Why is the Manual of Instructions not public?

[wjclerk]

Well, of course, it's not the question, it's the answer. It belongs to the

Church, published by it's leadership, and they get to decide how it is

distributed.

I think the crux of the argument as to why the book is not more widely available rests squarely on the authors' intent in publishing the book. It is designed by an organization's leadership for leaders in that organization. By leaders for leaders. Those who are creating and publishing it determine, as the authors, what the distribution should be. If they want to sell it through Amazon.com to any who want it for a profit, then they can choose that method. If it is an internal publication for internal consumption by those only in leadership positions to assist them in conducting the affairs of the organization in a way that is consistent with the policies and positions of that organization, then they have the right as publishers to determine how that information should be disseminated to those who need access to it.

Who knows? Maybe we will get a member's policy edition of the handbook someday to poll from lds.org or something should the leaders believe that will help the members walk the walk of faith in their faith. But until that day, my personal guess is that the leaders have determined that it is not to the advantage of the Church to publish answers to all questions.

We are being trained to live by faith in things that we aren't sure of - for sure things, we leave that to the province of politics and news commentators. They KNOW the truth!

[Jeff K.]

I see no reason to go out of our way for the purient interests of the complaining class. They haven't provided a compelling reason beyond "why not". Let them hang in their efforts to find this or some other issue to throw at the church. They will never be happy, regardless of what the church does. So why bother?

[Bernard Gui]

Guanteloco....

Do I have a deal for you!

I've got a 1944 Church Handbook of Instructions that I will sell you

for a measly $500. Seriously. Then you can write in all the revisions to

bring it up to snuff. How about it? Make me an offer I can't refuse...

Bernard

[Doctrine 612]

I have a copy of both books and I was told to keep them safe and to study them often, The only reason I can find that they are not allowed to the general public is, nothing there is no secret in it just procedures on how to handle situations that come up. also I must confess I like it a lot, to know why leadership does what they do.

[Deborah]

Not having read the whole thread but based on what I've glanced at the better question is "Why should the Manual of Instruction" be made public. Honestly, what do people think they will find in there?

The manual is a handbook for church leaders; but because the church looks at individuals something in the handbook may be a general rule but not necessarily apply to an individual's circumstance. That is why if there is a question then someone should ask his bishop and together they need to figure out what to do.

[blueadept]

I have a copy of both books and I was told to keep them safe and to study them often, The only reason I can find that they are not allowed to the general public is, nothing there is no secret in it just procedures on how to handle situations that come up. also I must confess I like it a lot, to know why leadership does what they do.

I've had my own internet copy for a few years as a non-member with the intent of simply wanting a better understanding of the guidelines the local bishop would use. I've asked the local bishop to see a particular issue as referenced in the CHI and I always was shown the relevent parts.

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.

A very reasonable approach that works in most cases. My wife has talked to her bishop for years about our relationship and her desire for me to convert. With her desire to pursue divorce at this point due to religious differences, the CHI doesn't condone the choice but does leave it in the bishop's discretion. Even though I understand this in the best possible LDS light, the fact that she still has a calling and TR definitely insinuates that I don't have a full understanding of what has been discussed with the bishop. Having a copy of the CHI is truly useless even if it is simply for understanding. It really is a dry read but when personal revelation can be used by the bishop (or wife or whoever).....what is the point of publishing such a book? It's a guideline for the bishoporic that's really useless for those that really don't need it.

[Bernard Gui]

My wife has talked to her bishop for years about our relationship and her desire for me to convert. With her desire to pursue divorce at this point due to religious differences, the CHI doesn't condone the choice but does leave it in the bishop's discretion.

This is not correct. When I served as bishop, I was instructed never to encourage or even suggest divorce. The pertinent

section of the CHI says,

No priesthood officer is to counsel a person whom to marry. Nor should he counsel a person to divorce his or her spouse.

Those decisions must originate and remain with the individual.

I hope you can work out your differences.

Bernard

[Bernard Gui]

Oye Guanteloco? Estas aqui?

