Grunt

Beats me.

Thank you. Not to be out of line, but I was thinking more along the lines of personally. For example, when I struggle with a piece of doctrine and can't resolve it through study and prayer, I typically put it on a back burner for awhile. Though it may be hard at times, I choose to sustain the leadership and just not focus on that issue. I've never had an issue where I was convinced the church was wrong, so that may be a different situation.

Good thing you didn't tug at my wig.

As did I. It was very well done. I couldn't think of a single thing that was missing or out of place. It's was very uplifting.

I really enjoyed President Oaks talk. He always is so to the point. Loving. Sustaining. Forward-looking.

I absolutely knew that. I was just surprised that President Oaks brought it up. There must be a rumbling somewhere, or questioning, that they wanted to put to rest.

President Oaks just pretty much shot that down.

What do you do when your understanding of His word differs from that of your church leaders?

Busted.

I'd be willing to bet it isn't that rare, depending on the topic. Natural man has opinions and biases. It's hard to keep your desires out of your understanding of some things. That's why there is a process to doctrine and canonization. It's also why, in my personal situation, I find it distasteful to speak against church policy and teachings. Sure, it may change later, but with 200 years of history the things that seem to make it to the public eye and are later denounced seem to be very few and far between.

In my post you selectively quoted, I provided the information you seek.

As a newb, I struggle with doctrine, teachings, and policy. I feel they are all important, but don't all carry the same weight.

I thought Brigham Young specifically said it wouldn't last forever? If so, why would people think the opposite? People should probably spend less time trying to confirm what they wish were true and listen to what is, or isn't, actually said.

That's embarrassing.

He's obviously authorized to be published on the official church website that the church uses to put forth the information and self-image it wants public, to include talks and doctrine.

Some have been posted in this thread for your reading pleasure. Nobody said it was doctrine. That's the whole point. However, everything I've seen that the Church puts out says that, unless you have something that says otherwise. I'd love to read it.

Welcome! You can absolutely PM through this site. Just message through the profile. If you read my thread here (it will take you 75 years because it's so long) you'll see I had many of the same concerns as you and worked through them with study and prayer. I shied away from tithing, too. I absolutely wouldn't say that issue means you aren't ready to be baptized. Tithing is a very personal thing. Have you spoken to missionaries or friends about it? Ask 7 different Mormons and you'll get 7 different answers. Pray about it. Ponder it. Go where the Lord sends you. However, I will tell you one thing. Many of the answers don't come until you exercise faith. Whatever the Lord leads you to tithe, start now. You don't have to be baptized to set aside your tithing every week. I can't help you with the reactions of your friends, but some of mine were similar. I just didn't care. That said, you aren't required to wear a billboard that says "Saint". As for your views on homosexuality and abortion, I won't discuss the "right or wrong" of your beliefs as this isn't the place for it. I will tell you that as long as you aren't actively working against the church, your views are your own. I don't think you'll run into an issue with how you vote in the ballot box.

All I'm trying to say is what I believe isn't relative. Everything I can find through official church sources says it is literal. I'll publicly sustain that statement until given a reason not to. "Because I can't find evidence of it" or "It doesn't make sense to me" isn't reason enough for me to publicly counter the church.

Believe what you want. Nobody will stop you. When arguing against the church, though, it's probably best to let those you're educating know that you are, in fact, arguing against the church. I'm new though. What do I know.

Dupalicious

https://www.lds.org/ensign/1998/01/the-flood-and-the-tower-of-babel?lang=eng Here's one.

And there are some things the church tells us are true, yet people still argue until they're blue in the face that they aren't.

What does tithing have to do with rich or poor people?

Aren't they members of the Bishopric? That's where they fall in LDS Tools. Don't you have to be a Priesthood holder to be in the Bishopric?

My brain hurts. What has happened in the last month or so?