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We cannot find the disclaimer mentioned by the author in ''Becoming Gods'' about ''Gospel Principles'' not being an official publication. | We cannot find the disclaimer mentioned by the author in ''Becoming Gods'' about ''Gospel Principles'' not being an official publication. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ===Status of the Bible Dictionary=== | ||
+ | Regarding the LDS Bible Dictionary, the Church has been explicit that it is not to be taken as a statement of revealed Church doctrine. The introduction to the Bible Dictionary includes the following statement: | ||
+ | |||
+ | :[The Bible Dictionary] is not intended as an official or revealed endorsement by the Church of the doctrinal, historical, cultural, and other matters set forth. | ||
+ | |||
+ | Robert J. Matthews, who was part of the committee in the late 1970s to create the LDS editions of the scriptures, including the study aids, said: | ||
+ | |||
+ | :The new Bible dictionary is not intended as a revealed treatment or official version of doctrinal, historical, cultural, chronological, and other matters found in the Bible.{{ref|matthews.48}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | Elder Bruce R. McConkie had this to say regarding "the Joseph Smith Translation items, the chapter headings, | ||
+ | Topical Guide, Bible Dictionary, footnotes, the Gazetteer, and the maps": | ||
+ | |||
+ | :None of these are perfect; they do not of themselves determine doctrine; there have been and undoubtedly now are mistakes in them. Cross-references, for instance, do not establish and never were intended to prove that parallel passages so much as pertain to the same subject. They are aids and helps only.{{ref|mcconkie.290}} | ||
+ | |||
+ | To summarize, entries in the Bible Dictionary are not part of the canon of scripture and are not binding upon anyone, save as they accurately reflect the contents of scripture or joint statements by the prophets, seers, and revelators. | ||
==Conclusion== | ==Conclusion== |
This article is a draft. FairMormon editors are currently editing it. We welcome your suggestions on improving the content.
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, 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]
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]
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.
Regarding the LDS Bible Dictionary, the Church has been explicit that it is not to be taken as a statement of revealed Church doctrine. The introduction to the Bible Dictionary includes the following statement:
Robert J. Matthews, who was part of the committee in the late 1970s to create the LDS editions of the scriptures, including the study aids, said:
Elder Bruce R. McConkie had this to say regarding "the Joseph Smith Translation items, the chapter headings, Topical Guide, Bible Dictionary, footnotes, the Gazetteer, and the maps":
To summarize, entries in the Bible Dictionary are not part of the canon of scripture and are not binding upon anyone, save as they accurately reflect the contents of scripture or joint statements by the prophets, seers, and revelators.
Critics tend to misrepresent whether or not a publication is officially sanctioned by the Church in order to suit their agenda.
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