The variations among First Vision accounts have always attracted our attention. Initially, this was due to the polemical tendencies of early studies of Mormon origins, which tried to disprove the veracity of Smith’s experience. Later inquiries were driven by historians who sought to discover the causal reasons for Mormonism’s appearance on the American religious scene. …
Event: Salt Lake Symposium 2002
Joseph Smith and the Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon II, a Cultural Systems View
This paper continues the exploration of familial and cultural elements in the life of Joseph Smith as he translated the Book of Mormon. It examines surprising connections with family parchments and their creative symbolic expression. Using archetypal patterns and principles of cultural systems, it reveals a never-before-presented picture of how the Book of Mormon came …
Following the Wrong God Home: Walking an American Dream
Scott Chisholm will read a chapter from his forthcoming book, Following the Wrong God Home: Walking An American Dream (University of Oklahoma Press). He will reflect on his personal experiences as he walked the Mormon Trail from Winter Quarters to Salt Lake City—alone. Unsure if there is audio for this session. Clive Scott Chisholm
Humor: Evolutionary Dynamics Among 19th and 20th Century Homo Sapiens: A Mormon Example
A Mormon Example This session not only explores the “E” word and the fear of its usage among Mormons; it also combines wide-ranging irrefutable demonstrations of the observable incidents of Mormon evolution through explorations of physical culture (72 hour kits, swimsuits, horns, and luggage), Mormon social history (the bickering of my own neurotic family), and …
Mormonism and Process Theology Part II: The Problem of Evil
The cover of a recent issue of BYU Studies states: “Joseph Smith Resolves the Problem of Evil.” This is an editorial exaggeration of the conclusions reached in the actual article, written by David L. Paulsen, which appeared inside. Still, of all the theological challenges that dominate philosophy of religion, “theodicy,” often called the “problem of …
Reflections on Who Owns a People’s History: The Controversy of the Leonard J. Arrington Collection
Reflections on Who Owns a People’s History: The Controversy of the Leonard J. Arrington Collection In 2001, the Leonard J. Arrington collection was opened to the public at the Utah State University Special Collections division. Within days, however, Church representatives questioned whether documents donated by Arrington were actually owned by the Church. The situation quickly …
‘Why Have Ye Polluted the Holy Church of God?’
‘Why Have Ye Polluted the Holy Church of God?’ 2,500 years ago, Nephi cautioned those living in our day against being “lulled away into carnal security,” believing “all is well in Zion” and putting our trust in the precepts of any men rather than the Holy Ghost. A thousand years later, Moroni reiterated these concerns, …
Unraveling the History and Mystery of the Priesthood
Research and a close analysis of scriptures and the historical record strongly suggest that Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery did not receive the priesthood in the manner supposed by most Latter-day Saints. This study also shows it to be unlikely that the priesthood was part of ancient Israel’s religious practices until the time of the …
A Young Man’s Journey Through the Middle East: What Defines a Nation?
In the spirit of Robert Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Bryan Richards has written a novel, Triopia, which expresses a powerful synthesis of ideas that help us understand the various, conflicted cultures of our world. This presentation introduces elements of Middle Eastern history, his novel, and some suggestions for how to proceed …
The Restoration of Questionable Things
In 1840 Joseph Smith declared that animal sacrifices would be restored once the Nauvoo Temple was completed and that this was necessary to bring to pass the “restoration of all things.” While modern Mormons would most likely be shocked at the thought of including animal sacrifices in their temple worship, the requirement to eventually re-establish …