Is it wrong to doubt or question gospel doctrines, or is it a normal part of developing a testimony?

“Every mental act is composed of doubt and belief,but it is belief that is the positive, it is beliefthat sustains thought and holds the world together.” ― Søren Kierkegaard

            Regardless of whether a person is a convert or a seasoned member of the church, they have probably heard a multitude of sayings pertaining to having faith over doubting. In fact there is a good chance most members have heard President Thomas S. Monson say the following: “Faith and doubt cannot exist in the same mind at the same time, for one will dispel the other”. President Monson is correct in what he says, and after all, would not the saints rather have unwavering faith and never doubt the doctrines? A fact of life however is that if someone has really ever taken their religion seriously, there has been at least one doctrine that’s caused questions or doubts to come knocking on their door. But is it wrong to question or doubt the very glue the holds the religion together? Is this the calling card of a bad Mormon? Maybe it the sign apostate in the making? Maybe the person is a heathen that’s never had any faith to being with? No. It is simply the human condition in action, the first step in combating the natural man.  It is not wrong to doubt or question gospel doctrine.

            Opponents of those that would doubt and question have a few arguments for their case.  Some blame it on the devil. Others will say that questioning anything is the flat opposite of what a good Mormon would do. Even more believe the person lacks faith and trust in God, and are adamant that any doubt will spark a rebellion within the church.  Another group to take into consideration is the Ex-Mormon and Anti-Mormon community. Their main stance is that doubts and questions are actual “evidence” that the church is not true, it teaches false doctrines, and that person is just now waking up. In the pursuit of both groups being “concerned” for the wellbeing of others, one group will try to lead those with doubts and questions away like the Pied Piper of Hamelin, while the other group is often trying to push that member out the doors of the church in feeble attempt to keep what they consider to be “order”.

            While it is true that doubt can lead to departure from the church, it is not a set outcome. Doubts and questions can come from a simple lack of knowledge. Sadly however, some have come to a forgone conclusion of wanting to leave the church, and use an issue with doctrine as the scapegoat needed to reduce the guilt they know comes. The fact is that the majority of the saints just want to know the truth of the Gospel and do whatever they need in order to rectify any doubts they have. The beautiful irony is that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints started because of the doubts and questioning of a young boy named Joseph. The answer he received blew the doors of truth wide open so that those who earnestly seek it, will find it. The saints have an obligation to seek out the truth and if a question causes doubt, it’s only because the natural man in everyone is fighting the spiritual. Is it not part of the Fathers plan is to overcome that natural man and become more like Him? As someone does overcome doubt they grow spiritually, and as a result, the natural man will slowly shrink away. Having Doubts and questions are never wrong. What is wrong is when an individual uses them to sway others and themselves from the truth. Doubts and questions are opportunities to learn and to grow into man’s divine potential.