The "One True Church"

[All-American]

Some interesting quotes.

http://burningbosom.wordpress.com/2008/01/21/mythbusters-the-one-true-church/

[Fiyero]

I see the "one true church" statement as saying no other church has 100% of the true gospel principles. That doesn't mean that Preacher X is a wicked corrupt servant of Satan; it just means that what he teaches is 99.9% or less.

[All-American]

I see the "one true church" statement as saying no other church has 100% of the true gospel principles. That doesn't mean that Preacher X is a wicked corrupt servant of Satan; it just means that what he teaches is 99.9% or less.

Do you think that 100% of what the church teaches is true?

[Fiyero]

Do you think that 100% of what the church teaches is true?

Depends on what you mean by "the church." Seminary teachers, Institute teachers, Sunday School teachers, Bishops at the pulpit? No.

What Joseph Smith taught while under direction of the spirit: yes. Unfortunately it's impossible to comprehensively know all that qualified as such. Hence the creation of myths and speculation, and I appreciate the link that you found.

[CardiacCoug]

Depends on what you mean by "the church." Seminary teachers, Institute teachers, Sunday School teachers, Bishops at the pulpit? No.

What Joseph Smith taught while under direction of the spirit: yes. Unfortunately it's impossible to comprehensively know all that qualified as such. Hence the creation of myths and speculation, and I appreciate the link that you found.

That's a strange statement.

Anything that anybody teaches "under direction of the spirit" would have to be true by definition.

What you said about Joseph Smith would apply to anybody, right? Or do you think the Spirit might direct other people to speak lies.

[Fiyero]

Anything that anybody teaches "under direction of the spirit" would have to be true by definition.

AA asked what "the church" teaches. If your mom says something under direction of the spirit, I don't consider that to be speaking on behalf of the church.

[LA Ute]

Just a quick thought (meaning, I haven't pondered it much and I reserve the right to revisit it in light of the excellent comments of my CUF brethren and sisteren, and yes, I know that's not a word): I think the "one true church" notion rests primarily on truthfulness of authority, not on truthfulness of teachings. That is not to say that the true church's teachings are suspect, just that the church's authority is the main thing. The presiding Church leaders (as we have seen) might get some teachings wrong or be confusing or ambiguous in their teaching, or be subject to human frailties; but as to authority, they either have it or they don't.

[wuapinmon]

Just a quick thought (meaning, I haven't pondered it much and I reserve the right to revisit it in light of the excellent comments of my CUF brethren and sisteren, and yes, I know that's not a word): I think the "one true church" notion rests primarily on truthfulness of authority, not on truthfulness of teachings. That is not to say that the true church's teachings are suspect, just that the church's authority is the main thing. The presiding Church leaders (as we have seen) might get some teachings wrong or be confusing or ambiguous in their teaching, or be subject to human frailties; but as to authority, they either have it or they don't.

Interesting. I wonder though if the majority of the membership makes this distinction. In my mind, if we're sustaining the Q12 and 1stP as Prophets, Seers, and Revelators, there supposed to get stuff right most of the time. I believe what you've said there is as good as I could explain the distinction, but I don't think most of the members of my ward would agree. To them, the doctrine and its leaders are perfect. I joke that they want to have a special entrance to the stake center with a pool of water in front of the door for when GAs visit so they can be like Peter.

[UtahDan]

Interesting. I wonder though if the majority of the membership makes this distinction. In my mind, if we're sustaining the Q12 and 1stP as Prophets, Seers, and Revelators, there supposed to get stuff right most of the time. I believe what you've said there is as good as I could explain the distinction, but I don't think most of the members of my ward would agree. To them, the doctrine and its leaders are perfect. I joke that they want to have a special entrance to the stake center with a pool of water in front of the door for when GAs visit so they can be like Peter.

I think that "true" in the context of the church is just a convenient short hand for a lot of different concepts. I decided a long time ago that it isn't the best word to convey any of them just as "know" has similar problems. But I don't have a problem with either because I think I understand what people mean when they say it.

I agree with whoever said that that church is true in the same sense that a ham sandwich is true. This is the truest ham sandwich on earth doesn't tell you much about the sandwich. You can say it is good, authoritative, inspired, etc, etc and that makes more sense. I'm not splitting hairs and I use the term "true" just like most of us. I just recognize I am adopting the convention because it is easy.

[Jarid in Cedar]

Just a quick thought (meaning, I haven't pondered it much and I reserve the right to revisit it in light of the excellent comments of my CUF brethren and sisteren, and yes, I know that's not a word): I think the "one true church" notion rests primarily on truthfulness of authority, not on truthfulness of teachings. That is not to say that the true church's teachings are suspect, just that the church's authority is the main thing. The presiding Church leaders (as we have seen) might get some teachings wrong or be confusing or ambiguous in their teaching, or be subject to human frailties; but as to authority, they either have it or they don't.

I treat authority the same way as I treat respect. It is not something that can be claimed by someone, it is something that is given by the masses(or an individual for that matter). People can take the title of the true authority because it is given to them by those who believe they have that authority.

In essence, you gave the authority to GHB to be the mouth piece of God because you believe he had that authority by his appointment as the president of the church.