God knows everything. In order for us to become like him we need to learn everything. Some people say that we can't be like him in this life and I think that it's true in a sense we can't be just like God in mortality. But we're constantly advised that we need to try. Faith, obedience, hope, charity, and knowledge are all Godlike attributes that grow together. In order to be perfect in any of these attributes we need to be perfect in all. And the Savior said "Be ye therefore perfect, even as I am." Therefore we need to work to understanding everything, including deep doctrine.
Joseph Smith received revelation after revelation because he didn't content himself to what everyone else thought they understood. He was constantly looking deeper into concepts and asking questions. Here is a list of what at the time would be considered deep doctrine that we wouldn't know about if Joseph Smith didn't ask.
The degrees of glory.
Eternal families (exaltation).
Polygamy
Priesthood
The endowment.
Proxy work for the dead.
Adoption into the house of Israel.
The Fall of Adam and Eve.
The Second Comforter.
The list could continue but I think the point is made. Most of these things are considered everyday doctrine today by members of the Church but at the time were very revolutionary. Which brings me to the definition of "deep doctrine".
From my perspective, the name "deep doctrine" is applied to anything that is somewhat controversial or speculative or both. It's considered speculative or controversial because people don't know what the Prophets or God have said about the subject. Or because God hasn't yet revealed much or anything about the subject. Deep doctrine is also a relative term. One person may have been brought up with the idea that we can become like God and have no problem with that because they understand it and it's familiar. Where another person had never heard of the LDS perspective on eternal life and when anyone hears anything new it can be scary. To the one person it's a deep doctrine and the other it's not. Despite this fact, there are doctrines that simply have the label of "deep". Which is how I will refer to them for the remainder of this post.
Therefore people in discussion should be sensitive to the people present and their perspectives. When a person isn't sensitive, people can easily get contentious when they disagree on a point of doctrine. This can be for a lot of reasons. One of which is simply that some people don't understand the principal being discussed. Which brings me to when deep doctrine shouldn't be discussed.
I think deep doctrine is discouraged from being discussed in Church and other places because of a few reasons.
First, I think it's discouraged because there are a lot of people going to church that don't read their scriptures and pray every day. If you don't have a solid foundational knowledge of the restored doctrines then you don't have anything to build on. If you don't even study your scriptures then it's safe to say that you don't even have a sturdy enough foundation to build on. That doesn't mean that if you study and pray every day you have a license to study deep doctrine for every study session. I have found that the times I have received my most precious scriptural insights is when I'm studying the basics of the gospel. So my point is, some doctrines should not be discussed with some people. I know that sounds vague but use discretion.
Second, the more speculative the topic, the more it should not be discussed. people get into debates on things that both parties don't know what God has revealed on them. If he hasn't revealed much or anything then outside of Church, I think it's OK to talk about it as long as it's not a contentious conversation and it's presented as speculation. Not as Gospel Doctrine. Again, in a place where someone isn't going to get scared or upset.
Third, it shouldn't be discussed when the Spirit isn't present. I don't even talk about it unless I feel the spirit is telling me to. So the majority of the time when gospel topics are being discussed I keep things at the milk level.
So when is it OK? When the Spirit is there and you are in the company of people who you trust and trust you. That have a sound understanding of the Gospel and grow it every day. Mark 4:25 says "For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath." Let us be those that have.
P.S. This is all a work in progress so please comment or e-mail me an give me your thoughts/objections. I need the input and can always learn from discussion. Thanks.
It has been 11 years at most since you had written this and much progress have been made since then for the saints to work upon and get thier own personal revelations with regards to the mystery and everything that gives peace and light eternal. They are the recents talk of gen conferences or some talks contain instruction of getting them - the meat of the doctrines.
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