Keywords

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, church authorities, official positions, truth seeking

Abstract

In the previous essay, Dr. Rabbi Peter Haas considered how some of our Jewish friends have approached the issue of authority in their search for truth. During my engagement with such approaches as a student at Baltimore Hebrew University, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies in Chicago, I have wondered how this approach might inform my own quest for truth within the context of my faith tradition. As a Latter-day Saint, what authorities should I consult? Where do I turn for truth? How can I know whether a certain claim is an “official position” of the Church or where to find the “official position” if one exists? If the Church does not have an “official position” on a particular issue, then how do I proceed in formulating my own personal “official position”?

Original Publication Citation

Hatch, Trevan G., “What’s the Church’s Official Position on Official Positions?: Grappling with ‘Truth’ and ‘Authority’”, In “The Learning of the Jews”: What Latter-day Saints can Learn from Jewish Religious Experience, edited by Trevan G. Hatch and Leonard J. Greenspoon, 53–85. Sandy, UT: Kofford Books, 2021.

Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Date

2021

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/8119

Publisher

Kofford Books

Language

English

College

Harold B. Lee Library

University Standing at Time of Publication

Associate Professor

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