{"title":"Philosophy and Theology","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"fire-on-the-horizon","title":"Fire on the Horizon: A Meditation on the Endowment and Love of Atonement","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/blake-t-ostler\"\u003eBlake T. Ostler\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“Urgent, sharp, and intimate, it’s Ostler at his best.” \u003c\/span\u003e—\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/adam-s-miller\"\u003eAdam S. Miller\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“Demonstrates that Mormonism can, and indeed does, offer profound nourishment for reflective minds and soul-satisfying insights for thoughtful believers.” \u003c\/span\u003e—\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/daniel-c-peterson\"\u003eDaniel C. Peterson\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/tinyurl.com\/latypcu\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/kindle2.png?9112655742455458650\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/fire-on-horizon-meditation\/id652869962?mt=11\u0026amp;uo=4\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/applebooks_480x480.png?v=1649199519\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=w1xlEAAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/google-play-badge2_a56b9286-69fa-4581-9680-5ea7c47f0c1a_480x480.png?v=1648668766\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAvailable in ebook for \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/tinyurl.com\/latypcu\"\u003eKindle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/w\/fire-on-the-horizon-blake-t-ostler\/1115453968?ean=2940016623252\"\u003eNook\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.kobobooks.com\/ebook\/Fire-on-the-Horizon\/book-Uzio5-kN-UiX1WPbjTY-kQ\/page1.html\"\u003eKobo\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=w1xlEAAAQBAJ\"\u003eGoogle Play\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/fire-on-horizon-meditation\/id652869962?mt=11\u0026amp;uo=4\"\u003eApple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlso available through \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2tOll82\"\u003eAmazon\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Book Description:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlake Ostler, author of the groundbreaking \u003ci\u003eExploring Mormon Thought \u003c\/i\u003eseries, explores two of the most important and central aspects of Mormon theology and practice: the Atonement and the temple endowment. Utilizing observations from Søren Kierkegaard, Martin Buber, and others, Ostler offers further insights on what it means to become alienated from God and to once again have at-one-ment with Him.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComprehensive Table of Contents:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eObservations on the Horizon\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart One. Atonement and the Sacred Thou at the Center of Joseph Smith’s Revelations\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Invitation That Calls to Us\u003cbr\u003eAn Ethic of Religious Discourse\u003cbr\u003eThe Language of Ritual Viewed From Within\u003cbr\u003eThe Divine Risk of Love\u003cbr\u003eThe Peer Relationship as Christology\u003cbr\u003eZion as the Sacred Society Reflecting Divine Love\u003cbr\u003eHuman Sacrifice, Plural Marriage, and the I–Thou Relation\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart Two. The Heart of Atonement\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Heart of Atonement\u003cbr\u003eWe Are All Adam and Eve\u003cbr\u003eThe Cherubim’s Sword\u003cbr\u003eThe Fruit of Our Mortal Lives\u003cbr\u003eWays of Being in the World\u003cbr\u003eThe Nature of Being in the World\u003cbr\u003eOriginal Sin and the Human Condition\u003cbr\u003eThe Mirror of Judgment\u003cbr\u003eThe Poison of Sin and Atonement\u003cbr\u003eThe Atonement Heals the Broken Heart\u003cbr\u003eSacramental Re-member-ing as At-one-ment\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIndex\u003cbr\u003eScripture Index\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eFire on the Horizon\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“\u003ci\u003eFire on the Horizon\u003c\/i\u003e distills decades of reading, argument, and reflection into one potent dose. Urgent, sharp, and intimate, it’s Ostler at his best.” — \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/adam-s-miller\"\u003eAdam S. Miller\u003c\/a\u003e, author of \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/products\/rube-goldberg-machines-essays-in-mormon-theology\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eRube Goldberg Machines: Essays in Mormon Theology\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Blake Ostler has been one of the most stimulating, deep, and original thinkers in the Latter-day Saint community. This book continues and consolidates that status. His work demonstrates that Mormonism can, and indeed does, offer profound nourishment for reflective minds and soul-satisfying insights for thoughtful believers.” — \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/daniel-c-peterson\"\u003eDaniel C. Peterson\u003c\/a\u003e, editor of \u003ci\u003eInterpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/blake-t-ostler\"\u003eBlake T. Ostler\u003c\/a\u003e, a practicing attorney, is one of the premiere philosophical thinkers on Mormonism. He is the author of the multi-volume \u003ci\u003eExploring Mormon Thought\u003c\/i\u003e series and has been published widely in journals such as \u003ci\u003eReligious Studies\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eInternational Journal for the Philosophy of Religion\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eBYU Studies\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eDialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePages: 138 \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58958-553-9 (paperback)\u003cbr\u003ePublished June 2013\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"paperback","offer_id":42261930999979,"sku":"978-1-58958-553-9","price":17.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/products\/Ostler_Fire.jpg?v=1378511917"},{"product_id":"joseph-smiths-polygamy-vol-3-theology","title":"Joseph Smith’s Polygamy, Volume 3: Theology","description":"\u003cp\u003eby Brian C. Hales\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e “A solid contribution to the historical and theological literature relating to Joseph Smith's life.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e— \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/byustudies.byu.edu\/showTitle.aspx?title=9322+\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eBYU Studies\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“This set will prove to be the standard to turn to in researching Mormon polygamy.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e— \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/forums.mormonletters.org\/yaf_postst1463_Hales-Joseph-Smiths-Polygamy-reviewed-by-Colby-Townsend.aspx\"\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“A serious piece of scholarship that enlightens neglected areas of of Mormon past.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e— \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/ijmsonline.org\/reviews\/joseph-smiths-polygamy-volume-1-history\/\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eInternational Journal of Mormon Studies\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B00BHPF96C\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;camp=1789\u0026amp;creative=390957\u0026amp;creativeASIN=B00BHPF96C\u0026amp;linkCode=as2\u0026amp;tag=projectmayh0b-20\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/kindle2.png?9112655742455458650\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/joseph-smiths-polygamy\/id601409527?mt=11\u0026amp;uo=4\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/applebooks_480x480.png?v=1649199519\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=PzVjEAAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/google-play-badge2_a56b9286-69fa-4581-9680-5ea7c47f0c1a_480x480.png?v=1648668766\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAvailable in ebook for on \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B00BHPF96C\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;camp=1789\u0026amp;creative=390957\u0026amp;creativeASIN=B00BHPF96C\u0026amp;linkCode=as2\u0026amp;tag=projectmayh0b-20\"\u003eKindle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/w\/joseph-smith-x2019-s-polygamy-volume-3a-brian-c-hales\/1114594722?ean=2940016256436\"\u003eNook\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/joseph-smiths-polygamy\/id601409527?mt=11\u0026amp;uo=4\"\u003eApple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=PzVjEAAAQBAJ\"\u003eGoogle Play\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.kobo.com\/us\/en\/ebook\/joseph-smith-s-polygamy-volume-3-theology\"\u003eKobo\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlso available through \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2n29a45\"\u003eAmazon\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/deseretbook.com\/p\/ppr-joseph-smiths-polygamy-v3-theology?variant_id=148636-paperback\"\u003eDeseret Book\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmericans of Joseph Smith’s day, steeped in the stories and prophecies of the King James Bible, certainly knew about plural marriage; but it was a curiosity relegated to the misty past of patriarchs Abraham and Jacob, who never gave reasons for their polygamy. It was long abandoned, Christians understood, by the time Jesus set forth the dominating law of the New Testament. But how did Joseph Smith understand it? Where did it fit in the “restitution of all things” (Acts 3:21) predicted in the New Testament? What part did it play in the global ideology declared by this modern prophet who produced new scripture, new revelation, and new theology? \u003cbr\u003e    During Joseph Smith’s lifetime, polygamy was taught and practiced in intense secrecy, with the result that he never fully explained its doctrinal underpinnings or systematized its practice. As a result, reconstructing Joseph Smith’s theology of plurality is a task that has seldom been undertaken. Most theological examinations have either focused on its development during Brigham Young’s Utah period, with its need to resist increasing federal legislative and judicial pressures, or the efforts of twentieth-century and contemporary “fundamentalists” who continue to marry a plurality of wives. \u003cbr\u003e    Volume 3 of this three-volume work builds on the carefully reconstructed history of the development of Mormon polygamy during Joseph Smith’s lifetime, then assembles the doctrinal principles from his recorded addresses, the diary entries of those closely associated with him, and his broader teachings on the related topics of obedience to God’s will, marriage and family relations, and the mechanics of eternal progression, salvation, and exaltation. The revelation he dictated in July 1843 that authorized the practice of eternal and plural marriage receives unprecedented examination and careful interpretation that illuminate this significant document and its underlying doctrines. \u003cbr\u003e    Attempts to explain the history of Joseph Smith’s polygamy without comprehending the theological principles undergirding its practice will always be incomplete and skewed. This volume, which takes those principles and evidences with the utmost seriousness, has produced the most important explanation of “why” this ancient practice reemerged among the Latter-day Saints on the shores of the Mississippi in the early 1840s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComprehensive Table of Contents:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIntroduction\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. Investigating the Origins\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eDocumentary Sources\u003cbr\u003eThe Position of the Community of Christ\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2. Theological and Humanistic Interpretations\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003ePolygamy as a Communal Experiment\u003cbr\u003ePsychological Derangement\u003cbr\u003eNineteenth-Century Depictions of Joseph Smith as a Philanderer\u003cbr\u003eConfusing Historical Fiction for Documented History\u003cbr\u003eFawn Brodie and Other Twentieth-Century Interpretations of Joseph Smith as a Philanderer\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3. A Restoration of Old Testament Practices\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eOld Testament Polygamy\u003cbr\u003eBiblical Allowance\u003cbr\u003eBiblical Teachings and Marriage\u003cbr\u003eChristian Views of Old Testament Polygamy\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4. Other Explanations\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eWomen Outnumber Men\u003cbr\u003eTo Bring Needed Trials and Challenges\u003cbr\u003ePublicity\u003cbr\u003eA Solution to the World’s Moral Problems\u003cbr\u003eProducing Healthier Parents and Offspring\u003cbr\u003eTo Raise Up Righteous Seed\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5. Joseph Smith’s Pre-Nauvoo Theology\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003ePublic Teachings Concerning Marriage and Sexuality\u003cbr\u003ePublished Accusations of Sexual Impropriety before 1841\u003cbr\u003eJoseph Smith’s Private Teachings on Marriage and Sexuality\u003cbr\u003eJoseph Smith’s Private Marital and Sexual Behavior\u003cbr\u003eThe Importance of Joseph Smith’s Pre-Nauvoo Teachings and Behaviors\u003cbr\u003ePolygamy Theology and Fanny Alger Marriage\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6. Authoritative Sources for Joseph Smith’s Theology\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eIn His Own Words\u003cbr\u003ePrivileged Accounts of Joseph Smith’s Polygamy\u003cbr\u003eOvercoming Weaknesses in the Accounts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e7. Child-to-Parent Sealings\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eEternal Sealing\u003cbr\u003eElijah Restores the Sealing Authority\u003cbr\u003eProxy Ordinance Work\u003cbr\u003eVertical Sealings of Children to Parents\u003cbr\u003eNo Vertical Sealings Outside of a Temple\u003cbr\u003eThe Welding Work Begins\u003cbr\u003eA Focus of the Millennium\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e8. Husband-to-Wife Sealings\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eIntroduction of Eternal Marriage\u003cbr\u003eThe New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage\u003cbr\u003eEternal Kings and Queens, Priests and Priestesses\u003cbr\u003eBecoming Gods\u003cbr\u003e“A Continuation of the Seeds”\u003cbr\u003eSecret Teachings of Spirit Birth\u003cbr\u003eSpirit Birth and D\u0026amp;C 132?\u003cbr\u003eCreating New Worlds to Accommodate Spirit Offspring\u003cbr\u003e“Born in the Covenant”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e9. The Premortal Existence\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003ePremortal Spirits\u003cbr\u003eCreated or Uncreated?\u003cbr\u003eTeachings about Premortal Origins\u003cbr\u003eMother in Heaven\u003cbr\u003e“A Continuation of the Seeds”\u003cbr\u003eNumber of “Begotten” Spirits\u003cbr\u003eOne Eternal Round\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e10. A Plural Marriage Theology\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThree Reasons Why Plural Marriage Needed to be Established\u003cbr\u003eEternal Singleness without Eternal Marriage\u003cbr\u003eAnticipating More Worthy Women Than Men\u003cbr\u003eDemographic Observations Regarding Worthy Women and Men\u003cbr\u003ePlural Marriage in Joseph Smith’s Grand Theology\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e11. The Law of Adoption\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eEternal Advantages from More Biological Offspring\u003cbr\u003eEternal Advantages from More “Adopted” Offspring\u003cbr\u003eTo Whom to Be Sealed?\u003cbr\u003eAdoption Sealings in the Nauvoo Temple\u003cbr\u003eJohn D. Lee Seeks Adopted Offspring\u003cbr\u003eA Post-Nauvoo Emphasis on Adoption\u003cbr\u003eMembers Still Requested to Be Sealed to Church Leaders\u003cbr\u003eQuestions and Confusion Continue Regarding Adoption\u003cbr\u003eWilford Woodruff Clarifies the Practice\u003cbr\u003eThe Importance of Sealed Offspring\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e12. Plural Marriage in Joseph Smith’s Theology\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003ePlural Marriage and Exaltation\u003cbr\u003ePromises of Unconditional Salvation?\u003cbr\u003eA Commandment between 1852 and 1890\u003cbr\u003eUnauthorized Polygamy and Celestial Marriage\u003cbr\u003ePolygamy as a Commandment\u003cbr\u003eCompliance Achieved by Marrying Two Wives\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e13. Joseph Smith’s Personal Polygamy\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eCharacteristics of Joseph Smith’s Plural Marriages\u003cbr\u003eEmma’s Demand that He Stop Marrying Additional Wives\u003cbr\u003eJoseph Smith’s Own Practice and Plural Marriage Theology\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e14. Possible Motives for Thirty-Five Wives\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eLibido, Physical Attraction, or Romantic Love\u003cbr\u003eEternal Advantages\u003cbr\u003eDynastic Connections\u003cbr\u003eServing as a Proxy Husband\u003cbr\u003eFulfillment of Premortal Promises\u003cbr\u003eWomen Seeking to be Sealed to the Prophet\u003cbr\u003ePersonal Choice\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e15. Accepting Polygamy\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Deceiver-Deceived Dynamic\u003cbr\u003eA “Well Intentioned ‘Pious Deceiver’”\u003cbr\u003eCo-Conspirators?\u003cbr\u003eCharismatic or Spiritual Experiences\u003cbr\u003eEpilogue\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBibliography\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eShortened Citations\u003cbr\u003eCitations\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIndex\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eJoseph Smith's Polygamy:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“Brian Hales wants to face up to every question, every problem, every fear about plural marriage. His answers may not satisfy everyone, but he gives readers the relevant sources where answers, if they exist, are to be found. \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003eThere has never been a more thorough examination of the polygamy idea\u003c\/span\u003e.” — Richard L. Bushman,author of \u003ci\u003eJoseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“Joseph Smith’s Polygamy, the first thorough treatment of Joseph Smith’s plural marriages written by a conservative Mormon scholar, is \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003ea landmark in the historiography of Mormon polygamy\u003c\/span\u003e. While I disagree with some of Hales’s conclusions, I admire his willingness to confront difficult topics and the depth of his research. This impressive work furthers the ongoing dialogue in the Mormon historical community on a fascinating and challenging aspect of the life and teachings of Mormonism’s founding prophet.” — Todd M. Compton, author of\u003cem\u003e In Sacred Loneliness: The Plural Wives of Joseph Smith\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“Hales’s massive and well documented three volume examination of the history and theology of Mormon plural marriage, as introduced and practiced during the life of Joseph Smith, will now be\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003e the standard against which all other treatments of this important subject will be measured\u003c\/span\u003e.” — Danel W. Bachman, author of “A Study of the Mormon Practice of Plural Marriage before the Death of Joseph Smith”\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“Brian Hales is an exceptionally thorough, meticulous, and evenhanded researcher and assessor of Joseph Smith’s complex and controversial polygamous practices and the theological rationale that supported them. His path-breaking and indispensable three-volume study provides\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003e the most comprehensive documentation and assessment yet available of the extant evidence on the topic\u003c\/span\u003e, even though Hales’s fellow scholars of Joseph Smith’s polygamy may not always find persuasive the ways in which he interprets and contextualizes his evidence.” — Lawrence Foster, author of \u003cem\u003eReligion and Sexuality\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“It is clearly \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003ethe single greatest guide to available resources on the practice of polygamy\u003c\/span\u003e in Joseph Smith’s Nauvoo. And, it will without any doubt shape the arguments regarding the centrality of plural marriage in early Mormon theology, as well as arguments on precisely what that plural marriage means historically and theologically for Latter-day Saints.” — Cheryl Bruno, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.withoutend.org\/thoughts-joseph-smiths-polygamy-brian-hales\/\"\u003eWorlds Without End\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“Brian C. Hales has done a superb job in bringing all of the relevant history together in one place. No matter what one’s opinions are, for the coming decades this set will prove to be \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003ethe standard to turn to in researching Mormon polygamy\u003c\/span\u003e.” — Colby Townsend, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/forums.mormonletters.org\/yaf_postst1463_Hales-Joseph-Smiths-Polygamy-reviewed-by-Colby-Townsend.aspx\"\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“Regardless of the reader’s religious or societal views, what Brian C. Hales has achieved, ought to be recognized as an audacious study. . . . This is a very well researched and presented volume, and should be considered as \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003ea serious piece of scholarship\u003c\/span\u003e that enlightens neglected areas of of Mormon past.” — David M. Morris, \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/ijmsonline.org\/reviews\/joseph-smiths-polygamy-volume-1-history\/\"\u003eInternational Journal of Mormon Studies\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“Hales's work is \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003ea solid contribution to the historical and theological literature relating to Joseph Smith's life\u003c\/span\u003e. These three impressive volumes will contain something of value for readers of many backgrounds. Historians, both friendly and antagonistic to Joseph Smith, will appreciate the detailed and comprehensive focus on primary source materials. Latter-day Saints with an interest in history will appreciate reading the words of a writer who shares a common foundation of faith.... This important three-volume work will doubtless be referred to and read for years to come” — M. Scott Bradshaw, \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/byustudies.byu.edu\/showTitle.aspx?title=9322+\"\u003eBYU Studies Quarterly\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSee more reviews at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/book\/show\/17171642-joseph-smith-s-polygamy-volume-3?from_search=true\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGoodreads\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eOther Volumes in the Series:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/joseph-smith-polygamy-vol-1-history\"\u003eJoseph Smith's Polygamy, Volume 1: History\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/joseph-smiths-polygamy-vol-2-history\"\u003eJoseph Smith's Polygamy, Volume 2: History\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePodcasts and Video:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePodcast interview with the \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/mormondiscussion.podbean.com\/2013\/07\/01\/brian-hales-polygamy\/\"\u003eMormon Discussions Podcast\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003ePodcast interview with the \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/mormonstories.org\/brian-hales-refutation-of-grant-palmers-treatment-of-sexual-allegations-against-joseph-smith\/\"\u003eMormon Stories Podcast\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003ePodcast interview with the \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.radiogoldproductions.com\/thegoodword\/brian-c-hales-interview-episode-134\/#.UkCAgpyk8xG\"\u003eGood Word Podcast\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003ePodcast discussion with \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.fairblog.org\/2013\/09\/25\/fairmormon-frameworks-4-brian-hales-polygamy\/\"\u003eFAIR\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003cbr\u003ePresentation at \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.benchmarkbooks.com\/\"\u003eBenchmark Books\u003c\/a\u003e:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5Lfm8Eyarf4\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/brian_hales_compact.jpg?1072\" style=\"margin-right: 5px; float: left;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrian C. Hales, board-certified anesthesiologist in Layton, Utah, graduated from Utah State University with a B.S. in biology and from the University of Utah, College of Medicine. This book is his seventh. His \u003ca href=\"\/products\/modern-polygamy-and-mormon-fundamentalism\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eModern Polygamy and Mormon Fundamentalism: The Generations after the Manifesto\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e (Salt Lake City: Kofford Books, 2007) was awarded the “Best Book of 2007” prize from the John Whitmer Historical Association.\u003cbr\u003eHe authored \u003ci\u003eSetting the Record Straight: Mormon Fundamentalism\u003c\/i\u003e (2008) and \u003ci\u003eThe Priesthood of Modern Polygamy: An LDS Perspective\u003c\/i\u003e (1992). Hales has published articles in \u003ci\u003eMormon Historical Studies\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eDialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought\u003c\/i\u003e, and the \u003ci\u003eJournal of Mormon History\u003c\/i\u003e. He also contributed a chapter to \u003ci\u003ehe Persistence of Polygamy: Joseph Smith and the Origins of Mormon Polygamy\u003c\/i\u003e, edited by Newell Bringhurst and Craig L. Foster (2010). He is also webmaster of \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.mormonfundamentalism.com\"\u003ewww.MormonFundamentalism.com\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.josephsmithspolygamy.com\"\u003ewww.JosephSmithsPolygamy.com. \u003c\/a\u003eIn addition to a fulltime LDS mission in Venezuela (1976-78), he has served as a music missionary (1999 -). Hales has also served as president of the Utah Medical Association and as president of the Medical Staff at Davis Hospital and Medical Center. He is the father of four adult children.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e332 pages\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58958-687-1 (Paperback)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublished \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFebruary 2013\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":364046561,"sku":"978-1-58958-687-1","price":25.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/products\/Hales_JSP3.jpg?v=1763056614"},{"product_id":"rube-goldberg-machines","title":"Rube Goldberg Machines: Essays in Mormon Theology","description":"\u003cp\u003eBy \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/adam-s-miller\"\u003eAdam S. Miller\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“One of the best and most important commentaries on the gospel and on life itself that I have ever read.” \u003c\/span\u003e— \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/byustudies.byu.edu\/showTitle.aspx?title=9250\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eBYU Studies Quarterly\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eRube Goldberg Machines\u003c\/em\u003e is not simply original and provocative, it is often thrilling.”\u003c\/span\u003e — \u003cem\u003eDialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“A theology of pure immanency is what Adam’s given us and I can only hope that Mormon theology will never be the same again.” \u003c\/span\u003e— \u003ci\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.libertypages.com\/cgw\/2012\/04\/03\/review-rube-goldberg-machines\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eMormon Metaphysics\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“A landmark work in the world of Mormon theology.” \u003c\/span\u003e— \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.themormonbookreview.com\/2012\/11\/08\/an-interview-with-adam-miller-rube-goldberg-machines-essays-in-mormon-theology-episode-04\/\"\u003eThe Mormon Book Review\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“Full of ingenious, even dazzling formulations, and of lovely, often bracing and sometimes startling insights.” \u003c\/span\u003e— \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/squaretwo.org\/Sq2ArticleMillerSymposiumHancock.html\"\u003eSquareTwo\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B007RQIQ7E\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;tag=projectmayh0b-20\u0026amp;linkCode=as2\u0026amp;camp=1789\u0026amp;creative=390957\u0026amp;creativeASIN=B007RQIQ7E\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/kindle2.png?9112655742455458650\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/rube-goldberg-machines-essays\/id516763778?mt=11\u0026amp;uo=4\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/applebooks_480x480.png?v=1649199519\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=k-NlEAAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/google-play-badge2_a56b9286-69fa-4581-9680-5ea7c47f0c1a_480x480.png?v=1648668766\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cb\u003eAvailable for \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B007RQIQ7E\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;tag=projectmayh0b-20\u0026amp;linkCode=as2\u0026amp;camp=1789\u0026amp;creative=390957\u0026amp;creativeASIN=B007RQIQ7E\"\u003eKindle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/w\/books\/1109921366?ean=2940014226233\"\u003eNook\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/rube-goldberg-machines-essays\/id516763778?mt=11\u0026amp;uo=4\"\u003eApple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=k-NlEAAAQBAJ\"\u003eGoogle Play\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.kobobooks.com\/ebook\/Rube-Goldberg-Machines-Essays-Mormon\/book-gBWJHKwVCkOF3W6p09YN0g\/page1.html?s=i4wJwMB-70CLPR1AszTfIg\u0026amp;r=1\"\u003eKobo\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlso available through \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2tVrHmq\"\u003eAmazon\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook Description:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDoing theology is like building a comically circuitous Rube Goldberg machine: you spend your time tinkering together an unnecessarily complicated, impractical, and ingenious apparatus for doing things that are, in themselves, simple. But there is a kind of joy in theology’s gratuity, there is a pleasure in its comedic machination, and ultimately—if the balloon pops, the hamster spins, the chain pulls, the bucket empties, the pulley lifts, and (voila!) the book’s page is turned—some measurable kind of work is accomplished. But this work is a byproduct. The beauty of the machine, like all beauty, is for its own sake.\u003cbr\u003e     Theology, maybe especially Mormon theology, requires this kind of modesty. The Church neither needs nor endorses our Rube Goldbergian flights. The comic aspect of the arrows we wing at cloudy skies must be kept firmly in mind. The comedy of it both saves us from theology and commends us to it.\u003cbr\u003e     Engaged in this work, theology has only one definitive strength: it can make simple things difficult. Good theology forces detours that divert us from our stated goals and prompt us to visit places and include people that would otherwise be left aside. The measure of this strength is charity. Theological detours are worth only as much charity as they are able to show. They are worth only as many waylaid lives and lost objects as they are able to embrace. Rube Goldberg machines, models of inelegance, are willing to loop anything into the circuit—tax collectors, prostitutes, lepers, Democrats, whatever. In charity, the grace of a disinterested concern for others and the gratuity of an unnecessary complication coincide. Theology helps us to find religion by helping us to lose it. Theology makes the familiar strange. It ratchets uncomfortable questions into complementary shapes and helps recover the trouble that is charity’s substance.\u003cbr\u003e     This book is itself a Rube Goldberg machine, pieced together from a variety of essays written over the past ten years. They offer explicit reflections on what it means to practice theology as a modern Mormon scholar and they stake out substantial and original positions on the nature of the atonement, the soul, testimony, eternal marriage, humanism, and the historicity of the Book of Mormon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComprehensive Table of Contents:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcknowledgments\u003cbr\u003eForeword\u003cbr\u003eIntroduction\u003cbr\u003e1. Benedictus\u003cbr\u003e2. Notes on Life, Grace, and Atonement\u003cbr\u003e3. Messianic History: Walter Benjamin and the Book of Mormon\u003cbr\u003e4. Overwritten, Written Elsewhere: Names, Books, and Souls in St. John’s Apocalypse\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e1. Introduction\u003cbr\u003e2. The Soul: Composed and Distributed\u003cbr\u003e3. The Body of the Soul\u003cbr\u003e4. The Spirit of the Soul\u003cbr\u003e5. Overwritten\u003cbr\u003e6. Written Elsewhere\u003cbr\u003e7. Mark of the Beast\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5. Recompense\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e1. Soul as Watershed\u003cbr\u003e2. Gene\/Ecology\u003cbr\u003e3. Recompense\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6. A Manifesto for Mormon Theology\u003cbr\u003e7. Atonement and Testimony\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e1. Introduction\u003cbr\u003e2. All Things Are Appendages\u003cbr\u003e3. Atonement and Possibility\u003cbr\u003e4. Pure Testimony\u003cbr\u003e5. Bearing Testimony\u003cbr\u003e6. Conclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e8. The Gospel as an Earthen Vessel\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e1. Introduction\u003cbr\u003e2. How to Think an Immanent Transcendence: The Figure of an Event\u003cbr\u003e3. Mormonism Conceived as an Immanent Event\u003cbr\u003e4. Conclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e9. Love, Truth, and the Meaning of Marriage\u003cbr\u003e10 .A Hermeneutics of Weakness\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e1. The Weakness of the Word verses the Strength of the Sword\u003cbr\u003e2. Faith Is Things Which Are Hoped For and Not Seen\u003cbr\u003e3. When We Write We Behold Our Weakness\u003cbr\u003e4. He Could Not Be Kept From Within the Veil\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e11. Humanism, Mormonism\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e1. Humanistic Inquiry\u003cbr\u003e2. Mormon Revelation\u003cbr\u003e3. Mormonism and Humanism\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e12. The Word of Truth and the Spirit of Truth\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e1. Only in the context of the Spirit can the truth be taken up truthfully.\u003cbr\u003e2. Nothing is more merciful than the truth when it is truthfully told.\u003cbr\u003e3. Truth, in order to be salvific, must bear the personal mark of the speaker who declares it truthfully.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e13. Groundhog Day\u003cbr\u003e14. Shipwrecked\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBibliography\u003cbr\u003eScripture Index\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eOld Testament\u003cbr\u003eNew Testament\u003cbr\u003eBook of Mormon\u003cbr\u003eDoctrine and Covenants\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSubject Index\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eRube Goldberg Machines\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“Adam Miller is \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003ethe most original and provocative Latter-day Saint theologian practicing today\u003c\/span\u003e.” — Richard Bushman, author of \u003cem\u003eJoseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Successful Rube Goldberg Machines do ordinary work, but they do it in complicated, funny, beautiful ways. When they are successful we cannot turn our eyes away. By those measures, Adam Miller’s Rube Goldberg Machines are a success, one that I envy. As a stylist,\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003e Miller gives Nietzsche a run for his money\u003c\/span\u003e. As a believer, Miller is as submissive as Augustine hearing a child’s voice in the garden. Miller is a theologian of the ordinary, thinking about our ordinary beliefs in very non-ordinary ways while never insisting that the ordinary become extra-ordinary.” — James Faulconer, Richard L. Evans Chair of Religious Understanding,Brigham Young University\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“\u003c\/span\u003eRube Goldberg Machines is not simply original and provocative, it is often thrilling.” — Robert A. Rees, \u003cem\u003eDialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Miller’s language is both recognizably Mormon and startlingly original, as are the forms the language takes—fragments, aphorisms, prose poems—arguments made art. The whole is an essay worthy of the name, inviting the reader to try ideas, following the philosopher pilgrim's intellectual progress through tangled brambles and into broad fields, fruitful orchards, and perhaps a sacred grove or two.” — Kristine Haglund, editor of \u003ci\u003eDialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Miller’s Rube Goldberg theology is \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003enothing like anything done in the Mormon tradition before\u003c\/span\u003e. Rather than engage in historical mining of ideas or semantic analysis, Miller treats various byways and paths through Mormonism as if admiring a fine diamond—experiencing it, turning its facets, looking at the clarity of light and reveling in its colors.” — Blake Ostler, author of the \u003ci\u003eExploring Mormon Thought\u003c\/i\u003e series\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“The value of Miller’s writings is in the modesty he both exhibits and projects onto the theological enterprise, even while showing its joyfully disruptive potential. Conventional Mormon minds may not resonate with every line of poetry and provocation—but Miller surely afflicts the comfortable, which is the theologian’s highest end.” — Terryl Givens, author of \u003ci\u003eBy the Hand of Mormon: The American Scripture that Launched a New World Religion\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“A theology of pure immanency is what Adam’s given us and I can only hope that Mormon theology will never be the same again.” — Clark Goble, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.libertypages.com\/cgw\/2012\/04\/03\/review-rube-goldberg-machines\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eMormon Metaphysics\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“This is great theology in all the right ways, but you’ll have to read it yourselves to get a taste for its power. \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003eBuy the book and read it. Seriously\u003c\/span\u003e.” — \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/bycommonconsent.com\/2012\/04\/14\/an-event-in-the-family\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eSamuel Brown\u003c\/a\u003e, author of \u003ci\u003eIn Heaven as It Is On Earth: Joseph Smith and the Early Mormon Conquest of Death\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Rube Golberg is \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003ea landmark work in the world of Mormon theology\u003c\/span\u003e.” — Kirk Caudle, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.themormonbookreview.com\/2012\/11\/08\/an-interview-with-adam-miller-rube-goldberg-machines-essays-in-mormon-theology-episode-04\/\"\u003eThe Mormon Book Review\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Adam Miller’s Rube Goldberg Theology is \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003efull of ingenious, even dazzling formulations\u003c\/span\u003e, and of lovely, often bracing and sometimes startling insights.” — Ralph Hancock, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/squaretwo.org\/Sq2ArticleMillerSymposiumHancock.html\"\u003eSquareTwo\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Adam Miller never fails to teach me to read more attentively, with more faith, more hope, and more charity.” — Joseph Spencer, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/squaretwo.org\/Sq2ArticleMillerSymposiumSpencer.html\"\u003eSquareTwo\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Adam’s work . . . enlightens the philosophical endeavor with Mormonism’s richness and singularity. \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003eIt is a work of truly great theology\u003c\/span\u003e that only could have been contrived (and perhaps only in Rube Goldberg fashion) by a brilliant Mormon.” — Brad Kramer, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/bycommonconsent.com\/2012\/06\/15\/on-poetry-and-the-joys-of-language\/\"\u003eBy Common Consent\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“\u003cem\u003eRube Goldberg Machines\u003c\/em\u003e is \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003eone of the best and most important commentaries on the gospel and on life itself that I have ever read\u003c\/span\u003e. It can perhaps be best compared to Ecclesiastes, The Annals of Confucius, or the compact wisdom of the Tao Te Ching. Save for the electrifying thought of the French Jewess Simone Weil, one of Christ’s most astute modern-day disciples, whom, to my mind, Miller resembles, I can think of no one else who has so “universally extended” (Miller’s phrase) my understanding of the gospel’s essential concepts and their implications for an authentic and blessed spiritual life.” — Thomas F. Rogers, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/byustudies.byu.edu\/showTitle.aspx?title=9250\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eBYU Studies Quarterly\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/adam-s-miller\"\u003eAdam S. Miller\u003c\/a\u003e is a professor of philosophy at Collin College in McKinney, Texas. He is the author of \u003ci\u003eBadiou, Marion, and St. Paul: Immanent Grace\u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eSpeculative Grace: An Experiment with Bruno Latour in Object-Oriented Theology\u003c\/i\u003e, editor of \u003ci\u003eAn Experiment on the Word: Reading Alma 32\u003c\/i\u003e, and director of the Mormon Theology Seminar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePodcasts:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn interview with Adam Miller on the \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/mormondiscussion.podbean.com\/2013\/09\/02\/adam-miller-rube-goldberg-machines\/\"\u003eMormon Discussions Podcast\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePages: 148\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 9781589581937 (Paperback)\u003cbr\u003ePublished April 2012\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"paperback","offer_id":42262005186731,"sku":"978-1-58958-193-7","price":18.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"paperback shelf-worn 10% off","offer_id":45186062155947,"sku":null,"price":17.05,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/products\/Miller__RubeGoldberg.jpg?v=1379553977"},{"product_id":"war-and-peace-in-our-time","title":"War \u0026 Peace in Our Time: Mormon Perspectives","description":"\u003cp\u003eEdited by \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/patrick-q-mason\"\u003ePatrick Q. Mason\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/j-david-pulsipher\"\u003eJ. David Pulsipher\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/richard-l-bushman\"\u003eRichard L. Bushman\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFree ebook offer can be found at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/products\/war-peace-ebook\"\u003ehttps:\/\/gregkofford.com\/products\/war-peace-ebook \u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“Provides a fitting springboard for robust and lively debates within the Mormon scholarly and lay community on how to think about the pressing issues of war and peace.”\u003c\/span\u003e — Robert S. Wood\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“An extraordinary collection of essays on a topic of extraordinary importance.”\u003c\/span\u003e — Grant Hardy\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“Reading it may save us in the future from enacting more harm than good in the name of God, country, or presumption.”\u003c\/span\u003e — Philip Barlow\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“This collection of essays will help us as members to think more responsibly, and act more wisely as we pursue what stance is best to follow.”\u003c\/span\u003e — \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/forums.mormonletters.org\/yaf_postsm2618_Mason-Pulsipher-and-Bushman-eds-War-and-Peace-in-Our-Time-Mormon-Perspectives-reviewed-by-Colby-Townsend.aspx\"\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B0092UTBAY\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;camp=1789\u0026amp;creative=390957\u0026amp;creativeASIN=B0092UTBAY\u0026amp;linkCode=as2\u0026amp;tag=projectmayh0b-20\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/kindle2.png?9112655742455458650\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/war-peace-in-our-time-mormon\/id556659390?mt=11\u0026amp;uo=4\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/applebooks_480x480.png?v=1649199519\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=m-NlEAAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/google-play-badge2_a56b9286-69fa-4581-9680-5ea7c47f0c1a_480x480.png?v=1648668766\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAvailable in ebook for \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B0092UTBAY\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;camp=1789\u0026amp;creative=390957\u0026amp;creativeASIN=B0092UTBAY\u0026amp;linkCode=as2\u0026amp;tag=projectmayh0b-20\"\u003eKindle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/w\/war-and-peace-in-our-time-patrick-q-mason\/1112682905?ean=2940015149234\"\u003eNook\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/war-peace-in-our-time-mormon\/id556659390?mt=11\u0026amp;uo=4\"\u003eApple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=m-NlEAAAQBAJ\"\u003eGoogle Play\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.kobo.com\/us\/en\/ebook\/war-peace-in-our-time-mormon-perspectives\"\u003eKobo\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlso available through \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2tjtrpm\"\u003eAmazon\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBook Description:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese essays reveal how the scriptures, prophetic teachings, history, culture, rituals, and traditions of Mormonism have been, are, and can be used as warrants for a wide range of activities and attitudes—from radical pacifism to legitimation of the United States’ use of preemptive force against its enemies. As a relatively young religion that for much of its early history was simply struggling for survival, Mormonism has not yet fully grappled with some of the pressing questions of war and peace, with all of the attendant theological, social, and political ramifications. Given the LDS Church’s relative stability and measure of prominence and influence in the early twenty-first century, the time is ripe to examine the historical, spiritual, and cultural resources within the tradition that provide a foundation for constructive dialogue about how individual Latter-day Saints and the institutional Church orient themselves in a world of violence. While recognizing the important contributions of previous scholars who had offered analysis and reflection on the topic, these essays offer a more sustained and collaborative examination of Mormon perspectives on war and peace, drawing on both historical-social scientific research as well as more normative (theological and ethical) arguments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComprehensive Table of Contents:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton class=\"collapsible\" type=\"button\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIntroduction\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart I. Scriptural \u0026amp; Doctrinal Interpretations\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. The Ammonite Conundrum\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2. A Non-Violent Reading of the Book of Mormon\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Book of Mormon as Narrative\u003cbr\u003eFoundational Narratives\u003cbr\u003eMyths, Reality, and Violence\u003cbr\u003eAnother Way\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3. Offensive Warfare in the Book of Mormon and a Defense of the Bush Doctrine\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003ePassive Defense in Theory and Practice\u003cbr\u003eOffensive Prohibitions\u003cbr\u003eOffensive Defensive Theory and Practice in the Modern Age\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4. Imagining Peace: The Example of the Nephites following Christ’s Visit to the New World\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5. Pax Sanctorum\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003ePeace Defined\u003cbr\u003eThe Conflict-Morality Grid\u003cbr\u003eEthical Motion\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003cbr\u003eAppendix One\u003cbr\u003eAppendix Two\u003cbr\u003eAppendix Three\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart II. Historical \u0026amp; Cultural Perspectives\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6. Zion as a Refuge from the Wars of Nations\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e7. Fall from Grace: Mormon Millennialism, Native Americans, and Violence\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eIdealistic Origins\u003cbr\u003ePractical Experience\u003cbr\u003eRatcheted Rhetoric\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e8. Negotiating War and Peace in Korea:A Comparison of U.S. Military and Korean Latter-day Saints\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eLiving on the Korean Peninsula\u003cbr\u003eThe Military’s Role in War and Peace\u003cbr\u003eMormonism’s Role in War and Peace\u003cbr\u003eNation and Culture\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e9. Nonviolent Responses and Mormon Attitudes: Reasons and Realities\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart III. Notable \u0026amp; Prophetic Voices\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e10. General Conference Addresses during Times of War\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Utah War\u003cbr\u003eThe Civil War\u003cbr\u003eThe Spanish-American War\u003cbr\u003eThe World Wars\u003cbr\u003eThe Korean and Vietnam Wars\u003cbr\u003eThe War on Terror\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e11. Pacifist Counselor in the First Presidency: J. Reuben Clark Jr., 1933–1961\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e12. The Work of Death: Hugh Nibley as Scholar, Soldier, Peace Activist\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e13. Eugene England’s Theology of Peace\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart IV. Personal \u0026amp; Professional Observations\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e14. An LDS Chaplain’s Perspective on Current Conflicts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e15. “Renounce War and Proclaim Peace”: Personal Reflections on Mormon Attempts at Peacemaking\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eA Reading of “Renounce War”\u003cbr\u003eContext\u003cbr\u003eAttempts at Peacemaking\u003cbr\u003eToward a Momentary Conclusion\u003cbr\u003eAppendix\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e16. Doctrine \u0026amp; Covenants 98: The “Immutable” Rejected Covenant of Peace\u003cbr\u003eA Restoration\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eGeneral Counsel Prior to Section 98\u003cbr\u003eThe Law as to Personal Enemies\u003cbr\u003eWars between Nations\u003cbr\u003e1833–1838: A Case Study\u003cbr\u003eIs the Covenant Being Taught Today?\u003cbr\u003eHave We Rejected the ‘Immutable’ Covenant?\u003cbr\u003eUltimately an Individual Choice\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e17. War and the Gospel: Perspectives from Latter-day Saint National Security Practitioners\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eI. Introduction\u003cbr\u003eII. Some Unique Aspects of Latter-day Saint Theology Pertinent to National Security\u003cbr\u003eIII. Some Latter-day Saint National Security Professional Perspectives on Specific Issues\u003cbr\u003eIV. Conclusions\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAftermath\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eContributors\u003cbr\u003eSubject Index\u003cbr\u003eScripture Index\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eWar \u0026amp; Peace in Our Time\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“This provocative and thoughtful book is sure both to infuriate and to delight. It brings together reflections and advocacy pieces by an eclectic and serious group of scholars, national security professionals, and peace activists, united by a common passion to discern within Latter-day Saint scriptures and history patterns of thought concerning the causes of war and the conditions of peace. The contributions range from expansive definitions of national defense to philosophic pacifism and from subtle arguments to crusading manifestos. The essays demonstrate that exegesis of distinctly Latter-day Saint scriptures can yield a wealth of disputation, the equal of any rabbinical quarrel or Jesuitical casuistry. This volume provides \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003ea fitting springboard for robust and lively debates\u003c\/span\u003e within the Mormon scholarly and lay community on how to think about the pressing issues of war and peace.” — Robert S. Wood, Dean Emeritus, Center for Naval Warfare Studies, Chester W. Nimitz Chair Emeritus, U.S. Naval War College\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“This is \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003ean extraordinary collection of essays\u003c\/span\u003e on a topic of extraordinary importance. The editors have deliberately included thoughtful LDS voices on war and peace from a variety of perspectives—from peace activists and veterans to historians and national security professionals. The result is a book that will frustrate easy answers and partisan positions. The Book of Mormon includes both military heroes and a devastating critique of militarism; J. Reuben Clark was indeed a pacifist, but for problematic reasons; Hugh Nibley’s strong aversion to war came directly from his personal experiences on the battlefield, while other Mormons have been able to reconcile their commitment to “renounce war and proclaim peace” with their service in uniform. When is state-sanctioned violence necessary or appropriate? Does war ultimately do more harm than good? Are the alternatives reasonable or realistic? Whatever your current opinion on the topic, this book will challenge you to reflect more deeply and thoroughly on what it means to be a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, in an era of massive military budgets, lethal technologies, and widespread war.” — Grant Hardy, Professor of History and Religious Studies, University of North Carolina, Asheville, Author, \u003cem\u003eUnderstanding the Book of Mormon: A Reader’s Guide\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Mormons take their morality seriously. They are also patriotic. Tragically, the second trait can undermine the first. When calls for war are on the horizon, it is possible for well-intended Saints to be too sure of our selective application of scripture to contemporary matters of life and death, too sure that we can overcome evil by force, that we can control the results of military conflict, that war is the only option for patriots. Yet pacifism has its own critics. This collection of differing views by thoughtful scholars comprises a debate.\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003e Reading it may save us in the future from enacting more harm than good in the name of God, country, or presumption\u003c\/span\u003e.” — Philip Barlow, Arrington Chair of Mormon History and Culture, Utah State University, Author, \u003cem\u003eMormons and the Bible: The Place of the Latter-day Saints in American Religion\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“I consider this book \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003ean absolutely essential resource\u003c\/span\u003e for any latter-day Saint seeking to understand God’s will regarding war. . . . [Y]ou really ought to buy this book!” — Alan Rock Waterman,\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/puremormonism.blogspot.com\/2013\/05\/why-do-we-keep-celebrating-disobedience.html\"\u003e Pure Mormonism\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“This collection won’t provide any individual answers, but it \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003emarvelously succeeds in providing readers with seventeen examples of thoughtful decisions\u003c\/span\u003e on a weighty topic.” — Gregory VanWagenen, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/themormonworker.wordpress.com\/2012\/11\/04\/war-peace-in-our-time-mormon-perspectives\/\"\u003eThe Mormon Worker\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“I read several of the essays aloud to friends and family, and found that they did indeed \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003eencourage deep thought and animated dialogue\u003c\/span\u003e. . . . I can’t think of any books I have read dealing with these issues from a Latter-day Saint pacifist stance, and I am encouraged to see the publication of this collection.” — Cheryl Bruno, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.withoutend.org\/war-peace-time-saved-sunday-school-teacher\/#more-1014\"\u003eWorlds Without End\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“[T]his collection of essays will help us as members to think more responsibly, and act more wisely as we pursue what stance is best to follow.” — Colby Townsend, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/forums.mormonletters.org\/yaf_postsm2618_Mason-Pulsipher-and-Bushman-eds-War-and-Peace-in-Our-Time-Mormon-Perspectives-reviewed-by-Colby-Townsend.aspx\"\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eContributors:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/patrick-q-mason\"\u003ePatrick Q. Mason\u003c\/a\u003e – Introduction\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/j-david-pulsipher\"\u003eJ. David Pulsipher\u003c\/a\u003e – “The Ammonite Conundrum”\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/joshua-madson\"\u003eJoshua Madson\u003c\/a\u003e – “A Non-Violent Reading of the Book of Mormon”\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/morgan-deane\"\u003eMorgan Deane\u003c\/a\u003e – “Offensive Warfare in the Book of Mormon and a Defense of the Bush Doctrine”\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/robert-a-rees\"\u003eRobert A. Rees\u003c\/a\u003e – “Imagining Peace: The Example of the Nephites following Christ’s Visit to the New World”\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/f-r-rick-duran\"\u003eF.R. Rick Duran\u003c\/a\u003e – “Pax Sanctorum”\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/mark-ashurst-mcgee\"\u003eMark Ashburst-McGee\u003c\/a\u003e – “Zion as a Refuge from the Wars of Nations”\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/jennifer-lindell\"\u003eJennifer Lindell\u003c\/a\u003e – “Fall from Grace: Mormon Millennialism, Native Americans, and Violence”\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/ethan-yorgason\"\u003eEthan Yorgason\u003c\/a\u003e – “Negotiating War and Peace in Korea: A Comparison of U.S. Military and Korean Latter-day Saints”\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/jesse-samantha-fulcher\"\u003eJesse Samantha Fulcher\u003c\/a\u003e – “Nonviolent Responses and Mormon Attitudes: Reasons and Realities”\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/robert-h-hellebrand\"\u003eRobert H. Hellebrand\u003c\/a\u003e – “General Conference Addresses during Times of War”\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/d-michael-quinn\"\u003eD. Michael Quinn\u003c\/a\u003e – “Pacifist Counselor in the First Presidency: J. Reuben Clark Jr., 1933–1961”\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/boyd-jay-petersen\"\u003eBoyd Jay Petersen\u003c\/a\u003e – “The Work of Death: Hugh Nibley as Scholar, Soldier, Peace Activist”\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/loyd-isao-ericson\"\u003eLoyd Ericson\u003c\/a\u003e – “Eugene England’s Theology of Peace”\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/eric-a-eliason\"\u003eEric A. Eliason\u003c\/a\u003e – “An LDS Chaplain’s Perspective on Current Conflicts”\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/gordon-conrad-thomasson\"\u003eGordon Conrad Thomasson\u003c\/a\u003e – “Renounce War and Proclaim Peace”: Personal Reflections on Mormon Attempts at Peacemaking”\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/ron-madson\"\u003eRon Madson\u003c\/a\u003e – “Doctrine and Covenants 98: The “Immutable” Rejected Covenant of Peace”\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/mark-henshaw\"\u003eMark Henshaw\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/valerie-m-hudson\"\u003eValerie M. Hudson\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/eric-jensen\"\u003eEric Jensen\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/kerry-m-kartchner\"\u003eKerry M. Kartchner\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/john-mark-mattox\"\u003eJohn Mark Mattox\u003c\/a\u003e – “War and the Gospel: Perspectives from Latter-day Saint National Security Practitioners”\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/richard-l-bushman\"\u003eRichard L. Bushman\u003c\/a\u003e - Aftermath\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePodcasts:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn interview with Patrick Mason on the \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/mormondiscussion.podbean.com\/2013\/08\/24\/patrick-mason-war-and-peace\/\"\u003eMormon Discussions Podcast\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e290 pages\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58958-099-2\u003cbr\u003ePublished September 2012\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"paperback","offer_id":42262025863339,"sku":"978-1-58958-099-2","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/products\/WarPeace.jpg?v=1379554142"},{"product_id":"mormonism-at-the-crossroads-of-philosophy-and-theology","title":"Mormonism at the Crossroads of Philosophy and Theology: Essays in Honor of David L. Paulsen","description":"\u003cp\u003eedited by \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/jacob-t-baker\"\u003eJacob T. Baker\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“These original and insightful essays chart a new course for Christian intellectual life.” \u003c\/span\u003e— Peter A. Huff, author of Vatican II and The Voice of Vatican II\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“This volume of smart, incisive essays advances the case for taking Mormonism seriously within the philosophy of religion.” \u003c\/span\u003e— Patrick Q. Mason\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“There might be reasons today to give the alternatives to [traditional Christian] beliefs another look. If there are such reasons, then this book . . . is a good place to start.” \u003c\/span\u003e— Stephen Webb\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B008K5AFDY\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;camp=1789\u0026amp;creative=390957\u0026amp;creativeASIN=B008K5AFDY\u0026amp;linkCode=as2\u0026amp;tag=projectmayh0b-20\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/kindle2.png?9112655742455458650\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/mormonism-at-crossroads-philosophy\/id544335079?mt=11\u0026amp;uo=4\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/applebooks_480x480.png?v=1649199519\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=jeNlEAAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/google-play-badge2_a56b9286-69fa-4581-9680-5ea7c47f0c1a_480x480.png?v=1648668766\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAvailable in ebook for \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B008K5AFDY\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;camp=1789\u0026amp;creative=390957\u0026amp;creativeASIN=B008K5AFDY\u0026amp;linkCode=as2\u0026amp;tag=projectmayh0b-20\"\u003eKindle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/w\/mormonism-at-the-crossroads-of-philosophy-and-theology-jacob-t-baker\/1112058985?ean=2940014606011\"\u003eNook\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/mormonism-at-crossroads-philosophy\/id544335079?mt=11\u0026amp;uo=4\"\u003eApple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=jeNlEAAAQBAJ\"\u003eGoogle Play\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.kobo.com\/us\/en\/ebook\/mormonism-at-the-crossroads-of-philosophy-and-theology-essays-in-honor-of-david-l-paulsen\"\u003eKobo\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlso available through \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2thXzl9\"\u003eAmazon\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook Description:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFew scholars have made an impact on contemporary Mormon thought and theology like BYU Professor of Philosophy David L. Paulsen. Recently retired after nearly 40 years of teaching and mentoring, Paulsen has produced an imposing catalog of influential books and articles on Mormon teachings. More significant than his impressive scholarly oeuvre, however, has been his personal influence on generations of students, many of whom he inspired to become teachers and mentors themselves, and contributors to an increasingly interesting and relevant religious conversation. In addition, as one of the first serious LDS interlocutors with Orthodox Christian scholars, Paulsen has established professional and personal relationships with a wide array of non-LDS academics engaged in a serious and respectful dialogue regarding Mormonism and Christianity. \u003cbr\u003e     This volume is a collection of essays representative of Paulsen's wide-ranging professional and personal influence, collected in honor of his many achievements and published on the occasion of his retirement. Each of the authors (a majority of whom are not LDS) has been impacted by Paulsen's scholarship and friendship in important ways, and have authored essays reflective of this dynamic. In addition, the essays are significant contributions to Mormon thought in and of themselves, covering diverse areas of inquiry from Mormon atheology to the possibility of an Evangelical Mormonism; from Liberation Theology to Mormon conceptions of divine embodiment; from Mormon approaches to transcendence to Mormonism's confrontation with evil and suffering, and many more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComprehensive Table of Contents:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIntroduction\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Lamont Paulsen: A Life\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eChildhood\u003cbr\u003eMilitary and Mission\u003cbr\u003eBYU and University of Chicago\u003cbr\u003eMarriage\u003cbr\u003eReturn to School\u003cbr\u003eUniversity of Michigan\u003cbr\u003eReturn to Brigham Young University and Family\u003cbr\u003eSociety of Christian Philosophers\u003cbr\u003eSCP’s Intermountain Region and BYU\u003cbr\u003eRichard L. Evans Chair for Christian Understanding\u003cbr\u003eAcademic\u003cbr\u003eMormon Evangelical Consultation\u003cbr\u003eMormonism in Dialogue\u003cbr\u003eWork with Students\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. Classifying Mormon Theism\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eIntroduction\u003cbr\u003eI. Problems with -theism Terms\u003cbr\u003eII. The Inadequacy of Quantitative Definitions\u003cbr\u003eIII. Mormon Theism\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2. Collision, Division, Conversation: When Mormon Scholars and Christian Theologians Talk\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3. “Faith Seeking Understanding”: Mormon Atheology and the Challenge of Fideism\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eMormon Atheology\u003cbr\u003eThe Challenge of Fideism\u003cbr\u003eReformed Epistemology and Fideism\u003cbr\u003eAnalysis of Reformed Epistemology\u003cbr\u003eImplications for Latter-day Saint Epistemology\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4. Restoration or Rebirth: Mormon and American Options of Authenticity\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eAuthenticity\u003cbr\u003eAmerican Authenticity\u003cbr\u003eRe-birth Spirituality\u003cbr\u003ePsychological Issues\u003cbr\u003eMormon Experience\u003cbr\u003eIndividual Identity and Organization\u003cbr\u003eCorporate Identity and Boundary Marking\u003cbr\u003eAuthenticity via Restoration, Not Rebirth\u003cbr\u003ePatriarchal Blessings and Authenticity\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5. Mormonism, Natural Law, and Constitutional Democracy: Reflections on the Romney Candidacy\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eI. The Kennedy Mistake\u003cbr\u003eII. The Pundit’s Mistake\u003cbr\u003eIII. The Confessional Mistake\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6. The Enigma of Mormonism: Ruminations of an Anglican Friend and Critic\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Book of Mormon: Scripture, Heresy, or Witness of Christ?\u003cbr\u003eThe Holy Trinity: Council of Gods or Shared Life?