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consiglieri wrote:Radio Free Mormon concludes General Conference Post Mortem with the Sunday Afternoon session.

The highlight was Elder Ardern's talk admonishing members to seek answers to their questions only from church approved sources.

http://www.mormondiscussionpodcast.org/ ... 17-part-3/

I have to say I was glad to hear this talk.

I can't count the number of times I have argued with apologists that the church discourages reading from non-church approved sources, only to have them come back at me and challenge me to find a place where they actually come out and say this point blank.

Up to this point, I have had difficulty finding such a source. I mean, the messaging is all over the place, but it has been difficult to find somebody actually coming out and saying it.

The search is over.

Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is the Light of the World, and He beckons us to follow Him. We must look to Him at all times and especially so if there are dark and stormy nights when the tempest of doubt and uncertainty, like a rolling fog, creeps in. Should the pointed fingers “from the other side of the river of water, [where] a great and spacious building [stands]” (1 Nephi 8:26) appear to be directed at you in the attitude of mocking, demeaning, and beckoning, I ask that you immediately turn away so that you are not persuaded by cunning and devious means to separate yourself from truth and its blessings.

However, this alone will not be enough in this day when perverse things are being spoken, written, and portrayed. Elder Robert D. Hales taught us, “Unless you are fully engaged in living the gospel—living it with all of your ‘heart, might, mind and strength’—you cannot generate enough spiritual light to push back the darkness” (“Out of Darkness into His Marvelous Light,” Ensign, May 2002, 71; Liahona, July 2002, 78). Surely, our desire to follow Christ, who is the Light of the World (see John 8:12), means we must act on His teachings. We are spiritually strengthened, fortified, and protected as we act on the word of God.

Res Ipsa wrote:MG, what do you think the context adds to the quote?

Wonhyo wrote:And - if I may ask rhetorically just to blow off some steam - what would a "church-approved" source be? LDS.org? A treatise from a BYU professor? A CES manual? The scriptures? FAIRMormon? Sic et Non? The Interpreter? Old-school FARMS? The new-direction MI? Ensign articles? The opinions of local leaders?

My own take is that since it was Elder Arden (a Seventy, who, like most Seventies, hopes to be an Apostle one day), an approved source means anything in which a General Authority or Apostle has uttered his/her opinion. (Just kidding about the "her"...)

Elder Arden's counsel would have us disregard D&C 88:118:

118 And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.

consiglieri wrote:

Note: Single-starred websites (*) are those maintained by a third party that is affiliated with the Church. By linking to this content The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not endorse the content of these sites. Double-starred websites (**) are maintained by a third party that is unaffiliated with the Church. By linking to this content The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not endorse the content of these sites.

Strange that the following gets only one asterisk:

•Corpus of LDS General Conference Talks*: Searchable collection of all general conference talks given from 1851 to the present.

So let me see if I have this straight.

The LDS Church does not endorse the content of General Conference talks up to and including the most recent GC in April of 2017?

Or is it just the versions of those talks maintained on this particular website?

http://mormondiscussions.com/phpBB3/vie ... =1&t=46641

DoubtingThomas wrote:https://www.LDS.org/si/objective/doctrinal-mastery/gospel-sources?lang=eng

These resources can enhance gospel learning and help provide answers to doctrinal, historical, and social questions

The following links lead to gospel study resources and other information that can provide insights to doctrinal, historical, and social questions. Some of the websites below are maintained by third parties, so not all content on these third-party sites is endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Additional Resources for Answering Doctrinal, Historical, and Social Questions

Book of Mormon Central**: Information that was created to explain, engage, inspire, and encourage greater knowledge and appreciation of every aspect of the Book of Mormon.

Church History Library: Online access to a variety of materials and collections such as journals, old photos, and databases.

Encyclopedia of Mormonism*: Online access to the Encyclopedia of Mormonism.

FairMormon**: Well-reasoned and faithful responses to doctrinal, historical, and social questions.

Joseph Smith Papers*: Manuscripts and documents associated with the Prophet Joseph Smith.

The Interpreter Foundation**: Nonprofit, independent, educational organization that focuses on the scriptures of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They publish a peer-reviewed journal, Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=46641

Questions about our Church history and beliefs do arise. Where we turn to find the correct answers requires great care. There is nothing to be gained in exploring the views and opinions of the less informed or disenchanted. The best counsel was given by the Apostle James: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God” (James 1:5).

Asking of God is to be preceded by careful study, for we are under scriptural mandate to seek “out of the best books words of wisdom” and to “seek learning, even by study and also by faith” (D&C 88:118). There is a rich abundance of these books, written by heaven-inspired Church leaders and recognized, safe, and reliable Church history and doctrine scholars. With that said, none surpass the majesty of the revealed word of God in canonized scripture. From those thin pages thick with spiritual insights, we learn truth through the Holy Ghost and thereby increase in light.

Wonhyo wrote:118 And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom; yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.

consiglieri wrote:Elder Ardern redefines "best books" as being those that are church approved.