False doctrine taught in church - cougarguard.com — unofficial BYU Cougars / LDS sports, football, basketball forum and message board

scottie · 02-11-2008, 03:06 PM

How do you handle false doctrines that get taught from time to time (more often than not, IMO) in LDS Church meetings? Do you bite your tongue b/c you know the teacher doesn't mean any harm? Would you respond differently if you had a non-member friend visiting with you? I'm not talking about blatantly false doctrine (I'm assuming that gets corrected by someone in attendance); here's an example of what I mean:

Yesterday in EQ our instructor, from his opening statement to the very end, was teaching that Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith are equals in our church (trust me that I wasn't taking that out of context). Because I'm a lifelong LDS member and understand the Mormon programming/culture and knew he meant no harm, I didn't say anything. However, had I had a non-member friend with me, I would have raised my hand and said something like, "Let's make sure we're clear on what's being taught -- you're not really trying to say that JC and JS are equals (even though that's exactly what he was saying), rather you're saying they both have/had important roles in our salvation." By the way, no one in the class challenged anything the instructor said.

I guess this is what I struggle with -- why do we only speak up if the false doct. is either 1) blatant or 2) if we're worried what a visiting non-member might think?

myboynoah · 02-11-2008, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottie

How do you handle false doctrines that get taught from time to time (more often than not, IMO) in LDS Church meetings? Do you bite your tongue b/c you know the teacher doesn't mean any harm? Would you respond differently if you had a non-member friend visiting with you? I'm not talking about blatantly false doctrine (I'm assuming that gets corrected by someone in attendance); here's an example of what I mean:

Yesterday in EQ our instructor, from his opening statement to the very end, was teaching that Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith are equals in our church (trust me that I wasn't taking that out of context). Because I'm a lifelong LDS member and understand the Mormon programming/culture and knew he meant no harm, I didn't say anything. However, had I had a non-member friend with me, I would have raised my hand and said something like, "Let's make sure we're clear on what's being taught -- you're not really trying to say that JC and JS are equals (even though that's exactly what he was saying), rather you're saying they both have/had important roles in our salvation." By the way, no one in the class challenged anything the instructor said.

I guess this is what I struggle with -- why do we only speak up if the false doct. is either 1) blatant or 2) if we're worried what a visiting non-member might think?

I think it's possible to tactfully clarify some issues. I've done it in the past and haven't been punched in the nose yet.

creekster · 02-11-2008, 03:20 PM

If I am certain it is wrong, I iwll try to crrect it and doggedly so. Usuaully if somethign is wrong, you end up gettign support from others when you do try to correct it. If I am not certain, but I think it is wrong, I iwll still raise it, but a little less persistently. I always try to be tactful and your approach, saying something is different than what they have just said, seems to work well.

RC Vikings · 02-11-2008, 03:18 PM

I think people just assume that everybody else realizes he is wrong so why bother disrupting the class and everybody's nap time.

Archaea · 02-11-2008, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RC Vikings

I think people just assume that everybody else realizes he is wrong so why bother disrupting the class and everybody's nap time.

Of course, to observe the fallacies, one would have to be awake, so Scottie's question shows he really didn't attend quorum meeting else he would have been asleep.

Taq Man · 02-11-2008, 03:19 PM

I sat in a discussion with our WML who was an old retired man who worked 5 days a week in the Hawaii temple. We were discussing the 3 degrees of glory and our WML piped in to tell the investigators that it is important to keep the commandments and get on board early as only 144,000 are going to make it into the celestial kingdom. Good times. We corrected him on the spot and things were a bit awkward with the WML ever after. I don't think he believed us.

BYU71 · 02-11-2008, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottie

How do you handle false doctrines that get taught from time to time (more often than not, IMO) in LDS Church meetings? Do you bite your tongue b/c you know the teacher doesn't mean any harm? Would you respond differently if you had a non-member friend visiting with you? I'm not talking about blatantly false doctrine (I'm assuming that gets corrected by someone in attendance); here's an example of what I mean:

Yesterday in EQ our instructor, from his opening statement to the very end, was teaching that Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith are equals in our church (trust me that I wasn't taking that out of context). Because I'm a lifelong LDS member and understand the Mormon programming/culture and knew he meant no harm, I didn't say anything. However, had I had a non-member friend with me, I would have raised my hand and said something like, "Let's make sure we're clear on what's being taught -- you're not really trying to say that JC and JS are equals (even though that's exactly what he was saying), rather you're saying they both have/had important roles in our salvation." By the way, no one in the class challenged anything the instructor said.