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e7. Pursuing Truth, Justice, and Dialogue: A Primer on Liberation Theology Toward an Intra-Christian Dialogue\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e8. The Messiah and Prophet Puzzle: Explaining Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e1. Rejecting or Discounting Autobiographical (or Quasi-Autobiographical) Declarations\u003cbr\u003e2. Religious Reformer Explanation\u003cbr\u003e3. Characterization as a Social Activist\u003cbr\u003e4. Anti-Social Violent Reformer Classification\u003cbr\u003e5. Genius Theory\u003cbr\u003e6. Great Teacher or Philosopher Proposal\u003cbr\u003e7. Extraordinary Environmental Sponge Theory\u003cbr\u003e8. Prophetic Deceiver Pigeonhole\u003cbr\u003e9. Multiple Personalities Theory\u003cbr\u003e10. Charismatic Phenomenon Approach\u003cbr\u003e11. Magician Theory\u003cbr\u003e12. Satanic Agent Dismissal\u003cbr\u003e13. Epilepsy Diagnosis\u003cbr\u003e14. Manic Phenomena\u003cbr\u003e15. Childhood Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Theory\u003cbr\u003e16. Heroic Monomyth Configuration\u003cbr\u003e17. Pious Exaggeration Theory\u003cbr\u003eConcluding Observations\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e9. Is Evangelical Mormonism a Viable Concept for the Near Future?\u003cbr\u003eClarifying Contexts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eComparing Latter-day Saints and the National Association of Evangelicals\u003cbr\u003eReflecting on the Results\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e10. Conceptual Metaphor Theory and the Mormon Understanding of God\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eReading the Bible Literally\u003cbr\u003eConceptual Metaphor Theory\u003cbr\u003eThe Traditional Theory of Metaphor versus Conceptual Metaphor Theory\u003cbr\u003eThinking About God in the Bible\u003cbr\u003eConceptual Metaphor Theory and the Mormon Understanding of God\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e11. David Paulsen on Divine Embodiment\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eI\u003cbr\u003eII\u003cbr\u003eIII\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e12. Does Divine Passibility Entail Divine Corporeality?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Passibility of God\u003cbr\u003eDivine Embodiment\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e13. Transascendence: Transcendence in Mormon Thought\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eTwo Traditional Positions on God’s Transcendence\u003cbr\u003eWhat “Transcendence” Does Not Mean\u003cbr\u003eThe Mormon Contrast: The Same Form, the Same Relations, a Becoming God\u003cbr\u003e“Transcendence” in Mormonism\u003cbr\u003eN. L. Nelson on Divine Transcendance\u003cbr\u003eThe Mormon Contrast Again: God Within Being\u003cbr\u003eGod and Others Without Being: Transascendence\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e14. “We Shall Be Like Him”: Explorations into the LDS Doctrine of Deification\u003cbr\u003eWe Become What We Worship\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eScripture, Church Fathers, and Eastern Orthodoxy\u003cbr\u003eC. S. Lewis on Deification\u003cbr\u003eRevealed Anew\u003cbr\u003eReaction and Response\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e15. Kalam Infinity Arguments and the Infinite Past\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e1.0 Introduction\u003cbr\u003e2.0 The Nature of Infinities\u003cbr\u003e3.1 The First Infinity Argument\u003cbr\u003e3.2 The Second Infinity Argument\u003cbr\u003e4.0 A Beginningless Multiverse and Infinity\u003cbr\u003e5.0 Logical Possibility and the Uncreated Universe\u003cbr\u003e6.0 Conclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e16. Lehi’s Opposition Theodicy\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eOpposition\u003cbr\u003eNecessity\u003cbr\u003eLogic of the Opposition Theodicy\u003cbr\u003eRelative and Absolute Oppositions\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e17. All’s Well that Ends Well: Evil, Eschatology, and Love in F.W. J. Schelling and David L. Paulsen\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eSchelling: The Absolute and Finite God\u003cbr\u003eAct One: Joseph Smith, Schelling, and the Positive Fall\u003cbr\u003eAct Two: Freedom and the Inner Necessity\u003cbr\u003eAct Three: Is There a Metaphysical\/Eschatological Guarantee of God’s Victory Over Chaos and a Return to Unity?\u003cbr\u003eConclusion: Tragedy vs. Instrumentalism\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eContributors\u003cbr\u003eSubject Index\u003cbr\u003eScripture Index\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eMormonism at the Crossroads of Philosophy and Theology\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“This richly stimulating volume offers fitting testimony to the respect and affection felt for David Paulsen and his work by a wide range of thinkers both within and without the Mormon tradition. In a very real sense, in fact, since he's the inspiration for it, this collection of essays continues and extends his quiet but deeply important contribution to Mormon thought and to thinking about Mormonism.” — Daniel C Peterson, Professor of Islamic Studies and Arabic at Brigham Young University; President, Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003eThere is no better measure of the growing importance of Mormon thought in contemporary religious debate than this volume\u003c\/span\u003e of essays for David Paulsen. In a large part thanks to him, scholars from all over the map are discussing the questions Mormonism raises about the nature of God and the purpose of life. These essays let us in on a discussion in progress.” — Richard Lyman Bushman, inaugural Howard W. Hunter Chair of Mormon Studies, Claremont Graduate University, author of \u003cem\u003eJoseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“This grand merci to a master teacher-scholar is a fitting tribute to a pioneer in intra-Christian encounter. It’s a daring act of intellectual exploration, too. Fifty years ago, the Second Vatican Council taught us that there can be no genuine Christian theology without an ecumenical change of heart. This book makes it clear that there can be no real ecumenism without the riches of the Mormon mind. Professor Paulsen’s impact on LDS thought is well known. Baker and his collaborators invite us to consider the larger scope of his legacy. \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003eThese original and insightful essays chart a new course for Christian intellectual life\u003c\/span\u003e.” — Peter A. Huff, Besl Family Chair of Ethics, Religion and Society, Xavier University, and author of Vatican II and The Voice of Vatican II\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“In a hundred years when the discipline comes of age, David Paulsen will be gratefully remembered as the first modern Mormon theologian.” — Adam S. Miller, Professor of Philosophy, Collin College, author of \u003cem\u003eRube Goldberg Machines: Essays in Mormon Theology\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Far more than the rightly deserved celebration of one of Mormonism’s premier philosophers, \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003ethis volume of smart, incisive essays advances the case for taking Mormonism seriously\u003c\/span\u003e within the philosophy of religion–an accomplishment that all generations of Mormon thinkers should be proud of.” — Patrick Q. Mason, Howard W. Hunter Chair of Mormon Studies, Claremont Graduate University\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003eThese essays accomplish a rare thing—bringing light rather than heat to an on-going conversation\u003c\/span\u003e. And the array of substantial contributions from outstanding scholars and theologians within and outside Mormonism is itself a fitting tribute to a figure who has been at the forefront of bringing Mormonism into dialogue with larger traditions.” — Terryl L. Givens, author of \u003cem\u003ePeople of Paradox: A History of Mormon Culture\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“The emergence of a vibrant Mormon scholarship is nowhere more in evidence than in the excellent philosophical contributions of David Paulsen. In this important volume, thinkers from several different religious and philosophical traditions engage in creative ways topics that David has written about—a marvelous tribute to a gifted intellectual leader!” — Richard J. Mouw, President, Fuller Theological Seminary, author of \u003cem\u003eTalking with Mormons: An Invitation to Evangelicals\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“A must have for those interested in the Philosophy of Mormonism.” — Kirk Caudle, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.themormonbookreview.com\/2013\/01\/04\/an-interview-with-jacob-baker-mormonism-at-the-crossroads-of-philosophy-and-theology-episode-10\/\"\u003eThe Mormon Book Review\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“There might be reasons today to give the alternatives to [traditional Christian] beliefs another look. If there are such reasons, then this book . . . is a good place to start.” — Stephen Webb, \u003cem\u003eauthor of Jesus Christ, Eternal God\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/byustudies.byu.edu\/showtitle.aspx?title=9185\"\u003eBYU Studies\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Most striking about this collection is that non-Mormon contributors outnumber Mormon contributors–-certainly a first for collections honoring LDS scholars, and a reflection of Paulsen’s ability to attract and engage a variety of interlocutors.” — Blair Hodges, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/bycommonconsent.com\/2013\/05\/21\/review-jacob-t-baker-mormonism-at-the-crossroads-of-philosophy-and-theology\/\"\u003eBy Common Consent\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eContributors:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/jacob-t-baker\"\u003eJacob Baker\u003c\/a\u003e - Introduction; David Lamont Paulson: A Life\u003cbr\u003e1. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/carl-mosser\"\u003eCarl Mosser\u003c\/a\u003e - Classifying Mormon Theism\u003cbr\u003e2. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/donald-w-musser\"\u003eDonald W. Musser\u003c\/a\u003e - Collision, Division, Conversation: When Mormon Scholars and Christian Theologians Talk\u003cbr\u003e3. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/brian-d-birch\"\u003eBrian D. Birch\u003c\/a\u003e - “Faith Seeking Understanding”: Mormon Atheology and the Challenge of Fideism\u003cbr\u003e4. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/douglas-j-davies\"\u003eDouglas Davies\u003c\/a\u003e - Restoration or Rebirth: Mormon and American Options of Authenticity\u003cbr\u003e5. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/francis-j-beckwith\"\u003eFrancis J. Beckwith\u003c\/a\u003e - Mormonism, Natural Law, and Constitutional Democracy: Reflections on the Romney Candidacy\u003cbr\u003e6. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/paul-owen\"\u003ePaul Owen\u003c\/a\u003e - The Enigma of Mormonism: Ruminations of an Anglican Friend and Critic\u003cbr\u003e7. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/joseph-l-price\"\u003eJoseph L. Price\u003c\/a\u003e - Pursuing Truth, Justice, and Dialogue: A Primer on Liberation Theology Toward an Intra-Christian Dialogue\u003cbr\u003e8. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/lyndsey-nay\"\u003eLyndsey Nay\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/john-w-welch\"\u003eJohn Welch\u003c\/a\u003e - he Messiah and Prophet Puzzle: Explaining Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith\u003cbr\u003e9. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/craig-l-blomberg\"\u003eCraig L. Blomberg\u003c\/a\u003e - Is Evangelical Mormonism a Viable Concept for the Near Future?\u003cbr\u003e10. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/john-e-sanders\"\u003eJohn E. Sanders\u003c\/a\u003e - Conceptual Metaphor Theory and the Mormon Understanding of God\u003cbr\u003e11. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/stephen-t-davis\"\u003eStephen T. Davis\u003c\/a\u003e - David Paulsen on Divine Embodiment\u003cbr\u003e12. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/clark-h-pinnock\"\u003eClark H. Pinnock\u003c\/a\u003e - Does Divine Passibility Entail Divine Corporeality?\u003cbr\u003e13. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/james-e-faulconer\"\u003eJames E. Faulconer\u003c\/a\u003e - Transascendence: Transcendence in Mormon Thought\u003cbr\u003e14. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/robert-l-millet\"\u003eRobert L. Millet\u003c\/a\u003e - “We Shall Be Like Him”: Explorations into the LDS Doctrine of Deification\u003cbr\u003e15. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/blake-t-ostler\"\u003eBlake T. Ostler\u003c\/a\u003e - Kalam Infinity Arguments and the Infinite Past\u003cbr\u003e16. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/dennis-potter\"\u003eKelli Potter\u003c\/a\u003e - Lehi’s Opposition Theodicy\u003cbr\u003e17. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/james-m-mclachlan\"\u003eJames McLachlan\u003c\/a\u003e - All’s Well that Ends Well: Evil, Eschatology, and Love in F. W. J. Schelling and David L. Paulsen\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Editor:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/13726826_10209778153073514_1284783666691425685_n_compact.jpg?v=1472764963\" style=\"margin-right: 5px; float: left;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/jacob-t-baker\"\u003eJacob T. Baker\u003c\/a\u003e is a doctoral student in Philosophy of Religion and Theology at Claremont Graduate University. He is a co-founder of the \u003cem\u003eClaremont Journal of Mormon Studies\u003c\/em\u003e, has published articles in \u003cem\u003eDialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eElement: The Journal for the Society of Mormon Philosophy and Theology\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eSunstone\u003c\/em\u003e, and has presented papers at various academic conferences around the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e \u003cb\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e422 pages\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58958-192-0\u003cbr\u003ePublished July 2012\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"paperback","offer_id":44787465191595,"sku":null,"price":31.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/products\/Baker_Mormonism_at_Crossroads_6df4fd04-c4ec-49d2-9104-775d77d7a77c.jpg?v=1472758860"},{"product_id":"this-is-my-doctrine","title":"“This Is My Doctrine”: The Development of Mormon Theology","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/charles-r-harrell\"\u003eCharles R. Harrell\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNOW IN PAPERBACK\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e “More stimulating and more insightful than most other books on Mormon doctrine.... Succeeds in providing a non-apologetic yet sympathetic interpretation of Mormon doctrine, warts and all.” \u003c\/span\u003e— James McLachlan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“I found it fascinating enough to read straight through.”\u003c\/span\u003e — Rational Faiths\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003e“\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003eThis book is the real deal, and it belongs on every LDS bookshelf.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e — Latter-day Detritus.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B005FRGAFM\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;tag=projectmayh0b-20\u0026amp;linkCode=as2\u0026amp;camp=217145\u0026amp;creative=399373\u0026amp;creativeASIN=B005FRGAFM\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/kindle2.png?9112655742455458650\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/this-is-my-doctrine-the-development\/id454777320?mt=11\u0026amp;ign-mpt=uo%3D4\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/ibooks2.png?6312402007540361085\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e  \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=IPtiEAAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003cimg data-mce-fragment=\"1\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/google-play-badge2_a56b9286-69fa-4581-9680-5ea7c47f0c1a_480x480.png?v=1648668766\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAvailable in ebook for \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B005FRGAFM\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;tag=projectmayh0b-20\u0026amp;linkCode=as2\u0026amp;camp=217145\u0026amp;creative=399373\u0026amp;creativeASIN=B005FRGAFM\"\u003eKindle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/search.barnesandnoble.com\/This-Is-My-Doctrine\/Charles-R-Harrell\/e\/2940013180260\"\u003eNook\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.kobo.com\/us\/en\/ebook\/this-is-my-doctrine-the-development-of-mormon-theology\"\u003eKobo\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/this-is-my-doctrine-the-development\/id454777320?mt=11\u0026amp;ign-mpt=uo%3D4\"\u003eApple\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=IPtiEAAAQBAJ\"\u003eGoogle Play\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb style=\"line-height: 1.2;\"\u003eBook Description:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe principal doctrines defining Mormonism today often bear little resemblance to those it started out with in the early 1830s. This book shows that these doctrines did not originate in a vacuum but were rather prompted and informed by the religious culture from which Mormonism arose. Early Mormons, like their early Christian and even earlier Israelite predecessors, brought with them their own varied culturally conditioned theological presuppositions (a process of convergence) and only later acquired a more distinctive theological outlook (a process of differentiation). \u003cbr\u003e     In this first-of-its-kind comprehensive treatment of the development of Mormon theology, Charles Harrell traces the history of Latter-day Saint doctrines from the times of the Old Testament to the present. He describes how Mormonism has carried on the tradition of the biblical authors, early Christians, and later Protestants in reinterpreting scripture to accommodate new theological ideas while attempting to uphold the integrity and authority of the scriptures. In the process, he probes three questions: How did Mormon doctrines develop? What are the scriptural underpinnings of these doctrines? And what do critical scholars make of these same scriptures? In this enlightening study, Harrell systematically peels back the doctrinal accretions of time to provide a fresh new look at Mormon theology. \u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e     “This Is My Doctrine”\u003c\/i\u003e will provide those already versed in Mormonism’s theological tradition with a new and richer perspective of Mormon theology. Those unacquainted with Mormonism will gain an appreciation for how Mormon theology fits into the larger Jewish and Christian theological traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComprehensive Table of Contents:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton class=\"collapsible\" type=\"button\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePreface\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. Theology, a Divine-Human Enterprise\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eTheological Conservatism and Liberalism\u003cbr\u003eThe Myth of Scriptural Inerrancy\u003cbr\u003eThe Myth of Doctrinal Uniformity\u003cbr\u003eThe Myth of Prophetic Infallibility\u003cbr\u003eProof-Texting\u003cbr\u003eMining the Theology of the Scriptures\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2. The Great Apostasy\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eBiblical Prophecies of the Apostasy\u003cbr\u003eProtestant Views\u003cbr\u003eEarly Mormonism\u003cbr\u003eContemporary Mormonism\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3. Joseph Smith and the Restoration\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe First Vision\u003cbr\u003eProphecies Concerning Joseph Smith\u003cbr\u003eDispensation of the Fulness of Times\u003cbr\u003eThe Restoration of All Things\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4. The Restoration of the Priesthood and the Church\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eRestoration of the Priesthood\u003cbr\u003eEstablishment of the Church in the Latter Days\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5. Doctrinal Truths Restored\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon\u003cbr\u003eRestoring Biblical Truths\u003cbr\u003eThe Lost Legacy of Translation\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6. The Godhead and Plurality of Gods\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eNature of the Godhead\u003cbr\u003ePlurality of Gods\u003cbr\u003eOld Testament\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e7. God the Father\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eAn Absolute Versus a Finite God\u003cbr\u003eThe Corporeal Nature of God\u003cbr\u003eHas Any Mortal Seen God?\u003cbr\u003eGod as Elohim\u003cbr\u003eGod as the Father of Our Spirits\u003cbr\u003eThe Adam-God Doctrine\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e8. Jesus Christ\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eJesus Christ\u003cbr\u003eJesus as Messiah\u003cbr\u003eThe Son of God\u003cbr\u003eOnly Begotten Son\u003cbr\u003eVirgin Birth\u003cbr\u003eThe Firstborn\u003cbr\u003eSon of Man\u003cbr\u003eChrist as Jehovah\u003cbr\u003eChrist as the Father\u003cbr\u003eChrist as God of the Old Testament\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e9. The Holy Ghost\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e10. Satan\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e11. The Preexistence\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eNature of the Soul\u003cbr\u003ePreexistence of Souls\u003cbr\u003eForeordination\u003cbr\u003eThe War in Heaven\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e12. The Creation\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Genesis Creation Story\u003cbr\u003eAgent and Method of Creation\u003cbr\u003eMeaning of “Create”\u003cbr\u003eBiological Evolution\u003cbr\u003eLength of a “Day”\u003cbr\u003ePlurality of Inhabited Worlds\u003cbr\u003eThe Spiritual Creation\u003cbr\u003eFirst Flesh\u003cbr\u003eAdam, the Son of God\u003cbr\u003ePurpose of the Creation\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e13. The Fall and Nature of Humanity\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eAdam and Eve’s “Transgression”\u003cbr\u003ePhysical Consequences of the Fall\u003cbr\u003ePhysical Death\u003cbr\u003ePower of Procreation\u003cbr\u003ePhysical Banishment\u003cbr\u003eRemoval of the Earth\u003cbr\u003eSpiritual Consequences of the Fall\u003cbr\u003eSpiritual Death\u003cbr\u003eOriginal Guilt\u003cbr\u003eAge of Accountability\u003cbr\u003eThe Dual Nature of Man\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e14. The Atonement\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Atonement in Historical Perspective\u003cbr\u003eThe Infinite Atonement\u003cbr\u003eRetroactive Redemption\u003cbr\u003eUniversal Effects of the Atonement\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e15. The Gospel Plan\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Everlasting Gospel\u003cbr\u003eThe First Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel\u003cbr\u003eMelchizedek Priesthood Ordination\u003cbr\u003eThe Temple Endowment\u003cbr\u003eEternal Marriage\u003cbr\u003eCalling and Election Made Sure\u003cbr\u003eSecuring Children through the Sealing of Parents\u003cbr\u003ePerfectionism and Rise to Godhood\u003cbr\u003eThe Salvation of Little Children\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e16. Salvation for the Dead\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e17. The Priesthood\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eNature of the Priesthood\u003cbr\u003eBlacks and the Priesthood\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e18. The Gathering of Israel and Establishment of Zion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eBiblical Prophecies of the Gathering\u003cbr\u003eBiblical Prophecies of Latter-day Missionary Work\u003cbr\u003eSpiritual vs. Temporal Gathering\u003cbr\u003eLamanite Role in the Gathering\u003cbr\u003eLatter-day Gathering Places\u003cbr\u003eGathering the Ten Lost Tribes\u003cbr\u003eLatter-day Zion\u003cbr\u003eNew Jerusalem\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e19. The Second Coming and Millennium\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eApocalyptic Literature and Millennial Expectations\u003cbr\u003eImminence of the Lord’s Coming\u003cbr\u003eSpirit Poured Out on All Flesh\u003cbr\u003eMillennialism\u003cbr\u003eThe New Heaven and Earth\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e20. The Resurrection\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eHistory of the Resurrection\u003cbr\u003eOld Testament\u003cbr\u003eResurrection as a Process\u003cbr\u003eResurrection of All Life Forms\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e21. Final Judgment\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eJudgment Day\u003cbr\u003eThe Unpardonable Sin\u003cbr\u003eMurderers\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEpilogue\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eFirm—Yet Flexible—in the Faith\u003cbr\u003eHaving a Scriptural Leg to Stand On\u003cbr\u003eThe Crisis of Doctrinal Exclusivity\u003cbr\u003eThe Future of Mormon Theology\u003cbr\u003eBeyond Theology\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBibliography\u003cbr\u003eScripture Index\u003cbr\u003eIndex\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb style=\"line-height: 1.2;\"\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eThis Is My Doctrine\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e“\u003c\/span\u003eIt has become a commonplace that trying to get a handle on Mormon theology is like trying to nail Jello to a wall. And there is a significant amount of truth to that perception. The problem is that people are expecting there to be a systematic theology, like the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which provides a definitive statement of the official theology of the church. But there is no such thing as a systematic Mormon theology. The only way to approach Mormon theology deeply and with comprehension is to consider it both developmentally and historically. And Charles Harrell’s volume does exactly that. \u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e“This Is My Doctrine”: The Development of Mormon Theology\u003c\/em\u003e is a book I wish I had written, which is, I think, the highest praise one can give to a book\u003c\/span\u003e.”— Kevin Barney, board member of Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought and the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research (FAIR); editor of Footnotes to the New Testament for Latter-day Saints\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“Because he does not attempt to square circles by making Mormon doctrine consistent over time, Harrell’s encyclopedic survey of Mormon doctrine is more stimulating and more insightful than most other books on Mormon doctrine. He takes many of our most beloved and disputed doctrines and shows the different ways they have been understood (sometimes by the same authority) at different moments in time. What is both amazing and refreshing is that \u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003ehe succeeds in providing a non-apologetic yet sympathetic interpretation of Mormon doctrine, warts and all.\u003c\/span\u003e”— James McLachlan, Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Western Carolina University; co-editor of\u003cem\u003e Discourses in Mormon Theology: Philosophical and Theological Possibilities\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“This volume offers a balanced account of current biblical scholarship, outlines the development of Joseph Smith’s thinking, and, most importantly, forces a reconsideration of how revelation might be understood. Highlighting discontinuity, Harrell challenges traditional Mormon dispensationalism—replacing the view of dispensations as restatements of eternal verities, with an account where each dispensation is marked by prophets struggling to define the gospel and reach after truth. In doing so,\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003e Harrell provides fresh evidence that humanity’s understanding of the gospel is always limited and that, thus, we must necessarily live by faith\u003c\/span\u003e.”— Graham St. John Stott, Professor, Arab American University, Jenin\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“Harrell argues for the legitimacy of a dynamic and pragmatic religion that is not held captive by former dogmatic theological assertions. It embodies the principle that living \"prophets\" are more valuable than dead ones when it comes to expressing and understanding our dynamic religious heritage.\"— David Tayman, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/improvementera.com\/2011\/04\/down-the-rabbit-hole-a-review-of-charles-harrells-this-is-my-doctrine-the-development-of-mormon-theology\/\"\u003eImprovement Era\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003eThis book is the real deal, and it belongs on every LDS bookshelf\u003c\/span\u003e.” — \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/latterdaydetritus.blogspot.com\/2011\/10\/this-is-my-doctrine.html\"\u003eLatter-day Detritus\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“‎Harrell’s citations will be useful for other scholars seeking to get a quick sense of the primary sources, and his thumbnail sketches–all the space, likely, which such an expansive effort allowed–raise a number of questions they might pursue.“— Matt Bowman,\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.juvenileinstructor.org\/review-charles-r-harrell-this-is-my-doctrine-the-development-of-mormon-theology-kofford-2011\/\"\u003eThe Juvenile Instructor\u003c\/a\u003e. Also appeared in the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.dialoguejournal.com\/2011\/review-charles-r-harrell-%E2%80%9Cthis-is-my-doctrine%E2%80%9D-the-development-of-mormon-theology-kofford-2011\/\"\u003eWinter 2011 Dialogue\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“To many it may be a good reference book, but \u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003eI found it fascinating enough to read straight through\u003c\/span\u003e.” — Matthew Kern, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/rationalfaiths.com\/this-is-my-doctrine-the-development-of-mormon-theology-by-charles-harrell-book-review\/\"\u003eRational Faiths\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003ePodcast Interviews:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.mormondiscussionpodcast.org\/2014\/07\/charlie-harrell-this-is-my-doctrine\/\"\u003eMormon Discussions\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/charles-r-harrell\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin-right: 5px; float: left;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/Photo_March_2009_compact.jpg?16982530912863990488\" alt=\"\"\u003eCharles R. Harrell\u003c\/a\u003e (Ph.D., manu­facturing engineering, Unive­rsity of Denmark) is an associate professor in Brigham Young University’s School of Technology, where he is the graduate coordinator for the manufacturing systems program. In addition to teaching and advising students, he oversees student projects aimed at improving business operations. He recently led a humanitarian project to build electricity-generating playground equipment in Ghana. He is also founder and director of ProModel Corporation, which is a leading provider of simulation software and has authored several books on the use of simulation to improve business processes. In addition to his professional activities, Charles is an ardent theological hobbyist and has published articles on Mormon theology in \u003ci\u003eBYU Studies, The Encyclopedia of Mormonism\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eStudies in the Scriptures\u003c\/i\u003e. He also taught seminary and institute for many years. Charles and his wife, Yvonne, are the parents of five children and live in Orem, Utah\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e597 pages\u003cbr\u003eISBN: \u003cspan data-sheets-formula=\"='ISBN list'!R[0]C[0]\" data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":10625,\"3\":{\"1\":2,\"2\":\"0\",\"3\":1,\"4\":1},\"10\":2,\"11\":3,\"14\":{\"1\":2,\"2\":0},\"16\":10}' data-sheets-value='{\"1\":3,\"3\":9781589585065}'\u003e978-1-58958-506-5 (Paperback); \u003c\/span\u003e978-1-58958-103-6 (Hardcover - Out of Print)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePublished August 2011\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"paperback","offer_id":42262017999019,"sku":"978-1-58958-506-5","price":32.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"paperback shelf-worn 10% off","offer_id":45344791134379,"sku":"","price":29.65,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/products\/Harrell__ThisIsMyDoctrine.jpg?v=1379554861"},{"product_id":"parallels-and-convergences","title":"Parallels and Convergences: Mormon Thought and Engineering Vision","description":"\u003cp\u003eEdited by \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/a-scott-howe\"\u003eA. Scott Howe\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/richard-l-bushman\"\u003eRichard L. Bushman\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“Marvelous speculations that open up the vision of how beautifully and practically Mormonism can (and probably even should) be wed with our increase in scientific knowledge.” \u003c\/span\u003e— \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/improvementera.com\/2012\/04\/review-parallels-and-convergences-mormon-thought-and-engineering-vision\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eImprovement Era\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“Consistently takes Mormon scripture and doctrine seriously and then makes conjectures as to how to interpret them in a scientific worldview.” \u003c\/span\u003e— \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.millennialstar.org\/a-review-of-parallels-and-convergences-mormon-thought-and-engineering-vision\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eMillennial Star\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2PiJda5\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/kindle2.png?9112655742455458650\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/parallels-and-convergences\/id506107016?mt=11\u0026amp;uo=4\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/applebooks_480x480.png?v=1649199519\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=-xJoEAAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/google-play-badge2_a56b9286-69fa-4581-9680-5ea7c47f0c1a_480x480.png?v=1648668766\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAvailable in ebook for \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2PiJda5\"\u003eKindle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/w\/parallels-and-convergences-a-scott-howe\/1108916753?ean=2940014002134\"\u003eNook\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/parallels-and-convergences\/id506107016?mt=11\u0026amp;uo=4\"\u003eApple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=-xJoEAAAQBAJ\"\u003eGoogle Play\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.kobobooks.com\/ebook\/Parallels-Convergences-Mormon-Thought-Engineering\/book-igiZHhEQHUGRPxBk8HH5TQ\/page1.html?s=QU6ZF0HWi02je_rY4M-AWQ\u0026amp;r=1\"\u003eKobo\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlso available through \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2QVUSPn\"\u003eAmazon\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe earth will eventually be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory. But how will our current world ever become the heaven of our dreams? The Lord is already on it; and, as the essays in this book provocatively propose, He’s following good engineering principles.\u003cbr\u003e     Joseph Fielding Smith said, regarding inventions in these latter days, “The inspiration of the Lord has gone out and takes hold of the minds of men, though they know it not, and they are directed by the Lord. In this manner he brings them into his service.”\u003cbr\u003e     If there is “no such thing as immaterial matter,” and “all spirit is matter,” then what are the implications for such standard theological principles as creation, human progression, free will, transfiguration, resurrection, and immortality? In eleven stimulating essays, Mormon engineers probe gospel possibilities and future vistas dealing with human nature, divine progression, and the earth’s future.\u003cbr\u003e     Richard Bushman poses a vision-expanding proposal: “The end point of engineering knowledge may be divine knowledge. Mormon theology permits us to think of God and humans as collaborators in bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Engineers may be preparing the way for humans to act more like gods in managing the world.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComprehensive Table of Contents:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eForeword - Richard Lyman Bushman\u003cbr\u003eIntroduction - Terryl L. Givens\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSection 1 - Parallels in Mormon Thought: Physics and Engineering\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. Models of Spirit Matter\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eAbstract\u003cbr\u003eIntroduction: What We Know\u003cbr\u003eThe Mirror Model\u003cbr\u003eProblems with the Mirror Model\u003cbr\u003eComputational Model\u003cbr\u003eComputational Model Problems\u003cbr\u003ePhase Model\u003cbr\u003ePhase Model Problems\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2. A Standard Physics Model of Spirit\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eAbstract\u003cbr\u003eIntroduction\u003cbr\u003ePersonal Building Blocks\u003cbr\u003ePhysical Action Preceded by Spiritual Transaction\u003cbr\u003eThe Calculation of Truth\u003cbr\u003eEngineered Agency\u003cbr\u003eSpirit and Physical Bodies\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3. A Technical Interpretation of Mormon Physics and Physiology\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eAbstract\u003cbr\u003eIntroduction\u003cbr\u003eA Technical Interpretation of Mormon Physics\u003cbr\u003eA Technical Interpretation of Mormon Physiology\u003cbr\u003ePractical and Moral Drivers for Technical Interpretations\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4. Materialism, Free Will, and Mormonism\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eAbstract\u003cbr\u003eIntroduction\u003cbr\u003eMaterialism\u003cbr\u003eThe Basic Argument\u003cbr\u003eIntelligent Matter\u003cbr\u003eDeterminism and Randomness\u003cbr\u003eThe Black Box Problem\u003cbr\u003eA Possible Solution and Challenge\u003cbr\u003eAlternatives and Consequences\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSection 2 - Parallels in Mormon Thought: Philosophy and Engineering\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5. God, the Perfect Engineer\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eAbstract\u003cbr\u003eIntroduction\u003cbr\u003eThe Engineering Design Cycle\u003cbr\u003eGod’s Creation of the Universe\u003cbr\u003eGod Follows Eternal Laws\u003cbr\u003eJesus Christ Organized the Earth\u003cbr\u003eGod Followed a Plan\u003cbr\u003eEngineers May Fail in Their Designs\u003cbr\u003eCan God Fail?\u003cbr\u003eWe Need Assurance That God Has Not Failed\u003cbr\u003eGod’s Plan Is a Perfect Plan\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6. Complementary Aspects of Mormonism and Transhumanism\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eAbstract\u003cbr\u003eIntroduction\u003cbr\u003eWhat Is Transhumanism?\u003cbr\u003eA Transhumanist View of the Future\u003cbr\u003eA Mormon View of the Future\u003cbr\u003eTranshumanist Parallels with the Mormon View\u003cbr\u003eTranshumanist Complements to the Mormon View\u003cbr\u003eMormon Complements to the Transhumanist View\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e7. Quantified Morality\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eAbstract\u003cbr\u003eIntroduction\u003cbr\u003eThe Decision Tree\u003cbr\u003ePotentiality Test\u003cbr\u003eFreedom Characterized by Restraint\u003cbr\u003eAn Engineering Perspective on Morality\u003cbr\u003eCause and Effect: Justice Must Be Satisfied\u003cbr\u003eEntropy: A Quantifiable Measure of Order\u003cbr\u003eOrder and Structure Expand Future Potential\u003cbr\u003eMusings on a Mathematical Model for Morality\u003cbr\u003eDiscussion\u003cbr\u003eOther Points of Discussion\u003cbr\u003eConclusions\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e8. Theological Implications of the New God Argument\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eAbstract\u003cbr\u003eIntroduction\u003cbr\u003eThe Faith Position\u003cbr\u003eThe Angel Argument\u003cbr\u003eThe Benevolence Argument\u003cbr\u003eThe Creation Argument\u003cbr\u003eAnalysis\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003cbr\u003eThe New God Argument\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSection 3 - Parallels in Mormon Thought: Practice and Engineering\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e9. Gaia, Mormonism, and Paradisiacal Earth\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eAbstract\u003cbr\u003eIntroduction\u003cbr\u003eEarth Sentience\u003cbr\u003eRiver Basin Sentience\u003cbr\u003eColumbia River Basin\u003cbr\u003eCo-Creators\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e10. Spiritual Underpinnings for a Space Program\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eAbstract\u003cbr\u003eIntroduction\u003cbr\u003ePerspective from Economics\u003cbr\u003ePerspective from Energy, Environment, and Infrastructure\u003cbr\u003ePerspective from Planetary Protection\u003cbr\u003eSpiritual Insights\u003cbr\u003eScriptural Connections\u003cbr\u003eInsights from LDS Church Authorities\u003cbr\u003eDiscussion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e11. Welcome to the Twenty-First Century:The Uncharted Future Ahead\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eAbstract\u003cbr\u003eIntroduction\u003cbr\u003eA Brief History of the Past Fifty Years\u003cbr\u003eOverview of Recent and Future Developments\u003cbr\u003eEthical, Moral, and Social Issues\u003cbr\u003eThe Idea of Progress in LDS Thought\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eContributors\u003cbr\u003eScripture index\u003cbr\u003eIndex\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eFrom the foreword by Richard L. Bushman\u003c\/b\u003e:\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003eMormon theology leads us to see eternal implications in engineering. Engineers enable us to make the world more comfortable and to perform incredible feats of movement and communication. But their work may go beyond the amelioration of the human condition. The end point of engineering knowledge may be divine knowledge. Mormon theology permits us to think of God and humans as collaborators in bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Engineers may be preparing the way for humans to act more like gods in managing the world.\u003cbr\u003e     Kindliness, wise parenting, righteousness, and service are probably more fundamental in leading humans toward eternal life. But improving our physical world fits serves divine purposes, too. In constructing better worlds, engineers may be learning godly skills. From a Latter-day Saint perspective, they may be incipient creators.\u003cbr\u003e     The papers in this volume capture the thought of a group of LDS engineers exploring the interactions of their work and their belief at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Ideally these essays will launch a discussion that will continue for many years to come.\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eParallels and Convergences\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“It's a book of marvelous speculations that open up the vision of how beautifully and practically Mormonism can (and probably even should) be wed with our increase in scientific knowledge.” — David Tayman, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/improvementera.com\/2012\/04\/review-parallels-and-convergences-mormon-thought-and-engineering-vision\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eImprovement Era\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“[Parallels and Convergences] was much of what I was hoping for…It consistently takes Mormon scripture and doctrine seriously and then makes conjectures as to how to interpret them in a scientific worldview. It then points out its own failures and looks towards a future improved conjecture.” — Bruce Nielson, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.millennialstar.org\/a-review-of-parallels-and-convergences-mormon-thought-and-engineering-vision\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eMillennial Star\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“This book is recommended for those who want to delve in to the congruence found between Mormonism and transhumanism. The essays are often not definitive, but speculative, in describing new ways of thinking about both Mormonism and transhumanism. The book is especially useful for readers who already subscribe to the tenets of a religion founded in 1830 in upstate New York or a philosophy that expects computers and other technologies to soon completely change what it means to be human.” — Eric Swedin, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.novareligio.org\/\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eNovo Religio: The Journal of Alternate and Emerging Religions \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Editors:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/a-scott-howe\"\u003eA. Scott Howe\u003c\/a\u003e is a Senior Systems Engineer for NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, specializing in robotic construction for space environments. In addition to numerous peer-reviewed journal and technical papers on robotics, he is the editor, with Brent Sherwood, of \u003cem\u003eOut of This World: The New Field of Space Architecture\u003c\/em\u003e, in the AIAA History of Spaceflight series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/richard-l-bushman\"\u003eRichard L. Bushman\u003c\/a\u003e is Gouverneur Morris Professor of History Emeritus at Columbia University and former Howard W. Hunter Chair of Mormon Studies at Claremont Graduate University. His books include \u003cem\u003eJoseph Smith and the Beginnings of Mormonism\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eJoseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e210 pages\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 9781589581876 (Paperback)\u003cbr\u003ePublished February 2012\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"paperback","offer_id":42261997551787,"sku":"978-1-58958-187-6","price":24.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/products\/Howe_Bushman__Parallels.jpg?v=1379556021"},{"product_id":"exploring-mormon-thought-3","title":"Exploring Mormon Thought: Volume 3, Of God and Gods","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/blake-t-ostler\"\u003eBlake T. Ostler\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“These books are the most important works on Mormon theology ever written.” \u003c\/span\u003e—\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/maxwellinstitute.byu.edu\/publications\/review\/?vol=18\u0026amp;num=1\u0026amp;id=608\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eFARMS Review\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e, Neal A. Maxwell Institute, Brigham Young University\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“This may be the most exciting volume to come out on Mormon theology ever.”\u003c\/span\u003e — \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.aml-online.org\/Reviews\/Review.aspx?id=3717\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“Anyone who thinks seriously about the meaning of LDS doctrine should read it. It is a book that will take some time to unpack and some time for its influence to be felt.”\u003c\/span\u003e — \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/byustudies.byu.edu\/showTitle.aspx?title=7994\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBYU Studies\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2MQdCL5\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/kindle2.png?9112655742455458650\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/exploring-mormon-thought-volume\/id505187315?mt=11\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/applebooks_480x480.png?v=1649199519\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=ulxlEAAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/google-play-badge2_a56b9286-69fa-4581-9680-5ea7c47f0c1a_480x480.png?v=1648668766\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAvailable in ebook \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2MQdCL5\"\u003eKindle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/w\/exploring-mormon-thought-blake-t-ostler\/1009282192?ean=2940013983021\"\u003eNook\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/exploring-mormon-thought-volume\/id505187315?mt=11\"\u003eApple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=ulxlEAAAQBAJ\"\u003eGoogle Play\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.kobo.com\/us\/en\/ebook\/exploring-mormon-thought-volume-3-of-god-and-gods\"\u003eKobo\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook Description:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn his long-anticipated third volume, Of God and Gods, Blake Ostler steps through the common complaint that Mormons aren’t Christians because they believe in three separate individuals in the Godhead as well as the deification of human beings. He demonstrates the clear biblical understanding, both in the precursors of the Old Testament and the New, that Jesus and God the Father were not one in some incomprehensible “substance” while separate in person, but were actually distinct individuals. What made them one was their indwelling love. It is that loving unity into which they invite human beings.\u003cbr\u003e     In language and thought accessible to the lay reader but simultaneously rigorous and scholarly, Ostler analyzes and responds to the arguments of contemporary international theologians, reconstructs and interprets Joseph Smith’s important King Follett Discourse and Sermon in the Grove just before the Mormon prophet’s death, and argues persuasively for the Mormon doctrine of “robust deification.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComprehensive Table of Contents:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePREFACE\u003cbr\u003ePUBLISHER'S NOTE\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. DISTINCTIVE FACETS OF THE MORMON CONCEPTS OF GOD AND THE GODS\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCreation by Organization of Matter\u003cbr\u003eThe Council of Gods\u003cbr\u003eThe Supreme or Head God\u003cbr\u003eOne God Among the Gods Appointed as Ours\u003cbr\u003ePremortal Humans in the Council of the Gods\u003cbr\u003eElohim and Jehovah in Mormon Thought\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2. MONOTHEISM AND THE COUNCIL OF GOD(S)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOf God(s) in Israel\u003cbr\u003eElyon and Yahweh in Deuteronomy\u003cbr\u003eGod(s) Prior to the Creation of the Heavens and Earth\u003cbr\u003ePsalm 82 and the Council of God(s)\u003cbr\u003eThe Denial of Comparability to Other Gods\u003cbr\u003eCreational Monotheism and God(s)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3. MONOTHEISM AND THE HIERARCHY OF DIVINE BEINGS IN SECOND TEMPLE JUDAISM\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJewish Views of the Hierarchy of Divine Beings\u003cbr\u003eThe Council of Gods in the Dead Sea Scrolls\u003cbr\u003eDivine Beings in Second Temple Judaism\u003cbr\u003eThe Hierarchy of Holiness in the Heavenly Temple\u003cbr\u003eStrict Monotheism in Second Temple Judaism: An Assessment of the Argument\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4. THE RELATION OF THE FATHER AND THE SON: KINGSHIP MONOTHEISM AND CHRISTOLOGY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eActs 2:30–36: Christ as Lord at God’s Right Hand\u003cbr\u003eActs 7:51–60: Christ as Lord and Son of Man\u003cbr\u003ePhilippians 2:1–15: Christ Exalted as Lord by God\u003cbr\u003e1 Corinthians 15:24–28: Christ as God’s Vizier and General\u003cbr\u003e1 Corinthians 8:4–6: One God and One Lord\u003cbr\u003eChrist as God’s Agent in Creation\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5. MONOTHEISM AND DIVINE AGENCY IN JOHN: A CHRISTOLOGY OF INDWELLING UNITY\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Logos in Philo and the Gospel of John\u003cbr\u003eThe Logos Made Flesh and the Manifestation of God’s Glory\u003cbr\u003eJesus as God’s Agent in the Writings of John\u003cbr\u003eDivine Agency and Angelic Mediation in the Book of Revelation\u003cbr\u003eJesus’s Relation to the Father\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6. THE LATIN TRINITY, LOGIC, AND SCRIPTURE\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Creedal Formulation and Its Problems\u003cbr\u003eLatin Trinitarianism\u003cbr\u003eDistinct Persons in the “Unique Identity” of God?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e7. SOCIAL TRINITARIANISM\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRichard Swinburne’s Theory of Social Trinitarianism\u003cbr\u003eTrinity Monotheism\u003cbr\u003ePerichoretic Monotheism\u003cbr\u003eReveling in Mystery\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e8. THE GODHEAD IN MORMON THOUGHT\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMormon Social Trinitarianism\u003cbr\u003eThe Logical Problem of the Trinity and Mormon Thought\u003cbr\u003eThe Divine Kind\u003cbr\u003eIndwelling Love\u003cbr\u003eThe Ontological Nature of Personal Existence\u003cbr\u003eThe Scriptural Argument for Yahweh’s Kind Uniqueness\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e9. CHALLENGES TO MORMON SOCIAL TRINITARIANISM\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Problem of the Godhead and Monotheism\u003cbr\u003eDivine Embodiment and Monotheism\u003cbr\u003eThe Problem of Diminished Divinity\u003cbr\u003eThe Competing Omnipotents Problem\u003cbr\u003eThe Problem of Divine Deception\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e10. LOGICAL PROBLEMS OF DEIFICATION\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat Is the Divine Nature in Which We Share?\u003cbr\u003eThe Logic of Deification: The Exchange Formula\u003cbr\u003eDeification and Justification by Faith Alone\u003cbr\u003eFailure of the Distinction between Communicable and Incommunicable Properties\u003cbr\u003eMonotheism, Simplicity, and Deification\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e11. WE SHALL BE AS HE IS: THE MORMON DOCTRINE OF DEIFICATION\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDeification in the Mormon Tradition\u003cbr\u003eThe Son of God\u003cbr\u003eThe Sons of God\u003cbr\u003eArguments That Essential Divine Properties Cannot Be Shared with Humans\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e12. THE SCRIPTURAL BASIS FOR THE DOCTRINE OF DEIFICATION\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePartaking of the Divine Nature: 2 Peter 1:4\u003cbr\u003eYe Are Gods: Psalm 82\/John 10:34–36\u003cbr\u003eDivine Sons Who Are like Christ: 1 John 3:1–3\u003cbr\u003eOne Just as Father and Son Are One: John 17\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBIBLIOGRAPHY\u003cbr\u003eSCRIPTURE INDEX\u003cbr\u003eSUBJECT INDEX\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for the \u003ci\u003eExploring Mormon Thought\u003c\/i\u003e series:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“These books are\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003e the most important works on Mormon theology ever written\u003c\/span\u003e. There is nothing currently available that is even close to the rigor and sophistication of these volumes. B. H. Roberts and John A. Widtsoe may have had interesting insights in the early part of the twentieth century, but they had neither the temperament nor the training to give a rigorous defense of their views in dialogue with a wider stream of Christian theology. Sterling McMurrin and Truman Madsen had the capacity to engage Mormon theology at this level, but neither one did.” — \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/maxwellinstitute.byu.edu\/publications\/review\/?vol=18\u0026amp;num=1\u0026amp;id=608\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eFARMS Review\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e, Neal A. Maxwell Institute, Brigham Young University\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“This may be\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003e the most exciting volume to come out on Mormon theology ever\u003c\/span\u003e. I eagerly await it as I think it will demonstrate a maturity of Mormon theology in that it will take ‘as given’ a presentation of the basics of Mormon thought. One hopes that other authors will present engagements with other major thinkers such as Heidegger, Gadamer, Derrida, or others. However clearly before one can move on to this more ‘mature’ level of discourse, the beginnings have to be established. While I'm sure other writers may take exception to some of Blake's positions in this first volume, he clearly is blazing the trail in an exciting way. Further it opens up to non-Mormons a clear and lucid presentation of Mormon theology that one can't get from most other writings.” — Clark Goble, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.aml-online.org\/Reviews\/Review.aspx?id=3717\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Blake T. Ostler's monumental systematic work, \u003cem\u003eExploring Mormon Thought\u003c\/em\u003e, continues to be \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003ea major event in the development of Mormon philosophical theology\u003c\/span\u003e.... this book says a lot that is important and will be a welcome challenge to any interested in Mormon theology.” — James McLachlan, \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/byustudies.byu.edu\/showTitle.aspx?title=9364\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBYU Studies Quarterly\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Other Volumes in this Series:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/exploring-mormon-thought-volume-1-the-attributes-of-god\"\u003eVolume 1, The Attributes of God\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/exploring-mormon-thought-volume-2\"\u003eVolume 2, The Problems of Theism and the Love of God\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/blake-t-ostler\"\u003eBlake T. Ostler\u003c\/a\u003e is a practicing attorney specializing in educational law, employment law and intellectual property. \u003cspan\u003eHis books include the EXPLORING MORMON THOUGHT series and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/fire-on-the-horizon\"\u003eFire on the Horizon: Meditations on the Endowment and Love of Atonement\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003c\/em\u003eHe has published widely on Mormon philosophy in journals such as \u003ci\u003eReligious Studies, International Journal for the Philosophy of Religion, Dialogue: Journal of Mormon Thought, BYU Studies, Element,\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eFARMS Review of Books\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePages: 483\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58958-107-4 (Hardcover)\u003cbr\u003ePublished April 2008\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"hardcover","offer_id":42261925429419,"sku":"978-1-58958-107-4","price":34.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/products\/Ostler__Exploring3.jpg?v=1438726874"},{"product_id":"modern-mormonism","title":"Modern Mormonism: Myths and Realities","description":"\u003cp\u003eBy Robert L. Millet\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e “This book will give insight to both a general Christian audience and to Latter-day Saints in how to engage in friendly conversation with each other.” \u003c\/span\u003e— \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/byustudies.byu.edu\/showTitle.aspx?title=8975\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBYU Studies\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B005CK48N8\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;tag=projectmayh0b-20\u0026amp;linkCode=as2\u0026amp;camp=217145\u0026amp;creative=399373\u0026amp;creativeASIN=B005CK48N8\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/kindle2.png?9112655742455458650\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/modern-mormonism\/id453521324?mt=11\u0026amp;uo=4\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/applebooks_480x480.png?v=1649199519\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=2xJoEAAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/google-play-badge2_a56b9286-69fa-4581-9680-5ea7c47f0c1a_480x480.png?v=1648668766\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAvailable in ebook for \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B005CK48N8\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;tag=projectmayh0b-20\u0026amp;linkCode=as2\u0026amp;camp=217145\u0026amp;creative=399373\u0026amp;creativeASIN=B005CK48N8\"\u003eKindle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/search.barnesandnoble.com\/Modern-Mormonism\/Robert-L-Millet\/e\/2940012784179\"\u003eNook\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/modern-mormonism\/id453521324?mt=11\u0026amp;uo=4\"\u003eApple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=2xJoEAAAQBAJ\"\u003eGoogle Play\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.kobobooks.com\/ebook\/Modern-Mormonism-Myths-Realities\/book-Zj-Bnm0emUypadMtDD_XJA\/page1.html?s=lZvptDQ6B0OMQiL7TQWjxA\u0026amp;r=1\"\u003eKobo\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook Description:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat answer may a Latter-day Saint make to accusations from those of other faiths that “Mormons aren’t Christians,” or “You think God is a man,” and “You worship a different Jesus”? Not only are these charges disconcerting, but the hostility with which they are frequently hurled is equally likely to catch Latter-day Saints off guard. \u003cbr\u003e     Now Robert L. Millet, veteran of hundreds of such verbal battles, cogently, helpfully, and scripturally provides important clarifications for Latter-day Saints about eleven of the most frequent myths used to discredit the Church. Along the way, he models how to conduct such a Bible based discussion respectfully, weaving in enlightenment from LDS scriptures and quotations from religious figures in other faiths, ranging from the early church fathers to the archbishop of Canterbury. \u003cbr\u003e     Millet enlivens this book with personal experiences as a boy growing up in an area where Mormons were a minuscule and not particularly welcome minority, in one-on-one conversations with men of faith who believed differently, and with his own BYU students who also had lessons to learn about interfaith dialogue. He pleads for greater cooperation in dealing with the genuine moral and social evils afflicting the world, and concludes with his own ardent and reverent testimony of the Savior.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComprehensive Table of Contents:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIntroduction\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. A Finite God\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eDistinctive LDS Views\u003cbr\u003eAbsolute Truth\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2. Not Christian\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eEverlastingly the Same\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3. Contradicting the Bible\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Sufficiency of the Bible\u003cbr\u003eThe Spirit Underlying Scripture\u003cbr\u003eSupplementation, Not Contradiction\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4. Feelings, Not Facts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eA Different Kind of Evidence\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5. Disdain for Other Churches\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eBuilding Bridges\u003cbr\u003eA Larger Umbrella\u003cbr\u003e“Convicted Civility”\u003cbr\u003eA Sense of Responsibility\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6. Denying the Fall\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eFallen Humanity\u003cbr\u003eGood or Evil?\u003cbr\u003ePrevenient Grace\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e7. Ignoring the Cross\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eFree Salvation\u003cbr\u003eGethsemane\u003cbr\u003eGolgotha\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e8. Works Righteousness\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThrough His Merits\u003cbr\u003eFaith in Christ\u003cbr\u003eGrace and Works\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e9. Universal Salvation\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eUnderstanding Death\u003cbr\u003eThe Postmortal Spirit World\u003cbr\u003eResurrection and Judgment\u003cbr\u003eDegrees of Glory\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e10. Usurping the Divine Throne\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eBecoming like God\u003cbr\u003eDeification\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e11. No Eternal Security\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eShips Passing\u003cbr\u003eThe “Earnest” of the Spirit\u003cbr\u003eSaved Today\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e12. Retrospect and Prospect\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAppendix: The Testimony of Latter-day Saint Leaders on Jesus Christ\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eJoseph Smith (1805–44)\u003cbr\u003eBrigham Young (1801–77)\u003cbr\u003eJohn Taylor (1808–87)\u003cbr\u003eWilford Woodruff (1807–98)\u003cbr\u003eLorenzo Snow (1814–1901)\u003cbr\u003eJoseph F. Smith (1838–1918)\u003cbr\u003eHeber J. Grant (1856–1945)\u003cbr\u003eGeorge Albert Smith (1870–1951)\u003cbr\u003eDavid O. McKay (1873–1970)\u003cbr\u003eJoseph Fielding Smith (1876–1972)\u003cbr\u003eHarold B. Lee (1899–1973)\u003cbr\u003eSpencer W. Kimball (1895–1985)\u003cbr\u003eEzra Taft Benson (1899–1994)\u003cbr\u003eHoward W. Hunter (1907–95)\u003cbr\u003eGordon B. Hinckley (1910–2007)\u003cbr\u003eThomas S. Monson (1927– )\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBibliography\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrequently Cited LDS Sources\u003cbr\u003eSources\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSubject Index\u003cbr\u003eScripture Index\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eModern Mormonism\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“Perhaps above all, Millet hopes to encourage believers to dialog with charity and respect. He cites the biblical injunction that believers should \"be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have,\" but he adds the less-cited remainder of that injunction: \"But do this with gentleness and respect\" (1 Peter 3:15, NIV, emphasis Millet's, p. 99). Millet believes personal relationships built on more than questioning will infuse conversations with more love and concern...He seeks participatory, constructive dialog more than reactive or aggressive response. Whether one agrees with his theology or interpretations, one can still appreciate his cultivation of atmosphere.” — Blair Hodges, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.aml-online.org\/Reviews\/Review.aspx?id=4945\"\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“This book will give insight to both a general Christian audience and to Latter-day Saints in how to engage in friendly conversation with each other. Millet's book is an example of how to give others the maximum benefit of the doubt while at the same time sticking to our doctrinal guns, so to speak.” — James T. Summerhayes, \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/byustudies.byu.edu\/showTitle.aspx?title=8975\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBYU Studies\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRobert L. Millet is Abraham O. Smoot University Professor and Professor of Ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University. Before joining the BYU religious education faculty in 1983, he worked with LDS Social Services as a marriage and family counselor and later with LDS Seminaries and Institutes of Religion as a religious instructor. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from BYU and his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Florida State University. \u003cbr\u003e     At BYU, Professor Millet has served as chair of the Department of Ancient Scripture, dean of Religious Education, Richard L. Evans Professor of Religious Understanding, and Director of Publications for the BYU Religious Studies Center. He is the author of more than sixty books and 150 articles, book chapters, and reviews dealing mostly with the doctrine and history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its relationship to other religious traditions. \u003cbr\u003e     Robert and Shauna Millet have six children and ten grandchildren and reside in Orem, Utah.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePages: 142\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58958-127-2 (Paperback)\u003cbr\u003ePublished October 2011\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"paperback","offer_id":42261981561003,"sku":"978-1-58958-127-2","price":14.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/products\/Millet__ModernMormonism.jpg?v=1379611705"},{"product_id":"exploring-mormon-thought-2","title":"Exploring Mormon Thought: Volume 2, The Problems of Theism and the Love of God","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/blake-t-ostler\"\u003eBlake T. Ostler\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“These books are the most important works on Mormon theology ever written.” \u003c\/span\u003e—\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/maxwellinstitute.byu.edu\/publications\/review\/?vol=18\u0026amp;num=1\u0026amp;id=608\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eFARMS Review\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e, Neal A. Maxwell Institute, Brigham Young University\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“This may be the most exciting volume to come out on Mormon theology ever.”