Rough Stone Rolling

As we discussed I Corinthians in Gospel Doctrine last Sunday, some of the things covered reminded me of recent LDS history. In 3:4-5 it says,

For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

Back in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s– perhaps even into the 80’s– some of the BYU religion professors were prolific authors. Skousen, Nibley and others are still quoted in lessons, talks, articles, etc. Consequently, they accumulated hardcore followings; gaggles of devoted students followed them across campus, asking deep questions and scribbling sage responses. I, myself, am a fan of Hugh Nibley’s writings and was excited when he came to my ward years ago for a fireside (he expounded on the Trilateral Commission, but that’s for another entry). There were also a number of general authorities who wrote popular books which members used as doctrinal references.

As an RM college student, I was once entertained by two friends arguing over Joseph Fielding Smith’s discourse on evolution from his Doctrines of Salvation, a collection of works written before he was the prophet. Bro. Smith’s explanation was that it was a “degeneration” of man, rather than evolution– that man fell back into an animalistic state due to his sinful ways and the skeletons found were the product of mortal & moral backsliding. One of my friends was a geology student at BYU– he was for evolution. My other friend, an accountant from Southern Utah State College, was standing by his general authority. The debate became heated and each walked away thinking the other was an idiot. The fact is, despite various (and varying) historical statements made by general authorities on the subject, the Church has no official position on evolution. On his website, a member published a recent statement given by the First Presidency in response to such an inquiry:

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, basing its belief on divine revelation, ancient and modern, declares man to be the direct and lineal offspring of Deity… Man is the child of God, formed in the divine image and endowed with divine attributes.

Upon the fundamental doctrines of the Church we are all agreed. Our mission is to bear the message of the restored gospel of the world. Leave geology, biology, archaeology and anthropology, no one of which has to do with the salvation of the souls of mankind, to scientific research, while we magnify our calling in the realm of the Church.”

A few Church leaders who were not prophets have gotten into trouble publicizing their views. According to the notes left by David O’McKay’s secretary (as written in David O. McKay & The Rise of Modern Mormonism), Pres. McKay was fit to be tied over Bruce R. McConkie’s Mormon Doctrine, and had his counselors go over it with a fine tooth comb. By the end of their review, over 1,000 critical notes were made regarding the work. Bro. McConkie subsequently made changes, but the prophet was still uncomfortable with the book.

The problem wasn’t that the church leaders and religion professors had their particular viewpoints, the problem was their titles gave the publications airs of authority they didn’t actually possess. Like with what happened with my friends and the Doctrines of Salvation, viewpoints became “doctrine” and the truth got a little mucked up. Even in the beginning, Brother Joseph had the same issues.

The Church has gotten a lot better these days about keeping its messages unified and confederate theories muzzled. I am grateful for the experienced and enlightened words of Church leaders, and for the guidance they offer us in so many media. I’m grateful for the Church hierarchy which channels the Lord’s messages to us, clearly and unchallenged. And, since I brought it up, I’m grateful to the First Presidency for keeping it real: “Don’t bother us with evolution. We’re saving mankind.”