Item Detail
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12615
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4
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0
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English
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Gathering and Restoration : Early Mormon Identity and the Jewish People
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Temple University
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Ph.D. diss.
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"Key leaders of the formative Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon), rethought and reworked the terms of the encounter of the church of Christ with the Jewish people. The effect of their efforts was the articulation of an independent Christian theology which, (a) repudiated the traditionally anti-Jewish theology of the churches, and (b) affirmed the integrity, autonomy, and witness of both groups of people, Mormon and Jewish. This work ranged across the spectrum of Mormon writing, rhetoric, and action. Scriptures reemphasized the integrity of God's promises to Israel and the Church. Sermons, editorials, and tracts reflected doctrinal reorientation and criticized Christian anti-Jewish prejudice and missions to the Jews. Mormon leadership was not of a single mind on this issue. They were all converts from other churches and brought traditional theologies and practices governing Christian perceptions of Jews and Judaism. However, the principal voice and artisan for the task of reformulating Mormon perceptions and practice concerning the Jewish people was Joseph Smith, the Church's founding prophet and first president. His life-long preoccupation with the relationship between Israel and the Mormon people, as well as his preeminent position as "prophet, seer, and revelator," were crucial for the emergence of a theological tradition which both affirmed Israel's autonomy and covenant and created a distinctive identity for the Mormon community. The most important early Mormon expression of Smith's vision of encounter between Mormons and Jewish people was the "mission" of his colleague Orson Hyde to Europe and Palestine in 1840-42. Hyde's meetings with Jews, and his dedicatory prayer in Jerusalem, manifested Smith's solidarity with 19th century Jewish restorationist aspirations, and highlighted the singular nature of Mormon attitudes compared to those of their Christian contemporaries. Events of the 20th century compel Mormons to reexamine and critically appropriate insights from the middle decades of the 1800s. Their own Church 'fathers' created resources and a framework for coming to terms with the mission and calms of their religion in dialogue not only with Judaism, but other living religious communities." [Author's abstract]