For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.
Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; (D&C 58:26 – 27)
As you read the scriptures, listen to conference talks, and other materials about the Church, I get the feeling sometimes that things can be a little vague. Human nature seems to dictate that an absolute answer is always preferred over ambiguity and vagueness.
But in the religious realm, it is not to be. Vagueness is defined as not clear in meaning or application or, indistinctly felt, perceived, understood, or recalled; hazy.
The fact that there are so many religions and religious denominations seems to confirm this idea. For instance, if there is one God, our Heavenly Father, why does He seem to manifest Himself so differently to different people, to different cultures, and at different times?
For example, In the LDS Church, we believe that Baptism is an essential ordnance to enter the kingdom of God and to progress toward eternal life and salvation. And there are Christian denominations that echo that same idea. However, there are just as many, maybe more, who, reading the same scriptures, deny the necessity of Baptism for salvation. Vagueness occurs because the scriptures are not 100% clear on that point. Within the LDS Church, the Prophet Joseph Smith did make it clear, in the Fourth Article of Faith, that Baptism is essential.
In another, more contemporary example, many conservative Christians and Jews, for that matter, look at scriptures in Leviticus to proclaim that Homosexual activity is wrong. (Leviticus 18:22, see also Romans 1:27, 29-31, 32) However, religious organizations and individuals more sympathetic toward the Gay Movement have interpreted those scriptures very differently and say that they do not even address the issue of homosexuality. (http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_bibh5.htm) The scriptures do not come right out and address the issue so clearly it cannot be open to interpretation. Vagueness.
In Doctrine and Covenants Section 89, the Word of Wisdom verse 9, “hot drinks are not for the body or belly.” But what is a hot drink? Anyone’s first read of that verse would lead them to conclude it was ANY drink that was HOT that does not seem terribly vague.
But wait, there’s more!
In 1842 Hyrum Smith, Assistant President of the Church and also the Presiding Patriarch, provided an interpretation of the Word of Wisdom’s proscription of “hot drinks”:
“And again “hot drinks are not for the body, or belly;” there are many who wonder what this can mean; whether it refers to tea, or coffee, or not. I say it does refer to tea, and coffee. (Times and Seasons, 1842-06-01, vol. 3, p. 800.
But it does not refer to hot chocolate, hot herbal tea, hot barley drinks, etc. But, many have also speculated as to why coffee and tea? Could it be the caffeine? If so, that means cola drinks, or anything else that might have caffeine in it. You mean like chocolate? Wait a minute! I thought hot chocolate was ok? What about Mountain Dew, it’s not a cola drink? Here is a case where something seems pretty straightforward but has been made somewhat vague.
So why would Gospel Principles be Vague?
First, maybe they are not all that vague. Maybe, you need to find the right source of information. If the scriptures seem vague, what have the Living Prophets said? If that is vague, what does the Lord tell you when you pray about it or what does the Spirit testify to you about it? Still nothing? What are you willing to take it on faith alone?
Second, we do need to develop faith. “NOW faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1). Some things have no immediate answer and must be taken on faith alone until a later time.
Thirdly, we are here on earth as a test. Ultimately, we decide for ourselves the path we walk. Like the verse at the beginning of this post, if we did not have our agency to decide for ourselves and had to be told each and every little detail, we would not progress to reach the goal of living with Our Father in Heaven and His Son throughout eternity.
Sure, things can be a bit vague and uncertain at times. But it is part of the great Plan of happiness for us to endure to the end.
So, the question at hand is how do you deal with the vagueness and ambiguity? Perhaps you think there is none.
Wheat & Tares 
I see the gospel as we know it as a funnel shaped intake system with the Godhead at the small end. At the large end I think it is vague for at least couple reasons: 1) At this point it is just a dumbed down approximation of what it will become at the small end, it’s main purpose is just to start us off generally in the right direction and attempts to sharply and literally define it are largely pharisaical missing the point of the spirit for the letter which was never actually given. 2) At the large end vagueness facilitates a broader range of viewpoints so it includes more people as it trains them more and more specifically making them more homogenous along the way.
