The results from yesterday:
3 – Bruce R. McConkie 22
14 – Orson Scott Card 3
10 – David O. McKay 17
7 – Eliza R. Snow 5
13 – Zionism 12
4 – Heavenly Mother 10
9 – The Word of Wisdom 21
8 – Plural Marriage 1
1 – The Book of Mormon 21
16 – The Young Women’s Values 1
5 – The Lectures on Faith 13
12 – Zeal without Knowledge 9
2 – The Missionary Program 14
15 – Conferences 8
6 – Sacrament Meeting 21
11 – The Elder’s Quorum 1
Some surprises, I think.
On to this day’s matchup (and this round’s final group):
4 – Joseph F. Smith vs. 13 – Chieko Okazaki
Joseph F. Smith was the sixth president of the LDS church. Read a brief biography here. He led the Church into the twentieth century, wrote opinions on evolution and the nature of God, received a revelation regarding the redemption of the dead, fathered a future prophet, and participated in plural marriage, positively and negatively.
Sister Chieko Okazaki served on the general Relief Society board from 1990 to 1997. I have never heard anybody say anything bad about anything that she has ever written or said. By this, I mean anybody. She is the author of several popular books.
8 – Spencer W. Kimball vs. 9 – Gordon B. Hinckley
Spencer W. Kimball was the twelfth president of the LDS church. Read brief biographies here, here, and here. He has written several influential books. He received the 1978 revelation directing the extension of the priesthood to all worthy males. He told us to grow gardens and stop playing with face cards.
Gordon B. Hinckley is the fifteenth president of the LDS Church. Read biographies here, here, and here. He has sped up the rate of our temple building and he has spoken on Larry King and Sixty Minutes. He also announced the Perpetual Education Fund. Under his presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles have released both The Family: A Proclamation to the World and The Living Christ: the Testimony of the Apostles.
1 – “As Man is, God once was; as God is, Man may become” vs. 16 – Companionship of the Holy Ghost
“As Man is, God once was; as God is, Man may become” – Really, who needs clear scriptural references when we have pithy couplets and eulogies.
The Companionship of the Holy Ghost is promised to the faithful baptized. It is a great blessing and comfort to such as have it.
5 – 3 Kingdoms of Glory vs. 12 – Saving Ordinances
The Three Kingdoms of Glory are explained in D&C 76. It goes far to explain the justice and mercy of God.
Saving Ordinances are apparently necessary for our salvation and exaltation. They must be performed by proper priesthood authority.
2 – The Bible vs. 15 – Jesus the Christ
The Bible is our primary source for both the covenant history of Israel and the life of Christ and the early Christian church.
Jesus the Christ is probably the most popular scriptural commentary in the LDS tradition. The chapter on Christ’s suffering is powerful stuff.
6 – The King Follett Discourse vs. 11 – Mormon Doctrine
The King Follett Discourse was given on the occasion of the death of King Follett and has occupied an uncertain place in Mormon doctrine ever since.
Mormon Doctrine has its own uncertain history, but it is an exceptionally ready reference for some of Elder McConkie’s thoughts on an astounding variety of subjects.
3 – The Church Education System vs. 14 – Church Movies and Art
The Church Educational System exists to help people understand the doctrines of the church and to maintain the doctrines of the church.
Church Movies and Art help us to visualize doctrines, events, and figures in Church history, making them a bit more real and immediate to us.
7 – Visiting Teaching vs. 10 – Relief Society
Visiting Teaching takes place once a month and helps the sisters of the Relief Society to support one another.
The Relief Society is among the first western organizations for women in religion. It continues to be a setting for the discussion of women’s religious issues.
Please Vote and comment below.
My early picks:
Joseph F. Smith
Gordon B. Hinckley
Holy Ghost
Saving Ordinances
The Bible
Mormon Doctrine
CES
Relief Society
Looks like some landslides this today.
I’m going to say it now. Anyone who voted for Jesus the Christ is just plain cynical.
John, I suspect some people may be skimming and think you are actually talking about Jesus Christ rather than the Talmage book.
I took Pres Kimball. More personal affect on me…
I also took the King Follett Discourse — I think people don’t realize how many of our deeper doctrines come directly from it.
Your 1 & 16 seedings are pretty odd… How did the Lorenzo Snow couplet get a #1 seed? (I voted for it, BTW)
It got the #1 seed because it is one of our few unambiguous sources regarding human deification, which is, to my mind, the most important doctrine of the church (even if we don’t necessarily teach it anymore). The companionship of the Holy Ghost was #16 because it was the last one that I thought of and I don’t think it is necessarily unique to our Church (the doctrine, not the gift).
If you are going to say church movies AND art then I have to go with that one. Plus I naively thought MD was distanced enough in time now that people would be starting to forget it. Wrong! (apparently)