New Book: "Lds Beliefs: A Doctrinal Reference" -- Mormon Doctrine 3.0?

[David T]

LDS Beliefs: A Doctrinal Reference

by Robert L. Millet, Camille Fronk Olson, Andrew C. Skinner, Brent L. Top

"LDS Beliefs is a landmark publication at a time in the Church’s history when it is vital for members to know their religion for themselves and be able to explain the major teachings of Mormonism to persons not of our faith. This book is written to Latter-day Saints and is intended to serve as an essential reference, a doctrinal primer on our beliefs. With entries on nearly 400 topics, it has a conversational tone, a cordial and inviting spirit, and serves as a handy one volume summary of and guide to our distinctive doctrines—a book that will be an excellent gift to friends and a useful resource for libraries. If, as President Boyd K. Packer has explained, “True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior,” then this work, a remarkable contribution to LDS literature, will change your life.

I'm nervous. Anyone seen this book?

EDIT:

Here's the Amazon entry with a preview for some of the first 'A' entries. I am not impressed.(the section on Book of Abraham professes only the Missing Papyrus Theory as the reason why the current papyri have no relation to the text of Joseph's BoA)

Edited October 14, 2011 by nackhadlow

[altersteve]

I am not impressed.(the section on Book of Abraham professes only the Missing Papyrus Theory as the reason why the current papyri have no relation to the text of Joseph's BoA)

I thought that was the position most scholars take. Are there other theories?

[Senator]

LDS Beliefs: A Doctrinal Reference

by Robert L. Millet, Camille Fronk Olson, Andrew C. Skinner, Brent L. Top

"LDS Beliefs is a landmark publication at a time in the Church’s history when it is vital for members to know their religion for themselves and be able to explain the major teachings of Mormonism to persons not of our faith. This book is written to Latter-day Saints and is intended to serve as an essential reference, a doctrinal primer on our beliefs. With entries on nearly 400 topics, it has a conversational tone, a cordial and inviting spirit, and serves as a handy one volume summary of and guide to our distinctive doctrines—a book that will be an excellent gift to friends and a useful resource for libraries. If, as President Boyd K. Packer has explained, “True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior,” then this work, a remarkable contribution to LDS literature, will change your life.

I'm nervous. Anyone seen this book?

EDIT:

Here's the Amazon entry with a preview for some of the first 'A' entries. I am not impressed.(the section on Book of Abraham professes only the Missing Papyrus Theory as the reason why the current papyri have no relation to the text of Joseph's BoA)

That's a pretty bold title.

Perhaps they should have inserted a "Suggested" somewhere in there.

[Maidservant]

Hmmmm. Yea.

I'll stick with the 13 Articles of Faith and the scriptures as they stand.

[Senator]

Nevertheless, if for nothing else, it will serve as a great perspectives lesson for our posterity, say 50 years down the road.

Edited October 14, 2011 by Senator

[BCSpace]

Here's the Amazon entry with a preview for some of the first 'A' entries. I am not impressed

I noticed a plethora of sources not published by the LDS Church like the JoD and The Miracle of Forgiveness so it is a potential disaster in the making. However, most of those unauthorized sources can also be reasonably good on most subjects and being somewhat familiar with the authors I don't expect to see any serious errors or misconceptions. Like BRM's Mormon Doctrine, the title is ostentatious.

[David T]

I noticed a plethora of sources not published by the LDS Church like the JoD and The Miracle of Forgiveness so it is a potential disaster in the making. However, most of those unauthorized sources can also be reasonably good on most subjects and being somewhat familiar with the authors I don't expect to see any serious errors or misconceptions. Like BRM's Mormon Doctrine, the title is ostentatious.

To be fair, I think in most cases, the quotations are not used to be the source of a doctrine, but are used instead of the authors explanation. IE, in places instead of a Bob Millet analyses, they let a former General Authority who gave the same essential analyses present it instead of just the words of Bob Millet.

Either way, I think this does, in a way, intent to replace Mormon Doctrine.And in fact, the title is actually a little better. While it does not define what all LDS do believe, and while the title does not declare that this is what is authoritatively officially taught (as the word 'Doctrine' suggests), I have a feeling it will be a pretty good indication of what a large majority of LDS do popularly believe.

[David T]

I guess that, as much as many of would wish it wouldn't need to be, there are many members who feel a need for a work like this. And you know what? There is. As frustrating as some many of the entries will probably be, it will no doubt be a billion times better - for today - than the now out-of-print Mormon Doctrine.

People are going to use a book like this whether we like them to or not. Either it's going to be their dad's copy of Mormon Doctrine, or something like this. While I do wish it would provide more options and perspectives than deciding on the one 'most official' view on the topic, I would much rather those who need such things use this rather than an old passed around copy of MD.