\u003c\/span\u003e — \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.aml-online.org\/Reviews\/Review.aspx?id=3717\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“Anyone who thinks seriously about the meaning of LDS doctrine should read it. It is a book that will take some time to unpack and some time for its influence to be felt.” \u003c\/span\u003e— \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/byustudies.byu.edu\/showTitle.aspx?title=7994\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBYU Studies\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2Nyc7SL\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/kindle2.png?9112655742455458650\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/exploring-mormon-thought-volume\/id503970987?mt=11\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/applebooks_480x480.png?v=1649199519\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=vFxlEAAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/google-play-badge2_a56b9286-69fa-4581-9680-5ea7c47f0c1a_480x480.png?v=1648668766\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAvailable in ebook for the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2Nyc7SL\"\u003eKindle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/w\/exploring-mormon-thought-blake-t-ostler\/1009282192?ean=2940013953475\"\u003eNook\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/exploring-mormon-thought-volume\/id503970987?mt=11\"\u003eApple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=vFxlEAAAQBAJ\"\u003eGoogle Play\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.kobo.com\/us\/en\/ebook\/exploring-mormon-thought-volume-2-the-problems-of-theism-and-the-love-of-god\"\u003eKobo\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook Description:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn volume 2 of the series, \u003ci\u003eExploring Mormon Thought: The Problems of Theism and the Love of God\u003c\/i\u003e, Blake Ostler explores issues related to soteriology, or the theory of salvation. He argues that the commitment that God loves us and respects our dignity as persons entails that God must leave us free to choose whether to have a saving relationship with him. He explores the “logic of love” and argues that the LDS doctrine of a \"war in heaven\" embodies the commitment that God leaves us free to choose whether to enter into relationship with God. He explores the nature of inter-personal prayer and the contributions of LDS beliefs to a robust prayer dialogue. He offers a view consistent with LDS commitments that makes sense out of asking God to assist others, to alter the natural environment and to grow in relationship with God. \u003cbr\u003e     He then turns to the concept of grace and argues that the traditional views lead to insurmountable problems. He argues that though God does not owe any obligation to us to give us grace, God does so out of love. However, because divinity arises from loving relationships, he argues that God could not fail to give sufficient grace to all persons and remain a loving God.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComprehensive Table of Contents:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePublisher’s Note\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePREFACE\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. MORMONISM AND THE NATURE OF DIVINE LOVE\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eMormonism and God’s Love\u003cbr\u003eThe Logic of Love\u003cbr\u003eThe I-Thou Relation\u003cbr\u003eUnconditional Love and Fellowship\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2. PROVIDENCE AND PRAYER\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Problem of Prayer\u003cbr\u003eA Relational Solution\u003cbr\u003ePrayer to an All-Controlling God\u003cbr\u003eManipulative Love?\u003cbr\u003eDivine Openness and Petitionary Prayer\u003cbr\u003eMormonism and the Problem of Prayer\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3. THE RELATION OF MORAL OBLIGATION AND GOD IN LDS THOUGHT\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eBeckwith’s Argument\u003cbr\u003eWhy Beckwith’s Argument Necessarily Unsound\u003cbr\u003eAre Moral Laws Logically Dependent On God’s Nature?\u003cbr\u003eIs God a Morally Perfect Being?\u003cbr\u003eBeckwith’s Equivocation in His Use of “God”\u003cbr\u003eThe Possibilities of Ethics in LDS Thought\u003cbr\u003eAn LDS Teleological Ethic?\u003cbr\u003eThe Human Rights Objection\u003cbr\u003eThe Distributive-Justice Objection\u003cbr\u003eThe Genuine Friendship Objection\u003cbr\u003eA Duty-Based LDS Ethic?\u003cbr\u003eThe Overbroad Rule Argument\u003cbr\u003eThe Underinclusive Value Argument\u003cbr\u003eEgoistic Theories\u003cbr\u003eAn LDS Agape Theory of Ethics in Alignment with the Gospel of Christ\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4. THE IMPLAUSIBILITY OF ORIGINAL SIN\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Traditional Paradigms of Original Sin\u003cbr\u003eCan We Be Guilty For the Acts of Another?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5. SIN AND THE UNCIRCUMSISED HEART\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eLDS Light on Original Sin\u003cbr\u003eEpistemological Assumptions of Moral Obligation\u003cbr\u003eEgo Maintenance, Self-Deception, and Authenticity\u003cbr\u003eThe Bondage of Sin and Agency\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6. SOTERIOLOGY IN LDS THOUGHT\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eLDS Soteriological Terminology\u003cbr\u003eThe Vision\u003cbr\u003eFaith unto Repentance\u003cbr\u003eAtonement\u003cbr\u003eAtonement, Justice, and Mercy\u003cbr\u003eInfinite Atonement\u003cbr\u003ePrevenient Grace in LDS Scripture\u003cbr\u003eThe Grace of Life and Light\u003cbr\u003eRitual Expression of Atonement\u003cbr\u003eTransferring the Pain of our Sins to Christ\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e7. THE COMPASSION THEORY OF ATONEMENT\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eGod’s Compassion in Atonement\u003cbr\u003eDistinctive Claims of the Compassion Theory of Atonement\u003cbr\u003eReconciling Humans to God\u003cbr\u003eReconciling God to Humans\u003cbr\u003eChrist’s Suffering as a Result of Our Sins\u003cbr\u003eTheories of Atonement\u003cbr\u003eThe Ransom Theory\u003cbr\u003eThe Satisfaction Theory\u003cbr\u003eThe Moral Influence Theory\u003cbr\u003eThe Moral Example Theory\u003cbr\u003eThe Governmental Theory\u003cbr\u003eThe Penal Substitution Theory\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e8. HONOR, SHAME, AND THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eMoral Obligation and Honor and Shame\u003cbr\u003ePaul’s Doctrine of Justification as God’s Honoring Covenant\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e9. SELF-DECEPTION AND JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe New Perspective on Paul\u003cbr\u003eJames as a Critique of Self-Deceived Paulinism\u003cbr\u003eMormonism and the New Perspective on Paul\u003cbr\u003eAppendix A\u003cbr\u003eAppendix B\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e10. THE PROBLEM OF GRACE\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Problem of Imputed Righteousness\u003cbr\u003eThe Problem of Infused Righteousness\u003cbr\u003eThe Problem of Predestination\u003cbr\u003eDoes God Owe Obligations?\u003cbr\u003eUniversal Love and Obligations\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e11. THE OPERATIONS OF GRACE AND FREE WILL\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eGrace and Free Will in Interpersonal Relations\u003cbr\u003eFree Will and Irresistible Grace\u003cbr\u003eConcurring Grace\u003cbr\u003eThe Incompatibility of Free Will and Creatio Ex Nihilo\u003cbr\u003eThe First Argument: The Incompatibility of Divine Sustenance and Free Will\u003cbr\u003eThe Second Argument: The Impossibility of God’s Actualizing Agents with Free Will\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e12. GOD THE ETERNAL FATHER\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Scriptural Argument\u003cbr\u003eThe King Follett Discourse\u003cbr\u003eThe Sermon in the Grove\u003cbr\u003eWhy Would a Divine Person Become Mortal?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBIBLIOGRAPHY\u003cbr\u003eSUBJECT INDEX\u003cbr\u003eSCRIPTURE INDEX\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eOld Testament\u003cbr\u003eNew Testament\u003cbr\u003eBook of Mormon\u003cbr\u003eDoctrine and Covenants\u003cbr\u003ePearl of Great Price\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for the \u003ci\u003eExploring Mormon Thought\u003c\/i\u003e series:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“These books are\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003e the most important works on Mormon theology ever written\u003c\/span\u003e. There is nothing currently available that is even close to the rigor and sophistication of these volumes. B. H. Roberts and John A. Widtsoe may have had interesting insights in the early part of the twentieth century, but they had neither the temperament nor the training to give a rigorous defense of their views in dialogue with a wider stream of Christian theology. Sterling McMurrin and Truman Madsen had the capacity to engage Mormon theology at this level, but neither one did.” — \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/maxwellinstitute.byu.edu\/publications\/review\/?vol=18\u0026amp;num=1\u0026amp;id=608\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eFARMS Review\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e, Neal A. Maxwell Institute, Brigham Young University\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“This may be the most exciting volume to come out on Mormon theology ever. I eagerly await it as I think it will demonstrate a maturity of Mormon theology in that it will take ‘as given’ a presentation of the basics of Mormon thought. One hopes that other authors will present engagements with other major thinkers such as Heidegger, Gadamer, Derrida, or others. However clearly before one can move on to this more ‘mature’ level of discourse, the beginnings have to be established. While I'm sure other writers may take exception to some of Blake's positions in this first volume, he clearly is blazing the trail in an exciting way. Further it opens up to non-Mormons a clear and lucid presentation of Mormon theology that one can't get from most other writings.” — Clark Goble, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.aml-online.org\/Reviews\/Review.aspx?id=3717\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n“I hope that Ostler’s work finds a wide audience within the Church. \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003eAnyone who thinks seriously about the meaning of LDS doctrine should read it\u003c\/span\u003e. It is a book that will take some time to unpack and some time for its influence to be felt.” — James McLachlan, \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/byustudies.byu.edu\/showTitle.aspx?title=7994\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBYU Studies\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOther Volumes in the Exploring Mormon Thought Series:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/exploring-mormon-thought-volume-1-the-attributes-of-god\"\u003eVolume 1, The Attributes of God\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/exploring-mormon-thought-volume-3-of-god-and-gods\"\u003eVolume 3, Of God and Gods\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/blake-t-ostler\"\u003eBlake T. Ostler\u003c\/a\u003e is a practicing attorney specializing in educational law, employment law and intellectual property. He holds a J.D. from the University of Utah. His books include the EXPLORING MORMON THOUGHT series and \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/fire-on-the-horizon\"\u003eFire on the Horizon: Meditations on the Endowment and Love of Atonement\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e. He has published widely on Mormon philosophy in journals such as \u003ci\u003eReligious Studies, International Journal for the Philosophy of Religion, Dialogue: Journal of Mormon Thought, BYU Studies\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eFARMS Review of Books\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePages: 503\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58958-095-4 (Hardcover)\u003cbr\u003ePublished March 2006\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"hardcover","offer_id":42261924774059,"sku":"978-1-58958-095-4","price":34.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/products\/Ostler__Exploring2.jpg?v=1438726872"},{"product_id":"discourses-in-mormon-theology","title":"Discourses in Mormon Theology: Philosophical and Theological Possibilities","description":"\u003cp\u003eEdited by \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/james-m-mclachlan\"\u003eJames M. McLachlan\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/loyd-isao-ericson\"\u003eLoyd Isao Ericson\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“An excellent compilation of essays that are sure to feed both the mind and soul\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e.”\u003c\/span\u003e — \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.aml-online.org\/Reviews\/Review.aspx?id=4361\"\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B005I65FLK\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;tag=projectmayh0b-20\u0026amp;linkCode=as2\u0026amp;camp=217145\u0026amp;creative=399373\u0026amp;creativeASIN=B005I65FLK\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/kindle2.png?9112655742455458650\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/discourses-in-mormon-theology\/id458680622?mt=11\u0026amp;uo=4\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/applebooks_480x480.png?v=1649199519\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=cxJoEAAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/google-play-badge2_a56b9286-69fa-4581-9680-5ea7c47f0c1a_480x480.png?v=1648668766\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAvailable in ebook for \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B005I65FLK\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;tag=projectmayh0b-20\u0026amp;linkCode=as2\u0026amp;camp=217145\u0026amp;creative=399373\u0026amp;creativeASIN=B005I65FLK\"\u003eKindle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/w\/discourses-in-mormon-theology-loyd-ericson\/1113007900?ean=2940013027572\"\u003eNook\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/discourses-in-mormon-theology\/id458680622?mt=11\u0026amp;uo=4\"\u003eApple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=cxJoEAAAQBAJ\"\u003eGoogle Play\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.kobobooks.com\/ebook\/Discourses-Mormon-Theology-Philosophical-Theological\/book-zxXvB5DY7EK9JrzX4Jxr2w\/page1.html?s=BcIT4Ilj4kWzegIgEwL4ew\u0026amp;r=1\"\u003eKobo\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlso available through \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/30ahPkP\" title=\"Discourses in Mormon Theology: Philosophical and Theological Possibilities\"\u003eAmazon\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook Description:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA mere two hundred years old, Mormonism is still in its infancy compared to other theological disciplines (Judaism, Catholicism, Buddhism, etc.). This volume will introduce its reader to the rich blend of theological viewpoints that exist within Mormonism. The essays break new ground in Mormon studies by exploring the vast expanse of philosophical territory left largely untouched by traditional approaches to Mormon theology. It presents philosophical and theological essays by many of the finest minds associated with Mormonism in an organized and easy-to-understand manner and provides the reader with a window into the fascinating diversity amongst Mormon philosophers. Open-minded students of pure religion will appreciate this volume’s thoughtful inquiries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese essays were delivered at the first conference of the Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eDiscourses in Mormon Theology\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“Discourses in Mormon Theology is an excellent compilation of essays that are sure to feed both the mind and soul. It reminds all of us that beyond the white shirts and ties there exists a universe of theological and moral sensitivity that cries out for study and acclamation. . . . Readers—thinkers—should not miss this opportunity to share in the discussion.\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003e I promise you, you will find something of great value\u003c\/span\u003e—a peculiar treasure, if you will—in these pages.” — Jeffrey Needle, \u003ci\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.aml-online.org\/Reviews\/Review.aspx?id=4361\"\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eContributors to This Volume:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/james-m-mclachlan\"\u003eJames M. McLachlan\u003c\/a\u003e - Theological and Philosophical Possibilities of the Mormon Religion\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/grant-underwood\"\u003eGrant Underwood\u003c\/a\u003e - A “Communities of Discourse” Approach to Early LDS Thought\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/james-m-mclachlan\"\u003eJames M. McLachlan\u003c\/a\u003e - The Modernism Controversy: William Henry Chamberlin, His Teachers Howison and Royce, and the Conception of God Debate\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/richard-sherlock\"\u003eRichard Sherlock\u003c\/a\u003e - Prayer and Divine Attributes\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/brian-d-birch\"\u003eBrian D. Birch\u003c\/a\u003e - Theological Method and the Question of Truth: A Postliberal Approach to Mormon Doctrine and Practice\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/blake-t-ostler\"\u003eBlake T. Ostler\u003c\/a\u003e - The Relation of Moral Obligation and God in LDS Thought\u003cbr\u003eBenjamin Huff - Theology in the One-Room Schoolhouse\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/dennis-potter\"\u003eKelli Potter\u003c\/a\u003e - Liberation Theology in the Book of Mormon\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/margaret-m-toscano\"\u003eMargaret M. Toscano\u003c\/a\u003e - Is There a Place for Heavenly Mother in Mormon Theology? An Investigation into Discourses of Power\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/adam-s-miller\"\u003eAdam S. Miller\u003c\/a\u003e - Messianic History: Walter Benjamin and the Book of Mormon\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/james-e-faulconer\"\u003eJames E. Faulconer\u003c\/a\u003e - On Scripture, or Idolatry versus True Religion\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/robert-l-millet\"\u003eRobert L. Millet\u003c\/a\u003e - What Do We Really Believe? Identifying Doctrinal Parameters within Mormonism\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Editors:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"float: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/JimMcLachlan1-150x150_compact.jpg?4238649106651156722\" style=\"margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; float: left;\"\u003eJames M. McLachlan is Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Western Carolina University. He specializes in and writes about process theology, personalism, Schelling, and Mormon studies.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"float: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/Sunstone-Portraits-2013-Web-040_compact.jpg?4238649106651156722\" style=\"margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; float: left;\"\u003eLoyd Isao Ericson recieved his B.S. in philosophy at Utah Valley University and pursued an M.A. in philosophy of religion and theology at Claremont Graduate Univeristy. Since 2009 he has been the managing editor of Greg Kofford Books and has been published in \u003cem\u003eSunstone\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eElement: The Journal of the Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eClaremont Journal of Mormon Studies\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, which he helped found. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePages: 301\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58958-104-3 (Paperback)\u003cbr\u003ePublished in 2007\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"paperback","offer_id":42261911732395,"sku":"978-1-58958-104-3","price":24.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/products\/McLachlan_Ericson__Discourses.jpg?v=1379611908"},{"product_id":"exploring-mormon-thought-1","title":"Exploring Mormon Thought: Volume 1, The Attributes of God","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/blake-t-ostler\"\u003eBlake T. Ostler\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“These books are the most important works on Mormon theology ever written.”\u003c\/span\u003e —\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/maxwellinstitute.byu.edu\/publications\/review\/?vol=18\u0026amp;num=1\u0026amp;id=608\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eFARMS Review\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e, Neal A. Maxwell Institute, Brigham Young University\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“This may be the most exciting volume to come out on Mormon theology ever.” \u003c\/span\u003e— \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.aml-online.org\/Reviews\/Review.aspx?id=3717\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“Anyone who thinks seriously about the meaning of LDS doctrine should read it. It is a book that will take some time to unpack and some time for its influence to be felt.”\u003c\/span\u003e — \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/byustudies.byu.edu\/showTitle.aspx?title=7994\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBYU Studies\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B0077YUTJE\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;tag=projectmayh0b-20\u0026amp;linkCode=as2\u0026amp;camp=1789\u0026amp;creative=390957\u0026amp;creativeASIN=B0077YUTJE\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/kindle2.png?9112655742455458650\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/exploring-mormon-thought-volume\/id502133136?mt=11\u0026amp;uo=4\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/applebooks_480x480.png?v=1649199519\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=uFxlEAAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/google-play-badge2_a56b9286-69fa-4581-9680-5ea7c47f0c1a_480x480.png?v=1648668766\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAvailable in ebook for the \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B0077YUTJE\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;tag=projectmayh0b-20\u0026amp;linkCode=as2\u0026amp;camp=1789\u0026amp;creative=390957\u0026amp;creativeASIN=B0077YUTJE\"\u003eKindle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/w\/exploring-mormon-thought-blake-t-ostler\/1113008502?ean=2940014025362\"\u003eNook\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/exploring-mormon-thought-volume\/id502133136?mt=11\u0026amp;uo=4\"\u003eApple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=uFxlEAAAQBAJ\"\u003eGoogle Play\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.kobo.com\/us\/en\/ebook\/exploring-mormon-thought-volume-1-the-attributes-of-god\"\u003eKobo\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlso available through \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/30b7ntm\"\u003eAmazon\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook Description:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this first volume Blake T. Ostler explores Christian and Mormon notions about God. Written for both Mormons and non-Mormons interested in the relationship between Mormonism and classical theism, his path-breaking \u003ci\u003eExploring Mormon Thought: The Attributes of God\u003c\/i\u003e is a critique of classical theism regarding some of the central concepts that have formed the Christian understanding of God. He deals with questions of traditional philosophical theology including free will and foreknowledge, the nature of God and Christology. The approach to these questions is from the analytic philosophical tradition and includes detailed arguments relating to the coherence of Christian belief, scripture and practice. However he recognizes that religious faith is far more a product of intimacy with the divine than of ultimacy of reason, more a product of relationships than of logical necessities.\u003cbr\u003e     He provides an overview of the most influential Christian notions of deity, exploring themes and resources within this discourse that might be helpful to Latter-day Saint explorations. Also highlighted are various perspectives within Mormonism itself including a detailed analysis of Joseph Smith's Lectures on Faith and discussion of the thought of Orson and Parley Pratt, B. H. Roberts and John Widstoe. Earlier Mormon thought is demonstrated to have included a concept of God as a being in process. He suggests areas in which Mormon approaches to questions about free agency and God's omnipotence might suggest resolutions to some of the difficult issues that have troubled theologians and philosophers for centuries. For the first time ever Ostler formulates a systematic Mormon Christology.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/authorcast\"\u003eAuthorCast\u003c\/a\u003e Interview with the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003caudio preload=\"none\" controls=\"controls\"\u003e \u003csource src=\"http:\/\/files.gregkofford.com\/podcast\/E101_Ostler_071118.mp3\"\u003e\u003c\/audio\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComprehensive Table of Contents:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePREFACE\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFOREWORD\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1.THE MEANING OF “GOD” IN MORMON THOUGHT\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eWhat Does “God” Mean in Mormon Discourse?\u003cbr\u003eAttribute and Essence\u003cbr\u003eIs “God” a Title or a Name?\u003cbr\u003eGod and Monotheism\u003cbr\u003eThe Divine Thou\u003cbr\u003eSubordinate “Gods”\u003cbr\u003eApotheosis: Human Gods\u003cbr\u003e“God” as a Relationship of Unity Among a Plurality of Persons\u003cbr\u003eGod and Perfection\u003cbr\u003eGod and Possible Worlds\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2.THE APOSTASY AND CONCEPTS OF PERFECTION\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eConfluence of Greek Philosophy and Christian Theology\u003cbr\u003eA. Emergence of the Absolutist Tradition in Christian Theology\u003cbr\u003eB. The Logic of Absolute Independence\u003cbr\u003e1. Pure Actuality\u003cbr\u003e2. Divine Simplicity\u003cbr\u003e3. Immutability\u003cbr\u003e4. Timeless Eternity\u003cbr\u003e5. Aseity\u003cbr\u003e6. Impassibility\u003cbr\u003e7. Omniscience\u003cbr\u003e8. Omnipotence\u003cbr\u003eC. Process Thought\u003cbr\u003e1. Relative Perfection\u003cbr\u003e2. Perfect Relatedness\u003cbr\u003e3. Potentiality\u003cbr\u003e4. Proportional Dependence\u003cbr\u003e5. Complexity\u003cbr\u003e6. Temporality\u003cbr\u003e7. Mutability and Immutability\u003cbr\u003e8. Passibility\u003cbr\u003e9. Creator by Organizing\u003cbr\u003e10. Maximal Persuasive Power\u003cbr\u003e11. Maximal Knowledge\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e3.THE RESTORATION AND SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGIES\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Lectures on Faith\u003cbr\u003eJoseph Smith and the Foundational Scriptures\u003cbr\u003eThe Theology of Orson Pratt and Parley P. Pratt\u003cbr\u003eJohn A. Widtsoe\u003cbr\u003eBrigham H. Roberts\u003cbr\u003eNeo-absolutist Mormonism\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4.MAXIMAL DIVINE POWER\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eLogical Limitations on God’s Power\u003cbr\u003eLimitations on God’s Power Arising from Divine Attributes\u003cbr\u003eLimitations on God’s Power Imposed by Significant Human Freedom\u003cbr\u003ePast Necessity and Divine Power\u003cbr\u003eProblems for Omnipotence\u003cbr\u003ePersuasive and Coercive Power\u003cbr\u003eGod’s Power and Natural Laws\u003cbr\u003eGod’s Power and Creation\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5.MODELS OF DIVINE KNOWLEDGE\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eSimple Foreknowledge\u003cbr\u003eTimeless Knowledge Through Perception\u003cbr\u003eThe Einstein-Minkowski Spacetime\u003cbr\u003eTimeless Knowledge Through Divine Causation\u003cbr\u003eMiddle Knowledge\u003cbr\u003eProblems of Middle Knowledge\u003cbr\u003eThe No-Grounds Objection\u003cbr\u003eCounterfactuals of Freedom Are Probable Only\u003cbr\u003eThe “Agents Are Not Free” Objection\u003cbr\u003eMormonism and Middle Knowledge\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6.THE INCOMPATIBILITY OF FREE WILL AND INFALLIBLE FOREKNOWLEDGE\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eAn Unsound Argument for Incompatibility\u003cbr\u003eArgument A\u003cbr\u003eA Sound Argument for Incompatibilism from the Necessity of the Past\u003cbr\u003eArgument B\u003cbr\u003eSome Clearly Unsuccessful Attempts to Escape Incompatibility\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e7.DIVINE FOREKNOWLEDGE AND THE MORMON CONCEPT OF FREE AGENCY\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eHypothetical Free Will\u003cbr\u003eLibertarian Free Agency\u003cbr\u003eObjections to Power to Do Otherwise\u003cbr\u003eSemi-Compatibilism\u003cbr\u003eIntervention after an Effective Interaction Is Formed\u003cbr\u003eIntervention before an Effective Intention Is Formed\u003cbr\u003eIs Intervention Possible before an Intention Is Effective?\u003cbr\u003eIs Causal Determinism Essential to Free Acts?\u003cbr\u003eA Mormon Concept of Free Agency\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e8.DENYING ENTAILMENT\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eMolina’s Response\u003cbr\u003ePower Entailment\u003cbr\u003eCriticisms of Power Entailment Principles\u003cbr\u003ePower to Bring About the Past\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e9.DENYING THAT GOD’S PAST KNOWLEDGE IS FIXED\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eDistinguishing Logical and Theological Fatalism\u003cbr\u003eArgument D\u003cbr\u003eHard Facts As Intrinsic Properties of Past Events\u003cbr\u003eDoes the Doctrine of Timelessness Resolve the Incompatibility?\u003cbr\u003eMultiple Past Compatibilists\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e10. GOD’S CONTINGENT KNOWLEDGE\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eIs Contingent Omniscience Consistent with Scripture?\u003cbr\u003eIs Contingent Omniscience Compatible with a Spatio-Temporally Limited God?\u003cbr\u003eDoes Contingent Knowledge Entail Imperfection?\u003cbr\u003eMust God Know Future Contingent Propositions?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e11.TIME, TIMELESSNESS, AND OMNITEMPORALITY\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eEverlasting Time\u003cbr\u003eMeasured Time\u003cbr\u003eThe Theory of Relational Time\u003cbr\u003eTemporality\u003cbr\u003eThe Theory of Absolute Time\u003cbr\u003eSimultaneity\u003cbr\u003eRelative Space-Time\u003cbr\u003eDefining Timeless Eternity\u003cbr\u003eImplications of Divine Timelessness\u003cbr\u003eProblems with Divine Timelessness\u003cbr\u003eReasons to Adopt Divine Timelessness\u003cbr\u003eGod’s Omnitemporality\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e12.IMMUTABILITY AND IMPASSIBILITY\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eDefining Changelessness\u003cbr\u003eImmutability in Nature\u003cbr\u003eImmutability in Will\u003cbr\u003eImmutability and Mutability in God’s Knowledge\u003cbr\u003eDivine Passibility in Feeling\u003cbr\u003e1. The Argument of Divine Love\u003cbr\u003e2. The Argument from Immanent Omniscience\u003cbr\u003e3. The Argument from Worshipworthiness\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e13.THE PROBLEMS OF CONVENTIONAL CHRISTOLOGY\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Historical Problem\u003cbr\u003eThe Logical Problem\u003cbr\u003eThe Christological Controversy\u003cbr\u003eTraditional Responses\u003cbr\u003eThe Kenotic Theory\u003cbr\u003eThe Grace Theory\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e14.A MORMON CHRISTOLOGY\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eDistinctive Doctrines of Mormon Scripture\u003cbr\u003eA Modified Kenotic Theory of Christology\u003cbr\u003eGod’s Necessary Existence\u003cbr\u003eThe Necessity of Condescension and Kenosis\u003cbr\u003eAre Divinity and Humanity Compossible in Christ?\u003cbr\u003eTime-Indexed Properties of Divinity\u003cbr\u003eWas Jesus Truly Human?\u003cbr\u003eThe Problems of Identity\u003cbr\u003eWas It Possible for Jesus to Sin?\u003cbr\u003eCould Yahweh Be God If He Could Learn from Suffering?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBIBLIOGRAPHY\u003cbr\u003eINDEX\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for the \u003ci\u003eExploring Mormon Thought\u003c\/i\u003e series:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“These books are the \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003emost important works on Mormon theology ever written\u003c\/span\u003e. There is nothing currently available that is even close to the rigor and sophistication of these volumes. B. H. Roberts and John A. Widtsoe may have had interesting insights in the early part of the twentieth century, but they had neither the temperament nor the training to give a rigorous defense of their views in dialogue with a wider stream of Christian theology. Sterling McMurrin and Truman Madsen had the capacity to engage Mormon theology at this level, but neither one did.” — \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/maxwellinstitute.byu.edu\/publications\/review\/?vol=18\u0026amp;num=1\u0026amp;id=608\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eFARMS Review\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e, Neal A. Maxwell Institute, Brigham Young University\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“This may be the most exciting volume to come out on Mormon theology ever. I eagerly await it as I think it will demonstrate a maturity of Mormon theology in that it will take \"as given\" a presentation of the basics of Mormon thought. One hopes that other authors will present engagements with other major thinkers such as Heidegger, Gadamer, Derrida, or others. However clearly before one can move on to this more ‘mature’ level of discourse, the beginnings have to be established. While I’m sure other writers may take exception to some of Blake’s positions in this first volume, he clearly is blazing the trail in an exciting way. Further it opens up to non-Mormons a clear and lucid presentation of Mormon theology that one can't get from most other writings.” — Clark Goble, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.aml-online.org\/Reviews\/Review.aspx?id=3717\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“I hope that Ostler’s work finds a wide audience within the Church. \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003eAnyone who thinks seriously about the meaning of LDS doctrine should read it\u003c\/span\u003e. It is a book that will take some time to unpack and some time for its influence to be felt.” — James McLachlan, \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/byustudies.byu.edu\/showTitle.aspx?title=7994\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBYU Studies\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Other Volumes in the Exploring Mormon Thought Series: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/exploring-mormon-thought-volume-2\"\u003eVolume 2, The Problems of Theism and the Love of God\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/exploring-mormon-thought-volume-3-of-god-and-gods\"\u003eVolume 3, Of God and Gods\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"float: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/Ostler_compact.jpg?v=1529940782\" style=\"margin-right: 5px; float: left;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/blake-t-ostler\"\u003eBlake T. Ostler\u003c\/a\u003e is a practicing attorney specializing in educational law, employment law and intellectual property.  His books include the EXPLORING MORMON THOUGHT series and \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/fire-on-the-horizon\"\u003eFire on the Horizon: Meditations on the Endowment and Love of Atonement\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003c\/em\u003eHe has published widely on Mormon philosophy in journals such as \u003ci\u003eReligious Studies, International Journal for the Philosophy of Religion, Dialogue: Journal of Mormon Thought, BYU Studies, Element,\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eFARMS Review of Books\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePages: 542 \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58958-654-3 (paperback); 978-1-58958-003-9 (Hardcover)\u003cbr\u003ePublished October 2001\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"hardcover","offer_id":12383044927572,"sku":"978-1-58958-003-9","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/products\/Ostler__Exploring1.jpg?v=1595013016"},{"product_id":"the-incomparable-jesus","title":"The Incomparable Jesus","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/grant-h-palmer\"\u003eGrant H. Palmer\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e “This book reminds me why I am proud to be a Christian.” \u003c\/span\u003e— Dee Benson\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“A call for a radical discipleship that transcends theological and even ecclesiastical boundaries.” \u003c\/span\u003e— \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.aml-online.org\/Reviews\/Review.aspx?id=3845%22\"\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B005F69TBU\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;tag=projectmayh0b-20\u0026amp;linkCode=as2\u0026amp;camp=217145\u0026amp;creative=399373\u0026amp;creativeASIN=B005F69TBU\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/kindle2.png?9112655742455458650\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/the-incomparable-jesus\/id458157389?mt=11\u0026amp;uo=4\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/applebooks_480x480.png?v=1649199519\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=Of1iEAAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/google-play-badge2_a56b9286-69fa-4581-9680-5ea7c47f0c1a_480x480.png?v=1648668766\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAvailable in ebook for \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B005F69TBU\/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8\u0026amp;tag=projectmayh0b-20\u0026amp;linkCode=as2\u0026amp;camp=217145\u0026amp;creative=399373\u0026amp;creativeASIN=B005F69TBU\"\u003eKindle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/search.barnesandnoble.com\/Incomparable-Jesus\/Grant-H-Palmer\/e\/2940013152335\"\u003eNook\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/the-incomparable-jesus\/id458157389?mt=11\u0026amp;uo=4\"\u003eApple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=Of1iEAAAQBAJ\"\u003eGoogle Play\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.kobobooks.com\/ebook\/The-Incomparable-Jesus\/book-ft4k8iQOm0G-qgAUw6lgGg\/page1.html?s=YMJUJ3MG90W3apsr-uhSiw\u0026amp;r=1\"\u003eKobo\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlso available through \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2tikCwa\"\u003eAmazon\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDistilled from his personal experiences in teaching Jesus to the hard-to-reach, this professional educator has produced a tender testament to the incomparable Jesus. It describes a Savior who walked with him through the halls of the county jail where he served as chaplain, succoring those in need.\u003cbr\u003e     In this slim volume, Palmer sensitively shares his understanding of what it means to know Jesus by doing his works. He lists the qualities of divine character attested to by the Apostles Peter and Paul, and also those that Jesus revealed about himself in his masterful Sermon on the Mount, particularly in the beatitudes.\u003cbr\u003e     With reverence Palmer shares personal spiritual experiences that were life-changing assurances of Jesus’s love for him—a love poured out unstintingly in equally life-changing blessings on prisoners whose crimes had not stopped short of sexual abuse and murder. Reading this book offers a deeper understanding of the Savior’s mercy, a stronger sense of his love, and a deeper commitment to follow him.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComprehensive Table of Contents:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePreface\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. Knowing Jesus\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2. Jesus Defines the Christian\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eJesus Is Meek\u003cbr\u003eJesus Hungers and Thirsts after Righteousness\u003cbr\u003eJesus Is More Merciful than Justice Requires\u003cbr\u003eJesus Is Pure in Heart\u003cbr\u003eJesus Is a Peacemaker\u003cbr\u003eJesus Returns Good for Evil\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3. The Kingdom of Heaven\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4. The Character of Jesus\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eGod’s Respect for Free Agency\u003cbr\u003eJesus’ Acceptance of Others’ Love\u003cbr\u003eJesus’ Empathy for Others\u003cbr\u003eHis Intervention in Our Lives\u003cbr\u003eJesus Teaches Equality under the Law\u003cbr\u003eJesus’ View on the Church and Equality\u003cbr\u003eJesus’ Equal Treatment of Women and Children\u003cbr\u003eChoose Spiritual Opportunity over the Mundane\u003cbr\u003eJesus’ Attitude toward Riches\u003cbr\u003eJesus’ Views on Marriage and Divorce\u003cbr\u003eJesus’ Personal Prayers\u003cbr\u003eJesus’ Perspective on his Second Advent\u003cbr\u003eJesus’ Leadership Style and Teaching\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5. The Meaning of Atonement\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6. Doing the Works of God\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e7. Finding Jesus in Jail\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAppendix: A Chronology of Jesus’ Ministry\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eBirth and Preparation\u003cbr\u003eGalilean Ministry\u003cbr\u003eGentile Area Ministry\u003cbr\u003eJudean Ministry\u003cbr\u003ePeraean Ministry\u003cbr\u003ePassion Week and Resurrection\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSubject Index\u003cbr\u003eScripture Index\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eOld Testament\u003cbr\u003eNew Testament\u003cbr\u003eBook of Mormon\u003cbr\u003eDoctrine and Covenants\u003cbr\u003ePearl of Great Price\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eThe Incomparable Jesus\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“This book reminds me why I am proud to be a Christian; and it makes me want to be a better one. This slender volume provides a better insight into the atonement than anything I have ever read. Grant Palmer has given us a timely gem of a book, one that is focused exclusively on the Savior.” — Dee Benson - Chief Judge, U.S. Federal District Court of Utah\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“The Incomparable Jesus is a call for a radical discipleship that transcends theological and even ecclesiastical boundaries, lifting the believer above the doctrinal fray into the more important area of Christian behavior and attitude. [The book] reflects decades of service to the Church, agrowing, maturing understanding of how followers of Christ are to act, anda serenity that comes with the knowledge that the path is laid out for using simple, uncomplicated language, and that the goal is attainable by all.” — Jeffrey Needle, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.aml-online.org\/Reviews\/Review.aspx?id=3845%22\"\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/grant-h-palmer\"\u003eGrant Palmer\u003c\/a\u003e closed his thirty-four-year career teaching for the LDS Church Educational System with the final thirteen years as a chaplain and LDS Institute director at the Salt Lake County Jail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePages: 157\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58958-092-3 (Paperback)\u003cbr\u003ePublished 2005\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"paperback","offer_id":42261953380523,"sku":"978-1-58958-092-3","price":14.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/products\/Palmer__Incomparable.jpg?v=1379615864"},{"product_id":"for-zion-a-mormon-theology-of-hope","title":"For Zion: A Mormon Theology of Hope","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/joseph-m-spencer\"\u003eJoseph M. Spencer\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e “The most ambitious scholarly engagement with the law of consecration since Hugh Nibley’s Approaching Zion.\"\u003c\/span\u003e — By Common Consent\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“A refreshing read.” \u003c\/span\u003e— \u003cem\u003eBYU Studies\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“It deserves to be widely read.” \u003c\/span\u003e— Association for Mormon Letters\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/goo.gl\/l4cya0\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/kindle2.png?9112655742455458650\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/for-zion-mormon-theology-hope\/id882558141?ls=1\u0026amp;mt=11\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/applebooks_480x480.png?v=1649199519\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=gjdlEAAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/google-play-badge2_a56b9286-69fa-4581-9680-5ea7c47f0c1a_480x480.png?v=1648668766\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailable in ebook for \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/goo.gl\/l4cya0\"\u003eKindle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/w\/for-zion-joseph-m-spencer\/1119604171?ean=2940149529087\"\u003eNook\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/store.kobobooks.com\/en-US\/ebook\/for-zion-a-mormon-theology-of-hope\"\u003eKobo\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=gjdlEAAAQBAJ\"\u003eGoogle Play\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/for-zion-mormon-theology-hope\/id882558141?ls=1\u0026amp;mt=11\"\u003eApple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlso available through \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/35GYFEb\"\u003eAmazon\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/news\/14047161-preview-joseph-spencer-s-for-zion-a-mormon-theology-of-hope\"\u003eDownload a free sample preview\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBook Description:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat is hope? What is Zion? And what does it mean to hope for Zion? In this insightful book, Joseph Spencer explores these questions through the scriptures of two continents separated by nearly two millennia. In the first half, Spencer engages in a rich study of Paul's letter to the Roman to better understand how the apostle understood hope and what it means to have it. In the second half of the book, Spencer jumps to the early years of the Restoration and the various revelations on consecration to understand how Latter-day Saints are expected to strive for Zion. Between these halves is an interlude examining the hoped-for Zion that both thrived in the Book of Mormon and was hoped to be established again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/authorcast\"\u003eAuthorCast\u003c\/a\u003e Interview with the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003caudio preload=\"none\" controls=\"controls\"\u003e \u003csource src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/Spencer.mp3\"\u003e\u003c\/audio\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComprehensive Table of Contents:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIntroduction\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI - Hope\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e1. Epistle of Hope\u003cbr\u003e2. Faith and Hope\u003cbr\u003e3. Hope and Love\u003cbr\u003e4. The Time of Hope\u003cbr\u003e5. The Space of Hope\u003cbr\u003e6. Israel’s Hope\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInterlude\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e7. Romans Rewritten\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eII - Zion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e8. Zion in Prophecy\u003cbr\u003e9. Zion as Project\u003cbr\u003e10. Zion in Transition\u003cbr\u003e11. Zion Revised\u003cbr\u003e12. Stewards in Zion\u003cbr\u003e13. Zion’s Hope\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBibliography\u003cbr\u003eIndex\u003cbr\u003eScripture Index\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ\u0026amp;A with the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003eQ: Latter-day Saints from both academic and non-academic backgrounds tend to be suspicious of formal theology for a variety of reasons. How do you understand theology, and why do you think it belongs in Mormon studies?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI take it as given that theology—\u003cem\u003egood\u003c\/em\u003e theology anyway—is philosophically informed reflection on what it means to live a life of faith. For my part, that’s another way of saying that to do theology is, essentially, to repent and to invite others to repent along with you. I do theology because I hope that careful reflection will allow me to see where we tend to hold grace or life at a distance. To do theology well is to begin to see where we’ve positioned idols as barriers to keep God away from us. That should leave us fully prepared to break down the idols we’ve constructed. On the other hand, to do theology poorly is to construct elaborate temples around those very idols theological work might help us to abandon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt’s worth saying that the kinds of things that theology gives its attention to aren’t exclusively religious. Hope, for instance, is hardly a uniquely religious phenomenon, nor is consecration—though the latter isn’t likely to be called “consecration” outside of a religious setting. To do theology well is to reflect on what it means to be alive, to be a human being, to be in a world with others. That’s why I think theology not only belongs but is essential to Mormon studies. Too much of Mormon studies speaks only to Latter-day Saints or only to already-interested historians. If we want Mormonism to speak with a universal voice, we’ll have to begin asking how it gives us to understand the nature of life. From where I’m standing, much of what has been produced in the field of Mormon studies is just a prelude to what we \u003cem\u003ereally\u003c\/em\u003e want to talk about.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003eQ: Some of your most influential philosopher-theologian colleagues (I’m thinking specifically about Jim Faulconer and Adam Miller) have embraced and modeled Mormon theology as a kind of anti-theology. How do you see your work alongside theirs? Alongside the work of older generation Mormon theologians like Truman Madsen or even Roberts and the Pratts?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere’s no question that I’m closely allied with thinkers like Jim Faulconer and Adam Miller, at the very least because we’re all interested in contemporary French thought in addition to our commitment to theological reflection on Mormonism. I think, though, that we all understand what might be called anti-theology or atheology in different but related ways. What unites us, perhaps, is our commitment to the idea that theory can’t be divorced from practice, or even the idea that theory is somehow predicated on practice. What differentiates us is what we privilege or emphasize when we think about the sort of practice on which theory is predicated. Both Jim and Adam give an important place to scripture (Jim more consistently than Adam), but I think what distinguishes me from them—if anything—is the particularly heavy emphasis I give to scripture. I find I have a hard time writing about anything else.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt’s a little embarrassing to try to think about what my work looks like alongside thinkers like Madsen or Roberts or the Pratts. If I have a consistent complaint about most of what’s been done in the history of Mormon theological reflection, it’s that so little of it begins from exegetically responsible readings of scripture. The exception there might be Orson Pratt. I’ve been struck just in the past few months at how much of his thinking might be taken to be a reflection of his commitment to the Book of Mormon. Even his infamous theological resistance to Brigham Young might be seen to have grown out of his careful study of the Book of Mormon. There may be a methodological parallel between my own work and Orson’s, then. I don’t see much of myself in most of the tradition, though, and the conclusions I come to in light of scripture don’t look much like Orson’s either. If there’s a figure in the tradition whose work mine echoes, it’s probably Hugh Nibley—someone we desperately need to begin reading as a theologian and a thinker, rather than as a historian or an apologist.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003eQ: There has been a recent uptick of LDS devotional works focused on hope. Why do you think that is, and how do you see this book in conversation with their work?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI never discuss in \u003cem\u003eFor Zion\u003c\/em\u003e why I began to reflect on hope, but it began with a determinate worry. It’s no surprise to hear that Latter-day Saints tend to divide into “conservative” and “liberal” camps. But I was struck some six or seven years ago by the kind of talk used by these two groups to criticize each other. Conservative Mormons often criticize liberal Mormons for what they view as their lack of faith, while liberal Mormons often criticize conservative Mormons for what they view as their lack of charity. I was struck at about the same time by the tone of despair that often accompanies such criticisms, from whichever side. It was fascinating to me that a certain loss of hope accompanies the divorce between faith and love, whether it’s begun from the one side or the other. It was this curious situation that set me thinking about hope—about how it might be what allows faith and love to work together fruitfully, and about how it might be the most universally absent virtue in contemporary Mormonism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen I began reflecting on these questions, I looked through the available devotional literature and was startled to find only \u003cem\u003eone\u003c\/em\u003e book on hope. About the time I began serious work on \u003cem\u003eFor Zion\u003c\/em\u003e, however, a handful of devotional titles on hope suddenly appeared, and a few more have been published since. As I read these works, however, I’m startled at how different my motivations have apparently been from theirs. If I were to take a guess, I’d say that they have their roots largely in the cultural shift Mormonism is experiencing, with the emergence of the most serious generation gap the Church has seen in decades. Almost universally, such devotional works seem to take hope and faith as equivalent, and their account of hope\/faith is like that of “conservative” Mormonism when it criticizes “liberal” Mormonism: faith\/hope is presented as a kind of courageous obedience. Obviously, I think there’s more to the story than just that. I worry that the devotional literature only puts off the real problem.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003eQ: To produce an account of hope, you look at the writings of the Apostle Paul. Paul is often regarded as formidable by Latter-day Saints, and there are occasional attempts to make him more accessible by simplifying his message. In For Zion, by contrast, you read Paul’s writings as deeply complex. What’s behind that approach? Is it a product of your general embrace and celebration of scriptural complexity, or does this specific project benefit from such a reading?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy approach to Paul is probably more reflective of my general embrace and celebration of scriptural complexity than anything else. I think we \u003cem\u003ecan\u003c\/em\u003e provide simpler or more accessible accounts of the things going on in scripture, but I \u003cem\u003edon’t\u003c\/em\u003e think we can do so without having done a great deal more work on scripture. It’s only the genuine expert who can put together a summary that doesn’t do horrible injustice to what needs summarizing, and I don’t think we’ve yet had any experts on scripture in the history of the Restoration. It’s only in the past couple of decades that we’ve had more than one or two trained bible scholars, but even they wouldn’t claim that their training has made them experts on more than a few themes or a few passages. We’ve produced a remarkable number of historians over the past sixty or seventy years, but it’s only been in the past couple of years that we’ve had the documentary resources necessary for solid study of the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants or the texts making up the Pearl of Great Price. And we’re still largely without devoted scholars of the Book of Mormon—that book that forms the keystone of our religion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSummarily put, I don’t think we’re remotely prepared to make \u003cem\u003eany\u003c\/em\u003e of our scriptures more accessible or to produce “made easier” volumes yet. The task at present is to come face to face with the historical, literary, and theological complexity of scripture, and to see if we can’t make some preliminary sense of what these texts have to say to us. If Paul is complex—and I think it’s perfectly clear that he is—then I want him to remain complex until we’ve begun to sort out the implications of his writings. And I think the same goes for the rest of scripture as well. Of course, there’s an important place in the lived religion of Mormonism for devotional reading, for being inspired by scripture \u003cem\u003eregardless\u003c\/em\u003e of its immense complexity. I don’t at all mean to deny that. But I think scholars do a disservice to everyday readers of scripture when they obscure complexity, since they thereby make it far more difficult to hear any real call to repentance in scripture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003eQ: In the second half of the book, you set out the law of consecration as the real hope for Mormonism. Is there any particular reason you feel that it’s important now to discuss consecration?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConsecration has been at the heart of the Church since its inception, and it receives pretty regular attention from Latter-day Saint authors. I think, nonetheless, that there are at least two reasons it needs careful attention right now. Perhaps the most obvious and important of these is the publication of the Joseph Smith Papers. It has become possible to trace the development of consecration in Mormonism’s earliest years in a remarkable way. This availability of resources can be coupled with the undeniable renaissance of academic Mormon history since the turn of the millennium. The great works on consecration were written by Leonard Arrington (and a few others) thirty to fifty years ago. It is time to update and supplement that work. I’ve tried to draw on the best of what’s available to me to do something along those lines. Mostly, I’ve tried to clarify a set of concerns I often hear expressed about the relationship between the early history of consecration and the canonical text of the Doctrine and Covenants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe other major reason to revisit consecration right now is because of the deeply political climate through which the American Church is passing. The various sorts of political commitments with which Latter-day Saints align themselves often lead to problematic attitudes about consecration. I won’t review these attitudes here since I give attention to them in \u003cem\u003eFor Zion\u003c\/em\u003e, but I think it’s this tendency to reduce consecration to some kind of economic or political program, and some kind of economic or political program that happens to look a lot like one’s own economic or political commitments, that suggests that we’d do well to read the relevant revelatory texts much, much more carefully. I don’t pretend to be innocent of political biases myself, of course, but I think that the kind of theological approach I’ve taken to the text—asking about what’s meant by “use” in the notion of stewardship—can skirt some of the overdetermination that usually colors readings of the Doctrine and Covenants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003eQ: At several points in your discussions of consecration, you identify parallels between the scriptural account of consecration and certain practices and beliefs espoused in the Catholic monastic tradition. That’s likely to surprise most Latter-day Saints. What do Mormons have to learn from monasticism?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI was quite surprised by this finding as I worked through this project. I suspect I’ll continue thinking about this connection for a long time. Latter-day Saints have often identified with reformers and innovators in the pre-Mormon Christian tradition. I’m beginning to wonder whether we shouldn’t pay close attention to the Franciscan monastic tradition alongside folks like Wycliffe and Tyndale, Luther and Wesley. I’ve noted occasional expressions of appreciation for separatist movements in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries—the Waldensians, for instance. (Such expressions of appreciation can be found as early as the lifetime of Joseph Smith.) It’s perhaps time we collectively recognized that Saint Francis was a part of that same general climate, even if he and his followers didn’t break so overtly with the Roman Church. As I think I show in \u003cem\u003eFor Zion\u003c\/em\u003e, the Franciscans may have been the first in a very long time in Christianity to have raised questions that have been central to Mormonism from its beginnings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOf course, for Latter-day Saints to begin to appreciate monasticism, it’ll be necessary for them to overcome a few common misconceptions. It’s not at all uncommon to hear Latter-day Saints equate the cenobitic and the anchorite traditions—that is, monks and hermits. The monastery was a matter of \u003cem\u003eliving together\u003c\/em\u003e, while the anchorite was someone who retreated \u003cem\u003ealone\u003c\/em\u003e from the world. It won’t do to criticize monasticism because it fails to mesh with the Mormon sense of community, or because it supposedly embraces some otherworldly retreat from real life. Further, Latter-day Saints will need to get over the idea that monasticism was primarily about privation. I’ve already mentioned that what monks sought in the monastery was a certain form of living together. That has to be seen as the chief aim of the monastic way of life. A certain fraternity or sorority, which Latter-day Saints have sought from early on, was the ideal, and certain sorts of privation \u003cem\u003efollowed from\u003c\/em\u003e that ideal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003eQ: On the back cover of your book, Mark Ashurst-McGee compares your work to that of Hugh Nibley, and you yourself made that comparison above. You’ve also dedicated For Zion to Nibley’s memory. How do you understand the ongoing relevance of Nibley’s work?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI suspect many will see my debt to Hugh Nibley’s work as being primarily a question of \u003cem\u003etheme\u003c\/em\u003e. I think that’s a mistake. What Nibley left us was first and foremost was a \u003cem\u003emethod\u003c\/em\u003e, and that’s what I hope I’ve inherited from him—not only in \u003cem\u003eFor Zion\u003c\/em\u003e, but in all of my work. Nibley was above all a theologian, as Stuart Parker’s forthcoming book, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/products\/history-through-seer-stones\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eHistory through Seer Stones\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e, will help to make clear. Nibley produced over the course of his career a theological dispensationalism that deserves to be studied for its theoretical power, and for the way it draws on important themes both implicit and explicit in Mormon scripture. He was neither a parallelomaniacal conservative forcing resistant historical data to match current practices and policies, nor a blasé liberal obscuring the complexities of free market capitalism to push a countercultural agenda. In light of what I said above about the way that hope might play a mediating role between faith and love, I might say that Nibley was deeply \u003cem\u003ehopeful\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrankly, I think the general distaste for Nibley that seems to have emerged over the past couple of decades—some of it, unfortunately, during the last years of Nibley’s life—has more to do with the fact that we aren’t yet equal to the task of reading Nibley than it has to do with anything particularly lacking in Nibley’s own work. It’s certainly true that he drew on texts and traditions in ways that don’t fit with today’s academic methods, and it’s certainly true that he oversimplified Mormon history to present a unified account of what he thought needed our attention. But it’s also true that what we’re working on today will be problematic and passé in another generation, as it’s true that we oversimplify Mormon history to present a unified account of what we think needs our attention. We have far more to learn from Nibley than we think we do. We’re not likely to see another such mind in Mormonism for centuries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003eQ: How does your vision of a more fully consecrated LDS membership (and Church) differ from Nibley’s?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI understand Nate Oman is gathering essays on Nibley’s \u003cem\u003eApproaching Zion\u003c\/em\u003e for a published collection. I think he’d be better at answering this kind of question than I would, if he’d be willing to wade through my theological musings. For my part, I wonder if I can answer it adequately. I suppose I would say that I don’t see Nibley getting quite to the heart of the question of consecration. The ship of his thought runs aground on the reef of markets and capitalism, but I think a still deeper and more central question needs addressing: What does it mean to \u003cem\u003euse\u003c\/em\u003e something \u003cem\u003ewithout owning\u003c\/em\u003e it? And the key to answering that question lies in a scriptural passage about which I don’t think Nibley ever said anything substantial: 1 Corinthians 7:29–31, Paul’s discussion of living “as though not.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOf course, I think it’s possible to give Nibley a more charitable reading. Perhaps it was not that \u003cem\u003ehe\u003c\/em\u003e wrongly felt that the central question was markets and capitalism, but that \u003cem\u003ethe Saints more generally\u003c\/em\u003e use markets and capitalism as excuses to dodge consecration. Perhaps Nibley saw that, and he tried to problematize that move, and rightly. And perhaps it’s possible to interpret Nibley’s work on education and learning as a kind of indirect investigation of the Pauline idea of living “as though not.” Perhaps it’s possible to see Nibley as having reproduced the Pauline idea through a reinvestigation of what it means to consecrate one’s mind. Obviously, it’d take me a while to explain either of these possible reinterpretations of Nibley in anything like convincing detail, but I’d like to be clear that Nibley and I may prove to be closer in certain ways than I’ve been thinking we are.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003eQ: A clichéd but still important question, I think: How did writing this book change you, your ideas, your commitments?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI wonder what I’ll say in response to this sort of question in a decade or two. For the moment, I feel as if my work on \u003cem\u003eFor Zion\u003c\/em\u003e has focused the central concern of my theological work. My first book, \u003cem\u003eAn Other Testament\u003c\/em\u003e, deals with the theme of the Abrahamic covenant in the Book of Mormon. \u003cem\u003eFor Zion\u003c\/em\u003e keeps its eye trained on the covenantal theme, albeit more consistently in the writings of Paul and the revelations of the Restoration than in the Book of Mormon (although I \u003cem\u003edo\u003c\/em\u003e dedicate a chapter to the Book of Mormon!). My work on this book has thus helped to focus me all the more consistently on things Abrahamic. At the heart of consecration, whether in Paul or in Joseph Smith, is the complicated relationship between Israel and the gentiles—that same theme to which Jesus Christ gave his almost exclusive attention in his visit to the New World. I’m more eager than ever to investigate this theme throughout both biblical and uniquely Mormon scripture. How are we to understand the Abrahamic dimension of our faith?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt a more practical level, this book has changed my devotional life. I was surprised, actually, to find that the Doctrine and Covenants presents a more or less systematically consistent conception of consecration. I didn’t anticipate that. I knew going into the project that I wouldn’t find a revelation repealing the law of consecration—as is sometimes claimed regarding, say, the revelation on tithing (D\u0026amp;C 119)—but I didn’t expect to find something quite as coherent as I did find. I was also surprised to see how much more theologically compelling the \u003cem\u003erevised\u003c\/em\u003e text of the revelation on consecration turned out to be. I suppose I expected the original to be more consistent or more forceful. My work convinced me that what we have in the current version of Doctrine and Covenants 42 \u003cem\u003eis\u003c\/em\u003e the law of consecration to be lived right here and right now. That realization has clarified the life of devotion for me. I’d like to hope that I’ve become more consecrated in the course of my work on this book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Praise for\u003cem\u003e For Zion\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“\u003cem\u003eFor Zion: A Mormon Theology of Hope\u003c\/em\u003e is more than a theological reflection. It also consists of able textual exegesis, historical contextualization, and philosophic exploration. Spencer’s careful readings of Paul’s focus on hope in Romans and on Joseph Smith’s development of consecration in his early revelations, linking them as he does with the Book of Mormon, have provided an intriguing, intertextual avenue for understanding what true stewardship should be for us—now and in the future. As such he has set \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003ea new benchmark for solid, innovative Latter-day Saint scholarship that is at once provocative and challenging\u003c\/span\u003e.” — Eric D. Huntsman, author, \u003cem\u003eThe Miracles of Jesus\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“With \u003cem\u003eFor Zion\u003c\/em\u003e, Joseph Spencer develops the Mormon tradition of Zion, writing in the style of Hugh Nibley—mixing Old Testament and New Testament studies with commentary on the Book of Mormon, the Joseph Smith revelations, and early Mormon history. The main area of development is the addition of theology, Spencer’s expertise. Mormon readers much prefer scriptural commentary and history to theology, but Spencer weaves in his theological arguments and reflections in a readable and accessible manner. He also tracks the textual development of Joseph Smith’s consecration revelation with great care and provides historically informed readings. And the whole work is aimed at the redemption of Zion. \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eFor Zion\u003c\/em\u003e proves that there can be such a thing as genuinely Mormon theology\u003c\/span\u003e.” — Mark Ashurst-McGee, Joseph Smith Papers\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“The hour is late. Our eyes are heavy. Working without rest, possessed by our possessions, and consumed by fantasies of acquisition and success we know full well, even were they to be realized, offer no relief from what's eating us, we stumble.