Changing Doctrines of the LDS Church 

In January 2019, the LDS Church introduced several key changes regarding Temple Ceremonies. This is not the first time that the church has introduced changes like this. In fact, changes in both religious practices and beliefs are common in Mormonism.

And while some embrace (and are even pleased with) these changes, many members struggle to follow a church that modifies even core doctrines in what appears to be a strategic effort to align to a shifting culture.

Shifting Doctrine

The LDS church teaches that Christ’s true church universally apostatized by yielding to the ways of the world. In fact, the existence of the church is founded upon the idea that it is the restoration of what was once corrupted.

And yet, the church appears to be guilty of doing the same things they charge the past church with.

Certain Temple Practices, Blacks and the Priesthood, Polygamy, even Doctrines about the Nature of God and man, have all changed over the course of the short history of the church.

Even revisions to more innocuous things like the church’s name, views on drinking caffeine, and age requirements for mission-work, have become a regular part of the Mormon religion.

And while many of these doctrines and practices have long been rejected by Christians, the LDS Church has selectively jettisoned those that have become most politically inconvenient. It is hard to imagine that these changes were purely motivated by a desire to remain more faithful, rather than merely an effort to cater to the world.

The Bible says,

“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? (Numbers 23:19)

The beliefs of Mormonism and Christianity stand in stark contrast with one another, but any religion that claims to be of God and changes its core doctrines should not be trusted.

The New Testament authors endured great hardships in order to preserve the unchanging Gospel for future generations of Christians. They would not tolerate any “different gospels”, were quick to correct deviations from right teaching, and condemned those who “tampered with the truth”.

The Bible continually warns the church to not allow culture to influence her beliefs.

The Apostle Paul said,

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” (Romans 12:2)

The Apostle Peter says,

“…we must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)

James says,

…Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4)

Jesus even says,

If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (John 15:19)

The Bible clearly tells us to go against the flow…not with it.

Any church that changes its beliefs in an effort to please the world cannot be true, and its leaders should not be trusted. No matter what the world says or does—if we love God, we must stand firm on the immovable Rock of His Word.

…be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life… (Philippians 2:15–16)