Quote: BRM
"I believe that the atonement of Christ is the great and eternal foundation upon which revealed religion rests. I believe that no man can be saved unless he believes that our Lord's atoning sacrifice brings immortality to all and eternal life to those who believe and obey, and no man can believe in the atonement unless he accepts both the divine sonship of Christ and the fall of Adam.
My reasoning causes me to conclude that if death has always prevailed in the world, then there was no fall of Adam that brought death to all forms of life; that if Adam did not fall, there is no need for an atonement; that if there was no atonement, there is no salvation, no resurrection, and no eternal life; and that if there was no atonement, there is nothing in all of the glorious promises that the Lord has given us. I believe that the Fall affects man, all forms of life, and the earth itself, and that the Atonement affects man, all forms of life, and the earth itself."
Just a little FYI... A few days ago I read in Lengthen Your Stride, a biolgraphy of SWK, that BRM's actual speech said... "WE" instead of "I" and "my" (see bold above). Kimball made him make the changes in the printed version. :-)
Regardless, BRM most certainly prayed for inspiration, and believed he was receiving help from the HG as he taught these "truths".
I think most faithful members believe the prophets and apostles when they are speaking in an official capactiy under the influence of the HG. I know several who hold the opinion that if one believes in evolution they do not have a true testimony of the LDS church and the plan of salvation.
~dancer~
The question it brings up is, are the church leaders inspired sometimes, and not other times? It seems throughout LDS history, leaders have said things from the pulpit of general conference that are accepted and revered as absolute doctrinal truth, then declared "only his opinion" by later leaders.
But the same person bears strong testimony of something, and his statement is not even questioned as "true" or untrue -- even if his earlier declarations are discredited. The most poignant example may be McConkie, with his bold statements about evolution, the Great and Abomonable Church, etc...and his last testimony of his experience of seeing the Savior.
Is he to be believed? Is there no active member who might apply common rules of our court system with regard to "credibility of the witness," and consider that everything he said may be "his opinion" only?
It seems to me this is one small example of how rules of logic are suspended in Mormonism often. What it appears to me is a common "the end justifies the means" attitude so often. Sorta like the mission in Chile where they made up names to pad the records...made the church look good, so it's okay?
I suspect we all have that still small voice prompting us to do the right thing.