Keystone Ep. 21: LDS historian: Be ready, the Church is changing
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Oct 7, 2024 Ben Spackman, an LDS historian focused on 20th-century Church history, examines transformative changes within the Church. He discusses evolving leadership dynamics and the importance of scholarly perspectives in interpreting doctrine. The conversation emphasizes reassessing traditions and enhancing faith through critical exploration of scriptures. Spackman also highlights the distinctive roles of prophets, underscoring the balance between faith and acknowledging human limitations in leadership. Overall, it's a compelling look at how understanding context shapes religious evolution.
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Shifting Perspectives on Expertise
- The Church's perspective on the role of human expertise in understanding scripture and revelation has shifted over time.
- Early 20th-century leaders valued scholarship, while mid-century leaders emphasized prophetic inerrancy.
1909 First Presidency Statement
- In 1909, the First Presidency consulted scientists James E. Talmage and John Witso on a statement about the origin of man.
- This highlights the early Church's emphasis on seeking external expertise, even for doctrinal matters.
Fundamentalist Shift and Faith Crises
- A fundamentalist shift in the mid-20th century led to an overemphasis on prophetic inerrancy.
- This created unrealistic expectations and contributed to faith crises when human aspects of leadership were discovered.