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Some of Joseph Smith's earliest revelations seem to envision not a new
denomination but the union of all Christians in a pared-down confession
of faith (3 Ne. 11:38-40; D&C 10:52, 62-68).
Another restorationist of Joseph Smith's day, Alexander Campbell, had
a similar vision. Soon, however, Joseph made bold, exclusivist claims
for his church: God had told him that it was "the only true and living
church" on earth, that the creeds of other churches were "an
abomination," and that their "professors were all corrupt"
(D&C 1:30; JS-H 1:19).
Today, even many conservative Saints are uncomfortable with the parochial
or judgmental attitudes to which these exclusivist claims can lead. Latter-day
Saints have a long tradition of softening exclusivist teachings by acknowledging
that goodness and truth have many sources and that God works through religions
besides their own.
Deciding if the LDS Church is uniquely true will be important for someone
concerned about religious authority. However, for people seeking to enrich
their spirituality, what matters is simply that the Spirit works through
Mormon tradition. Perhaps you believe that Mormonism has an indispensible
something which, ultimately, all other religions lack. Or, conversely,
perhaps you believe that exclusivist religious claims simply reflect a
human need for superiority or certainty. In either case, if you love Mormon
spiritual practices, you can commit to them whether or not you believe
Mormonism is the only true religion—much as you can commit to a
spouse whether or not you happen to believe that person is your one and
only soulmate.
Joseph Smith: The
inquiry is frequently made of me, "Wherein do you differ from
others in your religious views?" In reality and essence we
do not differ so far in our religious views, but that we could all
drink into one principle of love. One of the grand fundamental principles
of "Mormonism" is to receive truth, let it come from whence
it may. . . . Christians should cease wrangling and contending with
each other, and cultivate the principles of union and friendship
in their midst; and they will do it before the millennium can be
ushered in and Christ takes possession of His kingdom.
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| History
of the Church (Salt Lake City: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints, 1932-1951), 5:499 |
John Taylor: I was
going to say I am not a Universalist, but I am, and I am also a
Presbyterian, and a Roman Catholic, and a Methodist, in short, I
believe in every true principle that is imbibed by any person or
sect, and reject the false. If there is any truth in heaven, earth,
or hell, I want to embrace it, I care not what shape it comes in
to me, who brings it, or who believes in it, whether it is popular
or unpopular. |
| Journal
of Discourses 1:155 |
B. H. Roberts: While
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is established for
the instruction of men; and is one of God's instrumentalities for
making known the truth yet he is not limited to that institution
. . . [T]here is but one man at a time who is entitled to receive
revelations for the government and guidance of the Church—and
this in order to prevent confusion and conflict—still it is
nowhere held that this man is the only instrumentality through which
God may communicate his mind and will to the world. It is merely
a law operative within the Church itself and does not at all concern
the world outside the Church organization. |
| Defense
of the Faith and the Saints (Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1907),
1:512-14 |
Orson F. Whitney:
[God] is using not only his covenant people, but other peoples as
well, to consummate a work, stupendous, magnificent, and altogether
too arduous for this little handful of Saints to accomplish by and
of themselves.
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| Conference Report,
April 1921, 32-33 |
Spencer W. Kimball, Marion
G. Romney, and N. Eldon Tanner: The great religious leaders
of the world such as Mohammed, Confucius, and the Reformers, as
well as philosophers including Socrates, Plato, and others, received
a portion of God's light. Moral truths were given to them by God
to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding
to individuals. . . . God has given and will give to all peoples
sufficient knowledge to help them on their way to eternal salvation,
either in this life or in the life to come. |
| First Presidency
Statement on God's Love for All Mankind (reproduced in Ensign,
January 1988, 48) |
Chieko N. Okazaki:
As you probably know, much of the practice of Buddhism takes place
in the home with daily prayers and small offerings of food and flowers
before a household shrine. . . . [C]an I pray with my mother at
her household shrine when I visit her? Of course I can. My prayers
are addressed to my Father in Heaven, not to Buddha, and I understand
that the sealing ordinances of the temple link families together
eternally, but it seems to me that both rituals turn the hearts
of the children toward their parents in a beautiful way, and I believe
that God has found a way to teach this principle in at least three
different cultures: in the Old Testament culture of Malachi, the
prophet who tells us about turning the hearts; in the culture of
Buddhism; and in the modern Latter-day Saint culture. |
| Disciples
(Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1998), 147-48 |
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