\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003e ‘Wake up!’ Spencer calls. ‘Have hope!\u003c\/span\u003e The kingdom of God is among us, Zion is real, the Sabbath is here, and the law of consecration remains, as it must, in full force!’” — Adam S. Miller, author, \u003ca href=\"\/products\/rube-goldberg-machines-essays-in-mormon-theology\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eRube Goldberg Machines: Essays in Mormon Theology \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Joseph Spencer is one of the most astute readers of sacred texts working in Mormon Studies. Blending theological savvy, historical grounding, and sensitive readings of scripture, he has produced \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003ean original and compelling case for consecration and the life of discipleship\u003c\/span\u003e.” — Terryl Givens, author, \u003cem\u003eWrestling the Angel: The Foundations of Mormon Thought\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003eIt deserves to be read widely\u003c\/span\u003e, however, and the message of consecration deserves discussion in Mormon sacrament meetings, Sunday schools, and General Conferences....\u003cem\u003e For Zion\u003c\/em\u003e is clearly a work of rigorous philosophical and theological scholarship. It is not a simple book with a simple message. It is a complex book with a simple message. And, if Spencer has it right, the real work of consecration is the hinge upon which the hope of the Restoration turns, and the time for that work is not future, it is now.” — Les Blake, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/forums.mormonletters.org\/yaf_postsm2850_Spencer-For-Zion-A-Mormon-Theology-of-Hope-reviewed-by-Les-Blake.aspx#2850\"\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“\u003cem\u003eFor Zion\u003c\/em\u003e is \u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003ethe most ambitious scholarly engagement with the law of consecration\u003c\/span\u003e since Hugh Nibley’s \u003cem\u003eApproaching Zion\u003c\/em\u003e.\" — Blair Hodges, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/bycommonconsent.com\/2014\/07\/30\/review-spencer-for-zion\/\"\u003eBy Common Consent\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Those interested in and familiar with Mormon theology will find this a refreshing read... Spencer’s book \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003eadds freshness and credibility\u003c\/span\u003e to the literature, and his contribution to this topic is noteworthy.” — Lauren McCombs, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/byustudies.byu.edu\/showTitle.aspx?title=9538\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eBYU Studies\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“What Spencer’s book drives home (and is all the reason for reading this \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003eremarkable\u003c\/span\u003e book) is the invaluable insight that our hope in the future transformation of the world is made most evident in our loving answerability for its present circumstances.” — George Handley, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/homewaters\/2015\/03\/the-hope-of-stewardship-a-review-of-joseph-spencers-for-zion-a-mormon-theology-of-hope.html\"\u003eHome Waters\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/spencer_compact.jpg?1210\" style=\"margin-right: 5px; float: left;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/joseph-m-spencer\"\u003eJoseph M. Spencer\u003c\/a\u003e is a PhD candidate in philosophy at the University of New Mexico, where he studies contemporary French thought. He is the author of \u003cem\u003eAn Other Testament: On Typology\u003c\/em\u003e (Salt Press, 2012; Neal A. Maxwell Institute reissue, 2014), as well as of numerous essays on both philosophy and Mormon Studies. He is currently the associate director of the Mormon Theology Seminar and an associate editor of the \u003cem\u003eJournal of Book of Mormon Studies\u003c\/em\u003e. He and Karen, his wife, live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with their five children.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e More Information: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e188 Pages \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58958-568-3 (paperback)\u003cbr\u003ePublished June 2014\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"paperback","offer_id":31731836813396,"sku":"978-1-58958-568-3","price":19.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/products\/Spencer_Final_Cover2.jpg?v=1397855825"},{"product_id":"exploring-mormon-thought-4","title":"Exploring Mormon Thought: Volume 4, God's Plan to Heal Evil","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/blake-t-ostler\"\u003eBlake T. Ostler\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“Packed full of rich treasures.”\u003c\/span\u003e — \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.millennialstar.org\/book-review-exploring-mormon-thought-gods-plan-to-heal-evil\/\"\u003eThe Millennial Star\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“A valuable, thoughtful, and Mormon engagement with the problem of evil.”\u003c\/span\u003e — \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/associationmormonletters.org\/blog\/reviews\/current-reviews\/ostler-exploring-mormon-thought-volume-4-gods-plan-to-heal-evil-reviewed-by-connor-hilton\/\"\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2Tn6ifj\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/kindle2.png?9112655742455458650\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/exploring-mormon-thought-volume-4-gods-plan-to-heal-evil\/id1536986462?ls=1\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/applebooks_480x480.png?v=1649199519\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=vlxlEAAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/google-play-badge2_a56b9286-69fa-4581-9680-5ea7c47f0c1a_480x480.png?v=1648668766\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailable in ebook for \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2Tn6ifj\"\u003eKindle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=vlxlEAAAQBAJ\"\u003eGoogle Play\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.kobo.com\/us\/en\/ebook\/exploring-mormon-thought-volume-4-god-s-plan-to-heal-evil\"\u003eKobo\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/exploring-mormon-thought-volume-4-gods-plan-to-heal-evil\/id1536986462?ls=1\"\u003eApple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlso available through \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/35rlA8q\"\u003eAmazon\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/deseretbook.com\/p\/exploring-mormon-thought-gods-plan-to-heal-evil-v4\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eDeseret Book\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/news\/preview-emt4\"\u003eDownload a free sample preview. \u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook Description:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe problem of evil is perhaps the greatest challenge to belief in a loving and personal God. The challenge naturally leads us to ask, “Why, God, has this happened to me, to my loved ones, to my enemies?” Or, to ask with the Psalmist, “Where art thou God?” Or, to perhaps echo Jesus, “My God, my God, why hast thou abandoned me?”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this fourth volume of the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/exploring-mormon-thought\"\u003eExploring Mormon Thought\u003c\/a\u003e series, \u003cem\u003eGod's Plan to Heal Evil\u003c\/em\u003e, Blake T. Ostler examines how others in the Christian and Mormon traditions have attempted to provide solutions to this challenge and the shortcomings they contain. Ostler then looks to Mormon theology to offer what he calls the Plan of Agape, or what is perhaps the most robust explanation of how belief in a loving, personal God can be had in light of all of the suffering that exists in the world. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComprehensive Table of Contents:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton class=\"collapsible\" type=\"button\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePREFACE\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChapter 1\u003cbr\u003eWHAT WE LEARN FROM THE PROBLEM OF EVIL\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eRadical Evils\u003cbr\u003eThe Problem of Evil: The Argument\u003cbr\u003eHuman Cognitive Limitations\u003cbr\u003eThe Problem of Moral Quietude for Skeptical Theism\u003cbr\u003eThe Problem of Moral Quietude and Meticulous Providence\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChapter 2\u003cbr\u003eTHE NO MINIMUM EVIL DEFENSE\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChapter 3\u003cbr\u003eTHE FREE WILL DEFENSE\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChapter 4\u003cbr\u003eTHE LESS EVIL OPTIONS ARGUMENT\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eObjection #1\u003cbr\u003eObjection #2\u003cbr\u003eObjection #3\u003cbr\u003eObjection #4\u003cbr\u003eObjection #5\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChapter 5\u003cbr\u003eNATURAL LAW THEODICIES\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eGod’s Relation to Natural Regularities in the Tradition of Creation Out of Nothing\u003cbr\u003eProspects of a Natural Law Theodicy in the Tradition of Ex Nihilo Creation\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChapter 6\u003cbr\u003eA MORMON FINITISTIC THEODICY\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChapter 7\u003cbr\u003eA MORMON PROCESS THEODICY\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003ePrecedents in Mormon Thought for a Process Theodicy\u003cbr\u003eBasic Commitments of a Mormon Process Theodicy\u003cbr\u003eAn Outline of a Mormon Process Theodicy\u003cbr\u003eCriticisms of Process Theodicy\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChapter 8\u003cbr\u003eA RELATIONAL AGAPE THEODICY\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Nature of God’s Providence\u003cbr\u003eAn Outline of the Agape Theodicy\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChapter 9\u003cbr\u003eTHE PLAN OF AGAPE\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCan Radical Evils Benefit the Victims as an Essential Feature of God’s Plan of Agape?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChapter 10\u003cbr\u003eIS IT JUSTIFIABLE TO PERMIT CONSENT TO PERSONALITY-DESTROYING EVILS?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eIs General Consent Sufficient or Must There Be Specific Consent to the Particular Evils That We Will Actually Experience?\u003cbr\u003eHow Can the Purpose of Life be to Become United with God When Most Never Hear of Christ in this Lifetime?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChapter 11\u003cbr\u003eARE RADICAL EVILS ESSENTIAL TO THE PLAN OF AGAPE?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eGod and Natural Evils\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChapter 12\u003cbr\u003eATONEMENT IN MORMON THOUGHT\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eA. Desiderata for a Theory of Atonement\u003cbr\u003eB. Does Mormonism Add Anything to the Penal-Substitution Theory?\u003cbr\u003eC. Mormon Theories of Atonement\u003cbr\u003eD. A Brief Summary of the Compassion Theory of Atonement\u003cbr\u003eE. Response to Critiques of the Compassion Theory\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHEALING EVIL: A CONCLUSION\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAppendix\u003cbr\u003eSELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR PROCESS THEODICY\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBibliography\u003cbr\u003eIndex\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/news\/q-a-blake-ostler-emt4\"\u003eQ\u0026amp;A with the Author\u003c\/a\u003e:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eQ: For those unfamiliar with the Exploring Mormon Thought series, can you give us a general overview of the previous volumes?\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA:\u003ci\u003e Exploring Mormon Thought \u003c\/i\u003eis an exploration of the philosophical and theological implications of various views entertained in the Mormon tradition. \u003cspan\u003eThe first volume, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Attributes of God\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, addresses the attributes of God from a Mormon perspective. I argue that God cannot know what acts a person will freely do in the future. I also assesse the attributes of divine power, divine mutability, divine pathos (or emotions and feelings), divine temporality, and human and divine nature. The first volume also expounds a Mormon Christology or theory of Christ as both fully human and fully divine at once.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe second volume, \u003ci\u003eThe Love of God and the Problems of Theism\u003c\/i\u003e, addresses Mormon soteriology or theory of salvation. I address whether God's love can be properly called \"unconditional\" in Mormon thought. I also address the problems of petitionary prayer—why would we ask God to do anything when God is already committed to doing what is best and knows far better than we do what is good for us? I develop a theory of ethics based upon a modified agape (love) theory of ethics and address and critique salvation by grace and predestination in classic Christian thought. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe third volume, \u003ci\u003eOf God and Gods\u003c\/i\u003e, addresses the relation of the Israelite council of gods, the early Christian view of the Godhead and the angel of Yahweh, and finally analyzes the Mormon view of the Godhead as a social trinity that reconciles these views. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003e \u003cb\u003eQ: The fourth volume is titled \u003ci\u003eGod’s Plan to Heal Evil\u003c\/i\u003e. Can you briefly describe what you mean by that?\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA: In the 4th volume I review numerous approaches within the traditional Judeo-Christian-Muslim theism to the kinds of moral and natural evils that plague us. In light of these attempts to explain how evil is consistent with God's existence, I present at length an explanation of how God's purposes for us—framed within what Mormons call \"The Plan of Salvation\"—places our experience of evil into a context that not merely justifies God's permission of evil (a standard theodicy) but how evil functions in our lives to fulfill God's plan. The answer to the problem of evil is not as much a defense of God, but an insight into how evil works to refine us and give us the opportunity to learn to love in the way that God loves us, and in so doing to heal the evil so that it serves a redemptive purpose.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eQ: Can you give us a brief overview of how this volume is organized?\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA: The 4th volume begins by looking at what I consider to be the best responses to the argument from evil against God's existence. I conclude that the fact of the amounts and kinds of evil that we experience show that the omni-God in the Calvinistic and Molinist traditions does not exist. I then look at Open Theism and present a new argument based on the option that God had to create virtually omniscient creatures that Open Theism cannot answer. I then develop finitist and process theodicies based on views held in the Mormon tradition and conclude that they are live options but are not persuasive. I then present a view of God's purposely using evil as a part of his plan to achieve His purposes to bring us to the status that we can love as He does and to be fit for a relationship with the persons of the Godhead that fully deifies us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eQ: For readers unfamiliar with the problem of evil from a philosophical perspective, can you briefly explain it\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA: The problem is evil is both a philosophical and an existential problem. How can we believe that God exists when such belief entails that God is all powerful and therefore can have a world without evil, is all-good and therefore desires a world without evil, and we are then led to ask: why is there evil? The further question arises that even if we could show that belief in God is logically consistent with the fact of evil, how could we trust in God when he leaves us subject to evils like the Holocaust or murder, rape, and child abuse?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eQ: Can you briefly describe the Christian theological frameworks you address in this volume?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA: I discuss the issue of evil from the perspective of those who believe in an all-controlling God (e.g. Calvinsts, on some interpretations Thomists and Muslims), a God who exercises meticulous providence or that can create any feasible world (e.g. Molinists and Open Theists), a limited God who is like a super-advanced scientist (Finitism), or a God who can influence everything but not unilaterally control anything (Process thought), and a God who can control whether there are natural laws but not what those natural laws shall be if He chooses to have an ordered world (the Relational Agape view of God).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eQ: You argue in the fourth volume that a God who creates \u003cem\u003eex-nihilo\u003c\/em\u003e does not exist. Can you give us a taste of your support for this argument?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA: If God creates \u003ci\u003eex nihilo\u003c\/i\u003e (out of nothing) then He can have a world without moral evils and diseases and the best explanation for how that could be is that we do not have sufficient cognitive grasp to judge God's purposes. However, such a view entails that everything must be for the best and so we can just allow anything at all to happen and be satisfied that it is all for the best. Given such a view, personal moral decisions and acts are never necessary. But no Christian, Jew, or Muslim could accept that. Or, in the alternative, God could have created us virtually omniscient so that we could rid the world of many natural evils that occur such as infectious diseases. God's failure to do so shows that God is not all-good because He did not avail himself of morally superior options.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eQ: Does Mormonism add anything new to the problem of evil?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA: Mormonism makes possible a view that God must work within a pre-existing natural framework that explains why God has to deal with just the kinds of natural laws and persons who actually exist and how we are not thrown into the world against our will and can consent to confront the kinds and amounts of evils that actually occur. Most importantly, Mormonism explains how confronting a world with the kinds and types of evils that actually occur is worth it in light of the fact that it is the only way to achieve the superlative and crowning good of participating fully in the relationship of loving divine unity—the greatest possible good. Mormonism provides a framework where evil can be the mentor of Gods by being redeemed through learning to love one another because we live in a challenging world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: What are you hoping readers will gain from reading this volume?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA: \u003cspan\u003eA theodicy is an explanation of how it is possible that there is genuine evil in the world if there is a loving God. There are several live options for viewing God's permission of evil in the Mormon tradition. However, the Relational Agape theodicy suggests that the world is lovingly ordered to serve us to learn to be as God is by learning to love as God does. The world is not hostile to us but serves as an environment suited to mentoring gods. The people in our lives are loving angels who serve us, even when it appears that they are doing evil to us and it is really difficult to deal with them. The evils that we experience are a call to redeem evil by healing it through love—even (or especially) when it is gut-wrenching and doing so goes against our set human nature. The Agape theodicy is a recognition that love is the greatest power in the universe. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlake T. Ostler\u003cbr\u003eOctober 2020\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eListen to our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/authorcast\/128-ostler-emt4\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAuthorcast\u003c\/a\u003e interview with Blake T. Ostler:\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003caudio controls=\"controls\" preload=\"none\"\u003e \u003csource src=\"http:\/\/files.gregkofford.com\/podcast\/E128_Ostler_EMT4_Interview.mp3\"\u003e\u003c\/audio\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eGod's Plan to Heal Evil\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e“\u003c\/span\u003eAnd yet I do find value and inspiration in the endeavor of theology. Certainly thinking deeply through the things of God should be considered at least a partial fulfillment of the biblical command to love God with all of one’s mind. And even if one doesn’t reach absolute certainty on a number of topics, thoughtful analytical thinking can at least lead to some consideration of what is logically possible or impossible and what theological conclusions seem more or less likely given certain assumptions and commitments to truth claims. It is in that regard that I find Ostler’s series on Exploring Mormon Thought\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e a must read for any serious student of the theology of Mormonism\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e” — \u003c\/span\u003eErik Champenois, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/associationmormonletters.org\/blog\/reviews\/current-reviews\/ostler-exploring-mormon-thought-volume-4-gods-plan-to-heal-evil-reviewed-by-erik-champenois\/\"\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“To those who have struggled to believe in God in light of the problem of evil, \u003cem\u003eGod’s Plan to Heal Evil\u003c\/em\u003e offers viable and compelling alternatives. And to those who, like me, found themselves asking 'Why, God?' over the last year,\u003cem\u003e God’s Plan to Heal Evil\u003c\/em\u003e offers answers and hope—and for that, I am grateful.” — Jaxon Washburn, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/associationmormonletters.org\/blog\/reviews\/current-reviews\/ostler-exploring-mormon-thought-gods-plan-to-heal-evil-reviewed-by-jaxon-washburn\/\"\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003ePacked full of rich treasures\u003c\/span\u003e. . . . It shows us how a loving God provided a Savior that heals us and warmly brings us back into full agape relationship with the Godhead.” — \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.millennialstar.org\/book-review-exploring-mormon-thought-gods-plan-to-heal-evil\/\"\u003eThe Millennial Star\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“A \u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003evaluable, thoughtful\u003c\/span\u003e, and Mormon engagement with the problem of evil and what the Atonement can mean within a Mormon context. A worthy debate partner of a book.” — Conor Hilton, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/associationmormonletters.org\/blog\/reviews\/current-reviews\/ostler-exploring-mormon-thought-volume-4-gods-plan-to-heal-evil-reviewed-by-connor-hilton\/\"\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for the \u003ci\u003eExploring Mormon Thought\u003c\/i\u003e series:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/news\/q-a-blake-ostler-emt4\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e \u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“These books are\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003e the most important works on Mormon theology ever written\u003c\/span\u003e. There is nothing currently available that is even close to the rigor and sophistication of these volumes. B. H. Roberts and John A. Widtsoe may have had interesting insights in the early part of the twentieth century, but they had neither the temperament nor the training to give a rigorous defense of their views in dialogue with a wider stream of Christian theology. Sterling McMurrin and Truman Madsen had the capacity to engage Mormon theology at this level, but neither one did.” — \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/maxwellinstitute.byu.edu\/publications\/review\/?vol=18\u0026amp;num=1\u0026amp;id=608\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eFARMS Review\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e, Neal A. Maxwell Institute, Brigham Young University\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“This may be \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003ethe most exciting volume to come out on Mormon theology ever\u003c\/span\u003e. I eagerly await it as I think it will demonstrate a maturity of Mormon theology in that it will take ‘as given’ a presentation of the basics of Mormon thought. One hopes that other authors will present engagements with other major thinkers such as Heidegger, Gadamer, Derrida, or others. However clearly before one can move on to this more ‘mature’ level of discourse, the beginnings have to be established. While I'm sure other writers may take exception to some of Blake's positions in this first volume, he clearly is blazing the trail in an exciting way. Further it opens up to non-Mormons a clear and lucid presentation of Mormon theology that one can't get from most other writings.” — Clark Goble, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.aml-online.org\/Reviews\/Review.aspx?id=3717\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n“I hope that Ostler’s work finds a wide audience within the Church. \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003eAnyone who thinks seriously about the meaning of LDS doctrine should read it\u003c\/span\u003e. It is a book that will take some time to unpack and some time for its influence to be felt.” — James McLachlan, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/byustudies.byu.edu\/showTitle.aspx?title=7994\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBYU Studies\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Other Volumes in the Exploring Mormon Thought Series: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/exploring-mormon-thought-volume-1-the-attributes-of-god\"\u003eVolume 1, The Attributes of God\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca style=\"line-height: 1.2;\" href=\"\/products\/exploring-mormon-thought-volume-2\"\u003eVolume 2, The Problems of Theism and the Love of God\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/exploring-mormon-thought-volume-3-of-god-and-gods\"\u003eVolume 3, Of God and Gods\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlake T. Ostler is a practicing attorney specializing in educational law, employment law and intellectual property. He has published widely on Mormon philosophy in journals such as \u003ci\u003eReligious Studies, International Journal for the Philosophy of Religion, Dialogue: Journal of Mormon Thought, BYU Studies, Element,\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eFARMS Review of Books\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e255 pages\u003cbr\u003eISBN 978-1-58958-191-3 (hardcover); \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-formula=\"='ISBN list'!R[0]C[0]\" data-sheets-userformat='{\"2\":10627,\"3\":{\"1\":2,\"2\":\"0\",\"3\":1,\"4\":1},\"4\":{\"1\":2,\"2\":16711935},\"10\":2,\"11\":3,\"14\":{\"1\":2,\"2\":0},\"16\":10}' data-sheets-value='{\"1\":3,\"3\":9781589587199}'\u003e978-1-58958-648-2 (paperback)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/EMT4_Press_Kit.pdf?v=1602277604\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePress Kit\u003c\/a\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"hardcover","offer_id":32859753414740,"sku":"978-1-58958-191-3","price":34.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"paperback","offer_id":32859753447508,"sku":"978-1-58958-648-2","price":24.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"paperback binding error 10% off","offer_id":45188033314987,"sku":null,"price":22.45,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/products\/Ostler4_pb_cover.jpg?v=1664293293"},{"product_id":"even-unto-bloodshed","title":"Even unto Bloodshed: An LDS Perspective on War","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/duane-boyce\"\u003eDuane Boyce\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003e “A critical text for anybody that wishes to understand Mormon thought on war.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003e”\u003c\/span\u003e — \u003cem\u003eInterpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/1c4FsjA\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/kindle2.png?9112655742455458650\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"APPLELINK\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/ibooks2.png?6312402007540361085\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailable in ebook for \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/1c4FsjA\"\u003eKindle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/w\/even-unto-bloodshed-duane-boyce\/1121959927?ean=2940151417532\"\u003eNook\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/store.kobobooks.com\/en-US\/ebook\/even-unto-bloodshed-an-lds-perspective-on-war-parts-1-2\"\u003eKobo\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/geo.itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/even-unto-bloodshed-lds-perspective\/id997142423?mt=11\u0026amp;uo=6\"\u003eApple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlso available through \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2QHNjvf\"\u003eAmazon\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/news\/18577988-preview-i-even-unto-bloodshed-an-lds-perspective-on-war-i\"\u003eDownlaod a free sample preview.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Book Description:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 1.2;\"\u003eWhen carefully examined, both secular and scriptural arguments for pacifism ultimately fail. Once such pacifist arguments are considered, rebutted, and respectfully set aside, it is possible to construct a sound framework for a scriptural view of war, at least in general terms. Such a framework is not pacifist, but it is anything but aggressive, and includes the quality of heart—not to mention, the wisdom—expected of all disciples of Christ, whatever their task or circumstance. It was not an anomaly when the Lord instructed the Nephites to defend their families “even unto bloodshed;” comprehensively understood, the statement expresses a genuine, profound, and conceptually rich scriptural principle.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/authorcast\"\u003eAuthorCast\u003c\/a\u003e Interview with the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003caudio preload=\"none\" controls=\"controls\"\u003e \u003csource src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/Duane_Boyce.mp3\"\u003e\u003c\/audio\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComprehensive Table of Contents:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcknowledgments\u003cbr\u003eIntroduction: Thinking about War\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Plan and General Conclusions of the Book\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart 1: Just-War Theory and Pacifism: Secular Arguments\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. The Common-Sense Secular View of War\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eJust-War Theory\u003cbr\u003eJust War vs. Justified War\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2. Pacifism: The “Anti-Violence” Version\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eGetting Clear about Pacifism\u003cbr\u003e“Anti-Violence” Pacifism\u003cbr\u003eThe Relational Foundation of Right and Wrong\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3. Pacifism: The “Anti-War” Version\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e“Anti-War” Pacifism: Two Arguments\u003cbr\u003eFour Problems\u003cbr\u003eSecular Arguments for Pacifism: Conclusion\u003cbr\u003ePacifism in Latter-day Saint Thought\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart 2: Scriptural Arguments for Pacifism\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4. Were the Ammonites Pacifists? Part One\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Received View: The Ammonites as Pacifists\u003cbr\u003eWho Were the Ammonites?\u003cbr\u003eWhat Were the Ammonites Like Before Their Conversion?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5. Were the Ammonites Pacifists? Part Two\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Ammonites’ Conversion\u003cbr\u003eRefutation of the Ammonites as Pacifist Examples\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6. On Righteousness, Discussion, and the Non-necessity of War\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e“Bad Guys and Other Bad Guys”\u003cbr\u003eCan Conflict Always Be Avoided by Discussion?\u003cbr\u003eWar and Necessity\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e7. Self-Defense and the Lord’s Involvement in War\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eSelf-Defense and the Righteous\u003cbr\u003eSelf-Defense and the Unrighteous\u003cbr\u003eScriptural Expressions about Defense\u003cbr\u003eGod’s Role in the Battles of the Righteous: The Importance of Context\u003cbr\u003eHow God Most Often Fights the Battles of the Righteous\u003cbr\u003eLiteral Cases of God Fighting the Battles of the Righteous\u003cbr\u003eWhat Accounts for the Difference?\u003cbr\u003ePredisposition and Its Effects\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e8. A “Narrative” Reading of the Book of Mormon: Part One\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eA Narrative Interpretation\u003cbr\u003eIntellectual Soundness\u003cbr\u003eExamining the Corollary of the Narrative Approach: The Example of Captain Moroni\u003cbr\u003eExamining the Corollary of the Narrative Approach: The Example of the Lord’s Own Conduct\u003cbr\u003eExamining the Corollary of the Narrative Approach: The Example of Nephi\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e9. A “Narrative” Reading of the Book of Mormon: Part Two\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Narrative Approach and Mormon\u003cbr\u003eThe Narrative Approach and the End of Nephite Civilization\u003cbr\u003eThe Narrative Approach and the Savior’s Teachings in Third Nephi\u003cbr\u003eThe Narrative Approach and Nephi’s Inauguration of Nephite Culture\u003cbr\u003eConclusion: On the Narrative Approach and a Pacifist Book of Mormon\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e10. Three Arguments for Pacifism\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eA Continuum of Acceptable Approaches to War\u003cbr\u003eDoctrine and Covenants Section 98\u003cbr\u003eA “Pacifist Manifesto”\u003cbr\u003eReproach without Evidence\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e11. Eugene England’s Anti-Violence Ethic\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eNephi and Laban\u003cbr\u003eAbortion and Capital Punishment\u003cbr\u003eOld Testament Violence and the Prince of Peace\u003cbr\u003eGod’s Violence and Treating People as Ends\u003cbr\u003eEnding Conflict\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e12. Self-Defense, Pre-Emptive Action, and Holocaust\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eA Historical Example\u003cbr\u003eThe Question of Holocaust\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart 3: Toward an LDS Theory of War\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e13. Getting Past Pacifism\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eIntellectual Explanation and Plausibility\u003cbr\u003eIntellectual Revisions and Scientific Explanation\u003cbr\u003eIntellectual Revisions and Scriptural Claims for Pacifism\u003cbr\u003ePlausibility\u003cbr\u003eSummary 1: Direct Claims Related to Pacifism\u003cbr\u003eSummary 2: Corollaries of The Direct Claims\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e14. The Sermon on the Mount\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eFundamental Texts for Fashioning an LDS View of War\u003cbr\u003eThe Sermon on the Mount: Introduction\u003cbr\u003eAnti-Violence Readings of the Sermon on the Mount\u003cbr\u003eA Third Reading of the Sermon on the Mount\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e15. Alma 48 and Doctrine and Covenants 98\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eEight Features about War in Alma Chapter 48\u003cbr\u003eDoctrine and Covenants 98\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e16. Two Modern Prophets\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003ePresident Gordon B. Hinckley’s General Conference Addresses\u003cbr\u003ePresident Spencer W. Kimball’s 1976 Ensign Message\u003cbr\u003eA Pacifist Statement?\u003cbr\u003eUnity of the Key Texts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e17. An LDS Framework Regarding War\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eZion and Non-Zion Societies\u003cbr\u003eThe United States\u003cbr\u003eA Multi-Faceted, but Single, Gospel Outlook\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAppendices\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eAppendix 1: Considering the Size of the Ammonite Population\u003cbr\u003eAppendix 2: The Promises to Nephi and Lehi\u003cbr\u003eAppendix 3: A Sketch of Joseph Smith’s Divine Manifestations\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBibliography\u003cbr\u003eIndex\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ\u0026amp;A with the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: What prompted you to begin writing this book? \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003eDuane\u003c\/span\u003e:  Nothing is sadder than war, and yet nothing seems more common. Although it is tempting to just sit back and hope conflict will go away, there is really no hope for this. And that means disciples of Christ, in particular, must be extremely thoughtful on the subject. Is war ever permitted? If not, why not? And if it is, under what circumstances? What can possibly justify the devastation and human misery entailed by military conflict?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is not difficult to find a multitude of mortals’ opinions on such matters, but for followers of Christ this is far from the main concern. Ultimately, to whatever degree we can discover it, we want to know the Lord’s own disposition toward violence and to embrace \u003cem\u003ethat\u003c\/em\u003e. And that means we want to search the scriptures with care and to bring to bear every relevant consideration. We cannot assume that the matter is simple and that it can be settled with a quick verse or two. It seems to me that the issues are more complicated and subtle than that. That’s why my study led to a book rather than to an essay.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: A broad readership is always the most desirable, but is there also an intended audience for this book? And what do you hope they get out of it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003eDuane\u003c\/span\u003e:  At some point, almost everyone becomes intensely interested in the moral evaluation of war. It’s hard to say when that will happen, but I think most people face it at some point. This book is for anyone who decides it’s time to consider the matter comprehensively, from a gospel point of view. Comprehensiveness seems important to me. After all, it’s not hard to have a couple of passages in mind that seem to settle the question of war, but the problem is that others can have a different set of passages in mind that, to them, settle the question in a different way. I think many would find it helpful to read a book that tries to approach the matter more comprehensively than that.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn my view, all the relevant scriptural passages cohere in a unified framework about war. They actually don’t compete but genuinely synchronize in their collective illumination of this gospel topic. Anyone interested in how this is possible will be interested in this book. Or so it seems to me, at any rate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e       \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: In this book you argue that the position of the pacifist is not tenable, either on secular or scriptural grounds. Why might a Christian be drawn to pacifism, and, conversely, why might another Christian be drawn to non-pacifism? \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003eDuane\u003c\/span\u003e:  All disciples detest violence. It is in the DNA of Christian embrace. And that gives pacifism a natural gravitational force: its appeal is both intrinsic and compelling. But an equally intrinsic and compelling influence in Christian DNA is the love of our families, and of our brothers and sisters in general, and the obligation we feel to protect them from being brutalized and murdered.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe love of peace and the love of our brothers and sisters are both genuine and both exert a natural influence on disciples of Christ. People end up leaning one way or the other, but I think everyone actually feels the pull of both. Given the set of choices, the result is a genuine psychological and spiritual tension. Who doesn’t feel it?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: You spend a good deal of time in the book outlining \"Just War Theory,\" a concept first articulated in the Christian tradition by St. Augustine as an attempt to describe the criteria that must be present in order for Christians to morally participate in war. Can you briefly explain how this might or might not intersect with LDS beliefs? Do LDS need Just War Theory in order to understand how to engage in war in the present time? \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003eDuane\u003c\/span\u003e:  Just-war theory is valuable for two reasons. First, in any comprehensive look at war, it is important to consider secular arguments as well as spiritual ones. Just-war theory is a natural starting place because, as far as it goes, it captures most people’s intuitions, and is very helpful. Second, because its origins are Christian, its principles are not uncongenial to a Christian point of view and therefore the theory is relevant to any consideration of an LDS approach. To the degree it is possible to create an LDS framework about war, just-war theory can help in thinking about it. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Where do you see this book being positioned with regard to the ongoing conversation concerning LDS perspectives on war and peace? What original contribution does this book make to that conversation? \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003eDuane\u003c\/span\u003e:  Given the tension identified previously, it is only natural that positions will coalesce around one pole or the other. The focus will be either on the evil of violence or on the necessity of defending human beings from brutality and murder. Both are legitimate, of course, so the real question is how to address both matters within a single conceptual frame. What point of view can give full weight to both considerations and simultaneously remove the tension between them? Creating that kind of frame is the purpose of this book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: If a person holds non-pacifist beliefs regarding war, does that mean such a person is \"pro-war?\" What are some of the elements of your position that you think pacifists misconstrue or misunderstand? Can the same be said for non-pacifists' understandings of pacifism? \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003eDuane\u003c\/span\u003e:  As to the first question: Stated this broadly, it seems to me impossible for a disciple to be “pro-war.” A fundamental hatred of violence is a property of discipleship, and this means the proper default position is always one of vigorously resisting war as a solution to problems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs to the second and third questions: I think mutual misunderstanding is unavoidable given the tension between detesting violence and loving those suffering from aggression. Whichever way we lean, it is easy to conclude that those on the other end just don’t appreciate what we appreciate. That’s why people with different views can be impatient with each other. It’s easy to see others as blind to what really matters. In my view, \u003cem\u003eboth\u003c\/em\u003e really matter and no approach to war can be satisfactory if it does not give full weight to both. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Having devoted a lot of time to thinking about war and peace with regard to Christian discipleship, what would you say is the problem most difficult for Latter-day Saints to wrestle with? \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003eDuane\u003c\/span\u003e: The most difficult problem is the tension I’ve mentioned. It occurs not only in our hearts, but in the scriptures themselves, which at times seem to prohibit violence and at other times to promote it. This seems contradictory. Are the scriptures themselves disconnected? It can seem as if they are, and, if so, we then seem doomed either to flip-flop between the competing views or to settle permanently for one but at the cost of minimizing the other. None of this seems satisfactory. Disconnected scriptures? Spiritual flip-flopping? Permanent underestimation of a legitimate scriptural perspective?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFortunately, I think all of this unnecessary. In my view, the tension actually rests on a mistake. When we frame the issue more carefully it turns out that scriptural teachings about war fit together perfectly and they do so without minimizing anything. Appreciating the gospel message at a deeper level, the tension at the surface evaporates. To me the reasons for all of this are both fascinating and highly illuminating. It takes a book to show it (at least if we want to attempt anything close to comprehensive), but if I am right that the result is the removal of a common spiritual tension, the effort has been worth it.   \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eEven Unto Bloodshed\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“A careful and detailed argument against pacifism has long been needed, and it is hard to imagine someone doing a better job of it. The scholarship in this volume is impressive, and it is likely to be\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003e the definitive work on the subject\u003c\/span\u003e for years to come. Truly a major accomplishment.” — K. Codell Carter, Professor of Philosophy, Brigham Young University\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“The question of how (or whether) participation in war can be reconciled with Christian ethics has occupied the minds of such great thinkers as Augustine, Aquinas, and Grotius. Latter-day Saints, however, have given little systematic attention to the matter thus far. But it’s time. This book brilliantly opens a long overdue conversation. Carefully and systematically weighing all of the relevant scriptural texts as well as applicable statements of modern prophets, it will be \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003eindispensable for all future Mormon discussions of the subject\u003c\/span\u003e.” — Daniel C. Peterson, professor of Islamic studies and Arabic at Brigham Young University, founder of the Middle Eastern Texts Initiative, and editor of\u003cem\u003e Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Finally, we have a comprehensive and thorough discussion of war from an LDS perspective.\u003cem\u003e Even Unto Bloodshed\u003c\/em\u003e is a sustained argument that is impressive in what it delivers. It considers and rebuts a wide expanse of arguments regarding war, including time-honored claims by Hugh Nibley and Eugene England. The book brings to bear every important passage and narrative in the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants and creates a general framework for thinking about war from an LDS perspective. \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003eThe book is clear, careful in its analysis, and comprehensive in its approach. I highly recommend it!\u003c\/span\u003e” — Royal Skousen, Professor of Linguistics, Brigham Young University, Editor, \u003cem\u003eBook of Mormon Critical Text Project\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e“\u003cem\u003eEven Unto Bloodshed\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"en-US\"\u003e is \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003ea critical text\u003c\/span\u003e for anybody that wishes to understand Mormon thought on war and stands as a much-needed reassessment of pacifist ideas.” — Morgan Deane, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.mormoninterpreter.com\/a-vital-resource-for-understanding-lds-perspectives-on-war\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eInterpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003eI recommend this book\u003c\/span\u003e as an excellent treatment of an LDS point of view of war. Boyce has clearly spent much effort in studying and understanding Book of Mormon and other texts bearing on war and violence and in studying and answering the arguments of those who feel it is a pacifist book. I suggest any that any interested Latter-day Saint buy it and read it. That includes teachers, parents, young people, old people. As for me, I am going to give it to our children for Christmas.” — B. Kent Harrison, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/squaretwo.org\/Sq2ArticleHarrisonBoyceBookReview.html\"\u003eSquareTwo\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin-right: 5px; float: left;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/PHOTO_2_compact.jpg?1070\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/duane-boyce\"\u003eDuane Boyce\u003c\/a\u003e received his Ph.D. at BYU and conducted his postdoctoral study at Harvard University. He has been on the faculty of BYU and is the co-author of four books. He has also published scholarly LDS papers in \u003cem\u003eBYU Studies\u003c\/em\u003e,\u003cem\u003e The FARMS Review\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Religious Educator\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eJournal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eInterpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture\u003c\/em\u003e. He is a Founding Partner of The Arbinger Institute, a worldwide leadership-training and consulting firm, and Executive Vice President of a large healthcare organization headquartered in California.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e More Information:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 1.5;\"\u003e322 pages\u003cbr\u003eISBN \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 1.5;\"\u003e978-1-58958-630-7 (paperback)\u003cbr\u003ePublished May 2015\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"paperback","offer_id":42261918154923,"sku":"978-1-58958-630-7","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/products\/Boyce_EvenUnto_Cover1.jpg?v=1430168434"},{"product_id":"perspectives-on-mormon-theology-scriptural-theology","title":"Perspectives on Mormon Theology: Scriptural Theology","description":"\u003cp\u003eedited by \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/james-e-faulconer\"\u003eJames E. Faulconer\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/joseph-m-spencer\"\u003eJoseph M. Spencer\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/goo.gl\/TDG4h6\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/kindle2.png?9112655742455458650\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/id1438032618\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/applebooks_480x480.png?v=1649199519\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=sxdoEAAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/google-play-badge2_a56b9286-69fa-4581-9680-5ea7c47f0c1a_480x480.png?v=1648668766\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailable in ebook for \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/goo.gl\/TDG4h6\"\u003eKindle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/goo.gl\/3kmfZt\"\u003eNook\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/id1438032618\"\u003eApple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=sxdoEAAAQBAJ\"\u003eGoogle Play\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/store.kobobooks.com\/en-US\/ebook\/perspectives-on-mormon-theology-scriptural-theology\"\u003eKobo\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlso available through \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2TpfiSu\"\u003eAmazon\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/news\/17227424-preview-the-scriptural-theology-volume-from-the-forthcoming-i-perspectives-on-mormon-theology-i-series\"\u003eDownload a free sample preview\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first volume of the \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/perspectives-on-mormon-theology\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-variant: small-caps;\"\u003ePerspectives on Mormon Theology\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e From the Introduction:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe phrase “theology of scripture” can be understood in two distinct ways. First, theology of scripture would be reflection on the nature of scripture, asking questions about what it means for a person or a people to be oriented by a written text (rather than or in addition to an oral tradition or a ritual tradition). In this first sense, theology of scripture would form a relatively minor part of the broader theological project, since the nature of scripture is just one of many things on which theologians reflect. Second, theology of scripture would be theological reflection guided by scripture, asking questions of scriptural texts and allowing those texts to shape the direction the theologian’s thoughts pursue. In this second sense, theology of scripture would be less a part of the larger theological project than a way of doing theology, since whatever the theologian takes up reflectively, she investigates through the lens of scripture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe essays making up this collection reflect attentiveness to both ways of understanding the phrase “theology of scripture.” Each essay takes up the relatively un-self-conscious work of reading a scriptural text but then—at some point or another—asks the self-conscious question of exactly what she or he is doing in the work of reading scripture. We have thus attempted in this book (1) to create a dialogue concerning what scripture is for Latter-day Saints, and (2) to focus that dialogue on concrete examples of Latter-day Saints reading actual scripture texts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComprehensive Table of Contents:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeries Introduction: Perspectives on Mormon Theology\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIntroduction: Scriptural Theology\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. A Mormon Reading of Job 19:23–25a\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2. “Without Money”: Equality and the Transformative Power of God’s Word\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eEconomics\u003cbr\u003ePolitics\u003cbr\u003eGod’s Word\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3. “Take No Thought”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eAddendum\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4. Jesus on Jesus: John 5 and 7\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eReading the New Testament as a Latter-day Saint\u003cbr\u003eJohannine Christology and Restoration Thought\u003cbr\u003eJohn 5: Jesus as the Divine Son\u003cbr\u003eJohn 7: Jesus and Rivers of Living Waters\u003cbr\u003eBlood and Water\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5. I, Nephi\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eAuthority\u003cbr\u003eOther Available Narratives\u003cbr\u003eThe Other Other: The Women\u003cbr\u003eThree Journeys\u003cbr\u003eThe Expansion and Compression of Time\u003cbr\u003eThe Murder\u003cbr\u003eThe Brass Plates\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6. Alma’s Wisdom-Poem to Helaman (Alma 37:35–37)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eOccasions\u003cbr\u003ePrinciples (If I Have Any)\u003cbr\u003ePoems in the Scriptures\u003cbr\u003eReading One Poem in the Book of Mormon\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e7. “Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eCommunity and Diversity\u003cbr\u003eLikening the Scriptures unto Ourselves\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e8. Records, Reading, and Writing in Doctrine and Covenants 128\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eA Brief Orientation\u003cbr\u003eReading Doctrine and Covenants 128\u003cbr\u003eReflections on a Mormon Scriptural Theology\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e9. Faith and the Ethics of Climate Change\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eLearning to See the Unseen\u003cbr\u003ePolitical Ideology as Obstacle to Faith\u003cbr\u003eThe Dialectic of Faith\u003cbr\u003eThe Dialectic of Human Significance in LDS Belief\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e10. The Way toward the Garden: Moses 5:1–12\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003ePropaedeutic: My Hermeneutical Principles (An Always Continuing Draft)\u003cbr\u003eBody: The Way toward the Garden: Moses 5:1–12\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eContributors\u003cbr\u003eIndex\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ\u0026amp;A with the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003eFor this Q\u0026amp;A, \u003cspan style=\"font-variant: small-caps;\"\u003ePerspectives\u003c\/span\u003e series co-editor Loyd Isao Ericson discusses the inaugural volume with editors James E. Faulconer and Joseph M. Spencer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLoyd: \u003c\/strong\u003eWhile we would love to say that we initially planned it this way, it is fortuitous that the first volume for the \u003cem\u003ePerspectives\u003c\/em\u003e series is on scriptural theology. How would you describe scriptural theology? What is the relationship between scripture and theology?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #cccccc;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJames\u003c\/span\u003e:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eWe have borrowed the term from Protestant theology, where it means theological studies in which one tries to understand how God reveals himself in scripture, without imposing a theological system onto the biblical text. It is not necessarily opposed to historical, sociological, ideological or other kinds of interpretation. However, it does not look for what history or culture is behind the text, as does much biblical criticism. Nor does it look for how our own ideas are reflected in the text, as does ideological critique. Instead, scriptural theology tries to understand the Bible as the word of God, a text about God and human relationships with God.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJoseph\u003c\/span\u003e: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eAs anyone terribly serious about scripture knows, it's difficult to find a clearly consistent message in the canon. This scriptural voice clashes with that scriptural voice, this style of presentation differs fundamentally from that style of presentation, this book privileges a theme entirely distinct from the one privileged by that book, and so on. One might respond to such tensions and inconsistencies in, very broadly speaking, one of two ways. On the one hand, one can hope to release undesired tensions, to reconcile inconsistencies, to find a largely unified voice that's to be given greater weight than competing voices. This can be accomplished in several ways: reading quite imaginatively, scuttling inconvenient passages, translating away problems, ignoring scripture entirely. On the other hand, however, one can hope to learn from tensions, to be fascinated by inconsistencies, to welcome an irreducible chorus of voices that all together present God's word and will to humankind. This latter approach is something like what we have in mind when we speak of scriptural theology.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn a formula: we theologize because scripture is messy and complex, and we do so scripturally when we struggle to let the messiness and complexity of scripture guide our reflections.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLoyd\u003c\/strong\u003e: Is all theology scriptural? And, conversely, is all scripture reading an act of theologizing to some degree?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJames\u003c\/span\u003e: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eThe answer to both questions is yes, in a qualified sense in the first case and an unqualified sense in the second.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the sense that, presumably, all Christian theologies advert eventually to scripture, all of it is scriptural. But sometimes theology uses scripture as, more or less, a proof text for the ideas that it wants to hang on scripture. The point of scriptural theology is to focus on the text and see what things arise from it. The line between scriptural theology and other theologies, though, is not bright.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the other hand, if a person reads scripture and talks about it, gives explanations, relates on thing to another, that person is theologizing. So all scripture reading and discussion is a kind of scriptural theology. In both cases, what would make something scriptural theology in our sense would be (1) how explicitly they were about doing theology and (2) how closely what they say is tied to the scriptural text.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJoseph\u003c\/span\u003e: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eTo the extent that scripture, as scripture, motivates theological reflection in the first place, all theology could be said to be scriptural. In the sense reviewed above, however, not all theology is scriptural. Any theology that pretends to do its work while oversimplifying scripture distances itself from scripture—and to that extent, it could be said to cease to be scriptural. Of course, no theological reflection avoids oversimplifying scripture. So perhaps it's best to say that all theology is scriptural to a certain degree, but no theology is or even could be perfectly scriptural. One of the tasks of the scriptural theologian is to do all she can to work against the inevitable tendency to move away from scripture, to avoid its complexities and difficulties, to embrace something cleaner and more definitive than the word God's given her to work with.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd it's certainly the case that all scripture reading amounts to a theological exercise—at least whenever the reader attempts, even if only halfheartedly, to understand scripture. Every understanding of scripture, even if it's terribly misinformed historically or naive philosophically, requires a certain theoretical investment and an attempt at deciding what in scripture matters or doesn't matter. That investment and that attempt lie at the heart of every theology. In the end, we're all theologians; we're just more or less conscious of the fact, more or less conscientious about the fact, more or less arrogant about our theological speculations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLoyd\u003c\/strong\u003e: One of the primary goals of the Perspectives series is to highlight the many ways in which Mormon theology can be understood and explored. Given that all Latter-day Saints share a single set of canonized scripture, why is it that so many varied perspectives exist?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJames\u003c\/span\u003e:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e Isn’t that a bit like asking “Why is it that so many varied Latter-day Saints exist?” More seriously: if I believe in continuing revelation, then I believe that God can and will continue to reveal. That implies differences in the revelations. Subaltern to that idea is that to believe that revelations will between differ people. I would say that there are different perspectives because the Holy Spirit continues to teach us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJoseph\u003c\/span\u003e:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e Perspectives are internal to the canon itself. One might think here of some of the prophecies Mormons associate most often with Malachi. They were produced originally in Hebrew. Over the centuries following their original production and textual arrangement, they were translated into a variety of languages used by Jews scattered all over the ancient world: various renderings in Greek, in Aramaic, in Syriac, and so on. Those translations in all their variety affected the reception and popular understandings of those prophecies, which were then reflected in certain early Christian renderings and uses of the prophecies—some of which were eventually canonized in the New Testament. In the meanwhile, the resurrected Christ visited Israel in the New World and quoted the Malachi prophecies in some other form or language, a form that would nonetheless be rendered in English to match the King James Version of the Hebrew text passed down by scribes—though other passages in the Book of Mormon borrow the language of those same prophecies in creative and inventive ways. When the angel Moroni came to visit Joseph Smith, however, he quoted from the same prophecies, but with some inventive and theologically significant variations—variations that would be canonized in both the Pearl of Great Price and the Doctrine and Covenants at different points in Mormon history. And yet then again, in letters written during the Nauvoo period, canonized in the Doctrine and Covenants several decades before Moroni's version, Joseph quoted the passage from Malachi and noted that it was sufficiently clear for his purposes.Here we have a single prophetic text that, internal to the canon itself, is subjected to all sorts of perspectives and project, differing interpretive programs and communicating with distinct audiences.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYet all of them end up within the covers of a single set of canonized scripture. That we as readers of scripture mirror the variety and multiplicity already on display in the scriptures themselves is only to be expected.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLoyd\u003c\/strong\u003e: What challenges exist in Mormonism between engaging in scriptural theology and having authoritative prophets leading the LDS Church? How do your authors respond to these challenges?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJames\u003c\/span\u003e:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eI read and study scripture to learn from it. There isn’t any in-principle difficulty between doing that and believing that there are those who can speak authoritatively for God, especially not if I believe in continuing revelation, that the scriptures are not closed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePerhaps this isn’t completely relevant, but it raises a pet peeve of mine, our discussions of authority. Authority is a very complicated matter about which we almost always think too simplistically. It’s too big a question to deal with well here, but let me say something briefly: Without knowing that we do, we use the language of Kant’s essay “What is Enlightenment?” and talk as if it is possible to reject all authority. But it doesn’t take much to know that can’t be.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe question isn’t whether to accept authority, but which ones and how. And those questions cannot be answered independent of my ceding authority to the authorities I recognize. So real authority, as opposed to despotism, is something that cannot exist without the agreement and support of those whom it governs. (Want to know more, read Gadamer’s \u003cem\u003eTruth and Method\u003c\/em\u003e.)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJoseph\u003c\/span\u003e:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eAdam Miller has suggested drawing a distinction between theology and doctrine, understanding the latter term to refer to institutionally normative ideas—the kinds of things one must or should believe to adhere to a certain shared faith. There's virtue in that suggestion, since it allows one to set aside as the work of theology to reflect in a way that neither distressingly confronts nor unthinkingly follows institutionally authoritative statements issued by those positioned to govern the Church. It's also helpful that the Church has never really established any officially binding interpretations of the scriptures, simply affirming their truth and encouraging the Saints to read them with real intent and an eye single to God's glory. In short, it's possible to deny, in certain ways at least, that there are any terribly substantive challenges along the lines suggested by this question.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut in other ways, there are real challenges, of course. Scriptural theologians have to get used to hearing objections like, \"Well, I've never heard that in General Conference!\" or, \"If that kind of thing mattered, then the Brethren would be talking about it!\" It's too easy to retort to such objections that Church leaders urge close study of the scriptures, or to dismiss such objectors by suggesting that they're simply not curious enough about scripture. The best response is probably to see in such objections reason to ask oneself whether one's questions have indeed gotten too far afield, or why one's reflections don't seem relevant to the average Latter-day Saint.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHow do our authors respond to these challenges? It's hard to say without reading through all the essays afresh with that question in mind. It's certain that they're all quite aware of the difficulties, that they're all used to hearing the kinds of objections mentioned above. And it's certain that they therefore attempt to position themselves rhetorically so as to be as non-threatening, as open-mindedly reasonable, and as faithfully committed to the Restoration and its core institution as they can possibly be. It's to be hoped that they succeed in doing so. And there's reason to think that, for the most part, they do.