Do you need to accept all the Church's teachings whole cloth?

[Suzie]

If we have to accept ALL the teachings then we are all doomed.

[rameumptom]

And this is not a cop-out answer. I don't think there is any hardcore declaration on this.

I know of many who think the LDS trick people by not having the missionaries tell investigators regarding Mountain Meadows Massacre, Joseph Smith's polygamy, and a wide variety of other things.

These are not issues that tie into an individual's salvation. No leaders in the Church proclaim Joseph Smith was perfect or infallible (although many fallible members do think that). Teaching the discussions hits on the key/core doctrines of the Church necessary for salvation.

I do not have to believe non-doctrinal teachings. I do not believe in Adam-God theory, polygamy as a requirement for celestial kingdom, or that blacks carried Cain's curse. These are teachings of some leaders of the Church in the past. And they are wrong. There are still things believed by many members (including regarding evolution, when was Christ born, etc) that are not based upon doctrine of the Church, but on a few opinions of past Church leaders.

We cannot be saved in ignorance. This means each of us must study things out in our own minds, research them, then ask God if such a thing is true or not. Sometimes we won't get the answer right now, and have to just keep an open mind. That is where I am with evolution vs creationism, for example. But that is a better stance than obstinately believing blindly in things that have not actually been fully revealed.

[Backroads]

I know of many who think the LDS trick people by not having the missionaries tell investigators regarding Mountain Meadows Massacre, Joseph Smith's polygamy, and a wide variety of other things.

These are not issues that tie into an individual's salvation. No leaders in the Church proclaim Joseph Smith was perfect or infallible (although many fallible members do think that). Teaching the discussions hits on the key/core doctrines of the Church necessary for salvation.

I do not have to believe non-doctrinal teachings. I do not believe in Adam-God theory, polygamy as a requirement for celestial kingdom, or that blacks carried Cain's curse. These are teachings of some leaders of the Church in the past. And they are wrong. There are still things believed by many members (including regarding evolution, when was Christ born, etc) that are not based upon doctrine of the Church, but on a few opinions of past Church leaders.

We cannot be saved in ignorance. This means each of us must study things out in our own minds, research them, then ask God if such a thing is true or not. Sometimes we won't get the answer right now, and have to just keep an open mind. That is where I am with evolution vs creationism, for example. But that is a better stance than obstinately believing blindly in things that have not actually been fully revealed.

Well-said.

I think there are a lot of things we believe without official revelation that God is up there shaking His head and laughing over. I think when all is known, we will be surprised at some things and have other things where I get to say "I was right! Hah!"

There are times when prophets speak by the power of God. There are plenty of other times where they are just searching and pondering and thinking and studying and coming up with ideas and theories.

I do not have a testimony of random prophet musings. I do not have a testimony of various church books. I do not have a testimony of church history, even. I have a testimony that God exists, the Book of Mormon is true, and that prophets speak today.