This is FASCINATING DJ. Thanks for the quote.In February 1980, Elder [Ezra Taft] Benson gave a talk at BYU titled "Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet" that emphasized the precedence of living prophet's statements over those of earlier prophets. ... Spencer felt concern about the talk, wanting to protect the church against being misunderstood as espousing ultraconservative politics or an unthinking "follow the leader" mentality. The First Presidency called Elder Benson in to discuss what he had said and asked him to make explanation to the full Quorum of the Twelve [Apostles] and other general authorities. Elder Benson told them that he meant only to "underscore President Kimball's prophetic call."
There is a policy it seems, and it is this: the church doesn't come right out and make corrections--they simply teach something in a different manner and let nature take its course, even if that course is slow. (I can think of a more explicit example, but won't post it here).The 14Fs, IMO, are not doctrine. It does bother me to an extent that it is found on LDS.org, but so are many other talks given by GAs which offer things that are not currently taught as doctrine (such as those about Blacks and the priesthood given prior to the lifting of the priesthood ban).
What I am thinking is this--the church still publishes WW statement about God never allowing the prophet to lead the church astray, and there are still cultural things taught (at least in my neck of the woods) that that prophet is infallible when acting as the prophet. But, this is demonstrably false. Yet, it still exists culturally as a teaching. But, you will probably never hear a GA stand up and say: "OK...this was a mistake". And, according to Oaks, you will never heard a GA stand up and say: "We made a mistake". What you will hear about the past is pretty much silence,...but the teaching will change a little. That is what I am seeing.
In the mean time, what Uchdorf said about "made mistakes" is pretty incredible. That is the most frank and open GA conference talk on that subject I have ever heard.