A peculiar instruction from "Preach My Gospel"

[_GoodK]

I was just perusing the missionary training guide, "Preach My Gospel" today looking for stuff on the Creation when I came across a sentence I found interesting enough to post here:

"When first teaching this doctrine,[The Fall] do not teach everything you know about it. Explain very simply that God chose two of His children, Adam and Eve, to become the first parents on earth."

I thought it to be an odd instruction. I wonder what complicated details the manual's writer had in mind.


P.S

If anyone can direct me towards a good place to read about Mormon doctrine as it relates to the Creation, please send me a PM.



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[_Scottie]

I would suspect a 6,000 year old Earth, the literal fall of the Earth from around the orbit of Kolob, etc.

They might also be suggesting not to mention anything about the endowment ceremony.

[_bcspace]

I would suspect a 6,000 year old Earth, the literal fall of the Earth from around the orbit of Kolob, etc

Are either of these taught in a doctrinal work?

[_quaker]

You have to remember that it says, 'When first teaching this doctrine...'

The full quote from the text box you quoted finishes with,

'By themselves they could not return to live with Heavenly Father. The Lord spoke to Adam and taught him the plan of salvation and redemption through the Lord Jesus Christ. By following that plan, Adam and his family could have joy in this life and return to live with God (see Alma 18:36, 22:12-14).'

If you ever have the experience of trying to teach lesson 2, the plan of salvation, you will find that you can't go into detail on any subject in the lesson if you want to keep within 45-60 minutes. Typically the subtopics within lessons are taught several times to an investigator, each time with more focus on details. The first time is usually a brief low detailed lesson to introduce the teachings.

Along with the lessons the missionaries hand out little pamphlets that include 90% of what is in the missionary guide. The Fall is explained more in depth than Preach My Gospel suggests in the little box you and I quoted.

Plan of Salvation Pamphlet

Sorry if you were not looking for a serious answer.

[_Scottie]

I would suspect a 6,000 year old Earth, the literal fall of the Earth from around the orbit of Kolob, etc

Are either of these taught in a doctrinal work?

I don't know. Are they?

Does that matter?

[_moksha]

I had always associated The Fall with what went on in the garden and Humans losing their innocence (or having consciousness replace instinct somewhere along the evolutionary line). That, together with the LDS belief that Mankind bears no original sin is what is important. Why should missionaries add in any speculations that would sound weird?

[_harmony]

The endowment isn't doctrine?

Holy Moses!

[_cinepro]

If anyone can direct me towards a good place to read about Mormon doctrine as it relates to the Creation, please send me a PM.
.

Hey GoodK, this is my favorite summary of LDS teachings about the Creation. (Also notice how the lesson on "The Creation" in studying the Old Testament has the only readings actually from the "Old Testament" as the "Additional Reading")

I think the least known teaching about the Creation is this one from the Book of Abraham:

President Joseph Fielding Smith stated that in this verse the Lord “revealed to Abraham that Adam was subject to Kolob’s time before his transgression.” 19 According to President Brigham Young, Abraham 5:13 [Abr. 5:13] also means that before the Fall of Adam, the earth was near the very throne of God. But when the Fall occurred, the earth literally fell or moved from the physical presence of God to its present position in our solar system. When all the effects of the Fall of Adam are finally overcome, the earth will literally move back into the presence of God. Here are President Young’s words:

“When the earth was framed and brought into existence and man was placed upon it, it was near the throne of our Father in heaven. … But when man fell, the earth fell into space, and took up its abode in this planetary system. … This is the glory the earth came from, and when it is glorified it will return again unto the presence of the Father, and it will dwell there, and these intelligent beings that I am looking at, if they live worthy of it, will dwell upon this earth.” 20

The power by which the effects of Adam’s Fall are overcome for all created things, including the earth, is the Atonement of Jesus Christ (see D&C 76:40–43; Moses 7:48–62).

The Book of Abraham: A Most Remarkable Book

[_bcspace]

Are either of these taught in a doctrinal work?

I don't know. Are they?

They would have to be in order to qualify as the complicated details as you implied.

Does that matter?

If you want LDS to take you seriously, yes.

[_ludwigm]

... do not teach everything you know ...

For example,

The first section consists of extracts from Brigham Young’s sermons to the early Saints. Each statement has been referenced, and the original spelling and punctuation have been preserved; however, the sources cited will not be readily available to most members. These original sources are not necessary to have in order to effectively study or teach from this book

If one know too much, can question.
If one can question, gets the true answer - sooner or later.
If one knows the true answers, will not join.

That's simple.
What do You think, why is enough six lesson, kept within 45-60 minutes before baptizing?
by the way for a drive license, one have to practice more. Were it more important knowledge?

Catholic, Reformed, Evangelical churches (the three main church in Hungary) teach their proselytes 40-60-80 hrs, distributed along one year.
For them, there is no hurry. They have not so much inconsistency to hide.