A number of critics of the Church have
this silly view that a Latter-day Saint leader has the ability to “pull a
rabbit out of the hat” and create a new doctrine. For a discussion of the truth
about Latter-day Saint doctrine, see:
On
the Scope and Formation of Latter-day Saint Doctrine
The following comes from Bruce R. McConkie
(1915-1985), at the time, an apostle of the Church and member of the Quorum of the
Twelve, refuting this naïve view, as well as admitting his own imperfections in
living up to the Gospel:
We do not create the
doctrines of the gospel. People who ask questions about the gospel, a good
portion of the time, are looking for an answer that sustains a view they have
expressed. They want to justify a conclusion that they have reached instead of
looking for the ultimate truth in the field. Once again, it does not make one
snap of the fingers difference to me what the doctrines of the Church are. I
cannot create a doctrine. I cannot originate a concept of eternal truth.
The only thing I ought to be concerned with is learning what the Lord thinks
about a doctrine. If I ask a question of someone to learn something, I ought
not to be seeking for a confirmation of a view that I have expressed. I ought
to be seeking knowledge and wisdom. It should not make any difference to me
whether the doctrine is on the right hand or on the left. My sole interest and
my sole concern would be to find out what the Lord thinks on the subject . . . I
repeat: I have no power to create a doctrine. I have no power to manufacture a
theory or a philosophy or choose a way in which we must go or a thing we must
believe to gain eternal life in our Father’s kingdom. I am an agent, a servant, a representative, an ambassador, if you
will. I have been called of God to preach what? To preach His gospel, not mine.
It doesn’t matter what I think. The only commission I have is to proclaim His word. And if I
proclaim His word by the power of the Spirit, then everyone involved is
bound. People are bound to accept it, or if they reject it, it is at their
peril . . . I do not always measure up to that by any means. (Bruce R. McConkie, “The
Foolishness of Teaching,” in Scott C. Esplin and Richard Neitzel Holzapfel,
eds., The Voice of My Servants: Apostolic Messages on Teaching, Learning,
and Scripture [Provo, Utah: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young
University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2010], 83, 88, emphasis in bold added)
