard church works.” 5



Official talks and statements

Official publications

Official policy and procedure

Books by General Authorities

Conventional wisdom

Official Talks and Statements by General Authorities

Are Not Official Doctrine

Several GA’s taught that polygamy is essential for salvation and would never be removed from the Church. 6

Brigham Young vigorously taught the Adam-God theory, though Church leaders since have repeatedly disavowed it. 7

Several GA’s from Brigham Young to Bruce R McConkie taught the Blacks would never get the Priesthood. 8

Joseph Fielding Smith said man would never set foot on the moon. 9

Apostle Franklin D. Richards promised the Martin and Wiley handcart companies the Lord would protect them on their journey so they would arrive unscathed. Nevertheless, 200+ died in route. 10

Noah got drunk, ( Genesis 9:21 )

Abraham lied, 9 Genesis 12:12-18 )

Moses' was proud, ( Numbers 20:12 )

Circumcision is an eternal covenant, ( Genesis 17:13 )

Apostles’ lack of faith as Christ quiets the storm, ( Mark 4:35-41 )

Peter denied Christ three times, ( Matthew 26:69-75 )

Thomas refuses to believe Christ is resurrected until he sees with his eyes and feels the wounds, ( John 20:24-29 )

Millennium to come within “this generation”, ( Luke 21:24-27, 32 )

Official Teachings & Publications

Are Not Official Doctrine

Official Policy

Is Not Official Doctrine

The Family, Proclamation to the World is not official doctrine because it has not been approved by the membership. But this very formal statement on the family unequivocally states, “Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan”. In the very heated California Proposition 8 campaign in 2008 a sizable majority of members followed the Church’s prompting to campaign against gay marriage. The Church authorities censured no members who opposed their stand against gay marriage. 12

is not official doctrine because it has not been approved by the membership. But this very formal statement on the family unequivocally states, “Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan”. In the very heated California Proposition 8 campaign in 2008 a sizable majority of members followed the Church’s prompting to campaign against gay marriage. The Church authorities censured no members who opposed their stand against gay marriage. President McKay had a personal dislike for crucifixes and directed the Church building committee to not use them, though they had been used earlier. But once initiated in the Church Building Committee, 50 years later, his personal preference has taken on a life of its own. Some GA’s even speculate on theological reasons without regard to its history. 13

President Heber J. Grant, in 1921, made abstinence from the four forbidden WofW items a requirement for a temple recommend. But there is no claim to any revelation as a basis for the change. 14

Temple Recommend questions are thought to be a constant guide for the faithful, yet they change every few years. In the 19th century, temple goers were asked if they maintained proper fences to prevent their cows from wandering into a neighbor’s field. 15

GA’s consistently taught that the Lamanites were the primary ancestors of the American Indians. In 2007, the introduction to the Book of Mormon changed to stating Lamanites were among the ancestors of American Indians.

Books Written by General Authorities

Are Not Official Doctrine

they may or may not be authorities in the sense of doctrinal knowledge, the intricacies of church Procedures, or the receipt of the promptings of the Spirit. A call to an administrative position of itself adds little knowledge or power of discernment to an individual, although every person called to a position in the Church does grow in grace, knowledge, and power by magnifying the calling given him.”

“Though general authorities are authorities in the sense of having power to administer church affairs,A call to an administrative position of itself adds little knowledge or power of discernment to an individual, although every person called to a position in the Church does grow in grace, knowledge, and power by magnifying the calling given him.” 16

Conventional Wisdom

Is Not Official Doctrine

To be a good member, you must be a Republican.

Caffeinenated soft drinks, chocolate bars, etc. are forbidden, along with coffee.

GA’s will never lead you wrong. You will be perfectly safe if you follow what they say.

Temple garments will protect you from physical harm. You will be safe from hazards like fire or chemical burns wherever and whenever you are covered.

Always trust Church leaders advice over such “worldly types” like psychologists, social workers, philosophers, scientists of various disciplines, and other intellectuals.

If you go to church, say your prayers, pay your tithing, accept church callings, the Lord will bless you so you will have no serious problems.

Official Doctrine

Is Not Eternal Truth

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55: 9)



“For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.” (2 Ne. 28: 30)



“I do not write anything upon plates save it be that I think it be sacred. And now, if I do err…I would excuse myself … because of the weakness which is in me, according to the flesh.”( 1 Nephi 19: 6, 20 )



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.

Every Soul Is Free



To choose his life and what he'll be;

For this eternal truth is giv'n:

That God will force no man to heav'n.

He'll call, persuade, direct aright,

And bless with wisdom, love, and light,

In nameless ways be good and kind,

But never force the human mind.”

“Know this, that ev'ry soul is freeTo choose his life and what he'll be;For this eternal truth is giv'n:That God will force no man to heav'n.He'll call, persuade, direct aright,And bless with wisdom, love, and light,In nameless ways be good and kind,But never force the human mind.” 17

work out our salvation with fear and trembling

The Dilemma

Personal Responsibility and Stewardship

There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated. And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated. ( D&C 130:20 )



better that one man should perish than a nation should dwindle in unbelief



Elder Douglas L. Callister observed, “In the genius of the gospel plan, there ultimately only has to be one witness, but that witness must be you. The testimony of others may initiate and nourish the desire for faith and testimony, but eventually every individual must find out for himself. None can permanently endure on borrowed light.” 19



“We are a question-asking people. We have always been, because we know that inquiry leads to truth. That is how the Church got its start, from a young man who had questions. In fact, I’m not sure how one can discover truth without asking questions. In the scriptures you will rarely discover a revelation that didn’t come in response to a question…. Inquiry is the birthplace of testimony. “Some might feel embarrassed or unworthy because they have searching questions regarding the gospel, but they needn’t feel that way. Asking questions isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a precursor of growth.” 20



"the greatest fear I have is that the people of this Church will accept what we say as the will of the Lord without first praying about it and getting the witness within their own hearts that what we say is the word of the Lord." 21

There is only one safety, and that is that we shall live to have the witness to know. ” 22

“We can know or have the assurance that they (the Prophet and Apostles) are speaking under inspiration if we so live that we can have a witness that what they are speaking is the word of the Lord.

In Conclusion

Canonized scriptures

Prophets and apostles

Personal revelation

tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine

Post Script



Purpose of This Essay

James Fowler’s Stages of Faith

StayLDS.com an Internet Forum

Clerical Corrections, Introduction, Chapter Summaries, Footnotes, and an Index to the Canonized Scriptures

Are Not a Change to Official Doctrine

In 1981 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints published its most current edition of the Book of the Mormon, the first since 1920, with additions to aid the reader. Chapter summaries, footnotes, an introduction, an index and other information — all of which are not considered scripture — were added or expanded to help the reader navigate through the book and compare scriptures in the Old and New Testaments.

Copyright 2010, Donald L. Ashton