My uber-TBM step-dad gifted me a full JoD collection (heavy as crap) to take with me on my mission. To give me "good things to read," he said, rather than have me be tempted with the worldly, satanic literature of secular France.
I read 'em.
Doing so is one of the biggest reasons I left the church. 'Cause it's like you said :)
The Journal of Discourses is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is a compilation of sermons and other materials from the early years of the Church, which were transcribed and then published. It included some doctrinal instruction but also practical teaching, some of which is speculative in nature and some of which is only of historical interest.
BYU Boner Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Sure, wanna tell that to Brother Brigham?
...who of course considered every word he spoke "scripture." :)
My hard-core TBM step-dad actually *believes* all the "old" doctrine. Blood atonement, Adam-god, etc. That's why he was so big on getting me to read the JoD. He is of the opinion that the current church leadership believes it too, but is just protecting the church by not pushing all that "meat" on the public until they're ready for it -- by which he means when the church is a major power in the US (the old white-horse stuff).
I had the entire set on my mission (the reproduction) and it was very entertaining reading. It's true that you can just open any page in those volumes and read crazy stuff. Most Mormons would be shocked by reading the words of former prophets and apostles unfiltered and unchanged. Reading the talks of the Mormon leaders a hundred years ago would NOT be faith promoting for the average member.