26066

4

15

Journal Article

English

Ford, Clyde D.

The Book of Mormon, the Early Nineteenth-Century Debates over Universalism, and the Development of the Novel Mormon Doctrines of Ultimate Rewards and Punishments

Dialogue : A Journal of Mormon Thought

Spring 2014

47

1

Cambridge, MA

Dialogue Foundation

2014

1-23

Ford reviews the spectrum of early nineteenth-century American Universalism at the time of the publishing of the Book of Mormon, the responses of some contemporary Christian theologians who opposed Universalism, the early Mormon positions in these disputes as contained in the Book of Mormon, and some contributions of Joseph Smith's subsequent revelations. He argues that the Book of Mormon refutes "modern" Universalism; the Book of Mormon's treatment of the restorationist doctrines of salvation is ambiguous; and reflections and discussions between Joseph Smith and other early Church members over the issues disputed between Universalists and their opponents resulted in several revelations that progressively defined an official Mormon interpretation of the Book of Mormon and resulted in a novel and complex schema of human salvation that incorporates theological elements of both traditional Protestant Christianity and restorationism.

https://www.dialoguejournal.com/articles/the-book-of-mormon-the-early-nineteenth-century-debates-over-universalism-and-the-development-of-the-novel-mormon-doctrines-of-ultimate-rewards-and-punishments/

Doctrinal history, restoration
Smith, Joseph, Jr., revelations
Comparative religion, universalism
Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith's translation of

Americanist Approaches to the Book of Mormon
Charisma under Pressure: Joseph Smith, American Prophet, 1831–1839
The Novel Mormon Doctrines of Ultimate Rewards and Punishments as First Revealed in The Vision : Some Observations on History, Sources, and Interpretation
Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Forum: Terryl Givens, Viper on the Hearth: Mormons, Myths, and the Construction of Heresy

An Insider's View of Mormon Origins
By the Hand of Mormon : The American Scripture that Launched a New World Religion
Doctrine and Covenants Compendium
Early Mormonism and the Magic World View
Joseph Smith : Rough Stone Rolling
Lehi on the Great Issues : Book of Mormon Theology in Early Nineteenth-Century Perspective
Mormonites
New Approaches to the Book of Mormon : Explorations in Critical Methodology
Revival Language in the Book of Mormon
The Doctrine and Covenants Speaks
The Joseph Smith Papers : Journals, Volume 1 : 1832–1839
The Joseph Smith Papers : Revelations and Translations, Volume 2 : Published Revelations
The Mormon People: The Making of an American Faith
The Mormons