What Was The Reaction To Lectures On Faith Removal?

[Uncle Dale]

The same people who are writing the new essays removed the Lectures on Faith.

 

 

In 1835 they could only be added to the revised "Book of Commandments"

by the unanimous vote of the assembled quorums at Kirtland. The priesthood

members met, considered the texts, prayed for Divine guidance, and bore

their testimonies in the required mass "aye" vote.

 

Now, either God misled those hundreds of priesthood holders, or else

God really intended for the "doctrine" portion of the D&C to be included

in the Church's second "Standard Work" (considering it a revision of

the BoC, which was the first edition of that second Church volume).

 

It was taught then (and perhaps even now) that Latter Day Saints

must abide by every word that issues forth from the mouth of God.

Like I said, either the lectures were God's counsel, or the testimonies

of all those Mormon voters were erroneous.

 

Considering the fact that no such vote was required for their removal,

I'd say that the only logical conclusion was that God never intended

them to serve as the "doctrine" of the Church, and they (along with

the section requiring monogamous marriage) were published by

mistake -- and thus finally removed quietly, by the topmost leaders,

without any official declaration announcing that decision.

 

All of which makes me wonder what other early 1830s texts might

be still hidden away in the First Presidency's vault. It's been said

that the lectures printed in 1835 were intended to be the opening

section on an entire series of Divine instructions, covering Faith,

Repentance, Baptism, Remission of Sins, and Bestowal of the

Holy Spirit of Promise.

 

Would be interesting to peruse those other four sets of Mormon

lectures -- if they still exist.

 

UD

[Russell C McGregor]

The same people who are writing the new essays removed the Lectures on Faith.

James E. Talmage and John A. Widtsoe are writing the new essays?

Who knew?

[canard78]

I have read it a few times.

I read a quote by Joseph Fielding Smith lamenting that the Saints were losing touch with it and got a copy (ironically from my grandmother when she died). It is pretty good but it is written in a lesson style that comes off as kind of patronizing today with its emphasis on rote learning the concepts. It stated things and then asked exact factual questions to emphasize the point. I found the ending questions dull and obvious.

Sounds like the Sunday School manual!

If a teacher follows those lesson plans to the letter they can be completely mind numbing.

[The Nehor]

Sounds like the Sunday School manual!

If a teacher follows those lesson plans to the letter they can be completely mind numbing.

They were actually even more patronizing then those. But true, I do not like our lesson manuals. I just teach the topic assigned. I do not think I have ever used one of their questions for discussion as they seem designed to not cause discussion.