Having responded to a few people that have posted on my blog, I got up the nerve to comment on another Latter-day Saint’s blog. Dennis Horne is the author of that blog, and he has even published a book on LDS doctrine.

I think I was direct and clear without condemnation. Dennis was also relatively cordial to me, but not to Terryl Givens. It looks like Dennis and Terryl represent a significant fissure that exists in the LDS faithful. The fissure rests on the cultural impact of Bruce R. McConkie and Joseph Fielding Smith on LDS beliefs. There was a time in the 1980’s and 1990s that most Sunday School manuals were full of quotes from Bruce R. McConkie which made it hard for LDS members to distinguish his prophetic commentary and emphasis from the enduring constitutional teachings of scripture. Dennis clearly does not want to leave those days. Terryl is happy to see those days disappear. I believe I am closer to Terryl on this point. This fissure has prompted some LDS members (both leaving and staying in the Church) to ‘doctrinify’ our culture. I want to use the cultural teaching of ‘having our own planets’ to exemplify the problem with cultural dogmatism¹.

Do LDS believe that they will have their own planets in heaven?

Dennis Horne’s answer

Dennis wants this answer to be, “Yes.” He wants the answer to be yes so severely that he attacks Terryl Givens² for calling it ‘Folk Theology.’

Setting aside the troubling issue of discounting the teachings of such inspired apostolic timber as Elder Orson Pratt and President Brigham Young, not to mention their contemporaries; and forgetting for a moment the temerity of labeling of their teachings as “theologizing” and “folk theology”; and setting aside for a moment that the Book of Abraham and modern apostles have taught that in the pre-existence the “noble and great ones” already helped create this earth as practice; the most startling comment found in this narration is that Mr. Givens has been unable to find “any authoritative scriptural or prophetic pronouncements” that directly speak of or teach that exalted men and women would one day become gods and preside over worlds/planets.

He then goes on to share many great quotes about our beliefs in deification. However, he has no direct (and authoritative) quote that our doctrine requires that we have our own planets.

Terryl Given’s answer

Here is Terryl’s quote that was brought to my attention by Dennis’ blog, although I have read many other things from Terryl that are in a similar voice.

Nick Galieti: Is this teaching that we can become like God an eternal doctrine, or in other words, a doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Or is this something else, like maybe a folk doctrine?

Terryl Givens: It’s been a part of the gospel of Jesus Christ from antiquity to the present. What has changed is exactly what is meant by the expression “like God” or to “become like God.” There’s room for all the controversy you could desire.

…

Nick Galieti: How is this concept been traditionally or historically taught in the Church?

Terryl Givens: There is a good deal of folk theology that has developed around this notion, especially during the Brigham Young years. Because of the theologizing of people like Orson Pratt and others, the emphasis was often on world creation. Joseph Smith, of course, in section 132 referred to the possibility that men and women sealed in the everlasting covenant of marriage would produce seed eternally. That was extrapolated to mean that men and women who were exalted would create their own worlds and people them with their own spirits, then preside over those planets as God does over His.

Michael Otterson’s (official church spokesman) answer

The language that Terryl used in the above quote is no different, maybe even softer than what the official church spokesman said in 2012. You should watch the video clip to hear how he says it.

the idea that somehow Mormons are going to sort of rule over their own planet. It’s nuts. I mean, sorry. It’s just—Bob said it’s not in the text. It isn’t in the [scriptures].

Robert Millet’s answer

Here is Robert Millet’s more extended response on the topic at the same Q&A with the short clip below.

DR. MILLET: There’s no question that part of the reason we emphasize the things we do, including the change in the Church logo, was to let people who only heard that Mormons are not Christians to understand why we profess to be Christians. Over time there has been a persistent stress placed upon the things we believe to be of greatest worth. Part of that process entails sifting and sorting, on the part of senior church leaders, between what teachings are contained within the Bible and LDS scripture and what things may well represent a kind of folklore. My personal view is that the planetary matter falls into that latter category.

MR. HARRIS: So you don’t actually think that most Mormons believe that they’re going to have their own planet?

DR. MILLET: I think some might still believe that, but then as you know, there may be a significant difference between popular theology and theology as found in our sacred texts.

MR. HARRIS: Is it not in the scripture?

DR. MILLET: It is not.

MR. HARRIS: Really?

DR. MILLET: No.

DR. MOUW: No. My Mormon friends will say, talk about a fellow Mormon and say, “Yeah, he went planetary on us,” right?

DR. MILLET: That’s right. Yes. It’s not in the text.

LDS Church publication’s answer

Finally, on our official website, we answer the same.

Do Latter-day Saints believe that they will “get their own planet”?

No. This idea is not taught in Latter-day Saint scripture, nor is it a doctrine of the Church. This misunderstanding stems from speculative comments unreflective of scriptural doctrine. Mormons believe that we are all sons and daughters of God and that all of us have the potential to grow during and after this life to become like our Heavenly Father (see Romans 8:16-17). The Church does not and has never purported to fully understand the specifics of Christ’s statement that “in my Father’s house are many mansions” (John 14:2).

Dogmatizing culture

Here is the issue. We need to be careful defending beliefs that do not have a firm scriptural foundation. Culture is important. Following the living prophets and apostles is essential. However, holding onto culturally dominant voices at the cost of original and inspired thought founded in scripture is debilitating to an individual and a people³. It is through revelation that we find truth, not through the dogmatic repetition of non-scriptural beliefs. We all need to be careful that we don’t go planetary.

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