Friday, April 24, 2009

Elusive Mormon Orthodoxy

With a foundation of continuing revelation, I believe there is relatively little "immutable orthodoxy" when it comes to Mormon doctrine.


Perhaps there is Smithodoxy (Joseph and Joseph Fielding), Prattodoxy (particularly Parley P.), Youngodoxy, Talmageodoxy, McConkiodoxy (makes me laugh just pronouncing it as I type), Nibleyodoxy, Hinckleyodoxy, etc. - but there is almost no orthodoxy on which all "good Mormons" will agree. Things change too much to pin down almost anything as orthodoxy, unless it is defined specifically as what is taught generally at a particular time or by a particular person.


I LOVE THAT; it flummoxes others; it really, really torques off some.

9 comments:

Patty said...

I'm having too much fun just saying all those "odoxies"!

Clean Cut said...

Amen.

Unknown said...

In a nation of prophets what else should you expect?

larryco_ said...

It hath been declared unto me by them which are of the house of Papa D, that there are contentions among you. Every one of you saith, I am of Bruce, and I of Orson, and I of Hugh, and I of Christ. Is Christ divided?

larryco_ said...

By the way, I occasionally get flummoxed, by I've found that a couple of Rolaids will usually clear things up.

Jami said...

I LOVE McConkiodoxy. What a great word--totally describes my wonderful husband who has quite literally memorized MD.

Anonymous said...

The doxies do my head in.I'm really unsure what it is I'm supposed to believe these days,let alone teach my kids,but I guess in a way I love that-but I just don't know any more how to answer their questions.In terms of my relationship with Christ,nowadays I try to focus on his will,whatever that may be.That's a hard place to be in.Kind of-whatever.

Anonymous said...

The biggest problem is all those Me-doxies that are out there. Those people with their own, often extremely warped view of things.

Give me some good orthopraxy any day.

Papa D said...

Thanks, everyone.

It really is one of the ironies of religion that people think Mormons are brain-washed robots, when, in fact, we are supposed to be a nation of prophets with our own revelation - all within a very basic framework of the Restored Gospel.

I like the fact that the Church provides general guidelines and then says, in essence, "Figure it out for your own situation and circumstances."

Oh, and I LOVE the focus on orthopraxy over orthodoxy.