Perspective Part 1 - 4 Fundamental Elements of the Mormon Faithful Perspective

One of the first books I ordered after coming across the CES letter was Shaken Faith Syndrome: Strengthening One's Testimony in the Face of Criticism and Doubt by Michael Ash. He represents an LDS faithful perspective.

I read Part I of Shaken Faith Syndrome, "Misplaced Testimony and Anti-Mormon Vulnerability," on perspective. It discusses, according to Ash, our unrealistic expectations of prophets and our confusion of tradition with doctrine. Ash says most claims by Critics can be explained if we change our PERSPECTIVE on these two things. I thought I had the right perspective on prophets and doctrine (see Conservative Mormon below). I even checked with my wife who affirmed I had the "normal" Mormon view. More on Ash and Shaken Faith Syndrome in a future post.

While studying Mormon perspectives I listen to

• Mormon Stories podcast on The Crucible of Doubt: Reflections on the Quest For Faith by Terryl and Fiona Givens.
• Mormon Expressions Episode 7X: The Smoking Gun and the Parallax Problem. 

The Mormon Expressions Episode 7X discusses 4 fundamental elements of the faithful Mormon perspective starting at 20:42:

1. The Church is true.
2. Joseph Smith was a prophet.
3. Thomas S. Monson [or current Church President] is a prophet today.
4. The Book of Mormon is true (see minute 37).

I categorize Mormons into 4 groups by perspective:

1. Conservative Mormons or True Believing Mormons (TBM). They believe items 1 through 4. They believe what the First Presidency and 12 Apostles do and say is from God. They believe their local leaders are inspired. They believe there are reasonable explanations for any critical (anti-Mormon) claims. They usually don't investigate critical claims because of their testimony in items 1 through 4. They take prophets, the scriptures, and gospel principles literally.
2. Liberal Mormons. They believe items 1 through 4. However, they are more liberal in their definitions. For example, Ash says members (typical Conservative Mormons) have  unrealistic expectations of prophets. Terryl and Fiona Givens have more liberal definitions than Ash. I think Mormon apologists and members who have studied critical claims and remain in the Church tend to be liberal Mormons.
3. Mormon Reformists. They believe items 1 through 4 but want to reform the Church policy or doctrine on an issue: LBGT, Treatment of Women, etc.
4. New Order Mormons (NOM). They no longer believe 1 or more of the above 4 items. However, they maintain membership for cultural, social, or even spiritual reasons.

I love this quote from the Mormon Expressions Episode 7X podcast (at 43:22):

“Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones.” ― Marcus Aurelius