In the last few months during various firesides I have been asked to give, I led the audience through an exercise about how they define doctrine.

It is always amazing to me how a group of orthodox Latter-day Saints can define doctrine so differently.

And yet our handbooks and instruction emphasize that we need to be teaching doctrine.

How can this be done when we haven’t figured out how to define it?

We know doctrine is powerful as Alma talks about in Alma 31:5:

And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.

The problem we run into is that we want a more intellectual or academic experience with doctrine.

We want a periodic table of doctrine that we can point to in order to reach clarity.

We want an equation to tell us what is true doctrine and what isn’t.

We want doctrine to be clear truth claims, historical events, or clear theological statements.

But like most things, God wants us to experience more nuance—an unclear journey through an experience that leads us to change and repent.

I love the simplicity of how Doctrine and Covenants 10:67 defines doctrine:

Behold, this is my doctrine—whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church.

In my interpretation, anything that stimulates repentance is doctrine.

PERIOD.

This stimulation of repentance can happen in a more traditional way by learning principles in our theology, singing a hymn in the approved hymn book, learning about a specific event referenced in scripture, etc.

However, repentance could also happen by reading a non-denominational book with Christ-centered principles even though the author writes about principles that don’t exactly line up with Latter-day Saint teachings.

Repentance could happen while listening to a sermon in a different church.

And to reference last week’s newsletter message, repentance could also happen while watching a clip from a TV series like The Chosen…

…which leads me to say…

(you may not like this)

The Chosen is doctrine.

It is doctrine because it stimulates repentance.

In fact, I received a great email that illustrates this:

“My 17-yr-old daughter, who was constantly ditching Seminary and Sunday School, finally got ‘bitten’ by The Chosen. I had invited her to watch it dozens of times, but she had never agreed—until she had ankle surgery and was laid up for several weeks, so had nothing better to do. (The things that keep us humble! You better believe she could relate to the crippled man at the pool of Bethesda, and little James’ desire to be healed.)

“A few episodes in, she was hooked. She told me that she had even stayed up until midnight reading her scriptures (‘Mom, can you believe that *I* did that?!’ she said), learning all she could about the disciples, and what was actually recorded about Jesus’s doings/teachings. She’s all caught up on the show now, savoring the last episode in anticipation of Season 3’s finale. She continues to compare the four gospels after each episode to learn what is really in the scriptures versus what was creatively fabricated. Most importantly, now when someone talks about Peter or James, etc, she makes the connection of ‘fisherman, Jesus’ defender and right-hand man, etc.’ It means something to her now—she knows who they are talking about, rather than it being just a name.

“The show makes Jesus Christ’s compassion, patience, kindness, and understanding come alive. The creators captured so well His many roles – Friend, Messiah, Healer, Teacher, Son. And all the stories of women—never before have I realized how much Christ cares for women, but this show has it on full display!

“Especially for this generation that is so visual…the viewing experience helps them more easily believe that Christ knows and loves each of us, even in our imperfections, and asks only for belief and a willingness to follow. (And the show definitely helps with understanding the law of Moses vs Christ’s ‘higher and holier way.’ My daughter gets the concept of the new FSY pamphlet now because of seeing what the Pharisees cared about…fewer prescribed rules, more internalizing doctrine and following heart/Spirit!)

“The Chosen has most definitely turned my daughter to the scriptures and ignited a personal relationship with her Savior. She changed her college plans to include serving a mission, and she is taking her Gospel learning more seriously. Now that she’s 18, she attends RS and adult Sunday School and gets much more out of the discussions.”

So did the doctrine in traditional seminary not work for this young woman?

Did she not understand the periodic table of doctrine well enough?

Or maybe God will reach us with His doctrine in various ways, even if it is a fan-fictional expression of the life of Jesus.

As far as I am concerned, The Chosen is doctrine.

Sincerely,

Kurt Francom
Executive Director
Leading Saints

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