ereves wrote:Bella, you are a victim of contemporary mormon culture though you claim to be a "fundamentalist." You say, "On this forum I have been shocked with the amount of discussion of how the GAs do not agree on things.Where this idea comes from I have no idea." That’s funny because I have no idea where you get the idea that the teaching of the brethren is uniform and almost entirely in agreement if not entirely. I honestly don't know what you are talking about or where that teaching comes from. The brethren don't claim that. The church has never taught that. Church history does not show that. Reality does not back it up. It is a MORMON MYTH developed by the membership!!! Please show me a quote by someone who says the brethren can't be wrong and agree on everything. Of course the brethren are in agreement on the fundamental core doctrines of the gospel (and you rarely get anything beyond that in General Confernce) but they do not have to agree on things beyond that. They were split for decades on the blacks and the priesthood issue before 1978, they have not all agreed on eternal progression (whether or not there is progression between kingdoms), they have not been unanimous on evolution etc. Did Paul and Peter agree on circumcision? A committee of apostles found over 1,000 false doctrines in Bruce R McConkie's original Mormon Doctrine book and there are falsehoods in it today.Bella wrote:I say the contrary people do not realize how MUCH they truly do agree. On this forum I have been shocked with the amount of discussion of how the GAs do not agree on things.Where this idea comes from I have no idea. (reality) I do not see that nor have I experienced that. (you will if you look outside General Conference and the friend) For me I have seen them agree almost entirely if not entirely. (Have you ever heard of church history?) Members on the other hand (especially on this forum) disagree on a lot of things including what the Brethren say is truth or not. (which the brethren encourage us to do and seek out our own confirmations of what they teach... I for one stand by the brethren in this matter and not by your theory.)ereves wrote: The brethren don't agree on a lot of things, like you say, and I'm totally ok with that.
I think the confusions and contractions in interpretations lie with the members not the Brethren.
I have a strong testimony of the church, the Book of Mormon etc. but I try not to have a fantasy view of the church. The self-righteous mormon view that the brethren are perfect is what drives a lot of people away from the church and will make you doubt if you're not careful once you realize it is false. It is dangerous because it is false! It is also what has cause 75% of this thread to be dedicated to addressing this problem rather than addressing the issue at hand. I can’t be too hard on you because that is how I used to feel too. I’m only trying to help you out. Have you read Approaching Mormon Doctrine yet?? I will provide the link again: http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng ... n-doctrine
I fail to see where Bella is trying to look outside of the avenues of such things like GC and the Friend as you say? Even the link you provided here suggest that members and non-members alike search out their own confirmations and answers as Bella has suggested.
I would think that Bella is trying to emphasize that the brethren are not so prideful as to think that thier opinion is the only right one. They always come to a consensus through the Spirit and present a united front on anything they are presenting to the church or the world. If they are speaking about it, then it is probably important and they agree, and we should listen and give heed and diligence to it. I see NO self righteous infallibility being suggested here at all???
Also, I think Bella is touching on how so many (members and non alike) seem to jump at the opportunity to point out any flaw that they can in the brethren like they are trying to justify some sort of prideful insecurity in themselves?!? The prophets, church, scriptures, etc. all fulfill a need and righteous desire if we use them accordingly.