The difficulty in discussing doctrine with Latter Day Saints particularly some of the more obscure doctrines is that they are often rather fluid and tend to evolve over time. What was emphasized at one time is relegated to obscurity in another.
In addition certain doctrines aren't immediately revealed to recent converts with the caveat that "they aren't yet ready for the strong meat of the gospel."
Further, discussion of various doctrinal points varies from Stake to Stake and Ward to Ward. What is discussed regularly in Priesthood Meeting in one Stake might be almost entirely unknown in another. In spite of the fact that all Wards use the same Priesthood Manual, discussions frequently tend to go off on tangents leaving the manual all but ignored.
This has the practical effect of leaving members in one Ward or Stake very well versed in some doctrine that members in another Ward may never have heard of.
As a result trying to pin down any particular doctrine with the average member is analogous to trying to pin a snake to water; it ain't gonna happen!
In any case even if you could it would be pointless. Even if you were able to prove any number of inconsistencies in and between the Standard Works and the Bible it wouldn't really matter because members when they find themselves unable to answer or rebut more often than not respond by bearing their testimony of how they "know" The Church is true and that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God...
I suspect when you get right down to it that the average LDS bases their "faith" more on feeling (burning in the bosom, etc.) and what the church has to offer than it does on objective knowledge based on sound hermeneutics.
In the interest of full disclosure I will have to confess that I was born under the covenant and raised LDS in a very large family in Spanish Fork Utah.
I was confirmed, baptized, ordained, and married in the church. I am still a member and have been for almost fifty years. Twelve out of fourteen of my siblings are still active members of the church. All of those twelve I believe, still have current Temple recommends. Further just about all of my extended family are LDS and have been for several generations.
However, many years ago after years of intense study I came to the conclusion that the church was incorrect on some crucial doctrinal points. For this reason and for many other reasons related to LDS teaching and church history I no longer believe the church is true and I am confident that neither Joseph Smith nor any of his successors are or were prophets of God. Further, I don't believe that the Church of Jesus Christ ever totally apostatized and thus was never "restored" nor did it need to be.
I also believe the LDS Priesthood has no authority and that none of the church's ordnance's are of any efficacy here on Earth or in the life to come.
So, Why don't I disassociate myself entirely from the church?
I don't "out" myself entirely and become in their eyes an apostate because my family are still in the church and I love them. As it is I do my best to teach them what I believe is the true gospel of Jesus Christ to the best of my ability whenever I'm given the opportunity to do so. I can only pray that the Holy Spirit opens their eyes and leads them to the Lord!
Also, if I were to "out" myself my views on anything theological would become totally suspect and nothing I tried to tell them from that point on would be of any effect.
My family currently see me as a "Born Again Mormon" at this point but so long as I don't become totally apostate I still have some chance of planting a seed that, God willing, will someday take root.
