This chapter is included in this work for two reasons: one is that, sadly, some few academics associated with Brigham Young University have declared that doubt is “good” and should be “celebrated,” and have even labelled doubt a “spiritual gift” that they possess in abundance. Such deceptive doctrines are in stark opposition to the declarations and teachings of the apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, who use all their influence to teach the opposite. A second reason is that there are undoubtedly some who do doubt, that could benefit from learning true and undiluted doctrine from these special witnesses who know. They do not doubt, and one purpose of their call to the apostleship is to teach and testify in such as manner as to build faith and eliminate doubt in their hearers and readers.
Of those who (allegedly) teach and write about the gospel at BYU or anywhere else, President Kimball cautioned them, declaring: “If one cannot accept and teach the program [doctrine] of the Church in an orthodox way without reservations, he should not teach. It would be the part of honor to resign his position. Not only would he be dishonest and deceitful, but he is also actually under condemnation, for the Savior said that it were better that a millstone were hanged about his neck and he be cast into the sea than that he should lead astray doctrinally or betray the cause or give offense, destroying the faith of one of “these little ones” who believe in him. And remember that this means not only the small children, it includes even adults who believe and trust in God.”
President Joseph Fielding Smith explained his view: Now I am going to say something that maybe I could not prove, but I believe is true, that we have a great many members of this Church who have never received a manifestation through the Holy Ghost. Why? Because they have not made their lives conform to the truth. And the Holy Ghost will not dwell in unclean tabernacles or disobedient tabernacles. The Holy Ghost will not dwell with that person who is unwilling to obey and keep the commandments of God or who violates those commandments willfully. In such a soul the spirit of the Holy Ghost cannot enter. That great gift comes to us only through humility and faith and obedience. Therefore, a great many members of the Church do not have that guidance, Then some cunning, crafty individual will come along teaching that which is not true, and without the guidance which is promised to us through our faithfulness, people are unable to discern and are led astray. It depends on our faithfulness and our obedience to the commandments of the Lord if we have the teachings, the enlightening instruction, that comes from the Holy Ghost. When we are disobedient, when our minds are set upon the things of this world rather than on the things of the kingdom of God, we cannot have the manifestations of the Holy Ghost.
No one deserves to believe unless he has served an apprenticeship of doubt.