Stephen Mansfield an author who has written on the faith of George W. Bush and the faith of President Barak Obama recently took up writing about Mormonism. Stephen observes that “Doctrine is not primary” for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, “experience is.” He reasons, “The prophecies and the ordinances and the revelations from Heavenly Father are what make up [their] religion.”
Doctrines are fundamental, unchanging truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Prophecy, ordinances, and revelation (both through a prophet or personal) are doctrines. Stephen concluded his article by stating: “Despite Joseph Smith’s many doctrinal innovations, Mormonism is not primarily about doctrine. It is a about the experience of a restored supernatural power, the all-important matter of ‘priesthood authority.’”
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