They would turn you down, because it would be fairly obvious that you were trying to jerk them around. But that has nothing to do with enforcing an orthodoxy. That has to do with maintaining the peace of Zion.

I should also note that you seem to have devoted your study of Mormonism to cherry-picking quotes and ideas that would most place Mormonism in a state of opposition to you. But we have a long history of embracing anything that is lovely, praiseworthy or of good report, if you care to look for it. But you are an ideological warrior. Your natural instinct is to look for evidence of hostile intent. Naturally, you tend to not notice evidence to the contrary. To a hammer, everything looks like a nail, I guess.

As it so happens, I don’t mind the idea of theosophy to a point. All truth must be ultimately subordinated and reconciled within the framework of the Restored Gospel. But that does not mean that the LDS have the only nice ideas out there. It does not mean that we have nothing to learn from other belief systems. It does not preclude other religions from having truths and insights that we lack. But all human light and knowledge must be framed within the context of the Restored Gospel. So it isn’t really theosophy in that sense. All ideas are NOT of equal value.

I think I’ll pay a visit to the stake down the street to me this Sunday and ask the stake president if what you say will fly. I doubt you would give me your contact information so I could give them the LDS referral when I am asked who told me what you said, but it would be interesting to hear their answer. I imagine there would be laughter. Could I phrase it like this?

“I was online talking with an LDS Church member. I told him that I had read the Book of Mormon and God told me that it wasn’t true, God is not an exalted man and that Joseph Smith is a false prophet. However, I see from the sign that is in the brick outside that you are the ‘Church of Jesus Christ’. I am a follower of Christ, He is my savior and I have repented of my sins. Seth R. said that as long as I’m ‘willing to follow Mosiah 18′ then he saw no reason why I shouldn’t be baptized. Would you be okay with that and baptize me anyway?”

Mark, what we are dealing with here is not Mormonism. This is THEOSOPHY. I’m hearing this kind of talk from Mormons all the time here where I live (“all religions have some form of the truth”). This goes completely against what Mormon doctrine says and what is taught in the LDS scriptures and by the General Authorities.

If Berean espoused those ideas, I would think he was incorrect. I might even debate him over it.

However, I would not make this the touchstone of whether he is a faithful member of my Church. Nor would I make it the determining factor in whether or not he is “saved.” And I do not know many Mormons who would.

If, as you say, not many bishops would respond the way I do (a hard assumption to make), it is not because they are concerned about the same things Berean has said he’s concerned about. Their main concern would be a suspicion that anyone who would join our Church without believing in Joseph Smith’s calling is doing so for ulterior motives (like to cause trouble for the ward, or something). Purely practical concerns.

I would like to pursue your answer a little more. You say that this would not hinder one from being baptized. But would you also allow that what Berean stated would be the truth? I’m looking at your answer: “we allow people to discover those truths and gain a witness of them for themselves” Would you say that Berean and I discovered the truth? If not, on what basis would you decide that we had not discovered the truth?

If you are, I see no bar to you being baptized.

As it so happens, we do have some members who have a variety of opinions on Joseph’s prophetic status. They aren’t a majority by any stretch, but they are there, and they do still participate fully. We also have a variety of viewpoints on the nature of God. Certain viewpoints undoubtedly predominate in the LDS Church membership. And certainly, your views would probably conflict with what is officially taught by the Church.

But if you want the fellowship, and are willing to make the required covenants with God, I would not object to extending it to you. I can’t speak for other Mormons. Doubtless there are Mormon bishops who would not be comfortable in giving the go-ahead on baptism – but I imagine this would mostly be for practical reasons, such as whether joining is the right thing for you when you are going to be at odds with what the other members of your congregation believe. And they would also probably be concerned with whether you were going to disrupt the Church community by demanding that others adhere to your views.

I’ve been pretty strident and extreme deliberately to make a point here. But I’m not entirely against orthodoxy. And I’m certainly not against the systematic quest for truth. As a personal matter, I happen to like theological study. Like I said earlier, it’s not as if we don’t care about orthodoxy at all. As sincere followers of the True God, we, of course, have a solemn obligation to try to make sense of God and His teachings as best we can. Orthodoxy is a tool to that purpose. But it is only a tool – never the master.