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eContributors:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIntroduction: Scriptural Theology\u003cbr\u003e-\u003cem\u003e     \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/james-e-faulconer\"\u003eJames E. Faulconer\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/joseph-m-spencer\"\u003eJoseph M. Spencer\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1. A Mormon Reading of Job 19:23–25a\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e-     \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/joseph-m-spencer\"\u003eJoseph M. Spencer\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e2. “Without Money”: Equality and the Transformative Power of God’s Word\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e-     \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/robert-couch\"\u003eRobert Couch\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e3. “Take No Thought”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e-     \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/adam-s-miller\"\u003eAdam S. Miller\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e4. Jesus on Jesus: John 5 and 7\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e-     \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/eric-d-huntsman\"\u003eEric D. Huntsman\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e5. I, Nephi\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e-     \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/claudia-l-bushman\"\u003eClaudia L. Bushman\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e6. Alma’s Wisdom-Poem to Helaman (Alma 37:35–37)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e-     \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/bruce-w-jorgensen\"\u003eBruce W. Jorgensen\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e7. “Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e-     \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/jane-hafen\"\u003eJane Hafen\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e8. Records, Reading, and Writing in Doctrine and Covenants 128\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e-     \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/jenny-webb\"\u003eJenny Webb\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e9. Faith and the Ethics of Climate Change\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e-     \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/george-b-handley\"\u003eGeorge B. Handley\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e10. The Way toward the Garden: Moses 5:1–12\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e-     \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/james-e-faulconer\"\u003eJames E. Faulconer\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e211 pages\u003cbr\u003eISBN Paperback 978-1-58958-712-0; Hardcover 978-1-58958-713-7\u003cbr\u003ePublished February 2015\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"paperback","offer_id":962231180,"sku":"978-1-58958-712-0","price":24.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"hardcover","offer_id":962232428,"sku":"978-1-58958-713-7","price":59.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/products\/Perspectives_ScripturalTheology_front_cover_pb.jpg?v=1420492008"},{"product_id":"perspectives-on-mormon-theology-apologetics","title":"Perspectives on Mormon Theology: Apologetics","description":"\u003cp\u003eedited by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/blair-g-van-dyke\"\u003eBlair G. Van Dyke\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/loyd-isao-ericson\"\u003eLoyd Isao Ericson\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e “Will expand our understanding of what it is to defend the Church, and the various ways to do so.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e” \u003c\/span\u003e— \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.millennialstar.org\/book-review-perspectives-on-mormon-theology-apologetics\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eMillennial Star\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“I hope you find it nurturing and stimulating, worth thinking and writing and talking about.” \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e— \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/associationmormonletters.org\/blog\/reviews\/current-reviews\/van-dyke-and-ericson-eds-perspectives-on-mormon-theology-apologetics-reviewed-by-harlow-clark\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/associationmormonletters.org\/blog\/2018\/02\/2017-aml-awards-finalists-3-creative-non-fiction-and-religious-non-fiction\/\"\u003eNominated for Best Religious Non-Fiction by the Association for Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/2ur9ewK\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/kindle2.png?9112655742455458650\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/perspectives-on-mormon-theology-apologetics\/id1259501812?uo=4\u0026amp;mt=11\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/applebooks_480x480.png?v=1649199519\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=kRdoEAAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/google-play-badge2_a56b9286-69fa-4581-9680-5ea7c47f0c1a_480x480.png?v=1648668766\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailable in ebook for \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/2ur9ewK\"\u003eKindle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/w\/perspectives-on-mormon-theology-loyd-isao-ericson\/1126756393?ean=2940158672804\"\u003eNook\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.kobo.com\/us\/en\/ebook\/perspectives-on-mormon-theology-apologetics\"\u003eKobo\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=kRdoEAAAQBAJ\"\u003eGoogle Play\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/perspectives-on-mormon-theology-apologetics\/id1259501812?uo=4\u0026amp;mt=11\"\u003eApple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlso available through \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/30hVEZY\"\u003eAmazon\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/deseretbook.com\/p\/perspectives-on-mormon-theology-apologetics\"\u003eDeseret Book\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/news\/preview-perspectives-on-mormon-theology-apologetics\"\u003eDownload a free sample preview.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart of the \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/perspectives-on-mormon-theology\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-variant: small-caps;\"\u003ePerspectives on Mormon Theology\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBook Description:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis volume in the \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/perspectives-on-mormon-theology\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-variant: small-caps;\"\u003ePerspectives on Mormon Theology\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e series is an exploration of Mormon apologetics—or the defense of faith. Since its very beginning, various Latter-day Saints have sought to utilize evidence and reason to actively promote or defend beliefs and claims within the Mormon tradition. Mormon apologetics reached new levels of sophistication as believers trained in fields such as Near-Eastern languages and culture, history, and philosophy began to utilize their knowledge and skills to defend their beliefs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe contributors to this volume seek to explore the textures and contours of apologetics from multiple perspectives, revealing deep theological and ideological fissures within the Mormon scholarly community concerning apologetics. However, in spite of deep-seated differences, what each author has in common is a passion for Mormonism and how it is presented and defended. This volume captures that reality and allows readers to encounter the terrain of Mormon apologetics at close range.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/authorcast\"\u003eAuthorCast\u003c\/a\u003e Interview with the Editors:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003caudio preload=\"none\" controls=\"controls\"\u003e \u003csource src=\"http:\/\/files.gregkofford.com\/podcast\/E66_Apologetics_Round_Table.mp3\"\u003e\u003c\/audio\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComprehensive Table of Contents:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePreface. A Brief Introduction and Orientation\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. Critical Foundations of Mormon Apologetics\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eApologetic Method: Negative and Positive\u003cbr\u003eApologetic Method: Evidentialism\u003cbr\u003eThe Problem of Fideism as an Apologetic Method\u003cbr\u003eNegotiating World View\u003cbr\u003eMormonism, Faith, and Reason\u003cbr\u003ePresuppositionalism\u003cbr\u003eApologetic Method: Presuppositionalism\u003cbr\u003eThe Pendulum Swings\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2. A Brief Defense of Apologetics\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eRoom for Faith and Reason\u003cbr\u003eThe Obligation to “Apologize”\u003cbr\u003eWho Needs to Do Apologetics?\u003cbr\u003ePositive Apologetics\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3. Boundary Maintenance that Pushes the Boundaries: Scriptural and Theological Insights from Apologetics\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e“As Far As It Is Translated Correctly”: The Bible and the Book of Mormon\u003cbr\u003eAuthorial Bias in the Book of Mormon: Laman and Lemuel as a Case Study\u003cbr\u003eA Divine Mother in the Book of Mormon\u003cbr\u003eThe Temple in Scripture and Antiquity\u003cbr\u003eGeography and Gentiles\u003cbr\u003eFinding Mesoamerica in the Book of Mormon\u003cbr\u003eConclusion: Boundary Maintenance or Pushing Boundaries?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4. I Think, Therefore I Defend\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5. A Wall Between Church and Academy\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6. Mormon Apologetics and Mormon Studies: Truth, History, and Love\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e“Fact” vs. “Faith”?\u003cbr\u003eThe Problem of “Tone”\u003cbr\u003eHistory and Truth in the New Journal of Book of Mormon Studies\u003cbr\u003eAsymmetrical “Friendship”\u003cbr\u003eFrom History to Sex\u003cbr\u003eFrom Playfulness to Love\u003cbr\u003eHistory, Diversity, and Love\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e7. The Intellectual Cultures of Mormonism: Faith, Reason, and the Apologetic Enterprise\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Historical Backdrop\u003cbr\u003e“Gone are the Days”\u003cbr\u003eMormon Apologetics\u003cbr\u003eFideism and Apologetics\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e8. The Role of Women in Apologetics\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eConfusion in the Definition\u003cbr\u003eWomen’s Voices\u003cbr\u003ePioneering the Internet\u003cbr\u003eCultural Influences\u003cbr\u003eFuture Implications\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e9. Avoiding Collateral Damage: Creating a Woman-Friendly Mormon Apologetics\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eIntroduction\u003cbr\u003eInversion\u003cbr\u003e“On Earth as It Is in Heaven”\u003cbr\u003eStrict Scrutiny of the Culturally Conforming\u003cbr\u003eParadox Maintenance\u003cbr\u003eConclusions\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e10. “The Perfect Union of Man and Woman”: Reclamation and Collaboration in Joseph Smith’s Theology Making\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eReclamation of Divine Collaboration\u003cbr\u003eReclamation of Ecclesiastical Collaboration\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e11. Lamanites, Apologetics, and Tensions in Mormon Anthropology\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eLamanites and Anthropology\u003cbr\u003eBook of Mormon Historicity, Lamanites, and Indexicality\u003cbr\u003eReligious Value of Lamanites\u003cbr\u003eLamanite and Interpretive Authority\u003cbr\u003eLamanite Defined by Opposition\u003cbr\u003eDissent and Human Type\u003cbr\u003eVisible Difference and America\u003cbr\u003eLamanites Continue to Stimulate and Trouble\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e12. Conceptual Confusion and the Building of Stumbling Blocks of Faith\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e13. Shifting Intellectual and Religious Paradigms: One Apologist’s Journey into Critical Study\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e14. Toward a New Vision of Apologetics\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eWhat Is Apologetics?\u003cbr\u003eWhat Does Apologetics Look Like?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e15. Apologetics as Theological Praxis\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eIntroduction\u003cbr\u003e1 Peter as Apologetic Foundation\u003cbr\u003e“With Gentleness and Reverence”\u003cbr\u003e“Come To Me All of You That Are Weary and Are Carrying Heavy Burdens”\u003cbr\u003ePastoral Theology and Apologetics\u003cbr\u003eEngagement with the Modern World\u003cbr\u003eEmbracing Religious Experience\u003cbr\u003eApologetics in a Modern Context\u003cbr\u003eThe Pastoral Framework\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eContributors\u003cbr\u003eIndex\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ\u0026amp;A with the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eQ: Starting broadly with the scope of the Perspectives on Mormon Theology series, can you provide some insight into its background? How and when you decided to do this series and what you hope it will accomplish?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLoyd: The \u003cem\u003ePerspectives on Mormon Theology\u003c\/em\u003e series has been an idea floating around for a few years by my series co-editor, Brian Birch. Its inspiration is in the similarly-titled \u003cem\u003eDiscourses in Mormon Theology: Philosophical and Theological Possibilities\u003c\/em\u003e, edited by Jim McLachlan and myself, which itself is the proceedings of the inaugural conference of the Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology (SMPT). As evidenced by that volume, the Society, the Society’s journal (\u003cem\u003eElement\u003c\/em\u003e), and other publications, Mormonism is a rich field for theological and philosophical exploration; and that exploration yields a wide variation of thought. While authors might be drawing from the same religious tradition and scriptural canon, they each have their own perspectives formed by their philosophical leanings, ecclesiastical commitments, experiences, ideologies, education, and interpretations of articles of faith. Because of the varying (and sometimes conflicting) conclusions that these differing perspectives may lead, it probably makes more sense to talk of Mormon theologies (plural) rather than a singular theology—though that itself is its own philosophical discussion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first volume of the \u003cem\u003ePerspectives\u003c\/em\u003e series was on scriptural theology, and it illustrates well how an author’s perspective shapes the way they read scripture and draw their theology out of (or into) the texts. This second volume, \u003cem\u003eApologetics\u003c\/em\u003e, and future volumes will continue that theme as authors look to the same canon to explore, argue for, and delineate their perspective on Mormon theology. We currently have volumes on grace, revelation, and atonement in progress, and should be announcing several more forthcoming volumes before the end of the year.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: For readers who are unfamiliar with apologetics, can you offer a brief explanation of what apologetics are as well as their historical development?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlair: The word “apologetic” comes from the Greek “apologia”, and in the Christian tradition has been used to describe defense by argument of Christian belief and of the Christian way of life. The Apostle Paul’s writings are largely apologetic in approach. He creates arguments to persuade Christians in the early church to argue against the paganism extant in the Greco-Roman world and prove that it was untenable in the face of Christ’s redeeming work. Christ and Christ alone, Paul argued is the sole source of hope and salvation. Similarly, Peter invited believers to “be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMormon apologetics provide defense by argument for distinct views held by Latter-day Saints. The several accounts of Joseph Smith’s first vision, the historicity of the Book of Mormon, and polygamy are just three examples. Even though he passed away in 2005, Hugh Nibley is still the most recognizable Mormon apologist. He produced volumes of apologetic works.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith the advent of the internet the state of Mormon apologetics has never been more dynamic. The church has responded to this new landscape by sponsoring the Joseph Smith Papers project and publishing a series of gospel topics essays intended to answer questions about difficult historical and doctrinal issues. Essays on the ban on blacks in the priesthood from 1852 to 1978 and violence in 19th century Mormonism are two examples.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe work and writings of apologists in the church has also swelled. Organizations dedicated to defending the church such as FairMormon (Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research) continue to grow. They sponsor symposia, lectures, maintain a very active presence in the blogosphere, and provide an outlet for apologetic publications.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Can you summarize some of the current tensions among scholars with regards to apologetics?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLoyd: The most debated tensions at play with apologetics are those of quality, tone, utility, and its place (if any) in academia. The first (quality) is probably the one that gets the most attention, and deservedly so. This tension revolves around the question of whether apologetic efforts meet the basic standards of good scholarship. I think most can agree that the answer to this question is yes and no. Over the last few decades, LDS scholars trained in ancient Near-East history and language, philosophy, biblical studies, Mesoamerican anthropology, history, and other fields have produced top-notch scholarship for apologetic purposes. On the other hand, since the very beginnings of Mormonism, amateur “armchair” apologists without any real training have produced defenses and “proofs” of Mormonism that exhibit incredibly weak scholarship (if it could even be called that).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis tension has played out both between apologists and critics, as well as within apologetic circles. An example of the latter is the use of Izapa Stela 5--the so-called Lehi Tree of Life Stone--which for decades has been used as a proof of the Book of Mormon, despite the efforts of trained LDS apologists (such as FARMS) to counter the claim and show that it has nothing to do with the Nephite text.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe issue of “tone” is another tension that is frequently discussed. This deals with the civility of discourse in apologetic arguments, tactics, and writings. Like the tension of quality, tone is a mixed bag with a general agreement that apologetics will inevitably have moments of incivility because that is a fact of human nature. While bad tone can be frequent in online message boards, blogs, and other similar forums, the larger tension involves accusations of published, peer-reviewed works containing personal attacks, malicious innuendo, etc.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tension of utility is whether apologetics does more harm than good. This is explored by a few of our authors, and the answers differ depending on how one views the goals of apologetics, the mandate for believers to engage in it, and what is being defended. While it is usually agreed that poor quality and incivility can be more harmful than good, it becomes a more interesting question when one contends that apologetics is harmful even when it is civil and an example of quality scholarship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe place of apologetics in academia is generally an insider debate that most outside of the growing field of Mormon Studies are not privy to. While tone and quality play a part in this debate, the larger tension involves whether faith claims should be defended, critiqued, or even considered in academic discourse. For our volume, we have three chapters focused specifically on this question, with each author having different answers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA tension that has almost no discussion, but am glad to have in this volume, involves the role of women. Apologetics is incredibly male-oriented, with the majority of apologists being men—especially in published apologetics. There are multiple reasons for this, including centuries of male-dominated academia, traditional gender roles within Mormonism, and the often hostile and sexist nature of online religious debate. Despite these imbalances, there are still many Mormon women actively engaged in apologetics, and we are lucky to have a few authors addressing the positive role Mormon women have in apologetics, why more women’s perspectives are need, and exemplifying unique contributions they can bring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFinally, there are other tensions that I wish we could have explored in this volume, but could not because of time, space, and contributors. These include the tensions of whether apologetics is changing Mormon doctrines, Book of Mormon apologetics and the self-identity of Latin-American and Pacific-Islander saints, and the relationship between apologetics and the institutional Church.\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Can you talk about what went into the curation of this volume? What were your thoughts behind selecting its contributing authors, and what areas of focus did you want to make sure were emphasized?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlair: Mormonism is chockfull of apologetics intramurals that frequently orbit around questions like the following: How should Mormons defend Mormonism? When someone attacks the Church from the outside, what is the most effective way to respond? Should Mormons go on the offensive, anticipate questions, and respond to them before they are actually posed? When a Mormon interprets faith in ways that are perceived to be not doctrinally sound how should other Mormons reply? Is an intellectual or scholarly defense of Mormonism preferable or should apologetics be devotional in approach? Should apologetics be couched in the teachings of contemporary members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles or should defenses account for evidences from history and current secular sources that may not precisely align with contemporary Mormon narratives? When scholarly findings disagree with interpretations of scripture should reason yield to faith or should faith bend to reason? Finally, is it errant to defend Mormonism? If the movement can stand on its own in the light of the noonday sun then might defenses hinder more than advance Mormonism? These primary questions, and many others, constitute launching points for this volume.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn recent years, these questions have been debated with particular vigor. What was FARMS (Foundation for Apologetics and Mormon Studies) was dissolved, certain aspects of which were absorbed by BYU’s Maxwell Institute. FAIR (Foundation for Apologetic Information \u0026amp; Research), a private organization dedicated to apologetics, has a broader platform and audience than ever before. Mormon Studies programs have been established at universities from coast-to-coast including peer reviewed journals and a growing attraction by publishers like Oxford and Illinois. Finally, apologists from the so-called rank-and-file now enjoy open access to the blogosphere from which they may present their defenses of Mormonism at their leisure. Arguably, there has never been a more dynamic moment for apologetics in the history of Mormonism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs editors, we wanted to capture this unique time. We sought out authors whose voices represent a spectrum of responses to the above questions and the role apologetics play in the Church. We determined that four groups were essential to include in order to create a well-rounded treatment of Mormon apologetics: academics, lay apologists, women, and critics—both positive and negative—of current approaches to defense. Together, they explore issues related to authority, ecclesiastical unity, civility, gender, and doctrine. It is important to know up front that the contributing authors maintain sharp disagreements with one another on certain key points and approaches. However, disagreements are not front and center in this volume—dialogue is. Therefore, reading this book brings the reader to close proximity to discussions that are not new but are ongoing in various circles of Mormonism. The nature and tone of this ongoing exchange has very real implications for how conversations on simple and complex issues are carried out by Mormon communities globally. Awareness and understanding of these exchanges is, we think, essential. Thus, the significance of the book.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: What do you hope this volume will contribute to future discourse between scholars and readers who are divided on the subject of the utility of apologetics?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLoyd: My hope is that it will contribute to all—whatever their views on apologetics may be—stepping back and exemplifying more charity, concern, and understanding in their work. For those involved in apologetics, I hope that this volume encourages them to think deeply about how their arguments and style affect readers in the long run and how inclusive their efforts are in appreciating multiple voices and perspectives. For critics of apologetics, I hope that they will exemplify the same virtues in how they view the sincerity and devotion in apologetic efforts. For those in academia, I hope that all can recognize and be more honest about the biases and limitations of their methodologies and the complexity of working together—or at least in conversation—when ideologies, beliefs, and values collide. And finally, for readers who engage or observe this from the sidelines, I hope that they see how lively, complex, and important these issues are beyond the typical tit-for-tat accusations that are too often in public display when arguing over apologetics.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZmminsMFcYs?rel=0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eApologetics\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e“This was a great series of articles that will \u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003eexpand our understanding of what it is to defend the Church\u003c\/span\u003e, and the various ways to do so\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003cspan\u003e” \u003cbr\u003e— Gerald Smith, \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.millennialstar.org\/book-review-perspectives-on-mormon-theology-apologetics\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eMillennial Star\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“Divine love can come in ideas as well as other forms. . . . So here's a book of ideas. I hope you find it nurturing and stimulating, \u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003eworth thinking and writing and talking about\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003cspan\u003e”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e— Harlow Clark, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/associationmormonletters.org\/blog\/reviews\/current-reviews\/van-dyke-and-ericson-eds-perspectives-on-mormon-theology-apologetics-reviewed-by-harlow-clark\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“\u003cspan\u003eThose who want to learn about the art and practice of defending the faith—known classically as apologetics—will enjoy reading \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003ePerspectives on Mormon Theology: Apologetics. . . .\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e The fifteen authors share a variety of perspectives, both praising and critiquing past and present approaches.\u003c\/span\u003e” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e— Devan Jensen, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.us4.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=5b25c516e6ac3783bf63eaebd\u0026amp;id=bbcb6e26bc\u0026amp;e=fd0bbdcd08\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=en\u0026amp;q=https:\/\/gregkofford.us4.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3D5b25c516e6ac3783bf63eaebd%26id%3Dbbcb6e26bc%26e%3Dfd0bbdcd08\u0026amp;source=gmail\u0026amp;ust=1512245325404000\u0026amp;usg=AFQjCNF3KO8nsFhx0jlspLQR2wHEJDhGOw\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eB\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.us4.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=5b25c516e6ac3783bf63eaebd\u0026amp;id=aa866b478d\u0026amp;e=fd0bbdcd08\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=en\u0026amp;q=https:\/\/gregkofford.us4.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u%3D5b25c516e6ac3783bf63eaebd%26id%3Daa866b478d%26e%3Dfd0bbdcd08\u0026amp;source=gmail\u0026amp;ust=1512245325404000\u0026amp;usg=AFQjCNHiY2Io0YRUYQNafgA_gfQDG5zF3w\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eYU Religious Studies Center\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eContributors:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePreface: A Brief Introduction and Orientation\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e-    \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/blair-g-van-dyke\"\u003eBlair G. Van Dyke\u003c\/a\u003e \u003c\/em\u003eand \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/loyd-isao-ericson\"\u003eLoyd Isao Ericson\u003c\/a\u003e,\u003c\/em\u003e volume editors\u003cbr\u003e1. Critical Foundations of Mormon Apologetics\u003cbr\u003e-    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/blair-g-van-dyke\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eBlair G. Van Dyke\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e2. A Brief Defense of Apologetics\u003cbr\u003e-    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/daniel-c-peterson\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eDaniel C. Peterson\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e3. Boundary Maintenance that Pushes the Boundaries: Scriptural and Theological Insights from Apologetics\u003cbr\u003e-    \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/neal-rappleye\"\u003eNeal Rappleye\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e4. I Think, Therefore I Defend\u003cbr\u003e-    \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/michael-r-ash\"\u003eMichael R. Ash\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e5. A Wall Between Church and Academy\u003cbr\u003e-    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/benjamin-e-park\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eBenjamin E. Park\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e6. Mormon Apologetics and Mormon Studies: Truth, History, and Love\u003cbr\u003e-    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/ralph-c-hancock\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eRalph C. Hancock\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e7. The Intellectual Cultures of Mormonism: Faith, Reason, and the Apologetic Enterprise \u003cbr\u003e-    \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/brian-d-birch\"\u003eBrian D. Birch\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e8. The Role of Women in Apologetics\u003cbr\u003e-    \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/juliann-reynolds\"\u003eJuliann Reynolds\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e9. Avoiding Collateral Damage: Creating a Woman-Friendly Mormon Apologetics\u003cbr\u003e-    \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/julie-m-smith\"\u003eJulie M. Smith\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e10. “The Perfect Union of Man and Woman”: Reclamation and Collaboration in Joseph Smith’s Theology Making\u003cbr\u003e-    \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/fiona-givens\"\u003eFiona Givens\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e11. Lamanites, Apologetics, and Tensions in Mormon Anthropology\u003cbr\u003e-    \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/david-knowlton\"\u003eDavid Knowlton\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e12. Conceptual Confusion and the Building of Stumbling Blocks of Faith\u003cbr\u003e-    \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/loyd-isao-ericson\"\u003eLoyd Isao Ericson\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e13. Shifting Intellectual and Religious Paradigms: One Apologist’s Journey into Critical Study\u003cbr\u003e-    \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/david-bokovoy\"\u003eDavid Bokovoy\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e14. Toward a New Vision of Apologetics\u003cbr\u003e-    \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/joseph-m-spencer\"\u003eJoseph M. Spencer\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e15. Apologetics as Theological Praxis\u003cbr\u003e-    \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/seth-payne\"\u003eSeth Payne\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Editors:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"float: left;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/blair-g-van-dyke\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/blair_compact.jpg?v=1498062618\" style=\"margin-right: 5px; float: left;\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/blair-g-van-dyke\"\u003eBlair G. Van Dyke\u003c\/a\u003e is an independent scholar and teaches philosophy and religious studies at Utah Valley University. He is a Senior Research Fellow at the Foundation For Religious Diplomacy and is the Custodian of the Mormon Chapter of the Foundation. He holds a Doctorate in the philosophy of education from Brigham Young University. Van Dyke is the co-author of Holy Lands, A History of the Latter-day Saints in the Near East.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"float: left;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/loyd-isao-ericson\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/Sunstone-Portraits-2013-Web-040_compact.jpg?v=1469688805\" style=\"margin-right: 5px; float: left;\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/loyd-isao-ericson\"\u003eLoyd Isao Ericson\u003c\/a\u003e received his B.S. in philosophy at Utah Valley University and pursued an M.A. in philosophy of religion and theology at Claremont Graduate University. Since 2009 he has been the managing editor of Greg Kofford Books. He \u003cspan\u003eis a series co-editor for the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/perspectives-on-mormon-theology\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePerspectives on Mormon Theology\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e series and a co-editor of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/products\/discourses-in-mormon-theology\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eDiscourses in Mormon Theology: Philosophical and Theological Possibilities\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e and has been published in \u003cem\u003eSunstone\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eElement: The Journal of the Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology\u003c\/em\u003e, and the \u003cem\u003eClaremont Journal of Mormon Studies\u003c\/em\u003e, which he helped found.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e287 pages\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58958-580-5 (paperback); 978-1-58958-581-2 (hardcover)\u003cbr\u003ePublished July 2017\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"paperback","offer_id":1083152084,"sku":"978-1-58958-580-5","price":25.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"hardcover","offer_id":1083152088,"sku":"978-1-58958-581-2","price":59.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/products\/Perspectives_Apologetics_cover_front.jpg?v=1495738261"},{"product_id":"end-of-the-world-plan-b","title":"The End of the World, Plan B: A Guide for the Future","description":"\u003cp\u003eBy \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/charles-shiro-inouye\"\u003eCharles Shirō Inouye\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e “Mormonism needs Inouye’s voice.” \u003c\/span\u003e— Adam S. Miller\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“One of the best Mormon devotional books I’ve ever read.... I hope the book is read widely.”\u003c\/span\u003e — James M. McLachlan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“Will change the way we think of the end times.”\u003c\/span\u003e — Charles Randall Paul\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/1Q980vz\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/kindle2.png?9112655742455458650\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/end-world-plan-b-guide-for\/id1083120726?ls=1\u0026amp;mt=11\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/applebooks_480x480.png?v=1649199519\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=oxJoEAAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/google-play-badge2_a56b9286-69fa-4581-9680-5ea7c47f0c1a_480x480.png?v=1648668766\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailable in ebook on \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/1Q980vz\"\u003eKindle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/s\/2940157770921\"\u003eNook\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/store.kobobooks.com\/en-us\/ebook\/the-end-of-the-world-plan-b-a-guide-for-the-future\"\u003eKobo\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=oxJoEAAAQBAJ\"\u003eGoogle Play\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/end-world-plan-b-guide-for\/id1083120726?ls=1\u0026amp;mt=11\"\u003eApple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eAlso available through \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/36UNqcG\"\u003eAmazon\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/news\/75350917-preview-em-the-end-of-the-world-plan-b-a-guide-for-the-future-em\"\u003eDownload a free sample preview\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBook Description:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEnvironmental decline, political gridlock, war and rumors of war, decadence, and immorality. \u003cem\u003eThe End of the World, Plan B\u003c\/em\u003e traces the idea of the end, or destruction, of the world through a number of spiritual traditions. It shows that our present understanding of the “end game” has been distorted by a modern emphasis and demand on justice as the ultimate good. As an alternative to this self-destructive approach, Charles Shirō Inouye shows that in these traditions, justice is not the isolated end in itself that we ought strive for; rather it is taught in tandem with its balancing companion: compassion. \u003cem\u003ePlan B\u003c\/em\u003e is a hopeful alternative to our fears about how things are going.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/authorcast\"\u003eAuthorCast\u003c\/a\u003e Interview with the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003caudio preload=\"none\" controls=\"controls\"\u003e \u003csource src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/Inoyue.mp3\"\u003e\u003c\/audio\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComprehensive Table of Contents:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePreface and Acknowledgements\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. Endings\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eA Sense of the End\u003cbr\u003eReligious Views\u003cbr\u003eWould We Be Better Off Without Religion?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2. Justice\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Real Problem\u003cbr\u003eA Culture of Justice-At-All-Costs\u003cbr\u003eLearning Judgment\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3. Sorrow\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eSorrow\u003cbr\u003eQuestioning\u003cbr\u003eTurning\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4. Compassion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eAtonement\u003cbr\u003eA Certain Kind of Story\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5. Peace\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Peace of Isolation\u003cbr\u003eThe Peace of Uniformity\u003cbr\u003eA Little More About this Second Peace\u003cbr\u003eThe Third Peace: Diversity\u003cbr\u003eThree Men in the Wilderness\u003cbr\u003eWhich Peace?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6. Plan B\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe End of the World, Plan B\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRecommended Editions of Scriptural Texts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eMahayana Buddhism\u003cbr\u003eTraditional Christianity\u003cbr\u003eConfucianism\u003cbr\u003eDaoism\u003cbr\u003eIslam\u003cbr\u003eJudaism\u003cbr\u003eMormonism\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eScripture Index\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eAnalects\u003cbr\u003eBook of Mormon\u003cbr\u003eDao de Jing\u003cbr\u003eHeart Sutra\u003cbr\u003eHebrew Bible\u003cbr\u003eNew Testament\u003cbr\u003ePearl of Great Price\u003cbr\u003eQur’an\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSubject Index\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ\u0026amp;A with the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Can you start by giving us a little background on yourself and how you became interested in this topic?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA: About ten years ago, I was asked by Tufts University’s admissions office to give small mini-courses for accepted students and their parents who made campus visits in the spring. I chose the topic, “The End of the World,” because I knew it was something that a lot of people were thinking about, and also because I could showcase my department, which is the administrative home of the International Literary and Visual Studies Program, which I co-direct and helped found.  It’s an interdepartmental, interdisciplinary, multicultural program that takes on wide-ranging multicultural topics, like the nature of modernity, the development of visual studies, and so on. Of course, I also had my own personal reasons to study the topic. As a latter-day Saint, I’ve grown up thinking about the end of the world, the last dispensation, the fullness of times, and so on. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI came to be a Mormon because my family ended up in Utah after World War II. Both my father’s and my mother’s families were “relocated” from the West Coast to the same concentration camp near Cody, Wyoming. From there, they moved south to Sigurd, Utah. That’s where I got my start, on a farm a few miles west of that small town of about 200 people. I eventually had to leave southern Utah. On the night I returned home from my mission, a man named Henry Timican, who had worked for my father for most of his life, tried to commit suicide. What I learned from that unforgettable night was that that I had missed the whole point of my mission: that I really did not love the world because I didn’t really want to understand it. I realized that I needed to know more about the things that growing up in Utah had made me fear. I began the very painful process of getting to know the world. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eToward the end of this journey of a few years, I found myself riding a city bus in Taipei. The spirit struck me with a tremendous force, and I heard God’s voice say to me that He had given me that learning about the world because he knew I had corrupted myself for the right reasons. In other words, He forgave me. I broke down and started crying.  For the first time, I felt the love of God in full force, and it made me want to hug everybody in the bus. Of course, this was all to say that my years of living dangerously were short-sighted and stupid of me. There is no love without God, and no knowledge of the truth without obedience to His commandments. I learned that lesson the hard way—or should I say, I learned that lesson over and over again. I guess I still am learning it. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat brought me to this particular book, though, to finally answer your question, is Abraham. I could never understand why he bargained with God when he learned that Sodom and Gomorrah were to be destroyed. I eventually learned that his story is all about thankfulness and how gratitude colors our feelings about the end of the world. Similar stories are everywhere—not only in the Bible, but in all the great spiritual traditions of the world. It’s the one story we cannot afford to ignore. If we do, then the world becomes, well, like the world is now.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: It seems that virtually all interreligious dialog and work done by Mormons involves other Christian traditions. Your book instead engages Eastern thought. In your view, what can Mormons gain by exploring eastern religious traditions that they would normally not achieve through only engaging Christianity and Judaism.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA: One way to explain the discomfort many traditional Christians have with Mormonism would be to say that we practice a kind of Buddhist form of Christianity. That’s a facile thing to say, and not perfectly accurate. But it starts an interesting conversation. Many of the things that seem most outrageous about our faith are precisely what we have in common with Mahayana Buddhists. For example, the notion of Buddha nature is similar to our understanding of the godly nature of all human beings. Buddhists and Mormons similarly believe in the human capacity to progress eternally. Whether we become Boddhisattvas or true sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, the idea of discovering and realizing our divine potential is much the same.\u003c\/p\u003e\nWhat I tried to do in \u003cem\u003eThe End of the World\u003c\/em\u003e was to compare the Boddhisatva’s path of enlightenment with teachings about the end of the world as they exist in the world’s spiritual traditions. (We tend to think of “the end” as an event, but long before it is an actual battle “out there,” it is a teaching and a spiritual battle “in here.”) The trope of leaving and eventually returning to the world, which the Buddhists call “the burning house,” helped me understand the atonement much better than I did before. It helped me grasp Paul’s understanding of why doing things lovingly is even more important than doing the right things. I came to understand why Abraham bargained with God and his angels upon learning that Sodom and Gomorrah were to be destroyed. In particular, the Buddhist notion of sorrow was very helpful in illuminating Isaiah’s portrait of Jesus as a Man of Sorrows, and, by the way, it helped me understand why I felt so sad all the time. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt the same time, I discovered a problem. Like other modern-minded people, Mormons similarly tend to over-emphasize justice and truth, and underestimate the role that sorrow and compassion play in our spiritual growth. Buddhism helps us recognize and deal with this distorting, modern emphasis on right and wrong by showing us that the end of the world is ancient and, these days, is consistently misunderstood. In other words, a knowledge of Buddhism, or Confucianism, or Taoism, or even animism for that matter, can help us not miss the point of Christ’s warning to the sons of Zebedee—“Ye know not what spirit ye are of.”—or of his sometimes puzzling injunction to “Judge not.” Why learn a sense of right and wrong if the point is not to apply this knowledge? \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSo, yes, the Eastern traditions can be very helpful. Of course, when you think about it, Judaism and Christianity, like Islam, are also Eastern religions. They’ve been appropriated by the West and largely corrupted by the epistemological emphasis of neo-Platonic thought, which led us to the nothingness that is nihil rather than mu. Anyone who really appreciates the contribution of Joseph Smith should grasp how the cause-and-effect thinking of people like Augustine distorted early Christian thought and started things down the wrong path. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Your book discusses “justice” quite a bit. What is justice?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA: Justice is a necessary and early focus of our spiritual development. My son Kan (age 5) is just now learning the need to “choose the right.” We must gain a sense of right and wrong, a sense of judgment if we are to grasp the end (or purpose) of the world. But justice comes early. It is a preparatory teaching that prepares us to learn the more complicated lesson of compassion. Justice does this by delivering us to the gate that has “welcome to sorrow” written all over it. There has to be blood on your doorway or you will not be passed over by the Destroyer. Lucifer wants us to “be right” for the same reason that it pleases him to see the world in flames. I’m trying to teach Kan that the important part of “choose the right” is not “right” but “choose.” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe are at each other’s throats because so many of us have a faulty, modern understanding of world events.  We make justice our goal, our dream, our solution. But anyone who grasps the real consequences of “good things for people and bad things for bad people” realizes how horrible a just world actually is. Sure, getting what you deserve might be better than getting something you didn’t deserve—like being thrown into prison for being Japanese, or being dismissed because you are female, or hated because you are homosexual. But since we are all flawed, including the most righteous Mormon on earth, then we all deserve to be punished and cursed. Our world deserves to end in destruction, and so very often it actually does for many people these days. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat I propose in the book is that the solution to this problem is to get what you don’t deserve. This is what the end of the world teaches us. We sinners don’t deserve forgiveness.  We don’t deserve blessings. We don’t deserve to be loved. But that is what Abraham and Noah and Enoch and Jesus and Muhammed and Amida and Kannon and Confucius want for us: love. And our quest is to understand why—and then to want the same thing for others. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThere’s a certain shape to the narrative of the end of the world. You find it everywhere. Again, it’s ancient, not new. It’s vitally important. But, unfortunately, we tend to understand it only partially, in a way that makes us feel justified in hating and judging others. Modern people are addicted to justice and hatred. And that’s why, as Enoch learned, the earth weeps. We linger in a state of justice because we don’t know how to handle the sorrow that our “righteousness” causes. Instead of bravely pushing through sorrow, instead of having our Abrahamic moment of questioning God, instead of re-orienting ourselves to the world and giving up on our fixation with heaven, we become self-righteous, or cynical. In my mind, there’s not much difference between someone who is bitter about everything and someone who is right about everything. As I tell my students, fascists are good people. The people who murdered your grandparents and put mine in concentration camps were good people. Only good people do terrible things like that. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe idea of the end of the world is to push through justice and embrace compassion. Happiness is something none of us really deserves. That’s why it's a gift. It’s grace. Receiving that gift and giving it to others is what becoming a Boddhisattva is all about (It is also what being endowed in a Mormon temple is all about). Like the Madhi and the Three Nephites, the enlightened ones among us postpone heaven. They don’t cash in. They return to the burning house. They do their home and visiting teaching, they love their families like they really mean it. Your salvation makes no sense if others are not saved. How could you enjoy a meal knowing that your brother or sister is hungry? Is our food storage for ourselves, or for our neighbors? \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Growing up Mormon, we are often warned to prepare for the second coming of Christ, with an emphasis on a violent destruction that will herald it. Why do you think we are drawn to such a depiction of the end of the world? How would you describe your Plan B vision of the end?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA: There are many reasons why violence is attractive and catastrophe is media-worthy. Fear is addictive.  So is closure or narrative completion. Remember Aristotle?  Beginning, middle, end. My point in \u003cem\u003eThe End of the World, Plan B\u003c\/em\u003e is that we hurl ourselves toward mutually guaranteed destruction because we think that the punishment of bad people is justified. We miss the “mutual” part of “mutual destruction.” \u003cbr\u003eJesus said the end was near. That was over two thousand years ago. He was right. It was near. It is near now. For his saints, it is always too near. Isn’t that the point? The end of the world is always bearing down on us—horribly—for someone somewhere to world is ending. What are we doing about that? \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBlack people get shot by policemen in this country all the time because the people with the guns think they are justified. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOf course, there is a larger arch to consider. In fact, one of the reasons I came to study the end of the world is because I needed to know what comes after modernity. I think I finally figured out what modernity is. It’s the subject of my recently completed book, \u003cem\u003eArchipelago—Figurality and the Development of Modern Consciousness\u003c\/em\u003e, which I won’t bore you with here. Except to say that what we need to know now is what comes after the end of modernity. This is a disquieting question. It lies at the bottom of our culture wars and our political gridlock. The big question for the most advanced societies of the world is this:  if diversity is our reality (as people are now starting to understand), then how does anything get done? What do we have in common anymore? Once we have emancipated ourselves from the slavery of ideology and religion, are we still family? \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePlan A is modern. Believe me, it gets us all killed. I guess what I want my readers to understand is that a postmodern Plan B can get us to a good place—so long as we are, first, honest about our sorrow, second, honest in our questions, and third, honest in our need to make God’s compassion our own. Because I grew up in Sigurd, Utah eating Mormon sugar cookies, I’m essentially a happy, sunshine postmodernist. Mormonism is profoundly postmodern, even though most Utah Mormons are still suffering from the modernity that years of geographic isolation has imposed upon them. (Any civilization that has breast augmentation and gunshow billboards along the freeway has real problems, no?) Many Wasatch Front people, in particular, feel they are the last bastion of modern righteousness. But what they really should be pursuing is their own sorrowful vision of godliness and goodness for all. So, yeah, repent, Utah. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIf there ever was a time to “put your shoulder to the wheel,” it is now. We are on the brink of the millennial moment, the one that Isaiah saw in his vision, the one that my Korean student Sawool Kim has captured in her rendition of Edward Hick’s peaceable kingdom, which is on the cover the book. The end has already begun. Go, Plan B! \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMy research on semiotics also confirms what my heart is telling me, and what the prophets are saying: we are on the brink of Zion, an era of neo-animistic revival that will change the look of everything we once thought we understood about religion. It will happen on a worldwide basis, and it will be messy and confusing and deeply contested. But these latter days can be—and already are—wonderful. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Is there a particular religious text outside of Mormonism and Christianity that you are particularly drawn to? Why?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA: There are a few. There is a recent translation of Kamo no Chōmei’s Buddhist-inspired depiction of Heiankyō (today called Kyoto) that I often ponder. Like Thoreau, Chōmei left society to live in a small hut in the woods.  Yasuhiko Moriguchi and David Jenkins, trans., Hōjōki, Visions of a Torn World. I also like Matsuo Bashō’s Narrow Road to the Deep North (Oku no hosomichi), though it’s still hard to find a good translation. From the Chinese realm, I would suggest the Analects of Confucius and the Dao de Jing. You need to read both of these together to get the right picture, though.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA few years ago, one of my colleagues in the Engineering School gifted me with a Qur’an. It’s a massive and complicated book, like the Bible. But, here again, you’ll find the same emphasis on compassion that you find in the Book of Mormon and other sacred texts. Above all, Allah is compassionate. Islam, which means “surrender,” is all about giving in to God’s invitation to climb the mountain, so that someday we’ll want to go back down to the valley. For those who are interested, there’s a very short list of recommended reading at the end of the book.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eThe End of the World, Plan B\u003c\/em\u003e: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003e“Mormonism needs Inouye's voice.\u003c\/span\u003e We need, in general, voices that are a bit less Ayn Rand and a bit more Siddhartha Gautama. Inouye reminds us that justice is not enough and that obedience is not the currency of salvation. He urges us to recognize the limits of the law, to see that, severed from a willingness to compassionately suffer \u003cem\u003ewith\u003c\/em\u003e the world’s imperfection and evanescence, our righteous hunger for balancing life's books will destroy us all.” — Adam S. Miller, author of \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/products\/rube-goldberg-machines-essays-in-mormon-theology\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eRube Goldberg Machines: Essays in Mormon Theology\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003cem\u003eLetters to a Young Mormon\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Drawing on Christian, Buddhist, Daoist, and other modes of thought, Charles Inouye shows how an attitude of hope can arise from a narrative of doom. \u003cem\u003eThe End of the World, Plan B\u003c\/em\u003e is not simply a rethinking of the end of our world, but is a meditation on the possibility of compassionate self-transformation. In a world that looks to the just punishment of the wicked, \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003eInouye shows how sorrow, which comes from the demands of justice, can create peace, forgiveness, and love\u003c\/span\u003e.” — Michael D.K. Ing, Assistant Professor, Department of Religious Studies, Indiana University\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“For years I’ve hoped to see a book that related Mormonism to the great spiritual traditions beyond Christianity and Judaism. Charles Inouye has done this in one of the best Mormon devotional books I’ve ever read. His Mormon reading of the fourfold path of the Bodhisattva \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003eoffers a beautiful eschatology of the end\/purpose of the world as the revelation of compassion. I hope the book is read widely\u003c\/span\u003e.” — James M. McLachlan, Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Western Carolina University; co-editor of\u003cem\u003e \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/products\/discourses-in-mormon-theology\"\u003eDiscourses in Mormon Theology: Philosophical and Theological Possibilities\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“We are heading for one of two world endings: final violent extinction or continual collaborative creativity. Inouye turns to several of the world’s religions, including Mormonism, to shockingly and clearly warn us that our Plan A religious and secular stories focused on justice will bring calamity, and inspire us to instead encounter the sorrow of the world as we bring to pass the strenuous joy of Plan B. \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003eThe book is a unique mix of literary, theological, psychological, and political wisdom that will change the way we think of the end times.\u003c\/span\u003e” — Charles Randall Paul, President, Foundation for Religious Diplomacy\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“\u003cspan\u003eThis short book challenged me in ways I did not expect.”\u003c\/span\u003e — Brian Dillman, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/rationalfaiths.com\/end-world-plan-b-reviewed\/?utm_campaign=shareaholic\u0026amp;utm_medium=facebook\u0026amp;utm_source=socialnetwork\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eRational Faiths\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003eI highly recommend this volume for a wide variety of readers\u003c\/span\u003e, both devotional and secular. If you are interested in viewing Mormonism within a comparative religious context, if you are intrigued by eschatology, or if you are looking for a book that will generously help you to think through questions and ideas in order to develop compassion and charity, then \u003cem\u003eThe End of the World, Plan B\u003c\/em\u003e is waiting for you.” \u003cspan\u003e— Jenny Webb, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/associationmormonletters.org\/blog\/inouye-the-end-of-the-world-plan-b-a-guide-for-the-future-reviewed-by-jenny-webb\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"float: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin-right: 5px; float: left;\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/c_inouye_387e72ca-9e27-4be5-894d-70e5357680ff_compact.jpg?3144340941752814771\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/charles-shiro-inouye\"\u003eCharles Shirō Inouye\u003c\/a\u003e is Professor of Japanese at Tufts University and recipient of the Lillian and Joseph Leibner Award for Distinguished Teaching and Advising. He is also winner of the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Prize for his translations of Izumi Kyōka. He is married to Rei Okamoto, and has three children: Mie, Leif, and Kan.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e133 pages\u003cbr\u003eISBN 978-1-58958-755-7 (paperback)\u003cbr\u003ePublished January 2016\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"paperback","offer_id":42261916221611,"sku":"978-1-58958-755-7","price":13.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/products\/front_cover_7a9a45bd-e0c0-4cbe-a28e-7569f416d17c.jpg?v=1442252225"},{"product_id":"converting-the-saints","title":"Converting the Saints: A Study of Religious Rivalry in America","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/charles-randall-paul\"\u003eCharles Randall Paul\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“Offers . . . a compelling course of action for transforming harsh conflict to peaceful contestation.”\u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e— Richard L. Bushman, author of \u003cem\u003eJoseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“Readers should take enormous pleasure and profit from \u003cem\u003eConverting the Saints\u003c\/em\u003e.” \u003c\/span\u003e— Harold Bloom, author of \u003cem\u003eThe American Religion\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2MHLsSu\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/kindle2.png?9112655742455458650\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/converting-the-saints-a-study-of-religious\/id1405682611?uo=4\u0026amp;mt=11\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/applebooks_480x480.png?v=1649199519\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=ieNlEAAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/google-play-badge2_a56b9286-69fa-4581-9680-5ea7c47f0c1a_480x480.png?v=1648668766\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailable in ebook for \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2MHLsSu\"\u003eKindle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/w\/converting-the-saints-charles-randall-paul\/1128981290?ean=2940162081661\"\u003eNook\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.kobo.com\/us\/en\/ebook\/converting-the-saints-a-study-of-religious-rivalry-in-america\"\u003eKobo\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=ieNlEAAAQBAJ\"\u003eGoogle Play\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/converting-the-saints-a-study-of-religious\/id1405682611?uo=4\u0026amp;mt=11\"\u003eApple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlso available through \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/36J4diG\" title=\"Converting the Saints: A Study of Religious Rivalry in America\"\u003eAmazon\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/deseretbook.com\/p\/converting-the-saints-a-study-of-religious-rivalry-in-america\"\u003eDeseret Book\u003c\/a\u003e, and other retailers.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/news\/preview-converting-the-saints\"\u003eDownload a free sample preview.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBook Description:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMissions are attacks no matter how benign the motive. The history of religious missions is replete with complex social, political, economic, and religious conflict. This historical study of how Americans have managed or mismanaged past religiously-influenced conflicts can provide practical wisdom for our time when many social, political, and economic conflicts are strongly influenced by religious factors. We live in local and global societies that are deeply troubled if not torn apart by the perennial problem of religious or ideological conflict between uncompromising rivals that desire mutually exclusive religious and political ends.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eConverting the Saints\u003c\/em\u003e focuses on American religious history and particularly on the early-twentieth-century Protestant missions to Utah to convert Mormons to traditional Christian belief. After the Mormons acquiesced to federal laws against polygamy and federal pressure to secularize Utah’s governance, the religious conflict over Mormonism’s Christian legitimacy remained unresolved. This was a religious conflict that, in true American style, was engaged as a contest of persuasion held on the figurative battlefield for the human heart. Both rivals understood this, and while unsettled by their mutual opponent’s aggressive criticisms, they did not think it wrong or even strange for their rival to engage them. Centering on the cases of three Protestant missions in Utah, this study explores the crucial understanding at the center of the American experiment: that persuasive contestation over religion, ideology, or founding principles is normal in our secular State, and even healthy for free citizens to flourish within a diverse society.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/authorcast\"\u003eAuthorCast\u003c\/a\u003e Interview with the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003caudio preload=\"none\" controls=\"controls\"\u003e \u003csource src=\"http:\/\/files.gregkofford.com\/podcast\/E102_Paul_071918.mp3\"\u003e\u003c\/audio\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComprehensive Table of Contents:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcknowledgements\u003cbr\u003eScriptural Abbreviations Guide\u003cbr\u003ePrologue\u003cbr\u003eIntroduction\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. The American Lively Experiment: Sustaining Religious Rivalry and Peace\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eGod and Humans: Co-Sovereigns in America\u003cbr\u003eThe Great Code for Correct Conflict\u003cbr\u003eEven Deeper than Morality and Law\u003cbr\u003eWhose Promised Land Is This?\u003cbr\u003ePeaceful Conflict is Not an Oxymoron\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2. Violent American Religious Conflicts: Three Strong Cases\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThree American Wars of Religion\u003cbr\u003eThe Religious Civil War\u003cbr\u003eThe Mormon Wars\u003cbr\u003eThe Native American Religious Wars\u003cbr\u003eLatter-day Saints and Native Americans\u003cbr\u003eThe Results of American Religious Coercion\u003cbr\u003eCoda\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3. American Religious Climate 1900–1925: A Christian Nation?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eRedesigning American Visions\u003cbr\u003eMissions, Missions, Missions!\u003cbr\u003eWho Is Christian—Really?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4. Rival Stewards of the American Promised Land\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eUnifying Authority and Persecuting the Peculiar\u003cbr\u003eProselytizing Rivalry\u003cbr\u003eWho Should Lead?\u003cbr\u003eHegemonic Underdogs\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5. The True Church Challenge: Counterfeit vs. Real Christianity\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eNarratives\u003cbr\u003eDoctrines\u003cbr\u003eSymbols and Rites\u003cbr\u003eStyles of Religiosity\u003cbr\u003eChurch Governance and Schism\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6. John Danforth Nutting, Nondenominational Preacher at Large\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eNutting’s Attitude toward Mormons\u003cbr\u003eNutting’s Success\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e7. William Mitchell Paden, Presbyterian Polemicist\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Smoot Hearings\u003cbr\u003ePaden’s Strategies after the Smoot Hearings\u003cbr\u003eOpening Mormon Eyes to the Truth\u003cbr\u003eUsing Presbyterian Schools to Win Mormons to Christ\u003cbr\u003ePositioning Mormonism as Anti-American\u003cbr\u003eLosing the Battle but Not the War?