March Mormon Doctrine Madness – Round One, Day One – Fixed

Today’s games:

1 – Joseph Smith vs. 16 – Truman Madsen

Joseph Smith: 1st prophet of this dispensation. He has several websites devoted to him. Read his papers here and here. The scriptures he worked on here. More stuff about him here.

Truman Madsen is an emeritus professor of Philosophy at BYU and was the Richard L. Evans chair of Christian Understanding. He has written several books on LDS doctrine, including, most famously, a series of lectures on Joseph Smith.

Which is the more influential force in Mormonism today?
Joseph Smith
Truman G. Madsen
  
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5 – B. H. Roberts vs. 12 – James Talmage

Elder B. H. Roberts was a member of the Quorum of the Seventy and a member of the presidency thereof. Read a brief biography here and here. Read about the questions regarding his study of the Book of Mormon here and read about his conflict over pre-Adamites here.

Elder James Talmage was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve. Read a biography here. He is most famous for writing Jesus the Christ, The Articles of Faith, The Great Apostasy, and The House of the Lord, each currently considered the definitive text in its genre.

Which is the more influential force in Mormonism today?
B. H. Roberts
James Talmage
  
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2 – Continuing Revelation vs. 15 – “Faith without works is dead”

Continuing Revelation seems to the basis of just about everything else we do.

“Faith without works is dead” is alive and well in our daily walk.

Which is the more influential force in Mormonism today?
Continuing Revelation
“Faith without Works is Dead”
  
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6 – Work for the Dead vs. 11 – Restoration of Priesthood authority

The Work for the Dead seems to be very important.

The restoration of the Priesthood makes the current church go.

Which is the more influential force in Mormonism today?
Work for the Dead
Restoration of Priesthood Authority
  
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3 – The Doctrine and Covenants vs. 14 – The Spaulding Manuscript

The Doctrine and Covenants is one of the standard works, consisting a collection of revelations and proclamations put out by the LDS church.

The Spaulding Manuscript is a proposed origin for an earthly, 19th century Book of Mormon. Read more here.

Which is the more influential force in Mormonism today?
The Doctrine and Covenants
The Spaulding Manuscript
  
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7 – The 1st Official Declaration vs. 10 – The 1909 Origin of Man Message

The 1st Official Declaration is a part of the standard works. It explains that we no longer practice polygamy.

The 1909 “Origin of Man” First Presidency Message explains that Adam is our primal ancestor.

Which is the more influential force in Mormonism today?
The 1st Official Declaration
The 1909 Origin of Man Message
  
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4 – Temple Building vs. 13 – Sunday School

Temple Building has been a part of LDS worship from early on. The program continues to have great influence.

The Sunday School meets weekly to help us learn the Gospel a little better.

Which is the more influential force in Mormonism today?
Temple Building
Sunday School
  
Free polls from Pollhost.com

8 – Home Teaching vs. 9 – The Young Women’s Program

Home Teaching is the program put in place to help us help each other.

The Young Women’s Program reminds us that we are, after all, daughters of God.

Which is the more influential force in Mormonism today?
Home Teaching
The Young Women’s Program
  
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Please vote and comment below (also, please feel free to ignore the anti-mormon googleads; they do not represent the opinions of this site).

12 Replies to “March Mormon Doctrine Madness – Round One, Day One – Fixed”

  1. From early in the process,
    My picks are:
    Joseph Smith
    James Talmage
    Continuing Revelation
    Restoration of the Priesthood
    The Doctrine and Covenants
    The 1st Official Declaration
    Temple Building
    Home Teaching

  2. I was with you except I went with the YW program over HT. I think that if one were to be replaced or majorly overhauled it would be HT first.

  3. – Truman Madsen, b/c Truman’s Joseph beats Nauvoo Joseph in today’s church.
    – Talmage. Jesus the Christ.
    – Faith w/o works b/c that’s a governing mantra that actually affects people’s lives in the church. There’s not much dramatic revelation nowadays.
    – Priesthood authority b/c we see that in action every week. Most Mormons don’t go to the temple.
    – D&C, duh! (Unless you wanna be funny and say SM=BoM!)
    – Origin of Man b/c polygamy is so passe
    – Sunday School: more inculcating that the temple (and better attended)
    – HTing: Mormon guilt writ large

  4. YW is weekly, and biweekly if mutual counts. HT is monthly.

    YW happens, HT doesn’t. (Thanks, RT.)

    YW prompts everyone in attendance to change their attitudes and behavior. HT makes sure needs are being met, but rarely intervenes.

    YW promotes at least as much guilt as HT, it’s just a different kind of guilt. (Gosh, I didn’t know that President Kimball told us to save kissing until after the boys served missions! I feel so terrible! Should I talk to the Bishop?)

  5. Eric,

    Yes it’s fixed. Just like when your EQP cooks any particular month’s HT numbers…

    No, what John means by “fixed” has nothing to do with cooking the books or spading/neutering your pet. What he means is that the bracketing had to be adjusted. The votes are not fixed. This is not Florida.

  6. I think the most interesting point here is the reaction to the choice between HT and YW.

    I’ve always had great HTs. I’ve enjoyed their visits, and I think they have pretty routinely enjoyed coming. We’ve had some great times over the years and I still get the occasional email from some of them.

    YW, OTOH…

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