How about my offer?

Bernard

[blueadept]

This is not correct. When I served as bishop, I was instructed never to encourage or even suggest divorce. The pertinent

section of the CHI says,

I hope you can work out your differences.

Bernard

I'm well aware of what the CHI states and fully accept it. I'm simply stating the conditions that I'm experiencing and witnessed with the info given. Obviously I don't believe I've been given a complete picture and believe my wife has given more information to the bishop so that the lack of disciplinary action might be understood. Since I've never been involved with the bishop, I have little desire to start now. The issue is between my wife, her bishop and her guidance with HF.

All I can do is to find the best way to honor my covenants with God and move on.

Back to the OP, it's really pointless for people who do not have a need to use the CHI to have a copy of the CHI. It's a guideline, but the HG is what is really stressed that should be followed.

My 2 cents

[mfbukowski]

I'm well aware of what the CHI states and fully accept it. I'm simply stating the conditions that I'm experiencing and witnessed with the info given. Obviously I don't believe I've been given a complete picture and believe my wife has given more information to the bishop so that the lack of disciplinary action might be understood. Since I've never been involved with the bishop, I have little desire to start now. The issue is between my wife, her bishop and her guidance with HF.

Marrying a non member is no where near a cause for disciplinary action.

[Bernard Gui]

I'm well aware of what the CHI states and fully accept it. I'm simply stating the conditions that I'm experiencing and witnessed with the info given. Obviously I don't believe I've been given a complete picture and believe my wife has given more information to the bishop so that the lack of disciplinary action might be understood. Since I've never been involved with the bishop, I have little desire to start now. The issue is between my wife, her bishop and her guidance with HF.

All I can do is to find the best way to honor my covenants with God and move on.

Back to the OP, it's really pointless for people who do not have a need to use the CHI to have a copy of the CHI. It's a guideline, but the HG is what is really stressed that should be followed.

My 2 cents

I was looking to correct your statement that divorce is within the discretion of the bishop. It is not.

Bernard

[blueadept]

Marrying a non member is no where near a cause for disciplinary action.

Apparently neither is divorcing a non-believer/non-member who has found Christ in another church. This is what appears to be happening.

[Mark Beesley]

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

Having read through the thread (at least some of it), I'd like to ask you a question before I tell you the true reason why the CHI is not distributed beyond the authorized Priesthood Leadership. My question is this: Why do you think the Church does not distribute the CHI for general consumption?

[Moon Quaker]

BTW, your demanding the Church should spend extra money on printing the book for the masses? That's an unfair demand.

Come on, Dude. It's 2010; they can post it online, just like all the anti-Mormons do, as a PDF file. Except an official PDF would utilize higher-quality vector graphics instead of scanned images.

[ERayR]

Apparently neither is divorcing a non-believer/non-member who has found Christ in another church. This is what appears to be happening.

While divorce is discouraged in the LDS Church it is not forbidden as it is in the Catholic Church. I am confident your wife was nt counceled to divorce but she herself must decide the road she travels.

May you be blessed with the strength and comfort in your trials. It is not an easy road to walk.

[Mark Beesley]

elguanteloko,

You probably lost interest in this thread, or maybe your question was answered to your satisfaction, though that does not seem to be the case based on your last posts. I suspect you simply gave up trying to get a straight answer that made sense to you. But I think you deserve an answer, so here it is. The reason why the Church does not release the CHI to the general public is as follows:

The mission of the Church is to:

• Perfect the Saints;
• Redeem the Dead;
• Preach the Gospel; and
• Care for the needy.

It is not the mission of the Church to satisfy idle curiosity.

Use of the CHI by the authorized Priesthood Leadership furthers the mission of the Church in perfecting the Saints and caring for the needy. Wider distribution of the CHI than this would not further the mission of the Church.

I hope this answers your question to your satisfaction. But I am still curious about how you would answer my earlier question, which was: Why do you think the Church does not distribute the CHI for general consumption?