Historically Complete

[Coreyb]

But the editor that removes the KFD from The Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith because the current Church doesn't accept it as canon IS wrong.  It was a key part of Joseph's belief and thought, and teachings.

Any book claiming to contain his views on doctrine have to include that or they present a false picture of what Joseph believed and taught.  The same with many other items.

I believe good chunks of the KFD are in TOPJS 

[Coreyb]

I don't think historical scholarship is the highest standard to hold these publications up to. Such publications draw people to Christ, and He is our standard. Teaching current doctrine using what previous prophets taught accomplishes the same thing, while a more exhaustive treatment of all their lectures probably would not.

Perhaps for some, but I would say that I have been brought to christ by reading whole sermons (even the "sketchy" ones) far more than by the copy and paste topical works. Maybe its just me  

[USU78]

But the editor that removes the KFD from The Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith because the current Church doesn't accept it as canon IS wrong.  It was a key part of Joseph's belief and thought, and teachings.

Any book claiming to contain his views on doctrine have to include that or they present a false picture of what Joseph believed and taught.  The same with many other items.

 

In your opinion.

 

So . . . go edit your own compilation and make the editorial choices you want.

[JLHPROF]

I believe good chunks of the KFD are in TOPJS 

 

Oh, they are.  It was just an example.  A key teaching of Joseph that if excluded would give an entirely different perspective on his theology.  Just as leaving out Adam-God from a Brigham Young collection would portray his theology as completely different.

[JLHPROF]

In your opinion.

 

So . . . go edit your own compilation and make the editorial choices you want.

 

Don't need to.  Ehat & Cook's "The Words of Joseph Smith" is wonderfully complete (and portable, unlike the Joseph Smith Papers).  Reading their book would provide a student with a solid basis of what Joseph taught and believed.

 

The same cannot be said of many modern compilations.  Included items shouldn't be an issue of personal taste or agreement.  It should be true to the actual author of the discourses.

[CV75]

I like this response.  I like it a lot.  My question is still whether we are ethically and accurately portraying the prophet's beliefs and teachings.

If I had a book published of my "teachings" (which would be hilarious) I would like it to represent what I actually believed, not what the editors believe.

I think different ventures can and do employ different sets of ethics, and that is a very reasonable expectation. Congruency between action and ethics depends on the group, the behavior they aspire to, and the ethics they have adopted for themselves. I think any congruency between sets of ethics provides the common ground upon which we can assess the ethicality of the different publications. Any contest of ethics would require that the groups have contesting aims giverned by contesting moral principles.

 

An interesting side note from this month’s Ensign: ““Now I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men, … but I did build [the ship] after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me. … (1 Nephi 18:2-3).” And, “…work after the manner of the Lord, not after the manner of men, and …by following His voice, you will become a powerful instrument in His hands for doing good.” https://www.lds.org/ensign/2014/09/your-journey-of-giving?lang=eng

 

I think the standard the Lord uses to hold editors accountable would be based on what He wanted them to portray, and it seems to me an overwhelming responsibility in that this is the same standard to which He holds His servants who delivered His message in the first place.

[CV75]

Neither editor is right; neither editor is wrong.

Yes, just operating in different "worlds".

[CV75]

Perhaps for some, but I would say that I have been brought to christ by reading whole sermons (even the "sketchy" ones) far more than by the copy and paste topical works. Maybe its just me

Maybe you and others like you. I think this is a good example of:

 

2 Nephi 31:3, “the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding.”

 

Alma 29:8, “For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all [earnest seekers of truth], of their own [manner of receiving truth] and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true.”