I offer the scriptural progression O.T. > N.T > BoM > sealed portion as evidence that the gospel is progressive in nature, not conservative or fixed in the sense of attempting to maintain some status quo. For this reason I think man makes a mistake to think of or present these dumbed down lessons too literally as eternal laws each stacked on the other from the O.T. on building a Celestial Kingdom legal code approaching the size of the US tax code! The law only applies to a given level of humankind’s dumbness or knowledge and is eclipsed by higher (and simpler) laws as we learn.
Precisely defining what we have been given amounts to analyzing the minutiae of a metaphor.
Howard,
I think I agree with you. We make a mountain out of the molehill of knowledge we have not realizing that we don’t know what we don’t know.
“analyzing the minutiae of a metaphor.”
It’s what we do best!
I agree but think we could move away from that Jeff and without any new doctrine. High contrast highly defined rules are elementary lessons often Mosaic and focused on behavioral outcome via. the letter of the law like the 10 commandments than say the highly nuanced but less rigidly defined and enforced Christian beatitudes which are more focused on our attitudes than behavior via. learning charitable thinking and feeling. But few members will go there on their own, the body of the church will have to be led there and while some of that appears to be happening but it is still subtle, not the main message yet.
Well, we deliver the right message out of one side of our collective mouths and then stress and collect performance data on the other side.
That’s why it is sometimes easier to see the good in other churches. They teach Christian principles and then expect the members to go live it. they don’t worry about white shirts, facial hair, jeans or shorts, or how may times a day you pray.
Yes, I agree, that describes some of it! While we have spiritual doctrine that far exceeds what our Christian brothers and sisters enjoy they are far more Christian than we because in practice we behave like a Mosaic prosperity gospel based church managed like a corporation and firmly grounded in material mortality. “Let’s go shopping!” but dress modestly so the boys won’t ogle oh, and find a Sunday dress while you’re there! In practice we’ve clearly lost our way.
Howard,
“We behave like a Mosaic prosperity gospel based church managed like a corporation and firmly grounded in material mortality.”
Wow, that’s it. Perhaps we are in a 40 years in Sinai cycle.
Perhaps we are in a 40 years in Sinai cycle.
Yes, I think this is true. Interestingly, all we have to do to exit this wilderness, this spiritual desert is to realize that we are in it and desire to emerge from it.
All scripture, conference talks and just general information from almost any source should follow the 91st section of the D&C and the counsel by the Lord given to Joseph Smith, especially versus 4 & 5.
The problem, if you must, Howard is that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is and always will be a corporation. It has been that way from the time of Joseph Smith’s revelations that developed the Priesthood organizations. If you want to believe Mormonism is a prosperity gospel then by all means do so, but you can’t know its history and come away thinking this a new development. It has always taught that Heaven can be the here and now so long as prophets and apostles exist and what they teach obeyed. Clannish or community cooperative? Each of us has to decide for ourselves.
It’s a little freaky that I actually wrote something yesterday that starts with these words: “Let my life be vague, scriptural . ..” Then I happen upon this post.
So, yes, I believe there is purpose in vague, veiled, multi-layered scriptural and doctrinal messages that is essential to our individual use of agency. And there is need for structure and organization and a few clear guiding principles (like faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism by immersion . ..) within any group of like-minded individuals (for organizations to remain intact and functional.)
But as for personal, spiritual growth and enlightenment -I feel God speaks a different language to each person on the planet. So, the vagueness is one of the vehicles used perhaps even by the holy spirit to allow us to translate universal truths into digestible doctrine on a unique and personal level. I don’t know if that makes sense. It’s late and I’m tired. But this is a great post. Thanks for writing it.
Jettboy,
There is a big difference between creating a corporate legal entity for a church and managing that church like a corporation is managed. The LDS church is managed like a 1950’s corporation. Not like an 1830’s corporation and not like a 2013 corporation. While a church may have the legal form of a corporation it should not be ecleastically managed like one!