Criticism of Mormonism/Books/One Nation Under Gods/Use of sources/Special relationship with Christ

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Bruce R. McConkie on special relationship with Christ

Mormon Doctrine and race issues

A FAIR Analysis of: One Nation Under Gods, a work by author: Richard Abanes

Natural before spiritual

Author's Claims

One Nation Under Gods, page 379-380 (hardback and paperback)

• Bruce R. McConkie gave a speech in which he "discouraged" people from attempting to form a "personal relationship" with Christ. McConkie said, "[Y]ou have never heard one of the First Presidency or the Twelve...advocate this excessive zeal that calls for gaining a so-called special and personal relationship with Christ..."

Author's Sources

Endnote 23, page 603 (hardback); page 601 (paperback)

• Bruce McConkie, "Our Relationship with the Lord," BYU Speech, March 2, 1982.

Question: Did Bruce R. McConkie discourage people from attempting to form a "personal relationship" with Christ?

McConkie was discouraging "endless, sometimes day-long prayers, in order to gain a personal relationship with the Savior"

Critics of the Church who claim that Bruce R. McConkie discourages us from having a personal relationship with Church usually omit the following portions of the quote in bold:

And you have never heard one of the First Presidency or the Twelve, who hold the keys of the kingdom, and who are appointed to see that we are not “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14)—you have never heard one of them advocate this excessive zeal that calls for gaining a so-called special and personal relationship with Christ.

You have heard them teach and testify of the ministry and mission of the Lord Jesus, using the most persuasive and powerful language at their command. But never, never at any time have they taught or endorsed the inordinate or intemperate zeal that encourages endless, sometimes day-long prayers, in order to gain a personal relationship with the Savior.

Those who truly love the Lord and who worship the Father in the name of the Son by the power of the Spirit, according to the approved patterns, maintain a reverential barrier between themselves and all the members of the Godhead.

Notes