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e8. Franklin Spencer Spalding, Episcopalian Diplomat\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eSpalding’s Proselytizing Plan\u003cbr\u003eSpalding’s Approach to Polygamy\u003cbr\u003eSpalding’s Use of Scholarly Authority\u003cbr\u003eSpalding’s Protestant Critics\u003cbr\u003eSpalding the Educator\u003cbr\u003eSpalding and a New Testament Social Model\u003cbr\u003eFinal Thoughts on Spalding\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e9. Comparing Mission Methods of Nutting, Paden, And Spalding\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eSummary Observations\u003cbr\u003eSocial-psychological domain\u003cbr\u003eTheological Domain\u003cbr\u003eMissiological Domain\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e10. Contestational Rivalry Without Coercion or Violence\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003ePractical Results of the Utah Missions\u003cbr\u003eCoda: Religious Rivalry as You Like It\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBibliography\u003cbr\u003eIndex\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ\u0026amp;A with the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003eQ: Give us some insight into your background, how you chose to write about this topic, and your involvement with religious diplomacy.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA: I was raised in northern New Jersey where my high school of 400 kids consisted of three major cliques: Jewish, Roman Catholic and Mainline Protestant.  There were four Mormons.  I was surprised to find how solid and happy my friends’ families were.  How could they be so good without The Truth?  In mid life I became interested in how religious and secular societies faced unresolvable conflicts over truth and authority and right values.  It seemed God had set up the world for pluralistic contestation, and I tried to figure out why.  These issues led me to develop interreligious diplomacy as a mode of interaction that included persuasive contestation between trustworthy advocates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003eQ: Tell us briefly about the three case studies in this book. Who are these individuals and how did they differ in their tactics from one another?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA: In the early twentieth century after Utah had been accepted as a state, the major Protestant churches wanted to assure that Mormonism was \u003cem\u003enot\u003c\/em\u003e accepted as another Christian denomination.  John Nutting, a freelance pastor, evangelical\/preacher came to Utah with young college age missionaries to save souls that, after hearing his revival teaching or door-to-door witnessing, simply confessed the true Jesus and stopped attending the Mormon church.  William Paden, a Presbyterian, educator\/activist, helped set up 1–12 grade schools that taught LDS students “true” Christianity along with math and English. He also tried to discredit the LDS leadership, close down the Mormon Church, and educate its youth in the right way. Franklin Spaulding was an Episcopal Bishop intellectual\/diplomat that aimed to educate LDS college students in the inconsistences of some of the Mormon Church claims.  He hoped to convert the Saints in their pews—urging church leaders that he befriended to change just a few doctrines and join the mainline churches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003eQ: You state that ongoing debate between religious ideology is at the heart of what it means to be a pluralistic society. Can you elaborate on this?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA: Humans in societies live by stories that order their lives.  Ideological or religious traditions provide the comprehensive order and hope for a better world.  These religious stories can seriously challenge the veracity of their rival claimants to truth and authority—making for conflict.  Contemporary social conflict theorists have focused almost exclusively on conflicting economic and security interests as the engines for conflict, neglecting the cultural driver that religious tradition provides.  I am bringing into focus the potency of conflicting formational stories in any society.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003eQ: Why isn’t tolerance always the desired outcome? How can two opposing people or groups find meaningful ways of collaboration?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA: Tolerance is a weak social virtue (devoid of trust or good will) that collapses when economic and security crises lead societies to seek for scapegoats.  We have found that ideological opponents who engage honestly by means of persuasion actually can come to trust and “enjoy” each other’s bothersome presence.  People engage in collaborative co-resistance n many forms—sports being the most obvious—legal, legislative, scientific and commercial realms also absorb non-violent conflict managing procedures.  When religion is involved, there is no room for compromise solutions, so some form of sustaining the ideological contest in a mode of persuasion is needed.  This is healthy intolerance because it allows critics and rivals to be authentic and to have conversations that matter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003eQ: For Latter-day Saints, contention is a particularly discomforting word. In your book, you say that you prefer the term “contestation.” Can you explain what you mean?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA: This is a key to understanding how the LDS can lead in the goal of peace-building in split families or societies.  We rightly learn that Jesus and Joseph thought contention—a term based on a root of forcing, twisting, coercing others—was the devil’s work.  It includes anger and contempt and resentment and revenge.  On the other hand, those who stand for something as witnesses need to elevate the term contestation that means to witness with, for or against something—the root being the testimony of a witness.  The design of heaven and Earth seems to include many intelligences with different experiences to which they can respectfully testify without fear or anger.  They have different viewpoints and experiences that bring them to conflicting contestants; honestly speaking the truth they see.  This is what the Holy Spirit prompts us to do.  It is the opposite of contentiousness even though the conflict of interpretation and ultimate concern or story remains.  Peaceful tension results from contestation—and that is enough for Zion to thrive.  Oneness cannot be identical interpretation and understanding of everything that would make individual existence redundant. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003eQ: We live in an age of intense ideological polarization. What are you hoping that readers will learn from the case-studies presented in this book?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA: I want them to read the book in the broad context of the problem of pluralism that began, narratively speaking, when Eve was different than Adam.  I trace the American system of managing religious conflict as a living aspect of society.  As long as it remains in the persuasive mode, it allows free expression in the balancing of ideological drives for hegemony.  America is based on a foundation of continually contested foundations.  Our culture can thrive on pluralism, not because we follow laws of procedural conflict management, but because we have a deep belief in the value of a worthy rival in religion as well as any other aspect of life.  The case studies I show will hopefully move a reader to understand how the desire for a trustworthy opponent is a precious thing that does not come naturally but is essential to the success of a pluralistic society.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"500\" height=\"275\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/A4SE63eXjvA?rel=0\u0026amp;showinfo=0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eConverting the Saints\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e“Converting the Saints tells of a time when the tables were turned on the Mormons. In the early twentieth century, after polygamy had been formally halted, and Utah was assimilating back into America, evangelical Protestants stepped up their efforts in Utah to win Mormon souls back to Christianity. Accustomed to proselytizing other Christians, the Saints now had Christians proselytizing them. Paul makes this encounter an illuminating case study in the clash of sincerely held religious convictions. How are we to treat those whom we believe are profoundly wrong and yet refuse to change? Although a Mormon-Protestant story set in Utah a century ago; it is also a contemporary story played out every day throughout the world and in every corner of the land. \u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003ePaul offers a powerful diagnosis of the problem and, better yet, a compelling course of action for transforming harsh conflict to peaceful contestation.\u003c\/span\u003e”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e— Richard L. Bushman, author of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eJoseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“\u003c\/span\u003eThis is \u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003eone of the best scholarly books I’ve read so far this year\u003c\/span\u003e. Yet, most of it is accessible to the average reader. While many may think this is a book only for Mormons, I would hope that all pastors, laypersons and politicians would read this, in order to understand the importance of free speech and ideas. This is especially true in a time when so many want to shout down the other side, and speak violence towards their enemies, who in reality may not be that much different from them.\u003cspan\u003e”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003cbr\u003e— \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca class=\"profileLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.millennialstar.org\/book-review-converting-the-saints-by-charles-randall-paul\/\" data-hovercard=\"\/ajax\/hovercard\/page.php?id=126500671859\u0026amp;extragetparams=%7B%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D\" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show=\"1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eThe Millennial Star\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“\u003c\/span\u003e[Charles Randall] Paul provides an intriguing look into how we ca\u003cspan class=\"text_exposed_show\"\u003en turn the tumultuous cacophony of partisanship into constructive dialogue that promotes a more peaceful society.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e— \u003c\/em\u003eKevin Folkman, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/associationmormonletters.org\/blog\/reviews\/current-reviews\/paul-converting-the-saints-a-study-of-religious-rivalry-in-america-reviewed-by-kevin-folkman\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"text_exposed_show\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Americans are engaged in a time of great divisiveness at this juncture in history, and \u003cem\u003eConverting the Saint\u003c\/em\u003es \u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003eextends an invitation to readers to consider that contesting religion, ideology and founding principles are not only normal but healthy for \u003c\/span\u003efreedom\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003e to truly succeed within a secular, diverse society\u003c\/span\u003e. Overall, \u003cem\u003eConverting the Saints\u003c\/em\u003e provides an easy-to-understand overview of the relationship between Protestant Christians and Latter-day Saints in the early 20th century.”\u003cbr\u003e— Ryan D. Curtis, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.deseretnews.com\/article\/900050274\/book-review-converting-the-saints-looks-at-early-efforts-to-convert-latter-day-saints-to-protestantism.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eDeseret News\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"text_exposed_show\"\u003e“I found his insights thought-provoking. Not only is this text a welcome addition to the corpus of the literature pertaining to conflict resolution theory, but it is also \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003ean important contribution to mission studies in general and to the growing body of Latter-day Saint mission studies in particular\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003cspan\u003e”\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e—\u003c\/span\u003e Ronald E. Bartholomew, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/byustudies.byu.edu\/content\/converting-saints-study-religious-rivalry-america-0\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eBYU Studies Quarterly \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e58, no. 1\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"float: left;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/Paul_headshot_compact.jpg?v=1523645659\" style=\"float: left; margin-right: 5px;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Charles Randall Paul\u003c\/strong\u003e (Ph.D., University of Chicago, Committee on Social Thought, 2000; M.B.A., Harvard University, 1972) is board chair, founder, and president of the \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/religious-diplomacy.org\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eFoundation for Religious Diplomacy\u003c\/a\u003e. He has lectured widely and written numerous articles on healthy methods for engaging differences in religions and ideologies. He is on the board of editors for the \u003cem\u003eInternational Journal of Decision Ethics\u003c\/em\u003e. \u003cspan\u003eHe has been married to his wife Jann for more than forty years, and they have five children.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e278 pages\u003cbr\u003eISBN 978-1-58958-756-4 (paperback); 978-1-58958-747-2 (hardcover)\u003cbr\u003eAugust 2018\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"paperback","offer_id":1117807144,"sku":"978-1-58958-756-4","price":26.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"hardcover","offer_id":12207133851732,"sku":"978-1-58958-747-2","price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/products\/Paul_Converting_e600420e-7ce8-4c4d-a430-8fcfa6d8977b.jpg?v=1529092583"},{"product_id":"future-mormon","title":"Future Mormon: Essays in Mormon Theology","description":"\u003cp\u003eBy \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/adam-s-miller\"\u003eAdam S. Miller\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e “Represents some of the most careful, creative, and charitable work going on in Mormon theology today.... Go read this book.” \u003c\/span\u003e— Association for Mormon Letters\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“One of the most intriguing reads I’ve encountered in LDS studies.”\u003c\/span\u003e — \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.mormoninterpreter.com\/a-brighter-future-for-mormon-theology-adam-s-millers-future-mormon\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eInterpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“Miller’s theses are bold, insightful, and provocative, and they are laid out in clear language and arguments. . . . those interested in Mormon theology must read this book, and many others ought to.”\u003c\/span\u003e — \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/byustudies.byu.edu\/content\/future-mormon-essays-mormon-theology-adam-s-miller\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBYU Studies Quarterly\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/1R0C4n1\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/kindle2.png?9112655742455458650\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/future-mormon-essays-in-mormon-theology\/id1113666543?uo=4\u0026amp;mt=11\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/applebooks_480x480.png?v=1649199519\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=leNlEAAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/google-play-badge2_a56b9286-69fa-4581-9680-5ea7c47f0c1a_480x480.png?v=1648668766\" alt=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailable in ebook for \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/amzn.to\/1R0C4n1\"\u003eKindle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.barnesandnoble.com\/s\/2940158185434\"\u003eNook\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/store.kobobooks.com\/en-us\/ebook\/future-mormon-essays-in-mormon-theology\"\u003eKobo\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=leNlEAAAQBAJ\"\u003eGoogle Play\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/future-mormon-essays-in-mormon-theology\/id1113666543?uo=4\u0026amp;mt=11\"\u003eApple\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlso available through \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/36KnD6T\"\u003eAmazon\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/news\/113735109-preview-em-future-mormon-essays-in-mormon-theology-em\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDownload a free sample preview\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom the Introduction:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI have three children, a girl and two boys. Our worlds overlap but, already, these worlds are not the same. Their worlds, the worlds that they will grow to fill, are already taking leave of mine. Their futures are already wedged into our present. This is both heartening and frightening. So much of our world deserves to be left. So much of it deserves to be scrapped and recycled. But, too, this scares me. I worry that a lot of what has mattered most to me in this world—Mormonism in particular—may be largely unintelligible to them in theirs. This problem isn’t new, but it is perpetually urgent. Every generation must start again. Every generation must work out their own salvation. Every generation must live its own lives and think its own thoughts and receive its own revelations. And, if Mormonism continues to matter, it will be because they, rather than leaving, were willing to be Mormon all over again. Like our grandparents, like our parents, and like us, they will have to rethink the whole tradition, from top to bottom, right from the beginning, and make it their own in order to embody Christ anew in this passing world. To the degree that we can help, our job is to model that work in love and then offer them the tools, the raw materials, and the room to do it themselves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese essays are a modest contribution in this vein, a future tense apologetics meant for future Mormons. They model, I hope, a thoughtful and creative engagement with Mormon ideas while sketching, without obligation, possible directions for future thinking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/authorcast\"\u003eAuthorCast\u003c\/a\u003e Interview with the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003caudio preload=\"none\" controls=\"controls\"\u003e \u003csource src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/Miller.mp3\"\u003e\u003c\/audio\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComprehensive Table of Contents:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcknowledgements\u003cbr\u003eIntroduction: A Future Tense Apologetics\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. A General Theory of Grace\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Three Pillars of Eternity\u003cbr\u003eThe Terror of Grace\u003cbr\u003eA Broken Law\u003cbr\u003eFulfilling the Law\u003cbr\u003eBe Ye Perfect\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2. Burnt Offerings: Reading 1 Nephi 1\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLehi in the Desert\u003cbr\u003eLehi with a Book\u003cbr\u003eThe Mysteries of God\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3. Reading Signs or Repeating Symptoms: Reading Jacob 7\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Scene\u003cbr\u003eJacob’s Symptom\u003cbr\u003eSherem’s Position\u003cbr\u003eSigns from Heaven\u003cbr\u003eReclamation\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4. Early Onset Postmortality\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5. The God Who Weeps: Notes, Amens, and Disagreements\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePracticing Faith\u003cbr\u003eSaving Satisfaction\u003cbr\u003eWeighing Preexistence\u003cbr\u003eDefending Darwin\u003cbr\u003eDistributing Agency\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6. A Radical Mormon Materialism: Reading Wrestling the Angel\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRadical Materialism, Latent Idealism\u003cbr\u003eA Working Definition of Materialism\u003cbr\u003eLaw, Atonement, Materiality\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e7. Reflections on President Uchtdorf’s “The Gift of Grace”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e8. A Manifesto for the Future of Mormon Thinking\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFearless Mormon Thinking\u003cbr\u003eTransfiguring the Secular\u003cbr\u003eTransfiguring Subjectivity\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e9. Network Theology: Is it Possible to be a Christian but not a Platonist?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIntroduction\u003cbr\u003eWhat is Network Thinking?\u003cbr\u003eWhat if God is not a king?\u003cbr\u003eWhat if truth is an ongoing process, not a static product?\u003cbr\u003eWhat if grace is immanent?\u003cbr\u003eWhat if the soul is a network?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e10. Jesus, Trauma, and Psychoanalytic Technique\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverture\u003cbr\u003eThe Fundamentals of Technique\u003cbr\u003eDivine Trauma\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e11. Every Truth is a Work, Every Object is a Covenant\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e12. The Body of Christ\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e13. Silence, Witness, and Absolute Rock: Reading Cormac McCarthy\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Dreamer\u003cbr\u003eThe Mute\u003cbr\u003eThe Witness\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBibliography\u003cbr\u003eIndex\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ\u0026amp;A with the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Why the title, “Future Mormon”?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is difficult to be contemporary. Historians can avoid the trouble of being contemporary by writing about history and the history of ideas. But as a philosopher and theologian, I think the other tack is more appropriate. Rather than taking shelter in the past, my work takes shelter in the future. It takes future Mormons as it audience. I can't claim any kind of authority in the present, but my hope is that my work might be useful down the road for my grandchildren and great grandchildren. No one, right now, is asking me to write anything or think harder about anything. That's understandable. But maybe I can still be useful and leave something behind that could be helpful in the future.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003eQ: How does this new volume differ from\u003c\/span\u003e \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/products\/rube-goldberg-machines-essays-in-mormon-theology\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eRube Goldberg Machines\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003e?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFuture Mormon is, I think, a stronger collection of essays. They are more tightly integrated around a handful of key themes and, while they frequently remain academic in spirit, they are, in general, less playful or poetic and more straightforward than some of the material in \u003cem\u003eRube Goldberg Machines\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: In the introduction you describe your book as a “future-tense apologetics.” In what ways is your book apologetic, and how does it differ from how apologetics is traditionally understood?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book is apologetic in that it offers a defense of Mormonism. But it is different from conventional forms of apologetics because it doesn't attempt to defend Mormonism against the specifics of any past or present criticisms. Rather than supplying specific answers to specific questions, I think these essays, instead, try to gather potential tools and resources that future Mormons may need to tackle problems that, for us, may be only barely perceptible at present.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: When you look at the generations coming up, what do you suspect will be the most pressing issues for them as they navigate their relationship with Mormonism? And how does \u003cem\u003eFuture Mormon\u003c\/em\u003e address those issues?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe most pressing issue will be Christ. Future generations will have to—just as we must—figure out how to not just talk about Christ but live life in Christ. Life in Christ is the perpetual challenge. They, however, will also have to figure out what such a life looks like in a world that, increasingly, takes sexual, racial, and economic equality seriously, all while dealing with profound and planet-wide ecological changes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: As does much of your work, this book focuses a good deal on grace. This is a topic that has received much more traction in Mormonism today than it did in the past. Why do you think this is the case, and how does your understanding of grace differ from how Mormons generally view it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrace is just one way of talking about what life in Christ looks like. But it is a good way. It is language native to Christianity's earliest and most influential expression. For my part, I think that Mormons generally use the word in a way that is still too narrow, still too secondary. We need something like a general theory of grace. In this book, I try to open up some accessible lines that could help us think about what a general theory of grace would involve.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: In one of your essays, you say that Mormons need to learn to be more Pauline. In the last several decades there has been a growing interest in Paul by philosophers--and even atheist philosophers. What has drawn their interest, and what is it about Paul that Mormons have generally failed to learn from?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaul's message, as an apostle of Christ, has perennial traction, with Christians and non-Christians alike. In his letters Paul is trying to describe what a certain kind of life, an awakened and liberated life, looks like. This kind of life—whether someone comes to it by way of the Christian tradition or more directly by way of life itself—has a kind of universal appeal. If atheists aren't interested in the theological work that we're doing, then we're probably doing it wrong. Paul, though, is a good example of doing it right.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eFuture Mormon:\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“The gospel as Adam expounds it in Future Mormon is challenging, but like all good exercise, the work needed to understand these ideas feels productive.  I broke a good mental sweat.” — Angela C., \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/bycommonconsent.com\/2016\/05\/13\/book-review-adam-millers-future-mormon\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBy Common Consent\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“This is not your grandfather’s Mormon Doctrine. This is the future of Mormon theology, and Adam establishes a strong and powerful foundation upon which we can develop a richer and greater LDS doctrinal base.” — \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.millennialstar.org\/book-review-adam-s-millers-future-mormon\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eThe Millennial Star\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Future Mormon is important not just because it represents some of the most careful, creative, and charitable work going on in Mormon theology today, but precisely because it encourages readers to engage and respond in a similar manner. . . . Go read this book. Enjoy it. It’s some of Miller’s best work to date, and it’s a powerful invitation. One you won’t regret accepting.” — Jenny Webb, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/associationmormonletters.org\/blog\/miller-future-mormon-essays-in-mormon-theology-reviewed-by-jenny-webb\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Adam Miller sets his spirit and intellect loose on the important task of helping clear away debris and suggesting some possible new framings for Mormonism that might appeal to coming generations.” — Dan Wotherspoon,\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/mormonmatters.org\/2016\/06\/02\/333-mormonism-and-future-generations\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e Mormon Matters Podcast\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“[Future Mormon] starts conversations, gets the mental wheels turning, and begins to transform the reader into a theologian. Miller’s book is the very world-building and alliance-making he describes. In it, he helps lay the foundation for a more thoughtful, earthy, and creative Mormonism; all while extending his hand to readers as an invitation to join him in the process.” — Walker Wright, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.withoutend.org\/review-future-mormon\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eWorlds Without End\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“The philosophical and theological tools he offers to his children and ours are impressive and set forth here, with Miller’s characteristically arresting formulations, in a style that is both engaging and highly evocative.” — Ralph C. Hancock, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.mormoninterpreter.com\/beyond-agency-as-idolatry\/#more-9080\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eInterpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Adam S. Miller’s Future Mormon, his collection of ‘Essays in Mormon Theology,’ is one of the most intriguing reads I’ve encountered in LDS studies.” — Jeff Lindsay, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.mormoninterpreter.com\/a-brighter-future-for-mormon-theology-adam-s-millers-future-mormon\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eInterpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Miller puts some postmodern philosophical meat in the Mormon sandwich.” — Dave Banack, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/2016\/09\/future-mormons\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eTimes and Seasons\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Adam Miller is poetic and inspiring. . . . And this ranks as one of my favorite LDS books. Adam Miller will challenge his readers. But if you work at it, you will leave spiritually fed, inspired to be a better person, and proud to be a Mormon.” — Randall Bowen, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.churchistrue.com\/blog\/adam-miller-review-of-future-mormon-essays-in-mormon-theology\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eLDS Church is True Blog\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“\u003cem\u003eFuture Mormon\u003c\/em\u003e approaches theology with ideas and methods that most Latter-day Saints may not be familiar or comfortable. After all, theology is often a different animal than doctrine and devotional religion. . . . Miller’s theses are bold, insightful, and provocative, and they are laid out in clear language and arguments. . . . those interested in Mormon theology must read this book, and many others ought to.” — James E. Faulconer, \u003cem\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/byustudies.byu.edu\/content\/future-mormon-essays-mormon-theology-adam-s-miller\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBYU Studies Quarterly\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/adammiller-e13680369472841_compact.jpg?10491920731554070144\" style=\"margin-right: 5px; float: left;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/adam-s-miller\"\u003eAdam S. Miller\u003c\/a\u003e is a professor of philosophy at Collin College in McKinney, Texas. He is the author of several books, including \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/products\/rube-goldberg-machines-essays-in-mormon-theology\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eRube Goldberg Machines: Essays in Mormon Theology\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003cem\u003eBadiou, Marion, and St. Paul: Immanent Grace\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eLetters to a Young Mormon\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eSpeculative Grace: An Experiment with Bruno Latour in Object-Oriented Theology.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e146 pages\u003cbr\u003eISBN 978-1-58958-509-6 (paperback)\u003cbr\u003ePublished May 2016\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"paperback","offer_id":42261935718571,"sku":"978-1-58958-509-6","price":18.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/products\/Miller_FutureMormon_new2.jpg?v=1456344292"},{"product_id":"the-learning-of-the-jews","title":"“The Learning of the Jews”: What Latter-day Saints Can Learn from Jewish Religious Experience","description":"\u003cp\u003eedited by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/trevan-g-hatch\"\u003eTrevan G. Hatch\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/leonard-j-greenspoon\"\u003eLeonard J. Greenspoon\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNow available in paperback and ebook. \u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e \u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e“\u003c\/span\u003eThis is a ground-breaking book that provides much needed knowledge on Judaism.\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e — Yaakov Ariel\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“A landmark in Latter-day Saint embrace of modern Jewish scholarship.”\u003c\/span\u003e — Jason M. Olson\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3lsx7xK\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/kindle2.png?9112655742455458650\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/id1579417587\"\u003e\u003cimg data-mce-fragment=\"1\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/applebooks_480x480.png?v=1649199519\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=tFxlEAAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003cimg data-mce-fragment=\"1\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/google-play-badge2_a56b9286-69fa-4581-9680-5ea7c47f0c1a_480x480.png?v=1648668766\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailable in ebook for \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3lsx7xK\"\u003eKindle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/id1579417587\"\u003eApple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=tFxlEAAAQBAJ\"\u003eGoogle Play\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.kobo.com\/us\/en\/ebook\/the-learning-of-the-jews-what-latter-day-saints-can-learn-from-jewish-religious-experience\"\u003eKobo\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlso available through \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3xrGqAs\"\u003eAmazon\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/news\/preview-the-learning-of-the-jews\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDownload a free sample preview.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBook Description:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis volume is about Latter-day Saints learning from Jews and the Jewish experience. This book is unique. It is not a traditional interfaith dialogue where the goal is to learn from each other. Rather, Latter-day Saints seek to give Jews the microphone, so to speak, and let them talk about themselves on their own terms. Only then do Latter-day Saint respond, and not with the goal of establishing areas of agreement or disagreement but as an opportunity to learn from Jews. This book turns to the wisdom of Jews and Judaism to inform, inspire, and enhance the lived religious experience of Latter-day Saints.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Learning of the Jews\u003c\/em\u003e brings together fifteen scholars, seven Jewish and eight Latter-day Saint, with a combined academic experience of over four hundred years. The volume is structured around seven major topics, two chapters on each topic. A Jewish scholar first discusses the topic broadly vis-à-vis Judaism, followed by a response from a Latter-day Saint scholar. The seven topics include scripture, authority, prayer, women and modernity, remembrance, particularity, and humor. The intention is that the reader will not only learn a great deal about Judaism and the Jewish experience while reading this volume but also use what they learn to enhance their own cultural and religious experience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ\u0026amp;A with the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Can you provide a little background about the editors and your decision to do this project together?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA: I participated with Leonard Greenspoon in several Jewish Studies seminars in Chicago from 2012 to 2018. In 2016 I approached him about getting Jewish scholars and LDS scholars together for this writing project. As a prolific scholar in Bible and Jewish Studies for forty years, Leonard has participated in these types of interfaith interactions many times, but never with Latter-day Saints. Leonard and I then contacted several scholars to participate. Many of the Jewish scholars were excited to write essays due to the unique nature of the project.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: What makes this book unique among interfaith dialogues? \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA: Traditional interfaith dialogues are very common. So why do I call this project “unique”? Customarily, the purpose of interfaith dialogue is for two groups to come together and discuss commonalities. The “Kumbaya” nature of these interfaith dialogues serve to foster understanding and empathy. This project is unique because we did NOT want to follow the typical style of each group learning from each other. In other words, we did not want to tell Jews that Latter-day Saints want to learn from them, but that they must learn from Latter-day Saints as well. Christians have forced Jews for 1,500 years to learn about Christianity (or even convert to Christianity). In this volume, we sought to give Jews “the microphone” so-to-speak and let them talk about their own experience without imposing an agenda on them. Our intent was to discuss and examine Judaism on Jewish terms (as best we can) and subsequently wrestle with how Latter-day Saints might benefit from 3,000 years of the Jewish experience. Our purpose is not to suggest that Latter-day Saints must adopt various Jewish practices and beliefs. Rather, we hoped that the discussions in this volume may assist readers in adopting strategies, mentalities, and approaches to religious and cultural living as exemplified by Jews and Judaism. The chapters are meant to serve as catalysts for further introspection and learning, not as the end-all-be-all for how Latter-day Saints might learn from Jewish religious experience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: How is this book organized?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA: This volume brings together fifteen scholars, seven Jewish and eight Latter-day Saint, with a combined academic experience of over four hundred years. We have structured the volume around seven major topics, two chapters on each topic. A Jewish scholar first discusses the topic broadly vis-à-vis Judaism, followed by a response from a Latter-day Saint scholar. These Latter-day Saint scholars are trained in various fields of study and disciplines including history, sociology, family studies, religious studies, biblical studies, and literature. This wide array of experience and training illustrates the various approaches and perspectives of learning from another group. With the primary purpose of this volume being for Latter-day Saints to learn from Jewish religious perspectives and experiences, the essays are generally different from what you might expect in an interreligious dialogue. For the most part, the Jewish essays were not written with Latter-day Saints in mind but are simply broad overviews that could be helpful for any non-Jewish readership. Likewise, the Latter-day Saint responses are not trying to find commonalities as the primary goal; rather, their purpose is to explore any strategies, mentalities, motives, etc., of Jews that might serve as a catalyst for Latter-day Saints to look introspectively and enhance their own lived religious experience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: Can you highlight some of the main topics discussed in the book? \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA: The seven topics include scripture, authority, prayer, women and modernity, remembrance, particularity, and humor. Most of these topics are salient in Jewish discourse today. It so happens that Latter-day Saints focus on several of these topics with a great amount of zeal, especially scripture, authority, prayer, and women \u0026amp; modernity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: What are you hoping that readers will take away from this book?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA: We hope that the reader will not only learn a great deal about Judaism and the Jewish experience while reading this volume, but also use what they learn to enhance their own cultural and religious experience. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eListen to an \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/authorcast\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAuthorcast\u003c\/a\u003e interview with the editors:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003caudio controls=\"controls\" preload=\"none\"\u003e \u003csource src=\"http:\/\/files.gregkofford.com\/podcast\/E129_Learning_090621.mp3\"\u003e\u003c\/audio\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComprehensive Table of Contents:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton class=\"collapsible\" type=\"button\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIntroduction \u003cbr\u003e-    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/trevan-g-hatch\"\u003eTrevan G. Hatch\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/leonard-j-greenspoon\"\u003eLeonard J. Greenspoon\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1a. Approaching Scripture: Insights from Judaism \u003cbr\u003e-    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/gary-a-rendsburg\"\u003eGary A. Rendsburg\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1b. Maturing Latter-day Saint Approaches to Scripture \u003cbr\u003e-    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/ben-spackman\"\u003eBen Spackman\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e2a. Neither Prophet nor Priest: Authority and the Emergence of the Rabbis in Judaism \u003cbr\u003e-    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/peter-haas\"\u003ePeter Haas\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e2b. What’s the Church’s Official Position on Official Positions? Grappling with “Truth” and “Authority” \u003cbr\u003e-    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/trevan-g-hatch\"\u003eTrevan Hatch\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e3a. Approaching God: A Jewish Approach to Prayer \u003cbr\u003e-    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/peter-knobel\"\u003ePeter Knobel\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e3b. Approaching God: Jewish and Latter-day Saint Prayer and Worship \u003cbr\u003e-    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/loren-d-marks\"\u003eLoren D. Marks\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/david-c-dollahite\"\u003eDavid C. Dollahite\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e4a. Women and Judaism in the Contemporary World: Tradition in Tension \u003cbr\u003e-    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/ellen-lasser-levee\"\u003eEllen Lasser LeVee\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e4b. Modern Mormon Women in a Patriarchal Church\u003cbr\u003e-    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/camille-fronk-olson\"\u003eCamille Fronk Olson\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e5a. Faith as Memory: Theologies of the Jewish Holidays\u003cbr\u003e-    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/byron-l-sherwin\"\u003eByron L. Sherwin\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e5b. Memory in Ritual Life9 \u003cbr\u003e-    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/ashley-brocious\"\u003eAshley Brocious\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e6a. Sacrality and Particularity: Jews in an Early Modern Context9 \u003cbr\u003e-    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/dean-phillip-bell\"\u003eDean Phillip Bell\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e6b. Building Sacred Community: A Response to Dean Phillip Bell \u003cbr\u003e-    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/andrew-c-reed\"\u003eAndrew C. Reed\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e7a. It’s Funny, But Is it Jewish? It’s Jewish, But Is It Funny? An Understated Overview of Jewish Humor \u003cbr\u003e-    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/leonard-j-greenspoon\"\u003eLeonard Greenspoon\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e7b. Why We’ll Probably Never Have Grouchos of Our Own (But Maybe a Seinfeld) \u003cbr\u003e-    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/shawn-tucker\"\u003eShawn Tucker\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003e\"The Learning of the Jews\"\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"color: #808080;\"\u003e “\u003c\/span\u003eThis is a ground-breaking book that provides much needed knowledge on Judaism.\u003c\/span\u003e Members of The Church of Jesus of Latter-day Saints, as well as Christians of other groups, and Jews as well, will greatly benefit from it. The book also serves as means of intellectual exchange and interaction based on good will between members of the two faiths: Jewish and Mormon. It points to elements that both communities share, and where they differ. The editors gathered a particularly strong group of scholars, and the book chapters offer brilliant and instructive analyses. I highly recommend the book.\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e”\u003c\/span\u003e — Yaakov Ariel, Professor of Religious Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e“\u003cem\u003eThe Learning of the Jews\u003c\/em\u003e is \u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003ea landmark in Latter-day Saint embrace of modern Jewish scholarship\u003c\/span\u003e. It represents an understanding that the knowledge and experience of the Jewish people is the key to a more meaningful, relevant future for the Restoration in America and throughout the globe.” \u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e— \u003c\/span\u003eJason M. Olson, Ph.D., co-author of \u003cem\u003eThe Burning Book: A Jewish-Mormon Memoir\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e“In \u003cem\u003eThe Learning of the Jews\u003c\/em\u003e, we get a series of essays regarding Jewish understanding of scripture and life. . . . Latter-day Saints can then take some of those concepts and enhance their own worship and life experience.\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e” \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e— \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/joelsmonastery.blogspot.com\/2021\/11\/book-review-learning-of-jews.html\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eJoel's Monastery\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Authors:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003cimg data-mce-fragment=\"1\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/Hatch-_2019_9b8bfbe4-a087-462d-8e88-801294679420_160x160.jpg?v=1624655841\" height=\"160x160\" style=\"margin-right: 5px; float: left;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/trevan-g-hatch\"\u003eTrevan G. Hatch\u003c\/a\u003e, PhD, is the Bible, Religious Studies, and Middle East specialist in the Lee Library at Brigham Young University, and is also adjunct professor in the Department of Ancient Scripture. Trevan’s academic training is primarily in Bible and Jewish Studies, and his current research interests are on the Jewish context of the Gospels and Jesus traditions, Messianic expectations of Jews and Christians, and pilgrimage \u0026amp; religious tourism in Israel-Palestine. Trevan is the author of \u003cem\u003eA Stranger in Jerusalem: Seeing Jesus as a Jew\u003c\/em\u003e (Wipf \u0026amp; Stock Publishers, 2019).\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin-right: 5px; float: left;\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/2019-10_Greenspoon-Leonard_135_160x160.jpg?v=1624655631\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/leonard-j-greenspoon\"\u003eLeonard J. Greenspoon\u003c\/a\u003e, PhD, holds the Klutznick Chair in Jewish Civilization at Creighton University, where he is also Professor of Theology and of Classical \u0026amp; Near Eastern Studies. Greenspoon is the editor of the 32-volume Studies in Jewish Civilization series. He has also written six other books, including his most recent one on Jewish Bible translations: \u003cem\u003eJewish Bible Translations: Personalities, Passions, Politics, Progress\u003c\/em\u003e (JPS \u0026amp; University of Nebraska Press, 2020).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e298 pages\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58958-499-0 (paperback)\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/Learning_of_the_Jews_Press_Kit.pdf?v=1625692863\"\u003ePress Kit\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"paperback","offer_id":42261965471915,"sku":"978-1-58958-499-0","price":25.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/products\/Learningpbcover2.jpg?v=1604702347"},{"product_id":"anatomy-of-book-of-mormon-theology-2","title":"The Anatomy of Book of Mormon Theology, Volume Two","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/joseph-m-spencer\"\u003eJoseph M. Spencer\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“Spencer’s work on the Book of Mormon is, as a whole, unmatched and unparalleled in the history of the tradition.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e— \u003ca data-mce-fragment=\"1\" href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/adam-s-miller\"\u003eAdam S. Miller\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“Can’t recommend them enough for anyone who values a close, careful reading of scripture.”\u003c\/span\u003e — \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.associationmormonletters.org\/reviews\/current-reviews\/spencer-the-anatomy-of-book-of-mormon-theology-vol-1-2-reviewed-by-conor-hilton\/\"\u003eAssociation of Mormon Letters\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e“\u003c\/span\u003eFar from either importing philosophy into scripture . . . , scriptural theology in \u003cem\u003eAnatomy\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e is an invitation to come and see.”\u003c\/span\u003e — \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eJournal of Book of Mormon Studies\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNow available in paperback, hardcover, and ebook.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3qGrHSz\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/kindle2.png?9112655742455458650\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/the-anatomy-of-book-of-mormon-theology-volume-two\/id1593427132?itsct=books_box_link\u0026amp;itscg=30200\u0026amp;ls=1\"\u003e\u003cimg data-mce-fragment=\"1\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/applebooks_480x480.png?v=1649199519\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=cjdlEAAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003cimg data-mce-fragment=\"1\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/google-play-badge2_a56b9286-69fa-4581-9680-5ea7c47f0c1a_480x480.png?v=1648668766\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/vision-all-twenty-five-lectures\/id1167659851?ls=1\u0026amp;mt=11\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailable in ebook for \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3qGrHSz\"\u003eKindle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/the-anatomy-of-book-of-mormon-theology-volume-two\/id1593427132?itsct=books_box_link\u0026amp;itscg=30200\u0026amp;ls=1\"\u003eApple\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=cjdlEAAAQBAJ\"\u003eGoogle Play\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlso available through \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3DmGWmZ\"\u003eAmazon\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePart of our \u003cspan style=\"font-variant: small-caps;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/contemporary-studies-in-scripture\"\u003eContemporary Studies in Scripture\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e series\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/news\/preview-bofm-theology2\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDownload a free sample preview. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/products\/bofm-theology1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSee Volume One\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBook Description:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFew scholars of the Book of Mormon have read this volume of scripture as closely and rigorously as \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/joseph-m-spencer\"\u003eJoseph M. Spencer\u003c\/a\u003e. And of those, none have devoted as much time and effort as he to a \u003cem\u003etheological\u003c\/em\u003e reading of that sacred text\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e—\u003c\/span\u003ethat is, as Spencer writes, “how it might shape responsible thinking about questions pertaining to the life of religious commitment” (p. 1:173.)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eAnatomy of Book of Mormon Theology\u003c\/em\u003e divides into two volumes exploring and thinking about these pertinent questions. Whereas the\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/products\/bofm-theology1\"\u003e first volume\u003c\/a\u003e principally contains essays that deal with relatively traditional theological questions and concerns, the essays in this volume ask about what new worlds might be discovered in doing theological work on the Book of Mormon, focusing on what Spencer calls “microscopic” and “macroscopic” theological readings of the text. Essays in the first set examine no more than a verse of the Book of Mormon—more often just a single phrase or two—to see what theological implications lie within the details of the text. The second set of essays ask questions about the shape and intentions of the whole of the Book of Mormon, as this can be discerned through the ways it deploys biblical texts—and especially the writings of Isaiah. A third set of essays follows the two on microscopic and macroscopic styles of theology and are invitations to blur the boundaries that separate different styles of Book of Mormon scholarship. These final essays call on Book of Mormon scholars to move closer to theology and calls on theologians to move closer to the Book of Mormon.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/products\/bofm-theology1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Anatomy of Book of Mormon Theology, Volume One\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComprehensive Table of Contents:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton class=\"collapsible\" type=\"button\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIntroduction\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Prologue of Sorts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e1. Toward a Methodology for the Theological Interpretation of the Book of Mormon\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMicroscopic Theology\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e2. Weeping for Zion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"\u003eSome questions of structure\u003cbr\u003eOn Matters Psychological\u003cbr\u003eNext Year in Zion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e3. Potent Messianism: Textual, Historical, and Theological Notes on 1 Nephi 1:18–20\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"\u003eTextual Matters\u003cbr\u003eHistorical matters\u003cbr\u003eTheological Matters\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e4. Seams, Cracks, and Fragments: Notes on the Human Condition\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"\u003eAppendix: Alma’s Cosmotheology\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e5. As Though, As Though Not: Time, Being, and Negation\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e6. Law, Grace, and Sovereignty in 2 Nephi 2\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"\u003ePreliminaries\u003cbr\u003eThe Ends of the Law\u003cbr\u003eThe Inflicting of the Punishment\u003cbr\u003eThe Wisdom of God\u003cbr\u003eThe Merits and Mercy and Grace\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMacroscopic Theology\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e7. Mormon Conversion,Christian Conversion: Comparing Conversion Narratives in the Book of Mormon and the New Testament\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e8. The Book of Mormon as Biblical Interpretation: An Approach to LDS Biblical Studies\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"\u003ePuzzles\u003cbr\u003eStructures\u003cbr\u003eVariants\u003cbr\u003eComments\u003cbr\u003eIntertexts\u003cbr\u003eConclusions\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e9. Isaiah 52 in the Book of Mormon: Notes on Isaiah’s Reception History\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"\u003eIsaiah 52:7–10 for Nephi\u003cbr\u003eIsaiah 52:7–10 for Abinadi and His Opponents\u003cbr\u003eIsaiah 52:7–10 For and After Christ\u003cbr\u003eSynthesis and Conclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e10. The Book of Mormon’s Use of Isaiah 53\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e11. “After This Manner Hath the Prophet Written”: Isaiah 48 in the Book of Mormon\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e12. Biblical Contributions to the Book of Mormon’s Presentation of Gender\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTheological Invitations\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e13. On a Dawning Era for the Book of Mormon\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e14. The Self-Critical Book of Mormon: Notes on an Emergent Literary Approach\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e15. A Mormon Reads A Pentecostal Reads The Book of Mormon\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e16. Notes on Novelty: Regarding Adam Miller’s Rube Goldberg Machines\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e17. “And it Came to Pass”: A Response to Adam Miller’s “Theoscatology”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e18. Sin\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn Epilogue of Sorts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e19. Mormons, Films, Scriptures\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ\u0026amp;A with the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton class=\"collapsible\" type=\"button\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eQ: Can you give us a brief background into this project? How did it begin?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"gmail_quote\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eA: Well, in a lot of ways, to answer that question would be to tell you my whole story! The two volumes of \u003ci\u003eAnatomy\u003c\/i\u003e collect essays I wrote between about 2008 and about 2018, a decade of work on the Book of Mormon. The earliest several were my very first forays into writing theologically about the Book of Mormon. Other essays came at different points over the course of a decade. Taken together, they punctuate the story of my own coming of age as a Book of Mormon scholar. When I set out to write about the Book of Mormon, I don't think it could be said that there was such a thing as Book of Mormon theology---certainly not as a recognizable field! Ten years later, I could say I had an intellectual home as a Book of Mormon theologian. It was while I was writing that this approach to the Book of Mormon began to take shape. I watched that happen, contributing what I could. And so \u003ci\u003eAnatomy\u003c\/i\u003e is something like an archive that documents one scholar's perspective, witnessing something new be born.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThat's not it, though. What I slowly figured out how to articulate for and to myself over the course of that decade was what it means even to speak of Book of Mormon theology. What does it mean to do theology with the Book of Mormon? My earliest essays found me beginning to work out an answer to that question, even though I didn't know I even \u003ci\u003ehad\u003c\/i\u003e that question. As time went on, and as I found myself with a variety of interesting interlocutors (not all of whom were doing theology, to be clear!), the question itself, along with my answer (or answers!) to it, became clearer to me. And so \u003ci\u003eAnatomy\u003c\/i\u003e is divided up into essays I wrote that help to articulate the various ways one might go about doing theology with the Book of Mormon.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eQ: Can you explain what you mean by “the anatomy” of Book of Mormon Theology?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eI settled on this title only eventually, but I hope it captures something important. I like the idea that Book of Mormon theology is a living thing, with a lot of deeply interconnected parts. The word \"anatomy\" is privative—that is, the \"an-\" at its beginning means \"not.\" The word applies to things where it's inappropriate to speak of smallest units, of \"atoms\" (in a sense different from the way we talk about atoms in modern physics, obviously). Anatomy is at issue wherever we can't break something down into fully separable building blocks, where there's something organic about the thing that requires us to see how a massively complex living thing can't be taken apart without depriving it of life. Book of Mormon theology feels to me like that. It isn't the sort of thing we could just break down into a few fundamental topics (the nature of God, how the Spirit works, what salvation means, etc.) or a few fundamental approaches (philosophical theology, pastoral theology, historical theology, etc.), hoping then to put them back together into some kind of whole.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eIt's for this reason precisely that it's useful simply to look at a dossier of theological essays, a set of productions emerging on so many different occasions over the course of a decade. I couldn't ever have begun with some overarching vision of what all had to be done, theologically, with the Book of Mormon and then simply executed the program. Different interests and various concerns had to draw the theological relevance of the Book of Mormon out of me while the project was feeding, breathing, growing. But looking back over things after ten years of work, I find it possible to start to give names to different systems of thought---to different organs in this living body, so to speak---and so to make some sense of things. It becomes especially clear to me where the center of the body lies, where the heart is that's pumping life-giving oxygen to everything else. And that's something I hope comes clear to every reader of these volumes.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eQ: For those less familiar with theology, can you offer a basic definition?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eI'm always hesitant to give theology a strict definition—for all the reasons I've been talking about already! At the very least, though, someone does theology when she takes the demands of reason as seriously as possible while nonetheless always ultimately submitting them to what God reveals. When someone does theology with the Book of Mormon, then, she has to do a number of things. She can't just read the Book of Mormon quickly, assuming that she understands the meaning of the text. She has to do (or at least borrow from) intense interpretive work, sorting out the way the book is organized, how its story unfolds, what its various prophecies and sermons and narratives have to say, and so on. She also has to do (or at least draw on) good philosophical work, of a sort that probes beneath the surface of things and makes them more interesting than we often take them to be. With the real depth of the Book of Mormon on display, and with the best thinkers as her interlocutors, she might begin to let the Book of Mormon speak in a richly theological way.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThat's not very basic, I'm afraid. It's also probably the best I can do. It's no simple thing to do theology, and to do it well. We have to get far more serious than we usually are about what the Book of Mormon itself has to say, in its own name. And we have to get far more serious than we usually are about ideas in general. Then theological work on this sacred text begins in earnest. And I should note, then, that doing theological work on the Book of Mormon is rather different from studying the book doctrinally or with an eye to application, although it's related to both of these things. To study the Book of Mormon doctrinally is to look at how the book clarifies the official doctrines of the Church. To study the Book of Mormon with an eye to application is to ask how its words might immediately shape my everyday life. These are questions I might be asking when I do theology as well, but they don't need to be.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: How are the two volumes organized?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThe first volume of \u003ci\u003eAnatomy\u003c\/i\u003e gathers essays that I think fit most easily into traditional notions of what it would mean to do theology with a book of scripture. It's worth saying that, along with a handful of colleagues, I labored over the years covered in these two volumes on developing a rather novel approach to doing theology with scripture---and with the Book of Mormon in particular. We didn't set out with the idea of doing any such thing, but that's what indeed happened. Along that peculiar pathway, however, I took plenty of opportunities to write more traditional theological essays as well. It's those that make up most of the first volume of \u003ci\u003eAnatomy\u003c\/i\u003e. That first volume comes, in fact, in four parts. The first handful of essays represent my earliest forays, which I gather under the title \"Halting First Steps.\" A second handful of essays explore a variety of resources for doing theology in whatever fashion. These appear under the title \"Running toward Theology.\" And then there are two gatherings of essays titled \"Traditional Theology\": a first gathering of essays specifically focused on the atonement of Jesus Christ, and a second gathering of essays focused on a variety of theological topics, approached in a way anyone might expect.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThe second volume of \u003ci\u003eAnatomy\u003c\/i\u003e turns to the kinds of theological work I and others developed over the course of a decade. It opens for that reason with a transitional essay, a reflection on theological method. There then follow two gatherings of essays in each of two novel theological styles, to which I give the respective names of microscopic and macroscopic theology. Most of the examples of microscopic theology grew directly out of my work with Adam Miller and others in the Latter-day Saint Theology Seminar (what used to be called the Mormon Theology Seminar). There we forged a style of excruciatingly acute analyses of scriptural texts, put in the service of theological and philosophical reflection. The examples of macroscopic theology all touch on what's been a central point of interest in my work from the beginning: the status of Isaiah in the Book of Mormon. A further section in the second volume of \u003ci\u003eAnatomy\u003c\/i\u003e includes my theological responses to others' work on the Book of Mormon, and then the volume concludes with a kind of bonus essay, one that examines the Book of Mormon in film (including \u003ci\u003eNapoleon Dynamite\u003c\/i\u003e).\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eQ: What developments have you seen in the field of Book of Mormon scholarship over the past decade?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eIn my view, contemporary Book of Mormon studies began with the publication of Terryl Givens's \u003ci\u003eBy the Hand of Mormon\u003c\/i\u003e in 2002. That book is an astonishing thing, a masterpiece. I think it's safe to say that it placed a capstone on the two decades of work dominated by FARMS (the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies), largely by announcing that that project had fulfilled the measure of its creation. That created enough breathing room to allow for other approaches to the Book of Mormon to gain a place alongside traditional apologetics. Over the two decades or so since Givens published his book, I'd say that three emergent approaches have emerged and gained serious traction. Obviously, the one that interests me the most is the theological angle, the one I've tried deliberately to help craft and to which I've most consistently contributed. (Even when I've approached the other emergent methods, I've consistently put them to theological use---sometimes to the consternation of those working on the Book of Mormon in other ways!)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThe other two emergent approaches, though, deserve a great deal of attention. I have nothing but good to say of them, even if I always find myself wanting to push their insights over into the realm of theology. One of these is the project of placing the Book of Mormon within the category of world scripture and so of approaching the book from within the discipline of religious studies. This approach is best represented by Grant Hardy. For a time, it looked as if Hardy was pushing for a literary approach to the Book of Mormon---he himself put it that on occasion---but over time it's become clear what he's after, and the results are spectacular. The other emergent approach \u003ci\u003eis\u003c\/i\u003e in fact literary, and it's best represented, I think, by Elizabeth Fenton and Jared Hickman. The angle here is to ask about how the Book of Mormon functions in the historical flow of American literature, in which context it presents itself as a fascinating point of resistance to the domination of secularity. There's much to learn from this sort of work, work that's beginning to proliferate, even if it sometimes asks questions that understandably make believers squirm.