I wrote this post to help a roommate better understand a priesthood-worthiness conundrum regarding the Word of Wisdom (D&C 89:4-21). He felt the Church's position on abstaining from drinking coffee was hypocritical when sugary sodas and "energy" drinks are just as unhealthy, yet permitted by the Church. It was especially confusing for him to hear that, back in the day, plenty of faithful Latter-Day Saints "got away" with drinking a little alcohol, coffee, and/or tea and were still deemed worthy to hold the higher priesthood and temple recommends.
Many problems which members encounter often stem from the mistaken belief that what they have been told my someone in the Church is somehow the Church position, expectation, or official stance. In fact, the error may be in what others have presumed to be the Church's official position. On many issues, the Church has no official position. So regarding specific applications of teachings found within the Church, how does one differente between Church doctrine and cultural beliefs about doctrine?
To better understand the matter myself, I scoured diverse online resources regarding the establishment of LDS doctrine. I hoped to distill my research into a generalizable model that could fit any teaching. A "doctrinal decider." A black box that a person could plug any old belief or practice into, and it would spit out a binary result—doctrinal or undoctrinal. After reading many blogposts and scholarly articles on the subject, I accumulated seventeen pages of notes detailing doctrinal measurement standards and criteria. However, after much analysis, I noted a dismaying observation—only the living apostles and prophets are authorized to declare, interpret, and clarify doctrine (Millet, What is Doctrine), and yet none of the Brethren use any such models, documents, charts, or "doctrinal deciders" to try to define or explain doctrine.
Instead, they regularly encourage Church members to employ a system of spiritual checks and balances to guide us through life’s challenges. We have been given “three witnesses” to God’s will:
As long as the three legs of the tripod of truth are triangulated in agreement, then the teaching in question is true doctrine—God's will, for me, now. That's all there is to it.
While the tripod of truth was clarifying for me, I'm not sure how my roommate felt about it when I shared it them with him. He kind of shrugged it off. I'm pretty sure his conflicting belief regarding the Word of Wisdom isn't his core concern... What are your thoughts about the tripod of truth?
Many problems which members encounter often stem from the mistaken belief that what they have been told my someone in the Church is somehow the Church position, expectation, or official stance. In fact, the error may be in what others have presumed to be the Church's official position. On many issues, the Church has no official position. So regarding specific applications of teachings found within the Church, how does one differente between Church doctrine and cultural beliefs about doctrine?
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| Bagley Cartoon: Policing LDS Doctrine With Love; SLTRIB.com |
Instead, they regularly encourage Church members to employ a system of spiritual checks and balances to guide us through life’s challenges. We have been given “three witnesses” to God’s will:
- Standard Works (I.e., Bible, BOM, D&C, PoGP, including official doctrines and proclamations) —These are the best representations we have of God's word to man over time.
- Modern-day revelation (Taught often, and by many—if not all—current prophets, seers, and revelators) — These authorized scriptural commentaries clarify and illustrate the doctrine we have in the Standard Works. Through these leaders, ancient truths are restored in our day.
- Holy Ghost (Personal witness) — The beauty of this element is that without the confirming witness of the Holy Ghost, individuals are not held accountable for following truths explicitly taught in the scriptures and by the prophets.
As long as the three legs of the tripod of truth are triangulated in agreement, then the teaching in question is true doctrine—God's will, for me, now. That's all there is to it.
While the tripod of truth was clarifying for me, I'm not sure how my roommate felt about it when I shared it them with him. He kind of shrugged it off. I'm pretty sure his conflicting belief regarding the Word of Wisdom isn't his core concern... What are your thoughts about the tripod of truth?
I like your tripod of truth analogy. In my experience, I always try to reference back to the Standard Works and then to the most current proclamations from living prophets. But I would agree with you that the most important part of any doctrinal search or curiosity is making sure you have the Holy Spirit and are living in a manner worthy of revelation. Problems tend to dissolve when I am focusing on improving my own Christlike attributes.
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing!
Yes, it seems like this energy drink conundrum is but a symptom of a deeper issue. I like the tripod of truth analogy. I think sticking close as I can to the prophet is always a good policy, but we deserve our own personal revelation too, as we search the scriptures and study things the HG can be a great revelator.
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