Reasons why the LDS Church has no official position on so many issues:
1) Contrary to popular belief, we are supposed to do a lot of thinking for ourselves. It is a slothful and not a wise servant that must be commanded in all things. The leaders of the Church do not have the time to weigh in on every single issue. The leaders give us general principles that affect multiple issues at once, and we are supposed to coolly reflect on these and the effects of government action on our lives and others and decide for ourselves. That is why we still have such disagreements between well-intentioned LDS who strive to do what is right.
2) Tax exempt status. The Church is on solid ground when it takes an official position on purely moral issues that are fairly unambiguous. When it starts to take official positions on specific acts of government in foreign affairs, welfare, taxation, etc. they are in danger of running into legal issues.
3) Better obedience comes from guidance rather than command. If they give us guiding principles which most members tend to agree with (that’s why we’re members) and we draw our own conclusions from these, it is easier to accept and obey than if they tell us something outright. Some items are ambiguous and we are supposed to be guided by the Spirit for those “close calls”.
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