Mormon Book Bits #1: Russell M. Nelson, From Heart to Heart: An Autobiography

Editor's note: I am pleased to present another series of posts by Dennis Horne.

Mormon Book Bits

Series Introduction and First Post

Many years ago I conceived the idea of writing/compiling a book about Mormon books. Having dabbled in Mormon book collecting some myself when I could afford it, and having developed a deep interest in the fascinating history of the creation (the writing and publication) of many of these books, I began assembling historical information about various titles with the book idea in mind.

As the years have passed, book publishing has grown more expensive and less influential and practical, causing me to reconsider. With the reach and convenience of the internet, blog posts seem a simpler and more practical method of sharing what I have assembled with interested people. (A few of my earliest Mormon book histories ended up in Bret Eborn’s Guide to Mormon Books, a fine and massive bibliographic-type price guide for many thousands of Mormon-related books.)

I therefore launch this blog series, Mormon Book Bits, geared to those who have interest in Latter-day Saint history, doctrine, writing, and publishing. And especially to those who love Mormon books and know that they sometimes take on a life and create a history of their own, regardless of their actual content.

Misquoting and Misunderstanding Church Leaders

Editor's note: This is number 12 in a series of posts by Dennis Horne, sharing quotes from his book, Determining Doctrine: A Reference Guide for Evaluating Doctrinal Truth. You can read the first post here. The first part of each post is a new introduction, placing the quotes in context with contemporary issues. The quotes that then follow are from the Determinining Doctrine book, which contains many quotes that are not readily available elsewhere or are exclusive to the book.

            Critics seem to gleefully relish and misuse misstatements and misquotes from apostles and prophets, although there is no integrity in such tactics. Others purposely, or far more often, innocently misunderstand what was said and then spread the error. None of this helps with the accurate dissemination of truth or with building faith. We are all but human, yet we call all improve. One wise and experienced educator cautioned gospel teachers:

I know that most of you [teachers] are sincere and earnest and endeavor to give your best effort to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ as has been restored in these latter days through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I have known and observed some, however, who while being sincere were sometimes wrong or in error. If false doctrine or misinterpretation of scripture or prophetic statements is given, it is usually unintentional. Sometimes we misspeak ourselves. Sometimes our preparation is lacking. We attempt to instruct in ignorance, that is, “to wing it” maybe too often. There are occasions when we have been misinformed. Sometimes, however, we assume an expertise or authority for which we have not a right. All of these factors must be carefully accounted for along with our good intentions in fulfilling our responsibilities.

Aberrations or departures from truth always have a way of surfacing to the attention of others. Departures from the truth are made manifest in a variety of ways. There stands a host of witnesses of what we are about and what we say and what we do.

            I might add that even internet anonymity will not shield one from accountability at the final judgment.

From Determining Doctrine:

False Doctrine sometimes believed and taught in the True Church

Editor's note: This is number 11 in a series of posts by Dennis Horne, sharing quotes from his book, Determining Doctrine: A Reference Guide for Evaluating Doctrinal Truth. You can read the first post here. The first part of each post is a new introduction, placing the quotes in context with contemporary issues. The quotes that then follow are from the Determinining Doctrine book, which contains many quotes that are not readily available elsewhere or are exclusive to the book.

            While critics sometimes try to make a mountain out of a mole-hill with this unfortunate reality, for Latter-day Saints it is understood to be but a part of our mortal probation, struggling to improve and learn and do better. Even with the scriptures, with prophets and apostles, the priesthood, the gift of the Holy Ghost (with the attendant gifts of the Spirit), correlated manuals and handbooks, training meetings, general conferences, stake conferences, and everything else the church has provided to indoctrinate and inoculate its members, far too many still get it wrong. We shake our heads in wonder and are baffled, but then we remember that people are imperfect mortals and that the devil is alive and well and working hard to thwart God’s purposes. Yet we are encouraged by the fact that among the faithful, who take the Holy Spirit and the scriptures for their guide, far less false and erroneous notions are found than elsewhere. Having said that, one could still wish that more Latter-day Saints diligently sought to become gospel scholars and pillars of spiritual strength—following the example of today’s prophets and apostles. To adjust a word of scripture to make the point: “if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto [them], behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men” (Alma 48:17)—may it one day be so.

From Determining Doctrine:

Keeping Church Doctrine Pure

Editor's note: This is the 10th in a series of posts by Dennis Horne, sharing quotes from his book, Determining Doctrine: A Reference Guide for Evaluating Doctrinal Truth. You can read the first post here. The first part of each post is a new introduction, placing the quotes in context with contemporary issues. The quotes that then follow are from the Determinining Doctrine book, which contains many quotes that are not readily available elsewhere or are exclusive to the book.

            Along with holding the keys of the priesthood in their fulness comes the responsibility for prophets and apostles to keep gospel doctrine pure:

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists [patriarchs]; and some, pastors [bishops] and teachers;

 “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Ephesians 4:11-14).

            Among other things this passage means that we will have apostles and prophets acting as watchmen on the tower to guide and help keep obedient and faithful believers from being deceived by cunning and crafty men and women, until the Millennium, during which time we will all come to a unity of the faith under Jesus as our Lord and King and we will no longer need them. It almost makes one weep with joy and thanksgiving to think of—a thousand years of no negative, icky, anti-Mormons/anti-Christs flooding the earth with their deceptions and falsehoods; a time when there will no longer be people “who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it” (D&C 123:12).

Prophets and Apostles are not Infallible

Editor's note: This is the 9th in a series of posts by Dennis Horne, sharing quotes from his book, Determining Doctrine: A Reference Guide for Evaluating Doctrinal Truth. You can read the first post here. The first part of each post is a new introduction, placing the quotes in context with contemporary issues. The quotes that then follow are from the Determinining Doctrine book, which contains many quotes that are not readily available elsewhere or are exclusive to the book.

