“This Is My Doctrine”: The Development of Mormon Theology

by Charles R. Harrell NOW IN PAPERBACK “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.” — James McLachlan “I found it fascinating enough to read straight through.” — Rational Faiths “This book is the real deal, and it belongs on every LDS bookshelf.” — Latter-day Detritus.    Available in ebook for Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Apple, and Google Play. Book Description: The 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).      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.      “This Is My Doctrine” 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. Comprehensive Table of Contents: Show/Hide . Preface 1. Theology, a Divine-Human Enterprise Theological Conservatism and LiberalismThe Myth of Scriptural InerrancyThe Myth of Doctrinal UniformityThe Myth of Prophetic InfallibilityProof-TextingMining the Theology of the Scriptures 2. The Great Apostasy Biblical Prophecies of the ApostasyProtestant ViewsEarly MormonismContemporary Mormonism 3. Joseph Smith and the Restoration The First VisionProphecies Concerning Joseph SmithDispensation of the Fulness of TimesThe Restoration of All Things 4. The Restoration of the Priesthood and the Church Restoration of the PriesthoodEstablishment of the Church in the Latter Days 5. Doctrinal Truths Restored The Coming Forth of the Book of MormonRestoring Biblical TruthsThe Lost Legacy of Translation 6. The Godhead and Plurality of Gods Nature of the GodheadPlurality of GodsOld Testament 7. God the Father An Absolute Versus a Finite GodThe Corporeal Nature of GodHas Any Mortal Seen God?God as ElohimGod as the Father of Our SpiritsThe Adam-God Doctrine 8. Jesus Christ Jesus ChristJesus as MessiahThe Son of GodOnly Begotten SonVirgin BirthThe FirstbornSon of ManChrist as JehovahChrist as the FatherChrist as God of the Old Testament 9. The Holy Ghost 10. Satan 11. The Preexistence Nature of the SoulPreexistence of SoulsForeordinationThe War in Heaven 12. The Creation The Genesis Creation StoryAgent and Method of CreationMeaning of “Create”Biological EvolutionLength of a “Day”Plurality of Inhabited WorldsThe Spiritual CreationFirst FleshAdam, the Son of GodPurpose of the Creation 13. The Fall and Nature of Humanity Adam and Eve’s “Transgression”Physical Consequences of the FallPhysical DeathPower of ProcreationPhysical BanishmentRemoval of the EarthSpiritual Consequences of the FallSpiritual DeathOriginal GuiltAge of AccountabilityThe Dual Nature of Man 14. The Atonement The Atonement in Historical PerspectiveThe Infinite AtonementRetroactive RedemptionUniversal Effects of the Atonement 15. The Gospel Plan The Everlasting GospelThe First Principles and Ordinances of the GospelMelchizedek Priesthood OrdinationThe Temple EndowmentEternal MarriageCalling and Election Made SureSecuring Children through the Sealing of ParentsPerfectionism and Rise to GodhoodThe Salvation of Little Children 16. Salvation for the Dead 17. The Priesthood Nature of the PriesthoodBlacks and the Priesthood 18. The Gathering of Israel and Establishment of Zion Biblical Prophecies of the GatheringBiblical Prophecies of Latter-day Missionary WorkSpiritual vs. Temporal GatheringLamanite Role in the GatheringLatter-day Gathering PlacesGathering the Ten Lost TribesLatter-day ZionNew Jerusalem 19. The Second Coming and Millennium Apocalyptic Literature and Millennial ExpectationsImminence of the Lord’s ComingSpirit Poured Out on All FleshMillennialismThe New Heaven and Earth 20. The Resurrection History of the ResurrectionOld TestamentResurrection as a ProcessResurrection of All Life Forms 21. Final Judgment Judgment DayThe Unpardonable SinMurderers Epilogue Firm—Yet Flexible—in the FaithHaving a Scriptural Leg to Stand OnThe Crisis of Doctrinal ExclusivityThe Future of Mormon TheologyBeyond Theology BibliographyScripture IndexIndex   Praise for This Is My Doctrine: “It 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. “This Is My Doctrine”: The Development of Mormon Theology is a book I wish I had written, which is, I think, the highest praise one can give to a book.”— 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 “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 he succeeds in providing a non-apologetic yet sympathetic interpretation of Mormon doctrine, warts and all.”— James McLachlan, Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Western Carolina University; co-editor of Discourses in Mormon Theology: Philosophical and Theological Possibilities. “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, Harrell provides fresh evidence that humanity’s understanding of the gospel is always limited and that, thus, we must necessarily live by faith.”— Graham St. John Stott, Professor, Arab American University, Jenin “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, Improvement Era. “This book is the real deal, and it belongs on every LDS bookshelf.” — Latter-day Detritus. “‎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,The Juvenile Instructor. Also appeared in the Winter 2011 Dialogue “To many it may be a good reference book, but I found it fascinating enough to read straight through.” — Matthew Kern, Rational Faiths Podcast Interviews: Mormon Discussions About the Author: Charles R. Harrell (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 BYU Studies, The Encyclopedia of Mormonism, and Studies in the Scriptures. 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 More Information: 597 pagesISBN: 978-1-58958-506-5 (Paperback); 978-1-58958-103-6 (Hardcover - Out of Print) Published August 2011