Doctrine vs Culture?

[Traveler]

I once heard a really cool story that may not be true – even if it never happened it is still a good parable we can all use. The story goes like this.

There was this fun loving fellow that was called to serve a mission. While at the mission training center he made sure that everyone understood that the only reason he had accepted his mission call is because his father put pressure on him to go and serve. He was only serving because his father commanded him to do so. Of course this Elder was not as happy as he should be as a missionary.

After a few weeks his faithful companion found the fun loving Elder one night in tears looking at his scriptures. When asked why he was so emotional the Elder responded that he just discovered that Jesus did not want to serve his mission and suffer the pains of death – but that he only did so because it was the will of his Father.

The Traveler

[rameumptom]

I think most active members stay for their testimonies. I do know that there are social Mormons, but then there are also social Catholics, Baptists, and many others, as well.

[Backroads]

Is it worth encouraging the more social members who aren't too aware of LDS doctrine to study it? I always here of stories who someone who liked being LDS well enough, decided to study it, and then went into shock and left the church. Is it better for people to be social Mormons living good lives or to encourage everyone to study their faith?

[Just_A_Guy]

Originally Posted by Backroads

Is it worth encouraging the more social members who aren't too aware of LDS doctrine to study it? I always here of stories who someone who liked being LDS well enough, decided to study it, and then went into shock and left the church. Is it better for people to be social Mormons living good lives or to encourage everyone to study their faith?

Within limits, I think. On the one hand, man cannot be saved in ignorance and knowledge is always a good thing. On the other hand, if they at least have the core beliefs discussed in the TR interview, I'm not sure anyone has any business trying to force them to accept more than that.

[Dravin]

Originally Posted by Backroads

Is it worth encouraging the more social members who aren't too aware of LDS doctrine to study it? I always here of stories who someone who liked being LDS well enough, decided to study it, and then went into shock and left the church. Is it better for people to be social Mormons living good lives or to encourage everyone to study their faith?

Are not all members encouraged to study the doctrines of the kingdom? So the social members are already being encouraged. Did you have some sort of selective "that goes double for you!" treatment in mind?

[Loudmouth_Mormon]

Originally Posted by Backroads

Is it worth encouraging the more social members who aren't too aware of LDS doctrine to study it?

Oh, absolutely! Anyone who doesn't know what they believe, or why they believe it, is in danger of several things - being made a fool of, losing what faith they do have, waking up one morning in total crisis of faith, etc.

That said, I believe there are good ways to study and less good ways. It is true that you can learn a lot about a person or group from their enemies, but I wouldn't say you should automatically take an enemy's word as final or even accurate.

The Gospel Principles book and class is a wonderful way to learn church doctrine. Godhead, priesthood, prophets, missionaries, importance of families, word of wisdom, exhaltation, a ton of stuff is there that would be new to someone who had never encountered it before.

I was born LDS, my mom sent me until I turned 18 and could get away with staying home. When I finally actually gained a testimony and returned at 26, probably the best thing that happened to me after that, was getting called to teach the Gospel Principles class. I remember reading every chapter, basically for the first time, and realizing "Hey - I really do believe that! How cool is that!?!"

Then I went to FARMS, to learn about criticisms of our faith, and how we answered them. After a few years at that, I sought out critics and criticisms on my own. My 'apologetic career' peaked when I got the folks at a countercult outreach forum to admit the possibility that I was actually a saved christian, despite my being Mormon.

I think my experience would have been very different if I had started with the countercult people, before even knowing what I believed or why.

I'd recommend that path for most anyone who (like me) has a couple of brain cells to rub together.

[ChristTheTruth]

I would say there are a lot of Mormons who stay just because their parents or grandparents were raised that way, and maybe they don't want to disappoint them? I'm sure on the other hand as well that the majority believe everything the church teaches.

[RescueMom]

The shifting of the wheat and tares is beginning to happen. Those who are just there for the culture will be shifted out....soon. It will be easy to tell, they will have no real testimony of the Atonement of Christ. It will be only in that testimony that the wheat will make it, all other foundations that members have built their church going on will be destroyed. Some will gain a testimony, others will fall away.

Hence many are called, but few are chosen.

IMHO, the shifting is going to happen, and we will see many who have come from long pioneer stock who are in the church for social reasons fall away....probably due to a doctrinal change or something the GA proclaim. I already see it happening.

It has been foretold that many will fall away.

[Backroads]

Originally Posted by Dravin

Are not all members encouraged to study the doctrines of the kingdom? So the social members are already being encouraged. Did you have some sort of selective "that goes double for you!" treatment in mind?

No. Just wondering that if those who arent' really studying anything are perhaps better off that way--at least they are going to Church.

[Windseeker]

I'm sure many have seen this before. In truth it seems that us LDS folks are doing pretty well in understanding Christian Doctrine. A little better on average than our Christian brothers.

U.S. Religious Knowledge Survey - Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life

Atheists and agnostics, Jews and Mormons are among the highest-scoring groups on a new survey of religious knowledge, outperforming evangelical Protestants, mainline Protestants and Catholics on questions about the core teachings, history and leading figures of major world religions.

Mormons, black Protestants and white evangelicals are the most frequent readers of materials about religion. Fully half of all Mormons (51%) and roughly three-in-ten white evangelicals (30%) and black Protestants (29%) report that they read books or go online to learn about their own religion at least once a week. Only a small fraction of all religiously affiliated Americans – 6% of the general public and no more than 8% of any religious group – say they read books (other than Scripture) or visit websites to learn about religions other than their own at least once a week.