            Too often the Church’s critics try to define for Mormons what a prophet is to be and do and say. Modern prophets are often supposed by these detractors to be either inerrant fax machines, delusional fools, or con artists. They are instead humble, mortal, fallible, righteous (usually older) men who have great experience and ability in one all-important qualification: they know how to seek and receive revelation from Heaven; to obtain the mind and will of the Lord for His people.

            Prophets and apostles have made mistakes, lost their tempers, used poor judgment on occasion, believed or taught a little errant doctrine, and so forth. “There have been times when members or leaders in the Church have simply made mistakes. There may have been things said or done that were not in harmony with our values, principles, or doctrine” explained President Uchtdorf. Elder Bruce R. McConkie gave an entire illustrative discourse on the humanness of general authorities. If everyone would read and internally digest and understand his explanations, no more would need to be said.

The President of the Church has Final Doctrinal Authority for the Church

Editor's note: This is the 8th in a series of posts by Dennis Horne, sharing quotes from his book, Determining Doctrine: A Reference Guide for Evaluating Doctrinal Truth. You can read the first post here. The first part of each post is a new introduction, placing the quotes in context with contemporary issues. The quotes that then follow are from the Determinining Doctrine book, which contains many quotes that are not readily available elsewhere or are exclusive to the book.

            There are only two sources for doctrine in the Church, the scriptures and the prophets. Occasionally some people question or debate which of them is the superior. Those paying careful attention to prophets and apostles realize that they constantly refer to the scriptures in their teachings. They study them, expound them, live their lives by them, and interpret them for the Church. And they do not teach doctrine or administer the affairs of the Church out of harmony with them. The only exception to this is wherein the Lord gives a new revelation to the President of the Church. It is because of this one limited exception—new communication of the mind and will of the Lord to the prophet—that he becomes the final and ultimate doctrinal authority for the Church. Church leaders have so declared:

The Prophet will never lead the Church astray

Editor's note: This is the 7th in a series of posts by Dennis Horne, sharing quotes from his book, Determining Doctrine: A Reference Guide for Evaluating Doctrinal Truth. You can read the first post here. The first part of each post is a new introduction, placing the quotes in context with contemporary issues. The quotes that then follow are from the Determinining Doctrine book, which contains many quotes that are not readily available elsewhere or are exclusive to the book.

            This is one of the most fundamental verities of the gospel; proof is found simply in the fact that the Church and its collective membership has not been led astray and is where it should be. Such assurance does not mean that the prophet is infallible or that he never makes mistakes or that they haven’t believed or taught something that proved erroneous once in a while—a situation more common in the earlier days of the Church than today. While various individuals are too-often lead astray, the Church itself continues operating and growing and spreading across the earth; all under the direction and priesthood keys of the President and Prophet, who moves forward under the direction of Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church.

Whether that prophet-president holding the keys of the kingdom be named Thomas S. Monson or Russell M. Nelson or Dallin H. Oaks, or some other now unguessed member of the Twelve, matters nothing. The greatest prophet of this dispensation has so declared: “The truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done” (History of the Church, 4:540).

Modern prophets have taught:

Doctrinal Discernment: How to tell true doctrine from false

Editor's note: This is the 6th in a series of posts by Dennis Horne, sharing quotes from his book, Determining Doctrine: A Reference Guide for Evaluating Doctrinal Truth. You can read the first post here. The first part of each post is a new introduction, placing the quotes in context with contemporary issues. The quotes that then follow are from the Determinining Doctrine book, which contains many quotes that are not readily available elsewhere or are exclusive to the book.

            With a world and an internet filled with deceivers, false prophets, wolves in sheep’s clothing, dissidents, extremists, activists, atheists, fundamentalist cultists, doubters, and on and on, it behooves us to learn to discern between true and false doctrine/teachings. Even some well-meaning members of the Church, sometimes with worldly-impressive educational backgrounds and positions, can teach things that might lead us astray. President Hinckley warned, “Small aberrations in doctrinal teaching can lead to large and evil falsehoods.”

The spiritual gift of discernment in doctrinal matters becomes increasingly important to develop. Many have let go of the iron rod, are wandering around in mists of darkness, and are ignoring Isaiah’s warning not to confuse evil with good and good with evil (Isaiah 5:20; see also 21, 23-25; and 2 Nephi 15:20-25).

Despite all that the Church has done to educate its members about deceivers, some of the very elect are still being deceived. However, even with all that Satan is doing in the earth, we don’t have to take it lying down; prophets and apostles and righteous men and women are now and have long been doing all they can to move forward and “hasten the work”; all while we watch the signs tell us that we grow ever nearer to the time of the Second Coming of our Lord. The teachings of prophets and apostles on this subject become more necessary than ever to know and apply:

When Does the Prophet Speak as a Prophet?

Editor's note: This is the fifth in a series of posts by Dennis Horne, sharing portions of his book, Determining Doctrine: A Reference Guide for Evaluating Doctrinal Truth. You can read the first post here.

            Such is often the first question asked by a critic (who doesn’t believe in modern prophets/revelation), or, by someone who doesn’t want to follow/obey something a prophet has said. Yet the answer to this question also carries some value for people who have belief and faith and love for modern prophets. This is especially true when dealing with dusty old quotations from former apostles and prophets, usually dredged up by anti-Mormons, that might teach something incorrect. Elder Paul H. Dunn explained how President David O. McKay viewed the narrowed latitude he felt that he had in speaking to the Saints: