One way a lot of Mormons excuse things wrong in the church is saying “remember, we are dealing with three things: people, policies, and doctrine,” with the idea that people can do wrong things, and policies might even be made in error, so excuse those things. They’re not doctrine.
or “Doctrine doesn’t change. Policies do, but not doctrine.”
Wrong.
Flat out wrong!
The doctrines have most definitely changed!
Anyone who says they don’t has never taken a look at what Joseph Smith originally taught, or the outrageous things Brigham Young taught — as doctrines. And these things have all been reversed.
A doctrine is a teaching. A policy is an enactment, a rule for a certain time. Doctrines are in scriptures and taught over the pulpit at conferences (mostly in the early days of the church). Policies are in the handbook and only concern how the church implements things.
The change from 3 hour to 2 hour church was a policy.
Brigham Young teaching that blacks were less valiant in the pre-existence was a doctrine. Because a prophet taught it!
Brigham Young teaching Adam was God was a doctrine.
Joseph Smith teaching that God the Father has no body was a doctrine.
Brigham Young changing that, and publishing that God the Father does have a body, was a doctrine.
All these doctrines changed.
So who was the correct “prophet”? Who taught the facts of God correctly?
Both cannot be prophets.
Now, some policies are based on doctrine and it gets muddy. What does the doctrine say is the correct age for being ordained to various offices? Cuz that has changed. What does the doctrine say about women being able to perform or assist in ordinances? Because that “policy” has changed.
And so many others.
But don’t excuse changes in the ordinances, teachings about God and His atonement, and other canonized teachings by trying to pass them off as “policy” or no big deal.
Better yet, don’t call your mistaken and wandering leaders “prophets” and then rehearse their latest teachings literally every week at church. Cuz give it a generation and all those things will change anyway!
All I Possess 