[David T]

I noticed a plethora of sources not published by the LDS Church like...The Miracle of Forgiveness

Actually, sort of off topic, but, for better or for worse, TMoF is now published by the Church, under the Church Logo in several languages. (The english edition has the same cover art for the different editions with the Deseret Book logo Imprint, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints logo imprint)

Edited October 14, 2011 by nackhadlow

[cinepro]

From Amazon:

LDS Beliefs is a landmark publication at a time in the Church’s history when it is vital for members to know their religion for themselves and be able to explain the major teachings of Mormonism to persons not of our faith. This book is written to Latter-day Saints and is intended to serve as an essential reference, a doctrinal primer on our beliefs. With entries on nearly 400 topics, it has a conversational tone, a cordial and inviting spirit, and serves as a handy one volume summary of and guide to our distinctive doctrines—a book that will be an excellent gift to friends and a useful resource for libraries. If, as President Boyd K. Packer has explained, “True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior,” then this work, a remarkable contribution to LDS literature, will change your life.

I read the introduction to the book on Amazon, and while they acknowledge the book isn't an "official publication" of the Church, there is a woeful failure to acknowledge any possibility of valid alternative views among LDS from those taught in the book.

Edited October 14, 2011 by cinepro

[wenglund]

I can see how this work may be of net positive value to many people and a source of histrionics for a few. Such is the nature of quite a few products on the market, religious or otherwise.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[cinepro]

Just reviewing the entries that are available on Amazon, I can see that the book appears to hew closely to the traditional and literal view of Church doctrines and teachings.

For example, under "Adamic Language" they reinforce the idea of a literal Tower of Babel:

"Though a change was instituted with the confounding of languages after the Tower of Babel was constructed - up to that point all people spoke the same language (Genesis 11:1, 6-9) - the Lord promised that during the Millennium he would again "turn [return] to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent" (Zephaniah 3:9)"

[BCSpace]

Actually, sort of off topic, but, for better or for worse, TMoF is now published by the Church, under the Church Logo in several languages. (The english edition has the same cover art for the different editions with the Deseret Book logo Imprint, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints logo imprint)

That's cool, kind of. You sure inside it says published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and it's not merely being sold on the site?

[BCSpace]

I read the introduction to the book on Amazon, and while they acknowledge the book isn't an "official publication" of the Church, there is a woeful failure to acknowledge any possibility of valid alternative views among LDS from those taught in the book.

But isn't the intent of the book to be a doctrinal reference? If so, alternative views are not part of the scope though not being doctrinal itself, it may indeed include some "alternative" views.

[KevinG]

The thing that impresses me the least is how they shoehorned a Boyd K Packer quote in their review as though it referred to their publication. That can't be good.

[cinepro]

The thing that impresses me the least is how they shoehorned a Boyd K Packer quote in their review as though it referred to their publication. That can't be good.

Since it's published by Deseret Book, and written by very doctrinally-conservative Church members, I doubt Elder Packer would have a problem with it.

And I suppose if he does, he just needs to talk to whichever GA is over Deseret Book.

Edited October 14, 2011 by cinepro

[Calm]

The thing that impresses me the least is how they shoehorned a Boyd K Packer quote in their review as though it referred to their publication. That can't be good.

The life changing comment bothers me as well. I'd prefer LDS go to the church to find out about how their doctrine can change one's life.

[David T]

That's cool, kind of. You sure inside it says published by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and it's not merely being sold on the site?

I've seen the Church Logo stamped on the outside backcover. And if you flip through the LDS Catalog entry,you can see the audiocassette version with the Intellectual Reserve (the Church's legal Intellectual Property entity) copyright stamped right on it.

[cinepro]

The life changing comment bothers me as well. I'd prefer LDS go to the church to find out about how their doctrine can change one's life.

I prefer to go to the apologists. They're usually a step or two ahead of the Church.

Edited October 14, 2011 by cinepro

[Kiviuq]

If only the book would have been written by the sustained prophets, seers, and revelators…

[wenglund]

No matter how beneficial the book, some people will invariably find cause to gripe and complain and criticize.

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

[cinepro]

I would be interested in learning the background for this book. Whose idea was it?

Did Rob, Camille, Brent and Andrew just decide it would be a great idea to write a book that had the words "LDS", "Doctrinal" and "Reference" in the title?

Did they write it and then shop it around to different LDS-themed publishers, and some editor at Deseret Book acquired it?

At some point in the process, there just had to be input and some sort of approval from someone at the Church office building. Who it was, and at what point in the process, I would be curious to know.

Edited October 14, 2011 by cinepro

[cinepro]

If only the book would have been written by the sustained prophets, seers, and revelators…

I suspect the logistics of preparing this type of book would make that impossible. GA's (and especially Apostles) aren't supposed to spend their time doing research and writing. Sure, they do write books but those are usually more of an extension of their "ministry" (devotional and anecdotal in nature).

Writing a quasi-encyclopedia is something else entirely.

[Calm]

If only the book would have been written by the sustained prophets, seers, and revelators…

if people actually read what our prophets, etc have written for us and directed to be written for us, then there would be no need for books like this.

[JeremyOrbe-Smith]

Sigh. I don't understand why anyone thinks these types of books are ever a good idea. Why not just read the actual scriptures?