I guess this is what I struggle with -- why do we only speak up if the false doct. is either 1) blatant or 2) if we're worried what a visiting non-member might think?

Usually I will ask the teacher to repeat what he said and make it clear, because my understanding isn't the same as his. If he makes the same claim again I just say out loud, "bull shit" and then let him go on.

creekster · 02-11-2008, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BYU71

Usually I will ask the teacher to repeat what he said and make it clear, because my understanding isn't the same as his. If he makes the same claim again I just say out loud, "bull shit" and then let him go on.

LOL. I like this approach best. Makes the point but almost certainly scares them from bothering you again. Genius.

Solon · 02-11-2008, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creekster

LOL. I like this approach best. Makes the point but almost certainly scares them from bothering you again. Genius.

I have a friend who teaches institute who taught me a clever trick on how to disagree in church: pretend to agree while stating a contrary position.

E.g.: "I think you make a really good point to remind us how Jesus is by far the important figure in the plan of salvation, but a lot of people played important parts too, like JS."

DapperDan · 02-11-2008, 03:41 PM

My favorite bit of false doctrine was several years ago during a sacrament meeting talk. This gentleman led off with:

"I know the prophets and the scriptures will tell you this....but they're wrong."

He then proceeded to give his entire 15 min talk about this subject (I think it was his own interesting views on salvation), that both the prophets and the scriptures were wrong about.

I figured if the bishop didn't care to interject I wasn't going to worry about it.

I miss that ward sometimes.

02-11-2008, 03:06 PM	#1
scottie Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Utah Posts: 525	False doctrine taught in church How do you handle false doctrines that get taught from time to time (more often than not, IMO) in LDS Church meetings? Do you bite your tongue b/c you know the teacher doesn't mean any harm? Would you respond differently if you had a non-member friend visiting with you? I'm not talking about blatantly false doctrine (I'm assuming that gets corrected by someone in attendance); here's an example of what I mean: Yesterday in EQ our instructor, from his opening statement to the very end, was teaching that Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith are equals in our church (trust me that I wasn't taking that out of context). Because I'm a lifelong LDS member and understand the Mormon programming/culture and knew he meant no harm, I didn't say anything. However, had I had a non-member friend with me, I would have raised my hand and said something like, "Let's make sure we're clear on what's being taught -- you're not really trying to say that JC and JS are equals (even though that's exactly what he was saying), rather you're saying they both have/had important roles in our salvation." By the way, no one in the class challenged anything the instructor said. I guess this is what I struggle with -- why do we only speak up if the false doct. is either 1) blatant or 2) if we're worried what a visiting non-member might think?

02-11-2008, 03:20 PM	#3
creekster Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: the far corner of my mind Posts: 8,711	If I am certain it is wrong, I iwll try to crrect it and doggedly so. Usuaully if somethign is wrong, you end up gettign support from others when you do try to correct it. If I am not certain, but I think it is wrong, I iwll still raise it, but a little less persistently. I always try to be tactful and your approach, saying something is different than what they have just said, seems to work well. __________________ Sorry for th e tpyos.

02-11-2008, 03:18 PM	#4
RC Vikings Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Rexburg, Idaho Posts: 2,236	I think people just assume that everybody else realizes he is wrong so why bother disrupting the class and everybody's nap time.

02-11-2008, 03:19 PM	#6
Taq Man Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vegas Baby, Vegas. Posts: 329	I sat in a discussion with our WML who was an old retired man who worked 5 days a week in the Hawaii temple. We were discussing the 3 degrees of glory and our WML piped in to tell the investigators that it is important to keep the commandments and get on board early as only 144,000 are going to make it into the celestial kingdom. Good times. We corrected him on the spot and things were a bit awkward with the WML ever after. I don't think he believed us.

02-11-2008, 03:41 PM	#10
DapperDan Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 39	My favorite bit of false doctrine was several years ago during a sacrament meeting talk. This gentleman led off with: "I know the prophets and the scriptures will tell you this....but they're wrong." He then proceeded to give his entire 15 min talk about this subject (I think it was his own interesting views on salvation), that both the prophets and the scriptures were wrong about. I figured if the bishop didn't care to interject I wasn't going to worry about it. I miss that ward sometimes.