Por: deacon blues

What a long and interesting thread. My takeaway from all this is that even among general authorities that there are disagreements, but the policy is to keep them hidden. In “David O McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism we can read the account of Bruce McConkie’s book “Mormon Doctrine” being criticized by several general authorities, and McConkie either advised or directed not to republish it. Yet years later it was republished. The book about President McKay also discusses general authorities disagreeing with then Elder Benson’s promotion of the John Birch Society. Yet another biography of Benson totally disregards this. I think the policy to not make public disagreements among the apostles and prophet can cause misunderstandings in the church and give rise to intrigues. We read in the New Testament of disagreements between apostles, specifically Paul and Peter. The openness is refreshing, and enlightening. For me, Bro. Volluz’s essay, and the ensuing discussion, points out that keeping disagreement under wraps may cause misunderstanding, even as it tries to avoid it.