Why is the Manual of Instructions not public?

[rpn]

If you ask your leaders to read it, and they refuse and you go up the chain and everyone refuses, then you can return and make all these claims about how it was not available to YOU. But some of the rest of us have asked to read it and done so. So it is tough to understand your argument. The church doesn't see any point in spending the money to give copies to everyone (though a few years ago it did spend the money to publish True to the Faith, which outlines a number of church positions). In addition, the manual is GUIDANCE, and we do believe in personal and institutional revelation within our stewardship, so sometimes leaders don't do what is suggests. Sure it would be easier if the church had an online link to it so that when members wanted to know the official position on cremation or whether you can attend singles before the ink is dry on your divorce papers, you can look it up yourself. But whether that ease outweighs the possible negative uses of the material is another question.

[handys003]

OK, it affects only me and my family. You still have not answered why it is sacred at all. I just don't understand why to keep something that the leaders are supposed to be following anyways and that affects us directly to all of us.

Because it is stated in the CHOI to keep sacred. That is your answer. Do you give your signs to others? It is done because the lord asked. Plain and simple and law of obedience in action. The Lord wants people who are not part of the church, who would not otherwise understand such, and misconstrue such to stay out of his business. Got it yet? Sacred means to have spiritual repect! Repect that the CHOI is for our eyes only.

[ERayR]

I am not saying they SHOULD sell it. I am just asking, why don't they do it? I am not making conspiracy theories here and you guys keep on imagining them.

Ahh so now the real reason for the thread comes out Troll

[Jeff K.]

Jeff K., on 28 July 2010 - 03:37 PM, said:

The paranoia is reflected in the insistence to print something you neither own nor control. For reasons you seem afraid to divulge. Now that's paranoia.

I am not saying they SHOULD sell it. I am just asking, why don't they do it? I am not making conspiracy theories here and you guys keep on imagining them.

Why don't they make paper airplanes and shoot them to the moon? About as relevant as your somewhat paranoid posts. So why do you want them printed? It is relevant.

[elguanteloko]

What is contained in the Handbook are guidelines to be followed by the leadership, but the Spirit always prevails.

I can certainly agree that there is flexibility in what is written in the CHOI.

If the Handbook were generally available, it would be interpreted legalistically and we would be having online debates about how someone's Bishop, "did not follow the Handbook" when in fact he was inspired not to do so.

is debate a reason to keep information from members? "This will create debate so let's keep people without knowing what is happening"... really?

It deals with problems which most members do not even want to think about- problems which have arisen in the far corners of the church etc.

well, if they don't want to think about them, why to keep it from them?

In short, it would be a public expose of every possible piece of dirty laundry which might potentially arise and guidelines about how to deal with them.

I don't see as a justification for keeping the CHOI from people who want it. They are instructions that affects us all and I don't think it is justifiable to keep them from people just to not create stir.

It is not exactly an uplifting read, trust me.

lol, yes, but this is no reason to keep it from anyone.

[phaedrus ut]

I have never had a problem getting to look at the CHI when I ask my local leaders to do so. As far as I can tell, it is available for all members to see.

I think the problem comes with issues that you don't know you should ask about first. For example, when my wife and I decided we were done having children I elected to get a vasectomy. I had no idea the CHI said you should do it unless for medical reason.

Phaedrus

[elguanteloko]

Because it is stated in the CHOI to keep sacred. That is your answer. Do you give your signs to others? It is done because the lord asked. Plain and simple and law of obedience in action. The Lord wants people who are not part of the church, who would not otherwise understand such, and misconstrue such to stay out of his business. Got it yet? Sacred means to have spiritual repect! Repect that the CHOI is for our eyes only.

"Because God says so"... got it.

[elguanteloko]

It's not irrelevant at all. In fact its quite relevant. I expect that what the LDS Church does in this case is quite normal.

'everybody does it' is not a satisfactory answer, Ben.