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eQ: Where do you see the field of Book of Mormon scholarship going in the future?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eIt's always hard to predict what's coming, of course. Rather than guess at what \u003ci\u003emight\u003c\/i\u003e or \u003ci\u003ewill\u003c\/i\u003e come, then, I'd prefer to say something about what I \u003ci\u003ehope\u003c\/i\u003e will come, about what \u003ci\u003eought\u003c\/i\u003e to come, in my humble view. With growing interest in the Book of Mormon from a variety of disciplinary angles---and let's be clear that historical work will continue, and that there are other less dominant approaches I haven't mentioned in these brief answers!---there's much need right now for basic resources for research. Royal Skousen has done essential work on establishing the text of the Book of Mormon; Grant Hardy has labored to put basic study resources in the hands of average readers; Nick Frederick has developed an aspiringly comprehensive list of interactions between the Bible and the Book of Mormon; Brant Gardner has sifted the Book of Mormon scholarship of the twentieth century in his commentary; and the \u003ci\u003eJournal of Book of Mormon Studies\u003c\/i\u003e has begun publishing bibliographies and reviews of literature to sort out what's going on right now in the field. These are, though, just the beginning of what's needed for Book of Mormon studies to flourish.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eI'd like to see dictionaries and analytical concordances, full-blooded commentaries written from a variety of methodological approaches, a robust conversation about the critical text of the Book of Mormon, annotated bibliographies of the best work from the past and from the present, handbooks to guide research on specific subjects or particular books within the Book of Mormon, outlines of Book of Mormon reception history, and other things of this sort. Amy Easton-Flake has recently argued that we're currently in a period that's strikingly similar to the late nineteenth century when it comes to the Book of Mormon. The last quarter of the nineteenth century saw the first student-oriented edition of the Book of Mormon (Orson Pratt's 1879 edition), the first dictionaries and concordances for the book (George Reynolds's work), the first survey treatments of the narrative (the work of George Reynolds and Janne Sjodahl), and the first efforts at systematic commentary (especially by Janne Sjodahl). We're again in such a period, and if that kind of thing continues, the next generation of Book of Mormon scholars will have plenty to work with as they move forward.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eQ: How does \u003c\/i\u003eThe Anatomy of Book of Mormon Theology\u003ci\u003e enter into the scholarly conversation?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eWell, in a lot of ways, \u003ci\u003eAnatomy\u003c\/i\u003e is meant to plant the flag of the theological approach squarely in the sand. I and a handful of others have been doing theology with the Book of Mormon for years, but it's only in the last couple of years that the stakes of what we've been doing have become clear---even to us! In some sense, then, \u003ci\u003eAnatomy\u003c\/i\u003e is meant to be a kind of announcement that something has been happening. It's meant to give a name to an event that's been unfolding for some time. And it's meant to gather an archive that can illustrate just how the various sequences of that larger event have followed one another. I might mention that each essay in \u003ci\u003eAnatomy\u003c\/i\u003e opens with a couple of paragraphs in which, looking back, I comment on what triggered that particular contribution, thus telling the story of Book of Mormon theology's emergence in bits and pieces. This is, I think, profoundly needed.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eOf course, someone might naturally object to what I've just said by pointing out that a far more visible flag of this sort was planted last year, when the Neal A. Maxwell Institute published its twelve-volume \u003ci\u003eBrief Theological Introductions\u003c\/i\u003e series. I wouldn't at all disagree with that. (And I should probably note between parentheses that I was heavily involved in that series---not only authoring a volume in it but serving as one of the series editors.) I think the \u003ci\u003eBrief Theological Introductions\u003c\/i\u003e very much announce that something has been stirring. What they don't do, however, is sort through the process of Book of Mormon theology's emergence. They put on display some of the fruits that the theological tree now bears. \u003ci\u003eAnatomy\u003c\/i\u003e goes back to look at the planting of the seed, at the work of caring for the sapling, and at the labor involved in picking the fruit that has eventually come. \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eQ: What are some of the key questions tackled in these volumes?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eI outlined the contents of \u003ci\u003eAnatomy\u003c\/i\u003e above, but I might note some of the most prominent themes among the many essays gathered here (there are \u003ci\u003ethirty-eight\u003c\/i\u003e of them!). As I've already indicated, readers can expect to encounter a lot of Isaiah---in treatments that go beyond and in other directions than my books on that subject. I've also already mentioned that there are several essays on the atonement of Christ, but it's worth specifying that there's an emphasis in those essays on the idea of grace, a theme that naturally recurs in essays in volume two where I interact with the thought of Adam Miller. There's frequent reflection also, though, on gender (a subject of current research for me), as well as on the nature of time as the Book of Mormon conceives of it (always a point of interest for me). There's a stronger emphasis on pneumatology (the study of the Holy Ghost's nature) than readers might expect, and on the body and materialism in various ways. Drawn by the interest of Hardy and others (especially Jad Hatem) in putting the Book of Mormon in conversation with world scripture, there are several places in these volumes where I ask questions about the Book of Mormon and other religious traditions (especially Hinduism).\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eAbove all, though, what every essay in these two volumes shares is an investment in what it means to read theologically. Many essays ask questions about where other approaches to the Book of Mormon end and theology begins. How might theology be relevant to the apologetic enterprise, and how might apologetics be relevant to theology? How might theology be relevant to literary work on the Book of Mormon, and how might literary work be relevant to theology? How much exegesis---that is, how much labor just on making the basic meaning of the Book of Mormon text clear---is necessary before theological work can begin in earnest? What themes from traditional theology and from the philosophical tradition might be useful in doing theological work on the Book of Mormon, and where do such themes actually stand in the way of doing theology well in this case? These questions I'm asking at every turn in this book.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eQ: What do you hope readers will gain by reading these volumes?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eAbove all, to be honest, I hope readers will simply begin to get a sense for how much remains to be done with the Book of Mormon. One danger in traditional apologetics---despite all the good it has done and can still do, to be clear!---is that it can give the impression that all the hard work is done once we feel like the Book of Mormon is intellectually defensible. The very real need we feel to defend the Book of Mormon against its detractors lends intensity and urgency to apologetic labor, and then it can feel as if every other sort of work on the Book of Mormon is simply unimportant or simply devotional. I hope, though, that the kind of work I've done in these two volumes---pressing in all kinds of directions at once---shows that there's a great deal of serious work to do on the Book of Mormon that's valuable and of intense interest \u003ci\u003ein its own right\u003c\/i\u003e. It's crucial to make clear that we aren't fools to give our faith to this book. But it's crucial also to make clear to ourselves just what this book we believe in actually has to say.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eMy heart skips a beat when I think about the Book of Mormon, and I hope these essays, taken together, show my love for the book, and maybe show what it means to love the book well. I'm thrilled by the efforts being made to show the Book of Mormon's relevance in the fields of literature and religious studies, and I've long kept a close eye on the labors of those defending the book's claim to antiquity. But there's another way of loving this book intensely, and of talking to one another about its truth and depth. I hope that's clear in \u003ci\u003eThe Anatomy of Book of Mormon Theology\u003c\/i\u003e. We can love this book theologically, just as much as we can love it in other ways.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJoseph M. Spencer, November 2021\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/authorcast\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e Authorcast\u003c\/a\u003e interview with Joseph M. Spencer:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003caudio controls=\"controls\" preload=\"none\"\u003e \u003csource src=\"http:\/\/files.gregkofford.com\/podcast\/E130_Spencer_Anatomy%20BOM.mp3\"\u003e\u003c\/audio\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eThe Anatomy of Book of Mormon Theology\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003eSpencer’s work on the Book of Mormon is, as a whole, unmatched and unparalleled in the history of the tradition.\u003c\/span\u003e I'd wager that no scholar in the history of the Latter-day Saint tradition has read the Book of Mormon as deeply or carefully as Spencer. I'd wager that no scholar in the history of the tradition is as thoroughly acquainted with all of the relevant Book of Mormon scholarship across all of the related disciplines as Spencer. And I'd bet my house on the fact that no other scholar in the history of the tradition is, simultaneously, as well versed in the relevant theological and philosophical issues—from classical philosophy through Christian theology through Kant, Hegel, Frege, phenomenology, structuralism, poststructuralism, post-secularism, and cutting edge contemporary philosophical work in philosophy of language, philosophy of religion, and metaphysics—that come to bear on contemporary Book of Mormon scholarship.\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e”\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e— \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/adam-s-miller\"\u003eAdam S. Miller\u003c\/a\u003e, author of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/products\/future-mormon\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eFuture Mormon: Essays in Mormon Theology\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003cem\u003eLetters to a Young Mormon\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e“The Anatomy of Book of Mormon Theology is comprised of thirty-eight essays over two volumes, representing more than a decade of exploratory and experimental work by Latter-day Saint philosopher and theologian Joseph Spencer. . . . \u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003eFar from either importing philosophy into scripture or arrogating to oneself the binding interpretive authority reserved in the Latter-day Saint tradition for apostles, scriptural theology in Anatomy is an invitation to come and see\u003c\/span\u003e.” — Stephen Thomas Betts, \u003cem\u003eJournal of Book of Mormon Studies\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e“\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003eThese two volumes are incredible and contain a wealth of insight about what the Book of Mormon says and what the Book of Mormon means,\u003c\/span\u003e particularly when examined through a lens of theology. . . . I will absolutely be referencing them again as I study the Book of Mormon throughout my life, and hope to continue to find the insight and enlightening provocations that I found as I read them this time. I can’t recommend them enough for anyone who values a close, careful reading of scripture and who really wants to think deeply about what small textual details as well as large, macro trends in scripture have to say about the theology of the Book of Mormon.” — Conor Hilton, \u003ca data-mce-fragment=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.associationmormonletters.org\/reviews\/current-reviews\/spencer-the-anatomy-of-book-of-mormon-theology-vol-1-2-reviewed-by-conor-hilton\/\"\u003eAssociation of Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"float: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/JSpencer_-_Headshot_b117ffe9-45bd-490b-ba98-a570d1932f15_160x160.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"margin-right: 5px; float: left;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/joseph-m-spencer\"\u003eJoseph M. Spence\u003c\/a\u003er is a philosopher and an assistant professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University. He is the author of dozens of articles and four books on philosophy and Latter-day Saint scripture. In addition, he serves as the editor of the \u003cem\u003eJournal of Book of Mormon Studies\u003c\/em\u003e, as the associate director of the Latter-day Saint Theology Seminar, and as a vice president of the Book of Mormon Studies Association. He and his wife, Karen, live in Provo, Utah, with their five children.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e331\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eISBN: 978-1-58958-783-0 (paperback); 978-1-58958-784-7 (hardcover)\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/Anatomy_BOM_Theology_2_Press_Kit.pdf?v=1635730140\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePress Kit\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"paperback","offer_id":40965262639275,"sku":"978-1-58958-783-0","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"hardcover","offer_id":40965262672043,"sku":"978-1-58958-784-7","price":39.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/products\/Spencer_Anatomy2.jpg?v=1635787271"},{"product_id":"anatomy-of-book-of-mormon-theology-1","title":"The Anatomy of Book of Mormon Theology, Volume One","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/joseph-m-spencer\"\u003eJoseph M. Spencer\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“Spencer’s work on the Book of Mormon is, as a whole, unmatched and unparalleled in the history of the tradition.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e— \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/adam-s-miller\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAdam S. Miller\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“Can’t recommend them enough for anyone who values a close, careful reading of scripture.”\u003c\/span\u003e — \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.associationmormonletters.org\/reviews\/current-reviews\/spencer-the-anatomy-of-book-of-mormon-theology-vol-1-2-reviewed-by-conor-hilton\/\"\u003eAssociation of Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e“\u003c\/span\u003eFar from either importing philosophy into scripture . . . , scriptural theology in \u003cem\u003eAnatomy\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e is an invitation to come and see.”\u003c\/span\u003e — \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eJournal of Book of Mormon Studies\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNow available in paperback, hardcover, and ebook.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3nXbHIX\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/kindle2.png?9112655742455458650\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/id1593422218\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/applebooks_480x480.png?v=1649199519\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=bTdlEAAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/google-play-badge2_a56b9286-69fa-4581-9680-5ea7c47f0c1a_480x480.png?v=1648668766\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/book\/vision-all-twenty-five-lectures\/id1167659851?ls=1\u0026amp;mt=11\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailable in ebook for \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3nXbHIX\"\u003eKindle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/id1593422218\"\u003eApple\u003c\/a\u003e, and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=bTdlEAAAQBAJ\"\u003eGoogle Play\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlso available through \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3q4NQcX\"\u003eAmazon\u003c\/a\u003e. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePart of our \u003cspan style=\"font-variant: small-caps;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/contemporary-studies-in-scripture\"\u003eContemporary Studies in Scripture\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e series\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/news\/preview-bofm-theology1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDownload a free sample preview. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/products\/bofm-theology2\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSee Volume Two\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBook Description:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFew scholars of the Book of Mormon have read this volume of scripture as closely and rigorously as \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/joseph-m-spencer\"\u003eJoseph M. Spencer\u003c\/a\u003e. And of those, none have devoted as much time and effort as he to a \u003cem\u003etheological\u003c\/em\u003e reading of that sacred text\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e—\u003c\/span\u003ethat is, as Spencer writes, “how it might shape responsible thinking about questions pertaining to the life of religious commitment” (p. 1:173.)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eAnatomy of Book of Mormon Theology\u003c\/em\u003e divides into two volumes exploring and thinking about these pertinent questions. Each concerns a different part of the defense of the claim that theology is and ought to be particularly important for Book of Mormon studies. In this first volume, Spencer gathers early essays in which he gestures toward theological interpretation without knowing how to defend it; essays about why theology is important to Book of Mormon scholarship and how to ensure that it does not overstep its boundaries; and essays that do theological work on the Book of Mormon in relatively obvious ways or with relatively traditional topics. The last category of essays divides into two subcategories: essays specifically on the central theological question of Jesus Christ’s atonement, as the Book of Mormon understands it; and essays on a variety of traditional theological topics, again as the Book of Mormon understands them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/products\/bofm-theology2\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Anatomy of Book of Mormon Theology, Volume Two\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComprehensive Table of Contents:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton class=\"collapsible\" type=\"button\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIntroduction\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHalting First Steps\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e1. Faith, Hope, and Charity: Alma and Joseph Smith\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"\u003eFaith\u003cbr\u003eHope\u003cbr\u003eAnd Charity\u003cbr\u003eAlma and Joseph Smith\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e2. Nephi, Isaiah, and Europe\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"\u003eNephi without Isaiah\u003cbr\u003e2 Nephi 26:33\u003cbr\u003e2 Nephi 27:1–6\u003cbr\u003eNephi with Isaiah\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e3. René Girard and Mormon Scripture: A Response\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"\u003eScripture through the Girardian Lens\u003cbr\u003eA Girardian Approach to the Book of Mormon\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e4. Prolegomena to Any Future Study of Isaiah in the Book of Mormon\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"\u003eClearing the Ground\u003cbr\u003eThe Accidental Isaiah\u003cbr\u003eThe Accidentally Essential Isaiah\u003cbr\u003eTowards the Essential Isaiah\u003cbr\u003eIsaiah in the Book of Mormon: An Outline\u003cbr\u003eNephi and Isaiah\u003cbr\u003eAbinadi and Isaiah\u003cbr\u003eChrist and Isaiah\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRunning toward Theology\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e5. The Humanist’s Book of Mormon\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e6. The Book, the Words of the Book: What the Book of Mormon Says about Its Own Coming Forth\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"\u003eA Book about a Book\u003cbr\u003eNephi’s Prophecy\u003cbr\u003eThe Learned and the Unlearned\u003cbr\u003eReceiving the Words of the Book\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e7. Toward a New Vision of Apologetics\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"\u003eWhat Is Apologetics?\u003cbr\u003eWhat Does Apologetics Look Like?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e8. The Structure of the Book of Alma\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e9. Introducing Comparative Scripture to Mormonism: Preliminary Thoughts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTraditional Theology: Atonement\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e10. The Time of Sin\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"\u003eThe Future (Helaman 13:5–23)\u003cbr\u003eThe Past (Helaman 13:24–28)\u003cbr\u003eThe Future Again (Helaman 13:29–37)\u003cbr\u003eConclusion (Helaman 13:37–39)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e11. Resurrection and Grace: Toward a Nephite Theology of Atonement\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"\u003eAtonement Sermons in the Book of Mormon\u003cbr\u003eHermeneutics: The “What” of Atonement in the Book of Mormon\u003cbr\u003ePolemics: The “How” of Atonement in the Book of Mormon\u003cbr\u003ePropaedeutics: The “Why” of Atonement in the Book of Mormon\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e12. What Can We Do? Reflections on 2 Nephi 25:23\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"\u003eAmbiguities in 2 Nephi 25:23\u003cbr\u003eSources for 2 Nephi 25:23\u003cbr\u003eApplications of 2 Nephi 25:23\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e13. Cross and Shame: Theorizing a Book of Mormon Theme\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e14. Amulek and Alma: Atonement\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTraditional Theology: Other Themes\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e15. Typology and Messianism in the (Book of) Mormon Experience\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"\u003eTwo Models of Typology: Alain Badiou and Giorgio Agamben\u003cbr\u003eTypification and Messianism: The Book of Mormon\u003cbr\u003eConcluding Thoughts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e16. Mothers, Daughters, Wives, and Women: Notes on Gender in First Nephi\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e17. Toward a Nephite Pneumatology\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e18. The Messianic Body in the Book of Mormon\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e19. Christ and Krishna: The Visions of Arjuna and the Brother of Jared\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 60px;\"\u003eEpic Contexts and Revolutionary Visions\u003cbr\u003eDevotion and Faith\u003cbr\u003eKrishna and Christ\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ\u0026amp;A with the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eQ: Can you give us a brief background into this project? How did it begin?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"gmail_quote\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eA: Well, in a lot of ways, to answer that question would be to tell you my whole story! The two volumes of \u003ci\u003eAnatomy\u003c\/i\u003e collect essays I wrote between about 2008 and about 2018, a decade of work on the Book of Mormon. The earliest several were my very first forays into writing theologically about the Book of Mormon. Other essays came at different points over the course of a decade. Taken together, they punctuate the story of my own coming of age as a Book of Mormon scholar. When I set out to write about the Book of Mormon, I don't think it could be said that there was such a thing as Book of Mormon theology---certainly not as a recognizable field! Ten years later, I could say I had an intellectual home as a Book of Mormon theologian. It was while I was writing that this approach to the Book of Mormon began to take shape. I watched that happen, contributing what I could. And so \u003ci\u003eAnatomy\u003c\/i\u003e is something like an archive that documents one scholar's perspective, witnessing something new be born.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThat's not it, though. What I slowly figured out how to articulate for and to myself over the course of that decade was what it means even to speak of Book of Mormon theology. What does it mean to do theology with the Book of Mormon? My earliest essays found me beginning to work out an answer to that question, even though I didn't know I even \u003ci\u003ehad\u003c\/i\u003e that question. As time went on, and as I found myself with a variety of interesting interlocutors (not all of whom were doing theology, to be clear!), the question itself, along with my answer (or answers!) to it, became clearer to me. And so \u003ci\u003eAnatomy\u003c\/i\u003e is divided up into essays I wrote that help to articulate the various ways one might go about doing theology with the Book of Mormon.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eQ: Can you explain what you mean by “the anatomy” of Book of Mormon Theology?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eI settled on this title only eventually, but I hope it captures something important. I like the idea that Book of Mormon theology is a living thing, with a lot of deeply interconnected parts. The word \"anatomy\" is privative—that is, the \"an-\" at its beginning means \"not.\" The word applies to things where it's inappropriate to speak of smallest units, of \"atoms\" (in a sense different from the way we talk about atoms in modern physics, obviously). Anatomy is at issue wherever we can't break something down into fully separable building blocks, where there's something organic about the thing that requires us to see how a massively complex living thing can't be taken apart without depriving it of life. Book of Mormon theology feels to me like that. It isn't the sort of thing we could just break down into a few fundamental topics (the nature of God, how the Spirit works, what salvation means, etc.) or a few fundamental approaches (philosophical theology, pastoral theology, historical theology, etc.), hoping then to put them back together into some kind of whole.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eIt's for this reason precisely that it's useful simply to look at a dossier of theological essays, a set of productions emerging on so many different occasions over the course of a decade. I couldn't ever have begun with some overarching vision of what all had to be done, theologically, with the Book of Mormon and then simply executed the program. Different interests and various concerns had to draw the theological relevance of the Book of Mormon out of me while the project was feeding, breathing, growing. But looking back over things after ten years of work, I find it possible to start to give names to different systems of thought---to different organs in this living body, so to speak---and so to make some sense of things. It becomes especially clear to me where the center of the body lies, where the heart is that's pumping life-giving oxygen to everything else. And that's something I hope comes clear to every reader of these volumes.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eQ: For those less familiar with theology, can you offer a basic definition?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eI'm always hesitant to give theology a strict definition—for all the reasons I've been talking about already! At the very least, though, someone does theology when she takes the demands of reason as seriously as possible while nonetheless always ultimately submitting them to what God reveals. When someone does theology with the Book of Mormon, then, she has to do a number of things. She can't just read the Book of Mormon quickly, assuming that she understands the meaning of the text. She has to do (or at least borrow from) intense interpretive work, sorting out the way the book is organized, how its story unfolds, what its various prophecies and sermons and narratives have to say, and so on. She also has to do (or at least draw on) good philosophical work, of a sort that probes beneath the surface of things and makes them more interesting than we often take them to be. With the real depth of the Book of Mormon on display, and with the best thinkers as her interlocutors, she might begin to let the Book of Mormon speak in a richly theological way.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThat's not very basic, I'm afraid. It's also probably the best I can do. It's no simple thing to do theology, and to do it well. We have to get far more serious than we usually are about what the Book of Mormon itself has to say, in its own name. And we have to get far more serious than we usually are about ideas in general. Then theological work on this sacred text begins in earnest. And I should note, then, that doing theological work on the Book of Mormon is rather different from studying the book doctrinally or with an eye to application, although it's related to both of these things. To study the Book of Mormon doctrinally is to look at how the book clarifies the official doctrines of the Church. To study the Book of Mormon with an eye to application is to ask how its words might immediately shape my everyday life. These are questions I might be asking when I do theology as well, but they don't need to be.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ: How are the two volumes organized?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThe first volume of \u003ci\u003eAnatomy\u003c\/i\u003e gathers essays that I think fit most easily into traditional notions of what it would mean to do theology with a book of scripture. It's worth saying that, along with a handful of colleagues, I labored over the years covered in these two volumes on developing a rather novel approach to doing theology with scripture---and with the Book of Mormon in particular. We didn't set out with the idea of doing any such thing, but that's what indeed happened. Along that peculiar pathway, however, I took plenty of opportunities to write more traditional theological essays as well. It's those that make up most of the first volume of \u003ci\u003eAnatomy\u003c\/i\u003e. That first volume comes, in fact, in four parts. The first handful of essays represent my earliest forays, which I gather under the title \"Halting First Steps.\" A second handful of essays explore a variety of resources for doing theology in whatever fashion. These appear under the title \"Running toward Theology.\" And then there are two gatherings of essays titled \"Traditional Theology\": a first gathering of essays specifically focused on the atonement of Jesus Christ, and a second gathering of essays focused on a variety of theological topics, approached in a way anyone might expect.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThe second volume of \u003ci\u003eAnatomy\u003c\/i\u003e turns to the kinds of theological work I and others developed over the course of a decade. It opens for that reason with a transitional essay, a reflection on theological method. There then follow two gatherings of essays in each of two novel theological styles, to which I give the respective names of microscopic and macroscopic theology. Most of the examples of microscopic theology grew directly out of my work with Adam Miller and others in the Latter-day Saint Theology Seminar (what used to be called the Mormon Theology Seminar). There we forged a style of excruciatingly acute analyses of scriptural texts, put in the service of theological and philosophical reflection. The examples of macroscopic theology all touch on what's been a central point of interest in my work from the beginning: the status of Isaiah in the Book of Mormon. A further section in the second volume of \u003ci\u003eAnatomy\u003c\/i\u003e includes my theological responses to others' work on the Book of Mormon, and then the volume concludes with a kind of bonus essay, one that examines the Book of Mormon in film (including \u003ci\u003eNapoleon Dynamite\u003c\/i\u003e).\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eQ: What developments have you seen in the field of Book of Mormon scholarship over the past decade?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eIn my view, contemporary Book of Mormon studies began with the publication of Terryl Givens's \u003ci\u003eBy the Hand of Mormon\u003c\/i\u003e in 2002. That book is an astonishing thing, a masterpiece. I think it's safe to say that it placed a capstone on the two decades of work dominated by FARMS (the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies), largely by announcing that that project had fulfilled the measure of its creation. That created enough breathing room to allow for other approaches to the Book of Mormon to gain a place alongside traditional apologetics. Over the two decades or so since Givens published his book, I'd say that three emergent approaches have emerged and gained serious traction. Obviously, the one that interests me the most is the theological angle, the one I've tried deliberately to help craft and to which I've most consistently contributed. (Even when I've approached the other emergent methods, I've consistently put them to theological use---sometimes to the consternation of those working on the Book of Mormon in other ways!)\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThe other two emergent approaches, though, deserve a great deal of attention. I have nothing but good to say of them, even if I always find myself wanting to push their insights over into the realm of theology. One of these is the project of placing the Book of Mormon within the category of world scripture and so of approaching the book from within the discipline of religious studies. This approach is best represented by Grant Hardy. For a time, it looked as if Hardy was pushing for a literary approach to the Book of Mormon---he himself put it that on occasion---but over time it's become clear what he's after, and the results are spectacular. The other emergent approach \u003ci\u003eis\u003c\/i\u003e in fact literary, and it's best represented, I think, by Elizabeth Fenton and Jared Hickman. The angle here is to ask about how the Book of Mormon functions in the historical flow of American literature, in which context it presents itself as a fascinating point of resistance to the domination of secularity. There's much to learn from this sort of work, work that's beginning to proliferate, even if it sometimes asks questions that understandably make believers squirm.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eQ: Where do you see the field of Book of Mormon scholarship going in the future?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eIt's always hard to predict what's coming, of course. Rather than guess at what \u003ci\u003emight\u003c\/i\u003e or \u003ci\u003ewill\u003c\/i\u003e come, then, I'd prefer to say something about what I \u003ci\u003ehope\u003c\/i\u003e will come, about what \u003ci\u003eought\u003c\/i\u003e to come, in my humble view. With growing interest in the Book of Mormon from a variety of disciplinary angles---and let's be clear that historical work will continue, and that there are other less dominant approaches I haven't mentioned in these brief answers!---there's much need right now for basic resources for research. Royal Skousen has done essential work on establishing the text of the Book of Mormon; Grant Hardy has labored to put basic study resources in the hands of average readers; Nick Frederick has developed an aspiringly comprehensive list of interactions between the Bible and the Book of Mormon; Brant Gardner has sifted the Book of Mormon scholarship of the twentieth century in his commentary; and the \u003ci\u003eJournal of Book of Mormon Studies\u003c\/i\u003e has begun publishing bibliographies and reviews of literature to sort out what's going on right now in the field. These are, though, just the beginning of what's needed for Book of Mormon studies to flourish.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eI'd like to see dictionaries and analytical concordances, full-blooded commentaries written from a variety of methodological approaches, a robust conversation about the critical text of the Book of Mormon, annotated bibliographies of the best work from the past and from the present, handbooks to guide research on specific subjects or particular books within the Book of Mormon, outlines of Book of Mormon reception history, and other things of this sort. Amy Easton-Flake has recently argued that we're currently in a period that's strikingly similar to the late nineteenth century when it comes to the Book of Mormon. The last quarter of the nineteenth century saw the first student-oriented edition of the Book of Mormon (Orson Pratt's 1879 edition), the first dictionaries and concordances for the book (George Reynolds's work), the first survey treatments of the narrative (the work of George Reynolds and Janne Sjodahl), and the first efforts at systematic commentary (especially by Janne Sjodahl). We're again in such a period, and if that kind of thing continues, the next generation of Book of Mormon scholars will have plenty to work with as they move forward.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eQ: How does \u003c\/i\u003eThe Anatomy of Book of Mormon Theology\u003ci\u003e enter into the scholarly conversation?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eWell, in a lot of ways, \u003ci\u003eAnatomy\u003c\/i\u003e is meant to plant the flag of the theological approach squarely in the sand. I and a handful of others have been doing theology with the Book of Mormon for years, but it's only in the last couple of years that the stakes of what we've been doing have become clear---even to us! In some sense, then, \u003ci\u003eAnatomy\u003c\/i\u003e is meant to be a kind of announcement that something has been happening. It's meant to give a name to an event that's been unfolding for some time. And it's meant to gather an archive that can illustrate just how the various sequences of that larger event have followed one another. I might mention that each essay in \u003ci\u003eAnatomy\u003c\/i\u003e opens with a couple of paragraphs in which, looking back, I comment on what triggered that particular contribution, thus telling the story of Book of Mormon theology's emergence in bits and pieces. This is, I think, profoundly needed.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eOf course, someone might naturally object to what I've just said by pointing out that a far more visible flag of this sort was planted last year, when the Neal A. Maxwell Institute published its twelve-volume \u003ci\u003eBrief Theological Introductions\u003c\/i\u003e series. I wouldn't at all disagree with that. (And I should probably note between parentheses that I was heavily involved in that series---not only authoring a volume in it but serving as one of the series editors.) I think the \u003ci\u003eBrief Theological Introductions\u003c\/i\u003e very much announce that something has been stirring. What they don't do, however, is sort through the process of Book of Mormon theology's emergence. They put on display some of the fruits that the theological tree now bears. \u003ci\u003eAnatomy\u003c\/i\u003e goes back to look at the planting of the seed, at the work of caring for the sapling, and at the labor involved in picking the fruit that has eventually come. \u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eQ: What are some of the key questions tackled in these volumes?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eI outlined the contents of \u003ci\u003eAnatomy\u003c\/i\u003e above, but I might note some of the most prominent themes among the many essays gathered here (there are \u003ci\u003ethirty-eight\u003c\/i\u003e of them!). As I've already indicated, readers can expect to encounter a lot of Isaiah---in treatments that go beyond and in other directions than my books on that subject. I've also already mentioned that there are several essays on the atonement of Christ, but it's worth specifying that there's an emphasis in those essays on the idea of grace, a theme that naturally recurs in essays in volume two where I interact with the thought of Adam Miller. There's frequent reflection also, though, on gender (a subject of current research for me), as well as on the nature of time as the Book of Mormon conceives of it (always a point of interest for me). There's a stronger emphasis on pneumatology (the study of the Holy Ghost's nature) than readers might expect, and on the body and materialism in various ways. Drawn by the interest of Hardy and others (especially Jad Hatem) in putting the Book of Mormon in conversation with world scripture, there are several places in these volumes where I ask questions about the Book of Mormon and other religious traditions (especially Hinduism).\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eAbove all, though, what every essay in these two volumes shares is an investment in what it means to read theologically. Many essays ask questions about where other approaches to the Book of Mormon end and theology begins. How might theology be relevant to the apologetic enterprise, and how might apologetics be relevant to theology? How might theology be relevant to literary work on the Book of Mormon, and how might literary work be relevant to theology? How much exegesis---that is, how much labor just on making the basic meaning of the Book of Mormon text clear---is necessary before theological work can begin in earnest? What themes from traditional theology and from the philosophical tradition might be useful in doing theological work on the Book of Mormon, and where do such themes actually stand in the way of doing theology well in this case? These questions I'm asking at every turn in this book.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eQ: What do you hope readers will gain by reading these volumes?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eAbove all, to be honest, I hope readers will simply begin to get a sense for how much remains to be done with the Book of Mormon. One danger in traditional apologetics---despite all the good it has done and can still do, to be clear!---is that it can give the impression that all the hard work is done once we feel like the Book of Mormon is intellectually defensible. The very real need we feel to defend the Book of Mormon against its detractors lends intensity and urgency to apologetic labor, and then it can feel as if every other sort of work on the Book of Mormon is simply unimportant or simply devotional. I hope, though, that the kind of work I've done in these two volumes---pressing in all kinds of directions at once---shows that there's a great deal of serious work to do on the Book of Mormon that's valuable and of intense interest \u003ci\u003ein its own right\u003c\/i\u003e. It's crucial to make clear that we aren't fools to give our faith to this book. But it's crucial also to make clear to ourselves just what this book we believe in actually has to say.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eMy heart skips a beat when I think about the Book of Mormon, and I hope these essays, taken together, show my love for the book, and maybe show what it means to love the book well. I'm thrilled by the efforts being made to show the Book of Mormon's relevance in the fields of literature and religious studies, and I've long kept a close eye on the labors of those defending the book's claim to antiquity. But there's another way of loving this book intensely, and of talking to one another about its truth and depth. I hope that's clear in \u003ci\u003eThe Anatomy of Book of Mormon Theology\u003c\/i\u003e. We can love this book theologically, just as much as we can love it in other ways.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJoseph M. Spencer, November 2021\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/authorcast\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e Authorcast\u003c\/a\u003e interview with Joseph M. Spencer:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003caudio controls=\"controls\" preload=\"none\"\u003e \u003csource src=\"http:\/\/files.gregkofford.com\/podcast\/E130_Spencer_Anatomy%20BOM.mp3\"\u003e\u003c\/audio\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eThe Anatomy of Book of Mormon Theology\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003eSpencer’s work on the Book of Mormon is, as a whole, unmatched and unparalleled in the history of the tradition.\u003c\/span\u003e I'd wager that no scholar in the history of the Latter-day Saint tradition has read the Book of Mormon as deeply or carefully as Spencer. I'd wager that no scholar in the history of the tradition is as thoroughly acquainted with all of the relevant Book of Mormon scholarship across all of the related disciplines as Spencer. And I'd bet my house on the fact that no other scholar in the history of the tradition is, simultaneously, as well versed in the relevant theological and philosophical issues—from classical philosophy through Christian theology through Kant, Hegel, Frege, phenomenology, structuralism, poststructuralism, post-secularism, and cutting edge contemporary philosophical work in philosophy of language, philosophy of religion, and metaphysics—that come to bear on contemporary Book of Mormon scholarship.” \u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e— \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/adam-s-miller\"\u003eAdam S. Miller\u003c\/a\u003e, author of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/products\/future-mormon\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eFuture Mormon: Essays in Mormon Theology\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003cem\u003eLetters to a Young Mormon\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e“\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Anatomy of Book of Mormon Theology\u003c\/em\u003e is comprised of thirty-eight essays over two volumes, representing more than a decade of exploratory and experimental work by Latter-day Saint philosopher and theologian Joseph Spencer. . . . \u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003eFar from either importing philosophy into scripture or arrogating to oneself the binding interpretive authority reserved in the Latter-day Saint tradition for apostles, scriptural theology in \u003cem\u003eAnatomy\u003c\/em\u003e is an invitation to come and see.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e” \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e— \u003c\/span\u003eStephen Thomas Betts, \u003cem\u003eJournal of Book of Mormon Studies\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003eThese two volumes are incredible and contain a wealth of insight about what the Book of Mormon says and what the Book of Mormon means,\u003c\/span\u003e particularly when examined through a lens of theology. . . . I will absolutely be referencing them again as I study the Book of Mormon throughout my life, and hope to continue to find the insight and enlightening provocations that I found as I read them this time. I can’t recommend them enough for anyone who values a close, careful reading of scripture and who really wants to think deeply about what small textual details as well as large, macro trends in scripture have to say about the theology of the Book of Mormon\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e.” \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e— Conor Hilton, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.associationmormonletters.org\/reviews\/current-reviews\/spencer-the-anatomy-of-book-of-mormon-theology-vol-1-2-reviewed-by-conor-hilton\/\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAssociation of Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"float: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin-right: 5px; float: left;\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/JSpencer_-_Headshot_b117ffe9-45bd-490b-ba98-a570d1932f15_160x160.jpg\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/joseph-m-spencer\"\u003eJoseph M. Spencer\u003c\/a\u003e is a philosopher and an assistant professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University. He is the author of dozens of articles and four books on philosophy and Latter-day Saint scripture. In addition, he serves as the editor of the \u003cem\u003eJournal of Book of Mormon Studies\u003c\/em\u003e, as the associate director of the Latter-day Saint Theology Seminar, and as a vice president of the Book of Mormon Studies Association. He and his wife, Karen, live in Provo, Utah, with their five children.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e310 pages\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58958-780-9 (paperback); 978-1-58958-781-6 (hardcover)\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/Anatomy_BOM_Theology_1_Press_Kit.pdf?v=1635729432\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ePress Kit\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"paperback","offer_id":40965260476587,"sku":"978-1-58958-780-9","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"hardcover","offer_id":40965260509355,"sku":"978-1-58958-781-6","price":39.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"paperback shelf-worn 10% off","offer_id":45600669761707,"sku":null,"price":26.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/products\/Spencer_Anatomy1.jpg?v=1635787249"},{"product_id":"no-poor-among-them","title":"And There Was No Poor Among Them: Liberation, Salvation, and the Meaning of the Restoration","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/ryan-d-ward\"\u003eRyan D. Ward\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNow available.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003e“This a profound and profoundly important book, one of the most compelling in the history of modern Mormonism. . . . If I had the power, I would make \u003cem\u003eAnd There Was No Poor Among Them\u003c\/em\u003e required reading of every local, regional, and general leader of the Church.” \u003c\/span\u003e— \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/robert-a-rees\"\u003eRobert A. Rees\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003e“Innovative, forceful, and thoughtful. . . . This book reveals that the richness of the gospel lies not merely in piling up treasures in heaven, but in working with God to liberate the world.”\u003c\/span\u003e — \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.dialoguejournal.com\/staff-and-boards\/margaret-hemming-olsen\/\"\u003eMargaret Olsen Hemming\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003e“Persuasively argues that the Latter-day Restoration is also a call to return us to the societal salvation exemplified in the Hebrew Bible and Christ's ministry. . . . This is an invaluable resource for improving and directing our Christian ministry in the world today.” \u003c\/span\u003e— \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/david-b-ostler\"\u003eDavid B. Ostler\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA prophetic reframing of salvation, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eatonement, and apostasy, \u003c\/span\u003emaking the teachings of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eJoseph Smith’s Restoration ring with power and\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003erelevance\u003cspan\u003e amid the calamities of our current age.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e — \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.globalmormonstudies.org\/profile-melissa-inouye\/\"\u003eMelissa Inouye\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003e“In \u003cem\u003eAnd There Was No Poor Among Them\u003c\/em\u003e, prophetic imagination is integrated and redefined with insights that explicate the meaning of building the kingdom of God on earth, here and now. . . . This is a great book.”\u003c\/span\u003e — \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/warnerwoodworth.com\/\"\u003eWarner Woodworth\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003e“\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBrings new light to Restoration scripture that we as a people should ponder deeply and work to extend, challenge, and improve.\u003c\/span\u003e.”\u003c\/span\u003e — \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.associationmormonletters.org\/reviews\/current-reviews\/ward-and-there-was-no-poor-among-them-liberation-salvation-and-the-meaning-of-the-restoration-reviewed-by-conor-hilton\/\"\u003eConor Hilton\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/41jXAiS\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/kindle2.png?9112655742455458650\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/id6447709749\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/applebooks_480x480.png?v=1649199519\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=fWC5EAAAQBAJ\u0026amp;rdid=book-fWC5EAAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/google-play-badge2_a56b9286-69fa-4581-9680-5ea7c47f0c1a_480x480.png?v=1648668766\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAvailable in ebook for \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/41jXAiS\"\u003eKindle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/id6447709749\"\u003eApple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=fWC5EAAAQBAJ\u0026amp;rdid=book-fWC5EAAAQBAJ\"\u003eGoogle Play\u003c\/a\u003e, and, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.kobobooks.com\/search\/search.html?q=1230006334796\"\u003eKobo\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlso available through \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/41jKvFY\"\u003eAmazon\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.benchmarkbooks.com\/pages\/books\/36997\/ryan-d-ward\/and-there-was-no-poor-among-them-liberation-salvation-and-the-meaning-of-the-restoration\"\u003eBenchmark Books\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/news\/preview-no-poor-among-them\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDownload a free sample preview.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBook Description:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has expanded many fundamental Christian doctrines, salvation is still understood as pertaining exclusively to the next life. How should we understand salvation and what does the timing of the Restoration reveal about God’s vision of salvation for a suffering world?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo answer these questions, author \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/ryan-d-ward\"\u003eRyan Ward\u003c\/a\u003e traces the theological evolution of salvation from the liberation of Israel from oppression to the Western Christian development of salvation as an individualistic, transactional atonement. This evolution corresponded with the shift of Christianity from a covenant community to an official state religion aligned with imperial power structures. Ward also explores the economic and social movements in the centuries leading up to the Industrial Revolution, which solidified the power of propertied elites at the expense of the poor, plundered entire continents, and killed millions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSynthesizing these theological and historical threads, \u003cem\u003eAnd There Was No Poor Among Them: Liberation, Salvation, and the Meaning of the Restoration\u003c\/em\u003e asserts that the Restoration is God's explicit rejection of social and economic systems and ideologies that have led to the globalization of misery. Instead, Ward shows how the Restoration and the gospel of Christ is an invitation to a participatory salvation realized in Zion communities where “there are no poor among us.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComprehensive Table of Contents:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eForeword: Liberation Theology and the Modern Church, by Robert A. Rees\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eI: Salvation Restored\u003cbr\u003eII: A Community of Revelation\u003cbr\u003eIII: A Secular Witness\u003cbr\u003eIV: The Call to the Church and to Individual Latter-day Saints\u003cbr\u003eV: Jesus’s Last Great Message\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIntroduction: Two Salvations\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. The Old Testament: Liberation and Salvation Remembered\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Exodus\u003cbr\u003eEstablishing Community\u003cbr\u003eSolemnizing and Safeguarding\u003cbr\u003eProphets and a New Reality\u003cbr\u003eIdolatry and Oppression\u003cbr\u003eKings and Kingdoms\u003cbr\u003ePleas of the Victims\u003cbr\u003eDivine Response\u003cbr\u003eSalvation History and Hope\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2. Jesus and the Reign of God: Salvation as Covenant Community\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eUncovering the Historical Jesus\u003cbr\u003eThe Social, Political, and Religious World of the Gospels\u003cbr\u003eThe Temptations\u003cbr\u003eThe Miracles\u003cbr\u003eThe Parables\u003cbr\u003eThe Cross and the Empty Tomb\u003cbr\u003eThe Crucified People of the World\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3. Christian History: Salvation Turns Personal\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003ePaul and Justification\u003cbr\u003eAugustine and the Guilty Conscience\u003cbr\u003ePurgatory, Indulgences, and Individual Penance\u003cbr\u003eAtonement Mechanism and Metaphor\u003cbr\u003eLuther and the Triumph of Individual Salvation\u003cbr\u003ePaul Revisited\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4. The Calamity Which Should Come: The Restoration in Historical Context\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eSerfs and Peasants\u003cbr\u003ePrimitive Accumulation\u003cbr\u003eEnclosure and the Commons\u003cbr\u003eProperty and the Criminalization of the Poor\u003cbr\u003eConquest and Colonialism\u003cbr\u003eA Creation Groaning\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5. The Book of Mormon: Liberation and Salvation Retold\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eInitial Acts of Deliverance\u003cbr\u003eA Great and Terrible Gulf Divideth Them\u003cbr\u003eRemember the Captivity of Your Fathers\u003cbr\u003eAre We Not All Beggars?\u003cbr\u003ePride, Wealth, and Boundary Markers\u003cbr\u003eIf This Be the Desire of Your Hearts\u003cbr\u003eAn Infinite and Eternal Reconciliation\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6. Zion: And There Was No Poor Among Them\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThere I Will Give Unto You My Law\u003cbr\u003eIf You Are Not Equal in Earthly Things\u003cbr\u003eI Am Now Willing to Give All I Have to the Lord\u003cbr\u003eConsecration, Emptying, and Atonement\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConclusion: Toward Restoration\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQ\u0026amp;A with the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"collapsible\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFor those who have never heard of liberation theology, how would you define it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLiberation theology, in brief, is a branch of Christian theology that considers the liberation of the oppressed. It deals specifically with how the good news of the gospel can be realized in situations of oppression, poverty, and marginalization. As such, in liberation theology, God’s dealings with humanity and Jesus’s life and ministry are viewed through the lens of the hope of the oppressed for liberation, and liberation theologians view God’s work in the world as being preferentially relevant to liberating the poor. This theology has been worked out in real-world situations of political oppression. It began in Latin America during the 60s and 70s as a response to the brutal dictatorships of this period and has been adapted to many other contexts of oppression.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow were you first introduced to liberation theology, and is there anything in particular that sparked your interest in it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeveral years ago I felt impressed to study Jesus’s Atonement. I read everything I could find about it both within Latter-day Saint scholarship and broader Christian perspectives. This study eventually led me to reading extensively about the life and ministry of Jesus in its historical context. One of the books I read referenced Gustavo Gutierrez, who many consider the father of liberation theology, and I read his book\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eA Theology of Liberation.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eIt absolutely blew my mind, and I read dozens of liberation theology books over the next couple years. For me, it felt like much of what I had been struggling to understand suddenly made sense, and liberation theology has given me a powerful new lens through which to view my faith and discipleship. So I didn’t seek it out, I guess you could say it found me. I would also say I think I was led to it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIn Chapter 3 you explore how during the period between (what Latter-day Saints generally refer to as) the Great Apostasy and the Restoration, the general Christian understanding of salvation transformed from a primarily social and communal effort into something almost entirely concerned with individuals and the afterlife. What are some key aspects of the Restoration that you see as returning Saints to a more communal understanding of salvation that focuses on the here and now?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI think the baptismal covenant in Mosiah 18:8-10 indicates that there is something very fundamental about this mortal human existence. The covenant to mourn, bear burdens, and offer comfort focuses discipleship on entering into a community of shared suffering with one another. For me, the fact that this is the first covenant we make as Latter-day Saints is a powerful witness that God’s purposes for this life have much more to do than proving our worth to return to live with God. Second, the idea of sealing the entire human family together via temple ordinances provides a beautiful symbol of the kind of community we should be striving to establish here on earth. Third, the idea of Zion as the ideal toward which we strive is that of a covenant community set apart by virtue of its economic and spiritual structure. The defining feature of Zion is that the people are of one heart and one mind and that there is no poor among them. This is not a description of the afterlife, it is a temporal, mortal reality. Finally, there is doctrinal support for the idea that this earth will become the Celestial Kingdom. What has not been worked out is how that is to happen. I suggest that reference to different degrees of glory indicates different degrees of living in covenant relationship with one another. The highest degree of such relationship is a Zion existence. Eternal life is defined officially by the Church as “the quality of life that our Eternal Father lives.” There is nothing in this definition that locates this type of existence exclusively, or even primarily, in the afterlife.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy might some Latter-day Saints be hesitant to consider or embrace this understanding of salvation? What would you say to them to alleviate that hesitation?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe main reason is that the concept of salvation as pertaining strictly to the afterlife is deeply ingrained in our Christian tradition. Another reason is that our religious tradition claims exclusive authority to administer what we term the “ordinances of salvation” in temples. They are believed to be prerequisites that enable progression in the next life. Our kindred dead are waiting for these and cannot progress without them. These ideas make it very difficult to consider salvation as pertaining to the here and now. There is, however, a lot of scriptural evidence, in the Bible as well as within Restoration scripture, that salvation pertains to this life as well. I hope my book presents some of this evidence in a way that allows people to feel comfortable with beginning to expand their view of salvation to also include lifting the poor, oppressed, and marginalized in this life. In fact, a main argument in the book is that we have a covenant obligation to do so. I think that if we truly view others as sisters and brothers and fellow children of God, we cannot help but reach out to those around us who are less fortunate. For me, turning outward is a manifestation of an inward conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat other aspects of liberation theology would you like to see explored through a Restoration lens?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI think this is really exciting and there are so many possibilities. I’ll briefly mention two. Paul’s metaphor of the saints as the “body of Christ” is one that has not been extensively explored within the context of Restoration thought. I think it provides a profound area of potential exploration. How are we the body of Christ? What does that mean in terms of our individual and collective action to alleviate suffering in the world? How is the mission and mandate of the Church related to the way it acts as the body of Christ in the world? Relatedly, what do our ordinances and covenants, particularly the law of consecration as received in the temple endowment, teach us about our covenant obligations to humanity? How can these ordinances and covenants bind us to one another and to God, and how can this give us access to power needed to manifest God’s salvation to the world? These questions are only the beginning of an exploration of liberation theology through a Restoration lens. I think our unique tradition can make some significant contributions to liberation theology, and I hope that Latter-day Saints embrace this way of thinking more expansively about our faith.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eAnd There Was No Poor Among Them\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003eThis a profound and profoundly important book, one of the most compelling in the history of modern Mormonism\u003c\/span\u003e. In the spirit of ancient prophecy, modern revelation, and liberation theology, it is a call to repentance\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e—\u003c\/span\u003efor those of us who consider ourselves the children of God\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e—\u003c\/span\u003eto fulfill our covenantal promise to minister to the poor, the sick, the oppressed, and all those others with whom Jesus identifies himself as 'the least' among us. \u003cbr\u003e     “Ward reminds us that true salvation is both temporal and spiritual, that it takes place both in this world and in the next, and that the call to establish Zion is both today and every day until there are no poor, oppressed, or dispossessed among us. \u003cbr\u003e     “\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003eIf I had the power, I would make \u003cem\u003eAnd There Was No Poor Among Them\u003c\/em\u003e required reading of every local, regional, and general leader of the Church\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e—\u003c\/span\u003eand make it the text for next year's Come Follow Me course of study! I am serious when I say I consider this the most important book Kofford Books has ever published.” \u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e—\u003c\/span\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/robert-a-rees\"\u003eRobert A. Rees\u003c\/a\u003e, co-founder and vice-president of the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/bountifulchildren.org\/\"\u003eBountiful Children's Foundation\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“This is \u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003ean innovative, forceful, and thoughtful text\u003c\/span\u003e. By drawing on truths offered by the faithful around the world, Ryan Ward points toward a robust Restoration\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e—\u003c\/span\u003eone that will inspire readers to follow God's commandment to stand in solidarity with those on the margins. \u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003eThis book reveals that the richness of the gospel lies not merely in piling up treasures in heaven, but in working with God to liberate the world\u003c\/span\u003e.” \u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e—\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e Margaret Olsen Hemming, co-author of \u003cem\u003eThe Book of Mormon For the Least of These\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“\u003cem\u003eAnd There Was No Poor Among Them\u003c\/em\u003e stands as an important reminder that God's salvation is not only an individual or familial effort, nor is it just concerned with our spiritual state in the afterlife. Instead, Ryan Ward \u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003epersuasively argues that the Latter-day Restoration is also a call to return us to the societal salvation exemplified in the Hebrew Bible and Christ's ministry that prioritizes lifting the poor, marginalized, and oppressed, and establishing the Kingdom of God in the here and now\u003c\/span\u003e. This is an invaluable resource for improving and directing our Christian ministry in the world today.” \u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e—\u003c\/span\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/david-b-ostler\"\u003eDavid B. Ostler\u003c\/a\u003e, author of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/products\/bridges\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eBridges: Ministering to Those Who Question\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e“\u003c\/span\u003eA prophetic reframing of salvation, atonement, and apostasy, \u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003emaking the teachings of Joseph Smith’s Restoration ring with power and relevance\u003c\/span\u003e amid the calamities of our current age.”