Seven Deadly Heresies Speech Is Now Doctrine

[_Runtu]

I just noticed something interesting about Bruce R. McConkie's 1980 speech at BYU entitled, "Seven Deadly Heresies." I was once attacked for citing this "non doctrinal [sic] speech" in talking about the doctrines of the church.

However, I have been vindicated. The speech now bears the following copyright:

"© Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved."

As my detractor noted, "Doctrine is found in the published works of the Church. You want to pin us down? There it is." Anything bearing the IRI copyright has been through the Correlation process and is official doctrine.

In this famous speech, McConkie contrasts "the revealed religion that has come to us with the theoretical postulates of Darwinism and the diverse speculations descending therefrom," giving his readers a choice between believing the prophets or accepting "the theories of men." To underscore the impossibility of harmonizing evolution with the gospel, he compares Darwinism to "the false religions of the Dark Ages " and the truths of God to "the truths of science as they have now been discovered."

Some have insisted that McConkie was in this speech softening his position when he said, "These are questions to which all of us should find answers. Every person must choose for himself what he will believe. I recommend that all of you study and ponder and pray and seek light and knowledge in these and in all fields."

Of course, this is like saying, You can choose to follow God or the philosophies of men. Come to think of it, that's exactly how McConkie presented it. It has been said that McConkie "essentially says if you can find a way for it to work in the context of doctrine, more power to you." That would explain why McConkie included harmonizing evolution in a list of heresies. "If you can find a way for heresy to work in the context of doctrine, more power to you." Does that sound like something McConkie would say?

Either way, the Seven Deadly Heresies are now doctrine:

1. God is progressing in knowledge and is learning new truths.
2. Church members can harmonize evolution and doctrine.
3. Temple marriage assures us of an eventual exaltation.
4. The doctrine of salvation for the dead offers men a second chance for salvation.
5. There is progression from one kingdom to another in the eternal worlds.
6. Adam is our father and our god, ... he is the father of our spirits and our bodies, and ... he is the one we worship.
7. We must be perfect to gain salvation.

[_MrStakhanovite]

Space, plz reply.

[_zeezrom]

1. God is progressing in knowledge and is learning new truths.

my fav

[_Kishkumen]

1. God is progressing in knowledge and is learning new truths.

my fav

Mine too. McConkie was kind of a dick.

[_Carton]

Either way, the Seven Deadly Heresies are now doctrine:

3. Temple marriage assures us of an eventual exaltation.

Dang! My wife has been counting on this one when it comes to me. I guess she'll just have to deal with the eventuality that she's going to be snatched up by someone "more worthy".

4. The doctrine of salvation for the dead offers men a second chance for salvation.

I guess Elvis Presley is doomed to hell after all. He and Robert Johnson will be singing blues at the crossroads for eternity.

5. There is progression from one kingdom to another in the eternal worlds.

What about "Telestial Tours" for the holy people in the Terrestrial and Celestial? I was looking forward to having my used-to-be wife and kids throw peanuts to me in my cage as the little train chugs past.

7. We must be perfect to gain salvation.

Never was a problem for me in the first place.

[_Morley]

The audio version of the talk says, in part:

"There are those who say that revealed religion and organic evolution can be harmonized. This is both false and devilish."

The audio version is also copyrighted.

[_beastie]

6. Adam is our father and our god, ... he is the father of our spirits and our bodies, and ... he is the one we worship.

lol

Brigham Young is guilty of heresy by church doctrine.

McConkie admitted BY taught adam-god, and then damns him.

http://www.challengemin.org/adamgod.html

Well, I agree that BY should be damned, but for more serious sins.

[_sock puppet]

4. The doctrine of salvation for the dead offers men a second chance for salvation.

I guess Elvis Presley is doomed to hell after all. He and Robert Johnson will be singing blues at the crossroads for eternity.

Really? I never tire of hearing the music of either of them. Sign me up for an eternal stint there.

[_sock puppet]

5. There is progression from one kingdom to another in the eternal worlds.

What about "Telestial Tours" for the holy people in the Terrestrial and Celestial? I was looking forward to having my used-to-be wife and kids throw peanuts to me in my cage as the little train chugs past.

'Despite all my rage, I'm still just a rat in a cage.' Bullet with Butterfly Wings, Smashing Pumpkins

[_bcspace]

Space, plz reply.

Sweet! BRM actually said in that speech it's okay to harmonize doctrine with evolution if you can find a way to do it. His opinion was that it could not be done (so the doctrine would be it's BRM's opinion it can't be done).

But notice Runtu hasn't really quoted me. He actually inserted his own conclusions making it look like something I said. Notice also he hasn't provided a reference show that the article in full or in part has been published by the Church so there really isn't anything to comment on.