You are the one who is insisting that for some reason the LDS Church should be doing something other than what it is doing. And you haven't really been very clear about why you think this is the case, or what you expect for your suggestion to achieve. Clearly, from my perspective, the whole issue of "hiding" something is a misnomer on your part. So I think that it is very, very relevant to your question. Why should the LDS church make it's Handbook of Instruction public? Just suggesting (as you are) that there is no reason not to is not compelling to me at all (or to most of the other people here).

I never said there is no reason not to. I just want to know why don't they do it.

[Mola Ram Suda Ram]

The issue is, why to hide it at all?

No, the issue is why does every one need to see it. If you can present a reason why everyone needs a copy then I might try to answer your question of why are they hiding it.

[Jason]

How many companies make their management employee handbook freely available to the public?

[Bernard Gui]

Why is the Manual of Instructions not open for all members to see?(That is, the Church not releasing it)

You can order Section 2 from LDS Distribution.

Section 1 is reserved for General authorities, stake presidencies, bishoprics, mission presidents, etc.

The purpose of Section 1 is to supplement and facilitate revelation as Priesthood leaders

administer their duties in the Church.

Why would the Church need to publish this information? Who would use it?

How do you justify the expense?

Bernard

[elguanteloko]

No, the issue is why does every one need to see it. If you can present a reason why everyone needs a copy then I might try to answer your question of why are they hiding it.

One reason is in post #56

[mtomm]

How about this: By making the handbook available only to church leaders it forces members to go to their bishop/branch president/stake president to find out the answers. If we could look it up on the internet or had our own copy we'd miss out on the counsel and inspiration of our leaders who have stewardship over us. It allows for dialogue and an exchange of information. All sorts good can/should happen by counseling with our bishop. It's a handbook meant for leaders so leaders are given the handbook. It's really pretty simple and it makes complete sense. There is no reason for anyone to be defensive about it.

Just a thought.

[volgadon]

"Because God says so"... got it.

Do you make public all your family procedures, decisions, etc.? No man is an island, your family affects your surroundings, so why not make public your information?

[volgadon]

One reason is in post #56

I think that sort of information is in CHI 2, which is avaliable for the rank and file.

[Mola Ram Suda Ram]

One reason is in post #56

I am not sure that is a reason. If the church wanted such a policy they would come out and say it. Right now the CHI is a book that offers leaders guidiance on tough questions and situtations. Unless you are in a leadership position I don'tsee why you need one. Also to post 56 I would need more context.

Again, if you want to read why not just ask your leaders? It sounds like they will let you. I have really no desire to read the book.

I have found that most church leaders wont even give you what the CHI says unless you bring it up. If I wanted a vasectomy and didn't feel it was an issue, and I never talked to a priesthood leader about it, am I held accountable? Would they ever approach me after the fact? I doubt it. My brother has never once be confronted about his.

[Mola Ram Suda Ram]

I think that sort of information is in CHI 2, which is avaliable for the rank and file.

Oh, never knew this. Again I have no desire to read some of those books. So if that part is in the rank and file edition, what is tha hubbub about?

[David T]

Because it is stated in the CHOI to keep sacred. That is your answer.

It says no such thing. This is what it does say:

The Lord admonished, "Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed, in all diligence" (D&C 107:99; see also D&C 105:10).

Church leaders should seek personal revelation to help them learn and fulfill the duties of their callings.

Studying the scriptures and the teachings of latter-day prophets will also help leaders learn and fulfil their duties. The Lord has admonished leaders to treasure up in their minds continually the words of God so they will be receptive to the influence of the Spirit (see D&C 84:85).

Leaders also learn their duties by studying the instructions in Church handbooks. These instructions can facilitate revelation if they are used to provide an understanding of principles, policies, and procedures to apply while seeking the guidance of the Spirit

In other words, the handbook isn't designed to teach secret sacred doctrine. It's not a doctrinal manual at all! They are designed, in the context of Church leadership, to "provide an understanding of principles, policies, and procedures to apply while seeking the guidance of the Spirit".

Book 1: Stake Presidencies and Bishoprics. For the most part, this book includes information that only stake presidencies and bishoprics need. However, other stake and ward leaders may have access to this information as needed for reference.

