Gospel Principles Manual – Changes Bruce R. McConkie is Removed
This is from a good friend and internet buddy – Andrew Hamilton. All the research and detailed information comes from him.
I did a little research. The old “Gospel Principles Manual” had 5 references to Bruce R McConkie. All of the old references to BRM are gone. Here are the Changes”
BRM Ref # 1
Old Chapter 6 “The Fall of Adam and Eve” p 32
- They had spiritual life because they were in the presence of God (see Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 268).
New Chapter 6 “The Fall of Adam and Eve” p 28
- They had spiritual life because they were in the presence of God. (BRM reference removed)
BRM Ref # 2
Old Chapter 21 “The Gift of the Holy Ghost” p 139
- This means that the Holy Ghost will come to us only when we are faithful and desire help from this heavenly messenger (see Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 313).
New Chapter 21 “The Gift of the Holy Ghost” pp 122-123
- This means that the Holy Ghost will come to us only when we are faithful and desire help from this heavenly messenger. (BRM reference removed)
BRM Ref # 3
Old Chapter 41 “Signs of the Second Coming” p 266
- Jesus told his disciples that war would fill the earth: “Ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars. … For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Matthew 24:6-7). These wars will continue until a great and final war, the most destructive the world has known. In the midst of this war the Savior will appear. (See Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 732.)
New Chapter 43 “Signs of the Second Coming” p. 253
- Jesus told his disciples that war would fill the earth: “Ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars. … For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Matthew 24:6-7). The Prophet Joseph Smith said: “But, brethren, be not discouraged when we tell you of perilous times, for they must shortly come, for the sword, famine, and pestilence are approaching. There shall be great destructions upon the face of this land, for ye need not suppose that one jot or tittle of the prophecies of all the holy prophets shall fail, and there are many that remain to be fulfilled yet.” (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 252) (Complete Change)
BRM Ref #4
Old Chapter 42 “The Gathering of Israel” p 274
- The physical gathering of Israel means that the Israelites will be “gathered home to the lands of their inheritance, and shall be established in all their lands of promise” (see 2 Nephi 9:2). The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh will be gathered to the land of America. The tribe of Judah will return to the city of Jerusalem and the area surrounding it. The ten lost tribes will receive from the tribe of Ephraim their promised blessings (see D&C 133:26-35).
When the Church was first established, the Saints were instructed to gather in Ohio, then Missouri, and then the Salt Lake Valley. Today, however, modern prophets have taught that Church members are to build up the kingdom of God in their own lands. Elder Bruce R. McConkie said:
“Every stake on earth is the gathering place for the lost sheep of Israel who live in its area.
“The gathering place for Peruvians is in the stakes of Zion in Peru, or in the places which soon will become stakes. The gathering place for Chileans is in Chile; for Bolivians it is in Bolivia; for Koreans it is in Korea; and so it goes through all the length and breadth of the earth. Scattered Israel in every nation is called to gather to the fold of Christ, to the stakes of Zion, as such are established in their nations” (“Come: Let Israel Build Zion,” Ensign, May 1977, p. 118).
New Chapter 42 “The Gathering of Israel” p 248-249
- The physical gathering of Israel means that the covenant people will be “gathered home to the lands of their inheritance, and shall be established in all their lands of promise” (2 Nephi 9:2). The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh will be gathered in the Americas. The tribe of Judah will return to the city of Jerusalem and the area surrounding it. The ten lost tribes will receive from the tribe of Ephraim their promised blessings (see D&C 133:26-34).
When the Church was first established, the Saints were instructed to gather in Ohio, then Missouri, and then the Salt Lake Valley. Today, however, modern prophets have taught that Church members are to build up the kingdom of God in their own lands. Elder Russell M. Nelson said: “The choice to come unto Christ is not a matter of physical location; it is a matter of individual commitment. People can be `brought to the knowledge of the Lord’ [3 Nephi 20:131 without leaving their homelands. True, in the early days of the Church, conversion often meant emigration as well. But now the gathering takes place in each nation.... The place of gathering for Brazilian Saints is in Brazil; the place of gathering for Nigerian Saints is in Nigeria; the place of gathering for Korean Saints is in Korea; and so forth. Zion is `the pure in heart.' [D&C 97:21.] Zion is wherever righteous Saints are” (in Conference Report, Oct. 2006, 85; or Ensign, Nov. 2006, 81).(Same basic idea, New Quote by different Apostle. Note however, the shift in the first paragraph, from “the Israelites” being gathered to “The… gathering of Israel means that the covenant people will be ‘gathered’.” )
BRM Ref #5
Old Chapter 45 “The Postmortal Spirit World” p. 291
- The spirits are classified according to the purity of their lives and their obedience to the will of the Lord while on earth. The righteous and the wicked are separated (see 1 Nephi 15:28-30), but the spirits may progress from one level to another as they learn gospel principles and live in accordance with them (see Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 762)..
New Chapter 41 “The Postmortal Spirit World” p 243
- The spirits are classified according to the purity of their lives and their obedience to the will of the Lord while on earth. The righteous and the wicked are separated (see 1 Nephi 15:28-30), but the spirits may progress from one level to another as they learn gospel principles and live in accordance with them. The spirits in paradise can teach the spirits in prison (see D&C 138) (BRM reference removed)
I did not check the entire new manual to see if any new BRM quotes or references were added. A quick skim through revealed none. However, someone made sure that BRM was not totally excised from the book. In the Old manual all references to the series “Doctrines of Salvation” simply said Joseph Fielding Smith and the page number. The new manual says, “comp. Bruce R. McConkie.” So he gets a little nod.
2 Responses to “Gospel Principles Manual – Changes Bruce R. McConkie is Removed”
Comment from Robert Grant
Time 03/05/2011 at 7:51 PM
Page 243
The New Gospel Principles Manual states, “Spirits may progress” It does not say “Spirits may progress from one level to another”.
Interesting discussion.



Comment from Ed Dart
Time 11/27/2010 at 3:27 PM
The LDS.org Gospel Principles manual still has the Br. McConkie references / foot notes