American Religion And The Third Transformation Of Mormonism The paper argues that mainstream Mormonism has experienced three transformations since its formal organization in 1830. In the last several decades, it has entered its fourth stage or form. These stages are deeply linked to geography, the space that Mormonism inhabits and interprets. Comprehension of these stages …
Event: Salt Lake Symposium 2000
A Mormon In Exile: My Journey Into Another Religious Tradition
A Mormon In Exile: My Journey Into Another Religious Tradition The LDS Church does not publish statistics regarding how many of its members request that their names be removed from the records, nor how many members go inactive. Nor does the church take statistical account of those members who belong to, or participate actively in, …
‘A Priest Forever After the Order of Melchizedek’: The Understanding of Priesthood in the LDS and Catholic Traditions with Particular Focus on the Appropriation of Biblical Imagery
‘A Priest Forever After the Order of Melchizedek’: The Understanding of Priesthood in the LDS and Catholic Traditions with Particular Focus on the Appropriation of Biblical Imagery In explicating the concept of priesthood, both the LDS and Catholic traditions draw from a common corpus of biblical material. Yet the presuppositions underlying the interpretation of these …
Laughing with the Sinners: The Emergence of Mormon Cult Films
Laughing with the Sinners: The Emergence of Mormon Cult Films The concept of cult movie applies to films ignored by the mainstream that have become the object of celebration by a small group of fans. In the last ten years, we have seen the emergence of cult audiences in the Mormon world. They get together …
The Jubilee 2000 RLDS World Conference, or What’s in a Name?
The Jubilee 2000 RLDS World Conference, or What’s in a Name? This paper will look at ways in which the actions of the Conference reflect the shift from sect to denomination, with the name change being a symbol of that shift. The conference’s focus on issues like gun control and capital punishment, and the School …
Anti-Masonry In The Book Of Mormon Revisited
Anti-Masonry In The Book Of Mormon Revisited Does the Book of Mormon description of ancient Gadianton bands and its warning about latter- day “secret combinations” reflect 19th-century concerns about Freemasonry? Many in Joseph Smith’s day, including Martin Harris, thought so. So, on what grounds do Mormon apologists resist this early interpretive consensus? In particular, this …
Mormonism’s The Rule of Law
Mormonism’s The Rule of Law To some LDS leaders, the phrase “rule of law” claims a righteousness in the U.S. Constitution. To them, this divinity invites into the law Judeo- Christian principles. Is it this claimed feature that legitimizes Church involvement in politics? In the May 27 Church section of the Deseret News, the First …
From Camp of Israel to Good Neighbors: Stages of Growth in Organizations
From Camp of Israel to Good Neighbors: Stages of Growth in Organizations Mormonism has grown tremendously during the past 170 years. It has progressed through predictable phases of growth and faced challenges similar to those encountered by all organizations. This paper will review the stages that confront it as becomes a fully mature, international organization. …
Mormonism and Christianity, or, Are Christians Mormon?
Mormonism and Christianity, or, Are Christians Mormon? The question, “Are Mormons Christian?” has been heard ever since 1830, and it has been pressed forward in recent years by both anti- Mormon Christians and by Mormons who are trying to convince other Christians. I would like to turn the tables on the question, and use Mormon …
‘And that Same Sociality Which Exists Among us here Will Exist Among us There’: A Mormon Understanding of Grace as Between Persons
‘And that Same Sociality Which Exists Among us here Will Exist Among us There’: A Mormon Understanding of Grace as Between Persons Different from other theistic traditions Mormons have tended not to make a distinction between the Being of God and the Being of other Persons. In fact God is presented as the great example …