I came across the above video on the Thoughtful Faith channel which I thought was interesting and worth commenting on. It is about 51 minutes long, and it would be a bit too tedious to unpack it and discuss it in detail. Luckily that is not necessary, because the main message that he wants to convey through it is well expressed in the video title:
“Why Protestants Are WRONG About The Bible – Sola Scriptura Debunked”
And that is what I am going to focus on. In short, LDS theology and doctrine is very much Sola Scriptura—the only difference being that we have a lot more “Scriptura” than traditional Christianity does. In addition to the Bible, we also have the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price, which together with the Bible constitute the canonized scriptures of the Church—the Standard Works. But strictly speaking, the theology and doctrine of the LDS Church is derived from that canon of scripture—and from no other source. Sure enough we believe in continuing revelation, and in modern prophets and Apostles. That is what distinguishes the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from all other Christian churches. But unless a new revelation is received and canonized, the theology and doctrine of the restored Church is strictly contained in, and derived from the existing scriptural canon. Anything that deviates from that, or is not supported by that—regardless of who teaches it, or where it comes from—is not LDS doctrine. This has been the verdict of the past leaders of the Church (emphasis added):
“It makes no difference what is written or what anyone has said; if what has been said is in conflict with what the Lord has revealed, we can set it aside. My words, and the teachings of any other member of the Church, high or low, if they do not square with the revelations, we need not accept them. Let us have this matter clear. We have accepted the four standard works as the measuring yardsticks, or balances by which we measure every man’s doctrine.
“You cannot accept the books written by the authorities of the Church as standards in doctrine, only insofar as they accord with the revealed word in the standard works.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3:203–4.)
“If anyone, regardless of his position in the Church, were to advance a doctrine that is not substantiated by the standard Church works, meaning the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price, you may know that his statement is merely his private opinion. The only one authorized to bring forth any new doctrine is the President of the Church, who, when he does, will declare it as revelation from God, and it will be so accepted by the Council of the Twelve, and sustained by the body of the Church [i.e. canonized]. And if any man speak a doctrine which contradicts what is in the standard Church works, you may know by that same token that it is false, and you are not bound to accept it as truth.” (Harold B. Lee, European Area Conference of the Church, Munich, Germany, 1973.)
“If it is not in the Standard Works, we may well assume that it is speculation, man’s own personal opinion; and if it contradicts what is in the scripture, it is not true. This is the standard by which we measure all truth.” (Harold B. Lee, 11th President, Improvement Era, January 1969, p. 13.)
“The Church has confined the sources of doctrine by which it is willing to be bound before the world to the things that God has revealed, and which the Church has officially accepted, and those alone. These would include the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price. These have been repeatedly accepted and endorsed by the Church in general conference assembled, and are the only sources of absolute appeal for our doctrine.” (B. H. Roberts, Deseret News (July 24, 1921) sec. 4:7.)
“I do not wish any Latter-day Saint in this world … to be satisfied with anything I do [or say], unless the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, the spirit of revelation, makes them satisfied … Suppose that the people were heedless, that they manifested no concern with regard to the things of the kingdom of God, but threw the whole burden upon the leaders of the people, saying, ‘If the brethren who take charge of matters are satisfied, we are,’ this is not pleasing in the sight of the Lord.” (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 3:5.).
“I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, comp. Joseph Fielding Smith, Deseret Book, 1976. p. 194)
And LDS scripture confirms this:
D&C 33:
16 And the Book of Mormon and the holy scriptures are given of me for your instruction; and the power of my Spirit quickeneth all things.
D&C 42:
12 And again, the elders, priests and teachers of this church shall teach the principles of my gospel, which are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, in the which is the fulness of the gospel.
D&C 42:
59 Thou shalt take the things which thou hast received, which have been given unto thee in my scriptures for a law [including doctrine], to be my law to govern my church;
In the above video, Jacob also gives a quote from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland; but in that quote Elder Holland is not arguing against Sola Scriptura; what he is saying is that Sola Scriptura is not limited to the Bible; it includes modern LDS scripture—plus any further revelations or scripture that might subsequently be canonized.
The way in which Jacob Hansen argues against Sola Scriptura in Protestantism, however, would equally undermine Sola Scriptura in Mormonism—because both are equally Sola Scriptura. The fact that Latter-day Saints also believe in continuing revelation, and in modern day prophets and Apostles, does not alter that fact. The nature of the argument remains the same. The theology of the restored Church is strictly contained in the scriptural canon of the Church—and nowhere else. So Jacob has gone off on a tangent again, substituting his own ideas, views, and concepts for LDS beliefs and doctrines.
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