Book 1 has been prepared solely for use by general and local Church officers to administer the affairs of the Church. The entire book should not be duplicated. However, the stake president or bishop may authorize portions to be duplicate for high councilors, and others as needed.

Oh, and of interest is that on November 13, there will be a worldwide leadership training broadcast where the brand new manuals will be introduced, and distributed. MY Stake President told us he understands Book 1 "Bishops and Stake Presidents" is going to be made much smaller, and Book 2 "Administering the Church" is going to be more expansive, and made more readily available.

[Storm Rider]

The issue is, why to hide it at all?

I haven't seen a manuel of instruction for IBM, Chase, BP, Microsoft, or any other large orgainization. I have seen one for the Southern Baptists, Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, EV, etc. Who exactly gives away their MofI or who sales them for all to see?

[ERayR]

'everybody does it' is not a satisfactory answer, Ben.

I never said there is no reason not to. I just want to know why don't they do it.

You don't seem to accept anything else so how about It's none of your **** business.

[cinepro]

CHOI is not for the public. Too bad so sad. It is revelated to the apostleship.

While I'm not arguing that the CHI should be made generally available, I think you are overstating the nature of what is in the manual. It isn't doctrine, or "revelation". And even if it were, that would be even more reason to make it more widely available, not less.

It's my understanding that it isn't made public because it is a procedural manual for people who have specific responsibilities in running the Church. But many of these "procedures" are carried out under inspiration. Perhaps one downside to making it more available to Church members would be that Church members would turn to the CHI for answers and guidance instead of talking to their Bishop.

But the downside of keeping it private is that there may be things in there that members inadvertently disregard because they don't even know there's a policy! For example, I've had several post-vasectomy friends express surprise (and amusement) when they find out that there is actually counsel in the CHI about such an operation. They didn't even know to ask because it's never taught, and only mentioned in a manual they haven't read.

[Lightbearer]

Why is the Manual of Instructions not open for all members to see?(That is, the Church not releasing it)

Probably because the General Handbook of Instructions is given to leaders as a "general" guide of instructions, not some inerrant manual that must be followed by the unbendng "letter." The Church is to be run by revelation to priesthood leaders not by a "handbook" like a military code of conduct... If it were released to the general public then every apostate and Anti-Mormon enemy of the Church would be scouring over every decision and Pharasee-like and holding the handbook up as a witness against those leaders who are inspired to deviate from the "general instructions" and then it would give the impression that the Church is supposed to be run by a "book" much as some religions use the Bible or other books. I have seen the GHI many times as a Ward Clerk and it is available to anyone who wishes to see it, if they have a question. But it is not for the satisfaction of the curiosity of those who are critics or others who do not have a "need to know." But from what I have seen there is nothing in it that is in any way contradictory to the Standard Works.

[CV75]

They didn't even know to ask because it's never taught, and only mentioned in a manual they haven't read.

Yet some people do ask about things that are not published broadly in the curriculum, or specifically in the scriptures, and the manual provides some guidance for their leaders to give them. Those who are not inclined to ask probably don't feel much need for priesthood guidance on a particular matter; nothing inherently wrong with that. Of these, some are not inclined to ask because the Spirit is already helping them or they are on the right track so that the Spirit is not striving with them on the matter, and some are not inclined to ask because they have not thought it through enough to be sufficiently ready for an answer so as to seek one, and some are not inclined to ask because they are not sensitive what the Lord might be prompting them to ask about--each showing a different application of Romans 8:26.

[ERayR]

But the downside of keeping it private is that there may be things in there that members inadvertently disregard because they don't even know there's a policy! For example, I've had several post-vasectomy friends express surprise (and amusement) when they find out that there is actually counsel in the CHI about such an operation. They didn't even know to ask because it's never taught, and only mentioned in a manual they haven't read.

The CHI gives the church leader guidlines. In the above cases it would be general guidlines and each would have to decide how it affects their own life, which is what they did anyway.

[rpn]

Seems to me that men who had vasectomies without knowing would be relieved that they wouldn't be accountable for making that decision that way, because they never knew the church position.