Mormonism and doctrine/Official Church publications

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Criticism

• Critics claim that some publications are official Church publications when in reality they are not.
  • D. Michael Quinn claimed that the Encyclopedia of Mormonism "was an official product of the LDS Church."
• Critics claim that some publications are not official Church publications when in reality they are.
  • Richard Abanes states in Becoming Gods that the book "Gospel Principles" contains a 1978 copyright by the Church, but the author states that it contains a disclaimer that states that it is not an official publication of the Church, and that "the views expressed herein are the responsibility of the author and do not represent the position of the Church."

Response

The Encyclopedia of Mormonism

The author wants to make the Encyclopedia of Mormonism an 'official' work, when the book, its editor, its authors, and publisher all assert that it is not.

• The Encyclopedia of Mormonism was not an official production of the LDS Church as the Church News noted:

The encyclopedia, according to its publisher and board of editors, is not an official publication of the Church. Daniel H. Ludlow, editor-in-chief, emphasized that the encyclopedia is not intended as a substitute for the scriptures, other official publications of the Church or doctrines as taught by the apostles and prophets. ^[1]

• This is indicated in the introduction to the Encyclopedia:

Lest the role of the Encyclopedia be given more weight than it deserves, the editors make it clear that those who have written and edited have only tried to explain their understanding of Church history, doctrines, and procedures; their statements and opinions remain their own. The Encyclopedia of Mormonism is a joint product of Brigham Young University and Macmillan Publishing Company, and its contents do not necessarily represent the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In no sense does the Encyclopedia have the force and authority of scripture. ^[2]

Gospel Principles

From the title page of Gospel Principles:

GOSPEL PRINCIPLES

Published by
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Salt Lake City, Utah 1979.

The next page:

Copyright (c) 1978 Corporation of the President
of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
All Rights Reserved
Printed in the United States of America.

We cannot find the disclaimer mentioned by the author in Becoming Gods about Gospel Principles not being an official publication.

Conclusion

 ^{[needs work]}

Endnotes

1. [note] Gerry Avant, "Encyclopedia of Mormonism," LDS Church News (12 July 1991).
2. [note] Daniel H. Ludlow, "Preface," Encyclopedia of Mormonism, edited by Daniel H. Ludlow, 5vols, (New York: Macmillan, 1992), lxii.

Further reading

FAIR web site

• FAIR Topical Guide: