Quote:
Originally Posted by AnthonyB
Maxel,
However the impression I had from the posters in this thread was that a prophetic word absolves them of moral responsibility before God. That even if they had a testimony or conviction that a prophecy wasn’t from God, God expects them to follow the prophet’s words against their own witness and God will absolve them of any wrong if they do.
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While some members do as you suggest, the Lord's prophets have continually told us to gain our own testimonies of what they teach, through the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
There are teachings (not core doctrine) in the Church, or statements of previous and current leaders, which I do not have a testimony of. Why? Because the Spirit has so far led me in a different direction on some things.
When I joined at 16 years of age in 1975 (yes, I turn 50 in September), GA writings had me convinced that Christ's atonement was basically a free resurrection, and we had to earn everything else. Don't believe it? Read Miracle of Forgiveness or Mormon Doctrine.
Since then, I've read the Book of Mormon over 75 times, and the other scriptures very frequently. I am now convinced that in the pre-1980s Church, they were having a knee-jerk reaction towards the way grace was being taught in other churches, and over-emphasized works, to the point of almost pushing grace away.
There seemed to be more focus on the Restoration through Joseph Smith than on Jesus Christ and his atonement.
Since then, we've seen the Church change its direction back to the center of the discussion, where it should be. The Church's Logo was changed, to emphasize Jesus as the center of the Church. The Book of Mormon's title was expanded to "The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ."
Grace and faith were taught again. Works are now explained as a needed extension of faith, so that we Become as Christ is through obedience. Where the Telestial and Terrestrial kingdoms were viewed as "Hell-Lite", we now see them as described in the scriptures: as levels of true heaven.
So, we don't need to believe all that the prophets teach us. We need to gain our own testimonies of the core doctrines, and then seek out other truths to enhance those core teachings. But we must keep an open mind to the fact that what we know now (outside of core doctrines) can change. And will change. That's why we have continuing revelation. And it develops over time for us, just as it did for Joseph Smith. For Joseph Smith, the concept of salvation changed over time, as he first learned of the 3 degrees of glory (1832), of the Spirit World where his brother Alvin was saved without yet being baptized (Jan 1836), and then the saving works in the temple being revealed later (1840).
If it was so for Joseph, why should it be different for us?
Study, seek, learn, ponder, and enjoy the ride.