\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e— \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.globalmormonstudies.org\/profile-melissa-inouye\/\"\u003eMelissa Inouye\u003c\/a\u003e, author of \u003cem\u003eCrossings: a bald American Latter-day Saint woman scholar’s ventures through life, death, cancer, and motherhood (not necessarily in that order)\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e“\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003eInsightful and a needed contribution to the world of Mormon theology\u003c\/span\u003e. . . I hope that many of my fellow co-religionists read \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAnd There Was No Poor Among Them: Liberation, Salvation, and the Meaning of the Restoration\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e and begin to wrestle with the ideas that Ward brings to the table. \u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003eThe book brings new light to Restoration scripture that we as a people should ponder deeply and work to extend, challenge, and improve\u003c\/span\u003e. And perhaps most importantly, I hope that Ward’s book inspires me and my fellow Saints to work more fully to restore a community where 'there was no poor among them.'” \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e— Conor Hilton, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.associationmormonletters.org\/reviews\/current-reviews\/ward-and-there-was-no-poor-among-them-liberation-salvation-and-the-meaning-of-the-restoration-reviewed-by-conor-hilton\/\"\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“For more than half a century, liberation theologians have raised difficult questions for comfortable Christians. In this book, Ryan Ward asks another difficult question: \u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003eWhat if the Restoration was a divinely offered response to the very injustices that have spurred liberation theology?\u003c\/span\u003e It's a good question, and Ward gives some provocative answers to it.” \u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e— \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/joseph-m-spencer\"\u003eJoseph M. Spencer\u003c\/a\u003e, author of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/products\/for-zion-a-mormon-theology-of-hope\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eFor Zion: A Mormon Theology of Hope\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“\u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eAnd There Was No Poor Among Them\u003c\/em\u003e, prophetic imagination is integrated and redefined with insights that explicate the meaning of building the kingdom of God on earth, here and now\u003c\/span\u003e. The chapters are rich with practical and theological concepts, utilizing and providing examples from the marginalized of history, theology, and religious scholarship, as well as priests and radicals from across the fields of practical religions. In doing so, author Ryan Ward suggests actions that need to be better understood and become more fully aligned with the Latter-day Restoration of the gospel. \u003cspan style=\"color: #e6e6e6;\"\u003eThis is a great book\u003c\/span\u003e.”\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e— \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/warnerwoodworth.com\/\"\u003eWarner Woodworth\u003c\/a\u003e, NGO founder and author of \u003cem\u003eRadiant Mormonism: Using Our Faith in Christ to Power World-changing Service\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the Author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/ryan-d-ward\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/ryan_8e056678-e3f0-46d8-b05c-4f01c08d5e52_240x240.jpg?v=1675545255\" style=\"margin-right: 5px; float: left;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eRyan D. Ward\u003c\/a\u003e received his PhD from Utah State University specializing in experimental psychology. Following postdoctoral work in the Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at Columbia University in New York City, he accepted a position at the University of Otago, where he is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychology. His research focuses on the neural basis of learning, animal models of psychiatric disease, and motivations for drug use. He teaches courses on drugs, behavior, addiction, and policy, and research methods. He lives with his wife and five children in New Zealand.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e265 pages\u003cbr\u003eISBN 978-1-58958-787-8 (paperback)\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/Ward_NoPoorAmongThem_Press_Sheet.pdf?v=1685120249\"\u003ePress Release\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"paperback","offer_id":42509071777963,"sku":"978-1-58958-787-8","price":26.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/products\/Ward_AndThereWasNoPoor.jpg?v=1681142802"},{"product_id":"revised-expanded-teachings-joseph-smith","title":"The Revised and Expanded Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith: Compared with the Earliest Known Manuscripts","description":"\u003cp\u003ecompiled by \u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/alonzo-l-gaskill\"\u003eAlonzo L. Gaskill\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/greg-kofford-books.myshopify.com\/collections\/richard-g-moore\"\u003eRichard G. Moore\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan data-sheets-root=\"1\"\u003eNow available!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e“Thanks to careful and exhaustive scholarship of Gaskill and Moore, \u003cem\u003eTeachings \u003c\/em\u003ehas been resuscitated. . . . We now have a trustworthy source of Joseph Smith’s thought to match the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants.” \u003c\/span\u003e— \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/richard-l-bushman\"\u003eRichard L. Bushman\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e“Alonzo Gaskill, Richard Moore, and the folks at Kofford Books have come up with a new edition of this classic work that will make it very interesting and useful for some time to come.” \u003c\/span\u003e— Andrew Hamilton\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e“This is more than a compilation; it is an invitation to journey into the mind and mission of the Prophet. It is as a tapestry revealing the interplay between divine inspiration and Joseph’s human experience\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e.” \u003c\/span\u003e— Andy Skelton\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlso available through \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4gihuCo\"\u003eAmazon\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.benchmarkbooks.com\/pages\/books\/39287\/alonzo-l-gaskill-comps-richard-g-moore\/the-revised-and-expanded-teachings-of-the-prophet-joseph-smith-compared-with-the-earliest-known\"\u003eBenchmark Books\u003c\/a\u003e, and as a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=NS0yEQAAQBAJ\"\u003eGoogle Books PDF ebook. \u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/news\/preview-tpjs\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePreview the volume.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eBook Description:\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor nearly a century, \u003cem\u003eTeachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith\u003c\/em\u003e, first published in 1938, was the standard source for studying the profound teachings and revelations of the founding prophet of the Restoration. Drawing on a rich collection of sermons, letters, and journal entries, \u003cem\u003eTeachings \u003c\/em\u003eprovided Latter-day Saints with an accessible compilation of Joseph Smith’s revelatory doctrines that highlighted his unique ability to make heavenly concepts accessible to everyday people.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Revised and Expanded Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith: Compared with the Earliest Known Manuscripts\u003c\/em\u003e offers readers not only a preservation of Joseph Fielding Smith’s original compilation but also a side-by-side comparison with the primary sources that it was based on. With modern scholarship shedding new light on these sources, the updated volume allows readers to explore both the Prophet Joseph Smith’s revelatory insights and the historical context in which his teachings were first shared. This balanced approach honors the enduring legacy of the original \u003cem\u003eTeachings \u003c\/em\u003ewhile encouraging deeper exploration and understanding of their origins.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eThe Revised and Expanded Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“While \u003cem\u003eTeachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith\u003c\/em\u003e was an invaluable tool for getting the sermons and writings of Joseph Smith into the hands of church members for a very long time, it was rendered outdated by the completion of the Joseph Smith Papers Project. . . . \u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003eBut editors Alonzo Gaskill, Richard Moore, and the folks at Kofford Books have come up with a new edition of this classic work that will make it very interesting and useful for some time to come\u003c\/span\u003e. \u003cem\u003eThe Revised and Expanded Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith: Compared with the Earliest Known Manuscripts\u003c\/em\u003e is an oversized work that presents its text in a two-column format. The text of the original \u003cem\u003eTPJS\u003c\/em\u003e, as edited by Joseph Fielding Smith, appears in the left column and in the right column are the versions of the text as found in the Joseph Smith Papers Projects documents. Accompanying footnotes point the reader to the original documents and, in some cases, provide historical information or other context.” — Andrew Hamilton, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.associationmormonletters.org\/reviews\/current-reviews\/gaskill-and-moore-the-revised-and-expanded-teachings-of-the-prophet-joseph-smith-compared-with-the-earliest-known-manuscripts-reviewed-by-andrew-hamilton\/\"\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“I grew up with the famed \u003cem\u003eTeachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith\u003c\/em\u003e compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith and published in 1938.  The volume was the best access we had to Joseph Smith’s teachings beyond the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants. And they were rich, wonderful, provocative words that sent my mind spinning off in all directions. Then to my dismay, scholars let us know the words were not entirely Joseph Smith’s.  They were pieced together by later historians from a variety of sources and could not be trusted as being exactly his. Suddenly this mainstay source became unusable. \u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003eNow, thanks to careful and exhaustive scholarship of Alonzo Gaskill and Richard Moore, \u003cem\u003eTeachings \u003c\/em\u003ehas been resuscitated.  Gaskill and Moore tell us exactly where the words come from and much more. We now have a trustworthy source of Joseph Smith’s thought to match the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants.\u003c\/span\u003e” — \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/richard-l-bushman\"\u003eRichard L. Bushman\u003c\/a\u003e, author, \u003cem\u003eJoseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“In the grand tapestry of Restoration thought, few voices resonate with the depth and clarity of Joseph Smith. This volume, the product of over a decade of rigorous research, presents his teachings as never before—paired with the manuscripts, revelations, and earliest records that gave them life. Through its practical side-by-side format, this book is a lens for us to view the timeless truths that guided the Prophet and shaped the restoration of the gospel of Christ. All who study from this book will be delving into the teachings of Joseph Smith alongside the original documents that preserve his legacy. \u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003eThis is more than a compilation; it is an invitation to journey into the mind and mission of the Prophet. It is as a tapestry revealing the interplay between divine inspiration and Joseph’s human experience\u003c\/span\u003e.” — Andy Skelton, former instructor in Church education, contributor to curriculum development, and research historian with the Joseph Smith Papers Project\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eAbout the Compilers:\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/AlonzoGaskill_160x160.jpg?v=1731004450\" style=\"margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 16px; float: left;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/alonzo-l-gaskill\"\u003eAlonzo L. Gaskill\u003c\/a\u003e earned his PhD in Biblical Studies at Trinity Theological Seminary in Evansville, Indiana. He has served in several positions in the LDS Church Educational System, including institute director and seminary teacher. Since 2003 he has been a professor of World Religions in the department of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University. Dr. Gaskill is the author of books on the LDS temple, scripture, and other topics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 16px; float: left;\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/RichardMoore_160x160.jpg?v=1731004459\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/greg-kofford-books.myshopify.com\/collections\/richard-g-moore\"\u003eRichard G. Moore\u003c\/a\u003e is retired after teaching thirty-eight years for the LDS Church Educational System as a seminary teacher, institute instructor, and director, and as an instructor for the Department of Religious Education at Brigham Young University. He earned his doctorate in education from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. His books include \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/products\/writings-of-oliver-olney\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Writings of Oliver H. Olney: April 1842 to February 1843 — Nauvoo, Illinois\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e610 pages\u003cbr\u003eISBN 978-1-58958-815-8 (paperback)\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/RevisedTPJS_Press_Sheet.pdf?v=1733256686\"\u003ePress sheet\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"paperback","offer_id":44701779263659,"sku":"978-1-58958-815-8","price":39.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/teachingsfront_acc27482-6458-4f68-840e-f1dd4df8a84c.jpg?v=1731005374"},{"product_id":"shall-i-have-pleasure","title":"Shall I Have Pleasure? An Answer for Sarah","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/zachary-mcleod-hutchins\"\u003eZachary McLeod Hutchins\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNow Available\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\"This little volume overflows with the sweetness of the gospel's good news and a celebration of our bodies' capacity to perceive the goodness of Eden as we strive towards Zion.\"\u003c\/span\u003e — \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/kristine-l-haglund\"\u003eKristine Haglund\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\"A rich and readable contemplation of the historical, scriptural, and theological issues that is well worth chewing on.\"\u003c\/span\u003e — \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/taylor-g-petrey\"\u003eTaylor Petry\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\"A beautiful and profound affirmation of the divine goodness and gift of pleasure.\" — Zachary Davis\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4gcPgbu\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/kindle2.png?9112655742455458650\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/id6740921543\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/applebooks_480x480.png?v=1649199519\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=CX1BEQAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/google-play-badge2_a56b9286-69fa-4581-9680-5ea7c47f0c1a_480x480.png?v=1648668766\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAvailable in ebook for \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4gcPgbu\"\u003eKindle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/id6740921543\"\u003eApple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=CX1BEQAAQBAJ\"\u003eGoogle Play\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=fWC5EAAAQBAJ\u0026amp;rdid=book-fWC5EAAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e, and, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.kobo.com\/search?query=1230008724502\"\u003eKobo\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/news\/preview-shall-i-have-pleasure\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePreview the volume.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eBook Description:\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eShall I Have Pleasure? An Answer for Sarah\u003c\/em\u003e explores the complex relationship between faith, desire, and the pursuit of joy through a spiritual and philosophical lens. Drawing from religious narratives, scriptural analysis, and theological insights, the book delves into how pleasure is perceived within Christian traditions, particularly among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Through reflective anecdotes, historical context, and doctrinal interpretations, the author challenges the tension between spiritual duty and sensory enjoyment, encouraging readers to reconcile divine purpose with the pursuit of happiness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRooted in scripture and enriched by personal storytelling, this thought-provoking work invites readers to reconsider long-held beliefs about pleasure and self-denial. By examining biblical stories like Sarah's incredulous laughter at the promise of joy in old age, as well as Christ's compassionate acceptance of human love and generosity, the book offers a fresh perspective on living a life of spiritual fulfillment that embraces joy as an essential part of divine intent. Through this lens, \u003cem\u003eShall I Have Pleasure?\u003c\/em\u003e becomes a call to rediscover pleasure as a God-given gift intertwined with human purpose and eternal potential.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eShall I Have Pleasure?\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"'Men are, that they might have joy.' But many Latter-day Saints are ambivalent towards—or even skeptical of— the role of pleasure in the joy God wants for us. In \u003cem\u003eShall I Have Pleasure?\u003c\/em\u003e Zachary Hutchins responds to this confusion with a beautiful and profound affirmation of the divine goodness and gift of pleasure. He invites readers to see pleasure not as a temptation to avoid but an essential and cherished part of our embodied life.\" — Zachary Davis, Executive Director of Faith Matters and Editor of \u003cem\u003eWayfare Magazine\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"A taut, elegant argument for the centrality of embodied joy in the restored gospel. Beginning with the question posed by Sarah to the angel announcing the birth of Isaac—'Shall I have pleasure?'—and using examples from Jesus's life and teachings and the words of modern prophets, Hutchins reminds us that it is no better to make an idol of work than of pleasure, and urges his readers to seek revelation in pursuit of a balanced life. He argues eloquently that 'joy is the end for which we were created, and pleasure is one facet of the fulness of joy that our Heavenly Parents intended us to receive.' \u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003eThis little volume overflows with the sweetness of the gospel's good news and a celebration of our bodies' capacity to perceive the goodness of Eden as we strive towards Zion\u003c\/span\u003e.\" — \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/kristine-l-haglund\"\u003eKristine Haglund\u003c\/a\u003e, former editor of \u003cem\u003eDialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"A thoughtful and inspiring meditation on pleasure. Hutchins challenges the puritanical culture that Latter-day Saints have inherited to argue for a measured and deliberative enjoyment of divine gifts. This book is \u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\"\u003ea rich and readable contemplation of the historical, scriptural, and theological issues that is well worth chewing on\u003c\/span\u003e.\" — \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/taylor-g-petrey\"\u003eTaylor Petry\u003c\/a\u003e, author of \u003cem\u003eTabernacles of Clay: Sexuality and Gender in Modern Mormonism\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eAbout the Author:\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 16px; float: left;\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/Zach_Hutchins_Photo_2024-115_160x160.jpg?v=1737391719\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/zachary-mcleod-hutchins\"\u003eZachary McLeod Hutchins\u003c\/a\u003e is Professor of English at Colorado State University, where he teaches courses in early American literature and religion. As a native of New England, he spent many early summers in Sharon, Vermont, the birthplace of Joseph Smith, and developed an interest in early American history. After serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he completed a BA in English at Brigham Young University and received his MA and PhD degrees in early American literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is the author or editor of a half dozen books, including \u003ci\u003eThe Best Gifts: Seeking Earnestly for Spiritual Power\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e111 pages\u003cbr\u003eISBN 978-1-58958-819-6 (paperback)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"paperback","offer_id":44774791119019,"sku":"978-1-58958-819-6","price":13.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/Hutchins_Pleasure.jpg?v=1737079306"},{"product_id":"imagining-and-reimagining-the-restoration","title":"Imagining and Reimagining the Restoration","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/robert-a-rees\"\u003eRobert A. Rees\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eNow available!\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e“This is a beautiful book, a work of art. Enjoining us to imagine the gospel more deeply, it offers reflections on Christ, Mary, the First Vision, Heavenly Mother, and much else.”\u003c\/span\u003e — \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/richard-l-bushman\"\u003eRichard L. Bushman\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e“An economical compendium of memoir and poetry, cultural criticism and speculative theology. Most of all, it is an exercise in hopeful imagining.” \u003c\/span\u003e—\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/fiona-givens\"\u003eFiona Givens\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e“Condenses a lifetime of selfless discipleship into an exemplary selection of powerful acts of Christian imagination.\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\"\u003e” \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e— \u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/adam-s-miller\"\u003eAdam S. Miller\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/40Ae7RT\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/kindle2.png?9112655742455458650\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/id6748610973\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/applebooks_480x480.png?v=1649199519\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=WwZxEQAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/google-play-badge2_a56b9286-69fa-4581-9680-5ea7c47f0c1a_480x480.png?v=1648668766\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAvailable in ebook for \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/40Ae7RT\"\u003eKindle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/id6748610973\"\u003eApple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=WwZxEQAAQBAJ\"\u003eGoogle Play\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=L3tqEQAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=fWC5EAAAQBAJ\u0026amp;rdid=book-fWC5EAAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e, and, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.kobo.com\/search?query=1230009200722\"\u003eKobo\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/news\/preview-imagining-and-reimagining-the-restoration\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePreview the volume.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eBook Description:\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eImagining and Reimagining the Restoration\u003c\/em\u003e, Robert A. Rees embarks on an imaginative and profound exploration of Latter-day Saint theology and culture. Through essays, poems, and midrashic interpretations, Rees sheds new light on foundational doctrines, the roles of prophetic imagination, and the divine narratives within the Restoration. He reexamines figures like Joseph Smith and Heavenly Mother, urging readers to embrace a creative and expansive faith perspective that transcends mere tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis captivating work brings readers into a visionary discourse that emphasizes the power of imagination as a spiritual gift. With poetic interludes and scholarly insight, this volume is a transformative invitation to both imagine and reimagine faith, theology, and cultural belonging.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eImagining and Reimagining the Restoration\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003eThis is a beautiful book, a work of art. Enjoining us to imagine the gospel more deeply, it offers reflections on Christ, Mary, the First Vision, Heavenly Mother, and much else.\u003c\/span\u003e Robert Rees wants to make us all gospel poets.  He also seeks to make us religious critics. He gives his candid views of a broken church in need of mending, commenting on race, women’s rights, sexual orientation, and earth stewardship with an imagination turned critical but still filled with warmth and good will. In the end, he invites us to imagine a kindly, loving church blessed with modern sensibilities.” — \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/richard-l-bushman\"\u003eRichard L. Bushman\u003c\/a\u003e, author of \u003cem\u003eJoseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Few Latter-day Saints write with Bob Rees’s impulse for faithful provocation grounded in uncompromising discipleship. This, his latest book, is \u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003ean economical compendium of memoir and poetry, cultural criticism and speculative theology. Most of all, it is an exercise in hopeful imagining\u003c\/span\u003e.” — \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/fiona-givens\"\u003eFiona Givens\u003c\/a\u003e, co-author of \u003cem\u003eAll Things New: Rethinking Sin, Salvation, and Everything in Between\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\"\u003eThe Restoration urges us to be anxiously engaged in a good cause and to do many things of our own free will. Goodness depends not just on obedience but on creativity and imagination. This collection of essays condenses a lifetime of selfless discipleship into \u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003ean exemplary selection of powerful acts of Christian imagination\u003c\/span\u003e. But Rees's book is not ultimately a call to agree with the possibilities he's imagined for us, but to imagine and create in our own names. To do good things of our own free will, we must join him.” — \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/adam-s-miller\"\u003eAdam S. Miller\u003c\/a\u003e, author of \u003cem\u003eOriginal Grace: An Experiment in Restoration Thinking\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Bob Rees’s childhood began as the stuff of which Jeremiads are inspired, a brief overview of which is provided in the Foreword to this remarkable book. Knowing the pain of Bob’s childhood provides an essential proof text to the book’s hope, faith, and forgiveness: it is not a homily that makes light of suffering, but an exploration of the imagination that participated in redeeming an unfortunate childhood. The power of that redemption and insight—and the patience, purpose, and self-knowledge required to receive it—is one among many evidences of how a wounded child survived to become, out of love, both challenger and defender of the faith.” — Clifton H. Jolley, author and former columnist at the \u003cem\u003eDeseret News\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“While our imaginations might be unleashed by contemplation of the creations of our Creator and by the implications of the Restoration midwifed into the world through the Prophet Joseph, it may help us also to consider more proximate examples of faithful master imaginers. The life and writings of Robert Rees, including the creative poetic and midrashic compositions of his own imagination that punctuate this volume, comprise a striking case study. He is an uncommon person who has lived an uncommon life and written with uncommon reach and imagination. There is scarcely a significant aspect of the Restoration on which he has not made creative public comment, often in print. Yet more rare, he has, in the pages that follow, contemplated imagination itself: a provocation to me and, I hope, to you.” —Philip Barlow, Associate Director, Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship, Brigham Young University\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"\u003cem\u003eImagining and Reimagining the Restoration\u003c\/em\u003e is less a blueprint than a vision—a hopeful sketch of what the Church could become if it drew more deeply on its own resources of revelation, inclusivity, and imagination. \u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003eRees empowers ordinary members to see themselves as participants in an unfinished Restoration\u003c\/span\u003e, capable of contributing creative gifts that help the Church realize its divine potential. Whether one agrees with his conclusions or not, the book models the kind of hopeful, generous imagination that the Restoration has invited.\" — Chad Nielsen, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/2025\/09\/book-review-imagining-and-reimagining-the-restoration-by-robert-a-rees\/\"\u003eTimes \u0026amp; Seasons\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eImagining and Reimagining the Restoration\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is a necessary contribution to the contemporary Mormon discussion and will be read with interest by many both in and out of the Church. I believe that it will, as hoped by Rees, inspire many to take a more imaginative position towards the restoration. Rees’s wisdom and quietly powerful exploration of discipleship stands as something to aspire to as well as a call to recognize the possibilities within ourselves and all members of the Church to envision a more just and Christlike restoration. It is acts of imagination like these that will be necessary in order for the ongoing restoration to help the Church grow into its full potential to bring to pass the establishment of Zion.\" — \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/ryan-d-ward\"\u003eRyan D. Ward\u003c\/a\u003e for the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.associationmormonletters.org\/reviews\/current-reviews\/rees-imagining-and-reimagining-the-restoration-reviewed-by-ryan-ward\/\"\u003eAssociation of Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eAbout the Author:\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/IMG_3749_160x160.jpg?v=1751579329\" alt=\"\" style=\"margin-right: 5px; float: left;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUntil his recent retirement, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/robert-a-rees\"\u003eRobert A. Rees\u003c\/a\u003e was Director of Latter-day Saint Studies and Visiting Professor at Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. He is the cofounder and vice president of the Bountiful Children’s Foundation, a humanitarian organization that addresses malnutrition among children in the developing world, as well as the cofounder and president of FastForward for the Planet, a nonprofit foundation designed to unify the faiths of the world in addressing climate change and earth stewardship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e203 pages\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58958-824-0 (paperback)\u003cbr\u003ePublished August 19, 2025\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/Imagining_and_Reimagining_-_Press_Sheet.pdf?v=1755189796\"\u003ePress sheet\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"paperback","offer_id":44774871957675,"sku":"978-1-58958-824-0","price":25.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"paperback - signed","offer_id":45954304671915,"sku":"978-1-58958-824-0","price":25.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/Rees_Imagining.jpg?v=1751568052"},{"product_id":"mormonism-at-the-crossroads-of-philosophy-and-theology-ebook","title":"Mormonism at the Crossroads of Philosophy and Theology (ebook)","description":"\u003cp\u003eedited by \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/jacob-t-baker\"\u003eJacob T. Baker\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003eTo download the ebook simply select which format you want above and process the order through the checkout. You will be emailed a download link with instructions on how to upload the ebook to your device or app.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003e***IMPORTANT*** Downloading the ebook file directly to a phone or tablet may cause issues, so we recommend first downloading the ebook using a desktop or laptop computer. (You will be able to add it to your device afterwards). Be sure to take note of what folder on your computer the .epub file was downloaded to.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“These original and insightful essays chart a new course for Christian intellectual life.” \u003c\/span\u003e— Peter A. Huff, author of Vatican II and The Voice of Vatican II\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“This volume of smart, incisive essays advances the case for taking Mormonism seriously within the philosophy of religion.” \u003c\/span\u003e— Patrick Q. Mason\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“There might be reasons today to give the alternatives to [traditional Christian] beliefs another look. If there are such reasons, then this book . . . is a good place to start.” \u003c\/span\u003e— Stephen Webb\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook Description:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFew scholars have made an impact on contemporary Mormon thought and theology like BYU Professor of Philosophy David L. Paulsen. Recently retired after nearly 40 years of teaching and mentoring, Paulsen has produced an imposing catalog of influential books and articles on Mormon teachings. More significant than his impressive scholarly oeuvre, however, has been his personal influence on generations of students, many of whom he inspired to become teachers and mentors themselves, and contributors to an increasingly interesting and relevant religious conversation. In addition, as one of the first serious LDS interlocutors with Orthodox Christian scholars, Paulsen has established professional and personal relationships with a wide array of non-LDS academics engaged in a serious and respectful dialogue regarding Mormonism and Christianity. \u003cbr\u003e     This volume is a collection of essays representative of Paulsen's wide-ranging professional and personal influence, collected in honor of his many achievements and published on the occasion of his retirement. Each of the authors (a majority of whom are not LDS) has been impacted by Paulsen's scholarship and friendship in important ways, and have authored essays reflective of this dynamic. In addition, the essays are significant contributions to Mormon thought in and of themselves, covering diverse areas of inquiry from Mormon atheology to the possibility of an Evangelical Mormonism; from Liberation Theology to Mormon conceptions of divine embodiment; from Mormon approaches to transcendence to Mormonism's confrontation with evil and suffering, and many more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComprehensive Table of Contents:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cbutton class=\"collapsible\" type=\"button\"\u003eShow\/Hide\u003c\/button\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"content\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIntroduction\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Lamont Paulsen: A Life\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eChildhood\u003cbr\u003eMilitary and Mission\u003cbr\u003eBYU and University of Chicago\u003cbr\u003eMarriage\u003cbr\u003eReturn to School\u003cbr\u003eUniversity of Michigan\u003cbr\u003eReturn to Brigham Young University and Family\u003cbr\u003eSociety of Christian Philosophers\u003cbr\u003eSCP’s Intermountain Region and BYU\u003cbr\u003eRichard L. Evans Chair for Christian Understanding\u003cbr\u003eAcademic\u003cbr\u003eMormon Evangelical Consultation\u003cbr\u003eMormonism in Dialogue\u003cbr\u003eWork with Students\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. Classifying Mormon Theism\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eIntroduction\u003cbr\u003eI. Problems with -theism Terms\u003cbr\u003eII. The Inadequacy of Quantitative Definitions\u003cbr\u003eIII. Mormon Theism\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2. Collision, Division, Conversation: When Mormon Scholars and Christian Theologians Talk\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3. “Faith Seeking Understanding”: Mormon Atheology and the Challenge of Fideism\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eMormon Atheology\u003cbr\u003eThe Challenge of Fideism\u003cbr\u003eReformed Epistemology and Fideism\u003cbr\u003eAnalysis of Reformed Epistemology\u003cbr\u003eImplications for Latter-day Saint Epistemology\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4. Restoration or Rebirth: Mormon and American Options of Authenticity\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eAuthenticity\u003cbr\u003eAmerican Authenticity\u003cbr\u003eRe-birth Spirituality\u003cbr\u003ePsychological Issues\u003cbr\u003eMormon Experience\u003cbr\u003eIndividual Identity and Organization\u003cbr\u003eCorporate Identity and Boundary Marking\u003cbr\u003eAuthenticity via Restoration, Not Rebirth\u003cbr\u003ePatriarchal Blessings and Authenticity\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5. Mormonism, Natural Law, and Constitutional Democracy: Reflections on the Romney Candidacy\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eI. The Kennedy Mistake\u003cbr\u003eII. The Pundit’s Mistake\u003cbr\u003eIII. The Confessional Mistake\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6. The Enigma of Mormonism: Ruminations of an Anglican Friend and Critic\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Book of Mormon: Scripture, Heresy, or Witness of Christ?\u003cbr\u003eThe Holy Trinity: Council of Gods or Shared Life?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e7. Pursuing Truth, Justice, and Dialogue: A Primer on Liberation Theology Toward an Intra-Christian Dialogue\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e8. The Messiah and Prophet Puzzle: Explaining Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e1. Rejecting or Discounting Autobiographical (or Quasi-Autobiographical) Declarations\u003cbr\u003e2. Religious Reformer Explanation\u003cbr\u003e3. Characterization as a Social Activist\u003cbr\u003e4. Anti-Social Violent Reformer Classification\u003cbr\u003e5. Genius Theory\u003cbr\u003e6. Great Teacher or Philosopher Proposal\u003cbr\u003e7. Extraordinary Environmental Sponge Theory\u003cbr\u003e8. Prophetic Deceiver Pigeonhole\u003cbr\u003e9. Multiple Personalities Theory\u003cbr\u003e10. Charismatic Phenomenon Approach\u003cbr\u003e11. Magician Theory\u003cbr\u003e12. Satanic Agent Dismissal\u003cbr\u003e13. Epilepsy Diagnosis\u003cbr\u003e14. Manic Phenomena\u003cbr\u003e15. Childhood Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Theory\u003cbr\u003e16. Heroic Monomyth Configuration\u003cbr\u003e17. Pious Exaggeration Theory\u003cbr\u003eConcluding Observations\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e9. Is Evangelical Mormonism a Viable Concept for the Near Future?\u003cbr\u003eClarifying Contexts\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eComparing Latter-day Saints and the National Association of Evangelicals\u003cbr\u003eReflecting on the Results\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e10. Conceptual Metaphor Theory and the Mormon Understanding of God\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eReading the Bible Literally\u003cbr\u003eConceptual Metaphor Theory\u003cbr\u003eThe Traditional Theory of Metaphor versus Conceptual Metaphor Theory\u003cbr\u003eThinking About God in the Bible\u003cbr\u003eConceptual Metaphor Theory and the Mormon Understanding of God\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e11. David Paulsen on Divine Embodiment\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eI\u003cbr\u003eII\u003cbr\u003eIII\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e12. Does Divine Passibility Entail Divine Corporeality?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eThe Passibility of God\u003cbr\u003eDivine Embodiment\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e13. Transascendence: Transcendence in Mormon Thought\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eTwo Traditional Positions on God’s Transcendence\u003cbr\u003eWhat “Transcendence” Does Not Mean\u003cbr\u003eThe Mormon Contrast: The Same Form, the Same Relations, a Becoming God\u003cbr\u003e“Transcendence” in Mormonism\u003cbr\u003eN. L. Nelson on Divine Transcendance\u003cbr\u003eThe Mormon Contrast Again: God Within Being\u003cbr\u003eGod and Others Without Being: Transascendence\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e14. “We Shall Be Like Him”: Explorations into the LDS Doctrine of Deification\u003cbr\u003eWe Become What We Worship\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eScripture, Church Fathers, and Eastern Orthodoxy\u003cbr\u003eC. S. Lewis on Deification\u003cbr\u003eRevealed Anew\u003cbr\u003eReaction and Response\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e15. Kalam Infinity Arguments and the Infinite Past\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003e1.0 Introduction\u003cbr\u003e2.0 The Nature of Infinities\u003cbr\u003e3.1 The First Infinity Argument\u003cbr\u003e3.2 The Second Infinity Argument\u003cbr\u003e4.0 A Beginningless Multiverse and Infinity\u003cbr\u003e5.0 Logical Possibility and the Uncreated Universe\u003cbr\u003e6.0 Conclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e16. Lehi’s Opposition Theodicy\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eOpposition\u003cbr\u003eNecessity\u003cbr\u003eLogic of the Opposition Theodicy\u003cbr\u003eRelative and Absolute Oppositions\u003cbr\u003eConclusion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e17. All’s Well that Ends Well: Evil, Eschatology, and Love in F.W. J. Schelling and David L. Paulsen\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"\u003eSchelling: The Absolute and Finite God\u003cbr\u003eAct One: Joseph Smith, Schelling, and the Positive Fall\u003cbr\u003eAct Two: Freedom and the Inner Necessity\u003cbr\u003eAct Three: Is There a Metaphysical\/Eschatological Guarantee of God’s Victory Over Chaos and a Return to Unity?\u003cbr\u003eConclusion: Tragedy vs. Instrumentalism\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eContributors\u003cbr\u003eSubject Index\u003cbr\u003eScripture Index\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eMormonism at the Crossroads of Philosophy and Theology\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“This richly stimulating volume offers fitting testimony to the respect and affection felt for David Paulsen and his work by a wide range of thinkers both within and without the Mormon tradition. In a very real sense, in fact, since he's the inspiration for it, this collection of essays continues and extends his quiet but deeply important contribution to Mormon thought and to thinking about Mormonism.” — Daniel C Peterson, Professor of Islamic Studies and Arabic at Brigham Young University; President, Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003eThere is no better measure of the growing importance of Mormon thought in contemporary religious debate than this volume\u003c\/span\u003e of essays for David Paulsen. In a large part thanks to him, scholars from all over the map are discussing the questions Mormonism raises about the nature of God and the purpose of life. These essays let us in on a discussion in progress.” — Richard Lyman Bushman, inaugural Howard W. Hunter Chair of Mormon Studies, Claremont Graduate University, author of \u003cem\u003eJoseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“This grand merci to a master teacher-scholar is a fitting tribute to a pioneer in intra-Christian encounter. It’s a daring act of intellectual exploration, too. Fifty years ago, the Second Vatican Council taught us that there can be no genuine Christian theology without an ecumenical change of heart. This book makes it clear that there can be no real ecumenism without the riches of the Mormon mind. Professor Paulsen’s impact on LDS thought is well known. Baker and his collaborators invite us to consider the larger scope of his legacy. \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003eThese original and insightful essays chart a new course for Christian intellectual life\u003c\/span\u003e.” — Peter A. Huff, Besl Family Chair of Ethics, Religion and Society, Xavier University, and author of Vatican II and The Voice of Vatican II\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“In a hundred years when the discipline comes of age, David Paulsen will be gratefully remembered as the first modern Mormon theologian.” — Adam S. Miller, Professor of Philosophy, Collin College, author of \u003cem\u003eRube Goldberg Machines: Essays in Mormon Theology\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Far more than the rightly deserved celebration of one of Mormonism’s premier philosophers, \u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003ethis volume of smart, incisive essays advances the case for taking Mormonism seriously\u003c\/span\u003e within the philosophy of religion–an accomplishment that all generations of Mormon thinkers should be proud of.” — Patrick Q. Mason, Howard W. Hunter Chair of Mormon Studies, Claremont Graduate University\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003eThese essays accomplish a rare thing—bringing light rather than heat to an on-going conversation\u003c\/span\u003e. And the array of substantial contributions from outstanding scholars and theologians within and outside Mormonism is itself a fitting tribute to a figure who has been at the forefront of bringing Mormonism into dialogue with larger traditions.” — Terryl L. Givens, author of \u003cem\u003ePeople of Paradox: A History of Mormon Culture\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“The emergence of a vibrant Mormon scholarship is nowhere more in evidence than in the excellent philosophical contributions of David Paulsen. In this important volume, thinkers from several different religious and philosophical traditions engage in creative ways topics that David has written about—a marvelous tribute to a gifted intellectual leader!” — Richard J. Mouw, President, Fuller Theological Seminary, author of \u003cem\u003eTalking with Mormons: An Invitation to Evangelicals\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“A must have for those interested in the Philosophy of Mormonism.” — Kirk Caudle, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.themormonbookreview.com\/2013\/01\/04\/an-interview-with-jacob-baker-mormonism-at-the-crossroads-of-philosophy-and-theology-episode-10\/\"\u003eThe Mormon Book Review\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“There might be reasons today to give the alternatives to [traditional Christian] beliefs another look. If there are such reasons, then this book . . . is a good place to start.” — Stephen Webb, \u003cem\u003eauthor of Jesus Christ, Eternal God\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/byustudies.byu.edu\/showtitle.aspx?title=9185\"\u003eBYU Studies\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Most striking about this collection is that non-Mormon contributors outnumber Mormon contributors–-certainly a first for collections honoring LDS scholars, and a reflection of Paulsen’s ability to attract and engage a variety of interlocutors.” — Blair Hodges, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/bycommonconsent.com\/2013\/05\/21\/review-jacob-t-baker-mormonism-at-the-crossroads-of-philosophy-and-theology\/\"\u003eBy Common Consent\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eContributors:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/jacob-t-baker\"\u003eJacob Baker\u003c\/a\u003e - Introduction; David Lamont Paulson: A Life\u003cbr\u003e1. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/carl-mosser\"\u003eCarl Mosser\u003c\/a\u003e - Classifying Mormon Theism\u003cbr\u003e2. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/donald-w-musser\"\u003eDonald W. Musser\u003c\/a\u003e - Collision, Division, Conversation: When Mormon Scholars and Christian Theologians Talk\u003cbr\u003e3. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/brian-d-birch\"\u003eBrian D. Birch\u003c\/a\u003e - “Faith Seeking Understanding”: Mormon Atheology and the Challenge of Fideism\u003cbr\u003e4. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/douglas-j-davies\"\u003eDouglas Davies\u003c\/a\u003e - Restoration or Rebirth: Mormon and American Options of Authenticity\u003cbr\u003e5. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/francis-j-beckwith\"\u003eFrancis J. Beckwith\u003c\/a\u003e - Mormonism, Natural Law, and Constitutional Democracy: Reflections on the Romney Candidacy\u003cbr\u003e6. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/paul-owen\"\u003ePaul Owen\u003c\/a\u003e - The Enigma of Mormonism: Ruminations of an Anglican Friend and Critic\u003cbr\u003e7. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/joseph-l-price\"\u003eJoseph L. Price\u003c\/a\u003e - Pursuing Truth, Justice, and Dialogue: A Primer on Liberation Theology Toward an Intra-Christian Dialogue\u003cbr\u003e8. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/lyndsey-nay\"\u003eLyndsey Nay\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/john-w-welch\"\u003eJohn Welch\u003c\/a\u003e - he Messiah and Prophet Puzzle: Explaining Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith\u003cbr\u003e9. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/craig-l-blomberg\"\u003eCraig L. Blomberg\u003c\/a\u003e - Is Evangelical Mormonism a Viable Concept for the Near Future?\u003cbr\u003e10. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/john-e-sanders\"\u003eJohn E. Sanders\u003c\/a\u003e - Conceptual Metaphor Theory and the Mormon Understanding of God\u003cbr\u003e11. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/stephen-t-davis\"\u003eStephen T. Davis\u003c\/a\u003e - David Paulsen on Divine Embodiment\u003cbr\u003e12. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/clark-h-pinnock\"\u003eClark H. Pinnock\u003c\/a\u003e - Does Divine Passibility Entail Divine Corporeality?\u003cbr\u003e13. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/james-e-faulconer\"\u003eJames E. Faulconer\u003c\/a\u003e - Transascendence: Transcendence in Mormon Thought\u003cbr\u003e14. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/robert-l-millet\"\u003eRobert L. Millet\u003c\/a\u003e - “We Shall Be Like Him”: Explorations into the LDS Doctrine of Deification\u003cbr\u003e15. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/blake-t-ostler\"\u003eBlake T. Ostler\u003c\/a\u003e - Kalam Infinity Arguments and the Infinite Past\u003cbr\u003e16. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/dennis-potter\"\u003eKelli Potter\u003c\/a\u003e - Lehi’s Opposition Theodicy\u003cbr\u003e17. \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/james-m-mclachlan\"\u003eJames McLachlan\u003c\/a\u003e - All’s Well that Ends Well: Evil, Eschatology, and Love in F. W. J. Schelling and David L. Paulsen\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Editor:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin-right: 5px; float: left;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/13726826_10209778153073514_1284783666691425685_n_compact.jpg?v=1472764963\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/jacob-t-baker\"\u003eJacob T. Baker\u003c\/a\u003e is a doctoral student in Philosophy of Religion and Theology at Claremont Graduate University. He is a co-founder of the \u003cem\u003eClaremont Journal of Mormon Studies\u003c\/em\u003e, has published articles in \u003cem\u003eDialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eElement: The Journal for the Society of Mormon Philosophy and Theology\u003c\/em\u003e, and \u003cem\u003eSunstone\u003c\/em\u003e, and has presented papers at various academic conferences around the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e \u003cb\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e422 pages\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58958-192-0\u003cbr\u003ePublished July 2012\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"epub","offer_id":44787521618091,"sku":null,"price":26.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/products\/Baker_Mormonism_at_Crossroads_6df4fd04-c4ec-49d2-9104-775d77d7a77c.jpg?v=1472758860"},{"product_id":"welding-another-link","title":"Welding Another Link: Latter-day Saint Essays on Faith and Intellect","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/nathan-b-oman\"\u003eNathan B. Oman\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAvailable April 14, 2026\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\"Offers indispensable insights into Mormonism's place in the political and intellectual culture of America today and the shape of Latter-day Saint faith for the twenty-first century.\"\u003c\/span\u003e — \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/george-b-handley\"\u003eGeorge Handley\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\"Oman's provocative claim is that the Restoration's intellectual promise lies in what discomfits the cosmopolitan mind: namely, its refusal to shear off place, history, and authority. \u003cem\u003eWelding Another Link\u003c\/em\u003e is a worthy addition to Oman's growing stack on Latter-day Saint thought.\"\u003c\/span\u003e — Rosalynde F. Welch\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\"Oman asserts that the vital project of thoughtful Latter-day Saints in the twenty-first century ought to be 'finding new language in which to celebrate the Restoration.' . . . These essays are an illuminating example of a distinctive voice consecrated to this challenge.\"\u003c\/span\u003e — \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/kristine-l-haglund\"\u003eKristine Haglund\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003e\"Nate Oman is one of the best writers and most interesting thinkers in the Church. . . . We need more from him and more like him.\"\u003c\/span\u003e — \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/daniel-c-peterson\"\u003eDaniel C. Peterson\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4sVS04y\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/kindle2.png?9112655742455458650\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/id6761497845\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/applebooks_480x480.png?v=1649199519\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=IU7NEQAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/google-play-badge2_a56b9286-69fa-4581-9680-5ea7c47f0c1a_480x480.png?v=1648668766\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAlso available in ebook for \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4sVS04y\"\u003eKindle\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/books.apple.com\/us\/book\/id6761497845\"\u003eApple\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=IU7NEQAAQBAJ\"\u003eGoogle Play\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=L3tqEQAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details?id=fWC5EAAAQBAJ\u0026amp;rdid=book-fWC5EAAAQBAJ\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e, and, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.kobo.com\/us\/en\/ebook\/welding-another-link\"\u003eKobo\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePreview the volume \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/blogs\/news\/preview-welding-another-link\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eBook Description:\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"979\"\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"70\"\u003eWelding Another Link: Latter-day Saint Essays on Faith and Intellect\u003c\/em\u003e is a collection of deeply reflective essays in which Nathan B. Oman explores the intersections of belief, reason, history, and community within Latter-day Saint life. Across topics ranging from scriptural interpretation and religious authority to Zion, pluralism, and the challenges of modernity, Oman examines how faith is lived and understood in a complex world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"979\"\u003eRunning through the volume is a consistent plea for Latter-day Saint intellectual life grounded not in alienation but in “delight and wonder,” echoing the philosophical lineage of \u003cem data-start=\"1161\" data-end=\"1171\"\u003ethaumazō\u003c\/em\u003e (a Greek verb meaning “to marvel”) and Orson F. Whitney’s charge to keep “welding another link in wonder’s chain.” Oman argues that the Church’s future depends on the ability of its thinkers and members to celebrate the Restoration in ways that are honest, compelling, and attuned to contemporary challenges—while remaining faithful to its divine core. This means acknowledging flaws, responding to hard questions, and imagining new, responsible ways of articulating timeless truths, much as earlier generations of Latter-day Saint thinkers once did in their own eras. The result is a work that models a mature, generous, and hopeful form of discipleship—one that sees the life of the mind as an expression of devotion and an essential part of the ongoing Restoration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eWelding Another Link\u003c\/em\u003e:\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Nate Oman's \u003ci\u003eWelding Another Link\u003c\/i\u003e is an excellent contribution to Latter-day Saint thought. Drawing on his experience as a legal scholar outside of the Mormon corridor of Utah and on his generous and incisive intellectual skills, \u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\"\u003eOman offers indispensable insights into Mormonism's place in the political and intellectual culture of America today and the shape of Latter-day Saint faith for the twenty-first century\u003c\/span\u003e. I learned from every page.\" — \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/george-b-handley\"\u003eGeorge Handley\u003c\/a\u003e, Professor of Comparative Literature and Interdisciplinary Humanities, Brigham Young University\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Nathan Oman's collection of ten fine essays brings the intellectual habits of the common law to questions of faith. How does a religion rooted in a particular place make claims on the whole world? How does one read scripture that contains both the sublime and the monstrous? In a secular age, what is the proper work of a religious mind?\u003cbr\u003e\"Writing with the clarity of jurisprudence and the charity of faith, Oman argues that the Restoration is best understood as a revelation of stubbornly concrete particulars. Every essay returns, from a different angle, to the tension between the particular and the universal. Ranging from a Philadelphia garden where Oman purchases Jewish whiskey for Passover to the gazebo on a Salt Lake City median that once marked the only tree in the valley, \u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003eOman's provocative claim is that the Restoration's intellectual promise lies in what discomfits the cosmopolitan mind: namely, its refusal to shear off place, history, and authority. \u003cem\u003eWelding Another Link\u003c\/em\u003e is a worthy addition to Oman's growing stack on Latter-day Saint thought.\u003c\/span\u003e\" — Rosalynde F. Welch, author, \u003ci\u003eEther: A Brief Theological Introduction\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Nathan Oman's voice has been vital to the Latter-day Saint intellectual community for decades. In these collected essays, readers are offered not only the delight of observing a formidable intellect at work, but also the large-hearted wisdom gleaned from years of living the questions that animate a thoughtful and faithful Latter-day Saint life. \u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003eOman asserts that the vital project of thoughtful Latter-day Saints in the twenty-first century ought to be 'finding new language in which to celebrate the Restoration.' The celebration he suggests is informed, open to reasoned critique, faithful, and above all, humble and charitable. These essays are an illuminating example of a distinctive voice consecrated to this challenge, and a fine tutorial.\u003c\/span\u003e\" — \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/kristine-l-haglund\"\u003eKristine Haglund\u003c\/a\u003e, author, \u003cem\u003eEugene England: A Mormon Liberal\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"I expected to like this engaging collection of essays, and I wasn’t disappointed.  In my judgment, \u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(230, 230, 230);\"\u003eNate Oman is one of the best writers and most interesting thinkers in the Church\u003c\/span\u003e.  He’s thoughtful, widely read, intelligently committed to the faith that we share, and always worth careful attention.  Readers of \u003cem\u003eWelding Another Link\u003c\/em\u003e will be rewarded with exciting glimpses of the richness still latent in the Restoration and of the intellectual adventures that await its faithful explorers.  We need more from him and more like him.\" — \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/daniel-c-peterson\"\u003eDaniel C. Peterson\u003c\/a\u003e, President, The Interpreter Foundation\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eAbout the Author:\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 16px; float: left;\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/oman_160x160.jpg?v=1719427096\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/nathan-b-oman\"\u003eNathan B. Oman\u003c\/a\u003e is the Rita Anne Rollins Professor at William \u0026amp; Mary Law School, located in Williamsburg, Virginia, where he has been a member of the faculty since 2006. Prior to becoming a professor, Oman practiced law in Washington DC, clerked for Judge Morris Shepard Arnold of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, and worked as a staffer in the US Senate. He has been a visiting professor at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Cornell Law School, and the University of Richmond Law School. He is married to Heather Bennett Oman. They have two children and live in James City County, Virginia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e121 pages\u003cbr\u003eISBN 978-1-58958-837-0 (paperback)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":46379297505451,"sku":"978-1-58958-837-0","price":19.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/Oman_Welding.jpg?v=1774901131"},{"product_id":"discourses-in-mormon-theology-ebook","title":"Discourses in Mormon Theology (ebook)","description":"\u003cp\u003eEdited by \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/james-m-mclachlan\"\u003eJames M. McLachlan\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/loyd-isao-ericson\"\u003eLoyd Isao Ericson\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003eTo download the ebook simply select which format you want above and process the order through the checkout. You will be emailed a download link with instructions on how to upload the ebook to your device or app.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #f3f3f3;\"\u003e***IMPORTANT*** Downloading the ebook file directly to a phone or tablet may cause issues, so we recommend first downloading the ebook using a desktop or laptop computer. (You will be able to add it to your device afterwards). Be sure to take note of what folder on your computer the .epub file was downloaded to.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e“An excellent compilation of essays that are sure to feed both the mind and soul\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e.”\u003c\/span\u003e — \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.aml-online.org\/Reviews\/Review.aspx?id=4361\"\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlso available through \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/30ahPkP\" title=\"Discourses in Mormon Theology: Philosophical and Theological Possibilities\"\u003eAmazon\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eBook Description:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA mere two hundred years old, Mormonism is still in its infancy compared to other theological disciplines (Judaism, Catholicism, Buddhism, etc.). This volume will introduce its reader to the rich blend of theological viewpoints that exist within Mormonism. The essays break new ground in Mormon studies by exploring the vast expanse of philosophical territory left largely untouched by traditional approaches to Mormon theology. It presents philosophical and theological essays by many of the finest minds associated with Mormonism in an organized and easy-to-understand manner and provides the reader with a window into the fascinating diversity amongst Mormon philosophers. Open-minded students of pure religion will appreciate this volume’s thoughtful inquiries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese essays were delivered at the first conference of the Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003ePraise for \u003ci\u003eDiscourses in Mormon Theology\u003c\/i\u003e:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e“Discourses in Mormon Theology is an excellent compilation of essays that are sure to feed both the mind and soul. It reminds all of us that beyond the white shirts and ties there exists a universe of theological and moral sensitivity that cries out for study and acclamation. . . . Readers—thinkers—should not miss this opportunity to share in the discussion.\u003cspan style=\"color: #eeeeee;\"\u003e I promise you, you will find something of great value\u003c\/span\u003e—a peculiar treasure, if you will—in these pages.” — Jeffrey Needle, \u003ci\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.aml-online.org\/Reviews\/Review.aspx?id=4361\"\u003eAssociation for Mormon Letters\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eContributors to This Volume:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/james-m-mclachlan\"\u003eJames M. McLachlan\u003c\/a\u003e - Theological and Philosophical Possibilities of the Mormon Religion\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/grant-underwood\"\u003eGrant Underwood\u003c\/a\u003e - A “Communities of Discourse” Approach to Early LDS Thought\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/james-m-mclachlan\"\u003eJames M. McLachlan\u003c\/a\u003e - The Modernism Controversy: William Henry Chamberlin, His Teachers Howison and Royce, and the Conception of God Debate\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/richard-sherlock\"\u003eRichard Sherlock\u003c\/a\u003e - Prayer and Divine Attributes\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/brian-d-birch\"\u003eBrian D. Birch\u003c\/a\u003e - Theological Method and the Question of Truth: A Postliberal Approach to Mormon Doctrine and Practice\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/blake-t-ostler\"\u003eBlake T. Ostler\u003c\/a\u003e - The Relation of Moral Obligation and God in LDS Thought\u003cbr\u003eBenjamin Huff - Theology in the One-Room Schoolhouse\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/dennis-potter\"\u003eKelli Potter\u003c\/a\u003e - Liberation Theology in the Book of Mormon\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/margaret-m-toscano\"\u003eMargaret M. Toscano\u003c\/a\u003e - Is There a Place for Heavenly Mother in Mormon Theology? An Investigation into Discourses of Power\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/adam-s-miller\"\u003eAdam S. Miller\u003c\/a\u003e - Messianic History: Walter Benjamin and the Book of Mormon\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/james-e-faulconer\"\u003eJames E. Faulconer\u003c\/a\u003e - On Scripture, or Idolatry versus True Religion\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/robert-l-millet\"\u003eRobert L. Millet\u003c\/a\u003e - What Do We Really Believe? Identifying Doctrinal Parameters within Mormonism\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Editors:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"float: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/JimMcLachlan1-150x150_compact.jpg?4238649106651156722\" style=\"margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; float: left;\"\u003eJames M. McLachlan is Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Western Carolina University. He specializes in and writes about process theology, personalism, Schelling, and Mormon studies.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"float: left;\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/files\/Sunstone-Portraits-2013-Web-040_compact.jpg?4238649106651156722\" style=\"margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; float: left;\"\u003eLoyd Isao Ericson recieved his B.S. in philosophy at Utah Valley University and pursued an M.A. in philosophy of religion and theology at Claremont Graduate Univeristy. Since 2009 he has been the managing editor of Greg Kofford Books and has been published in \u003cem\u003eSunstone\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eElement: The Journal of the Society for Mormon Philosophy and Theology\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eClaremont Journal of Mormon Studies\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, which he helped found. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cb\u003eMore Information:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePages: 301\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58958-104-3 (Paperback)\u003cbr\u003ePublished in 2007\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Greg Kofford Books","offers":[{"title":"epub (Kindle, Google, and other non-Apple)","offer_id":46008595447979,"sku":null,"price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Apple","offer_id":46008595415211,"sku":null,"price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0266\/2257\/products\/McLachlan_Ericson__Discourses.jpg?v=1379611908"}],"url":"https:\/\/gregkofford.com\/collections\/philosophy-and-theology\/faith-crisis.oembed","provider":"Greg Kofford Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}