Nauvoo Sealings, Adoptions, and Anointings

Nauvoo Sealings, Adoptions, and Anointings

Author:

Publisher: Smith Research Associates

Published: 2006

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9781560851981

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Less than four years before his death, Joseph Smith began introducing LDS members to new, ritualized forms of worship. Several of these rites linked individuals not only to God but also to their immediate families and even ancestors. The rituals, practiced by both men and women, served to introduce initiates to new theological developments. On a more practical level, they established layers of social contacts around which the LDS community revolved, bonded, and interacted. Lisle G. Brown makes his comprehensive data base available to researchers 160 years after the fact, identifying the men and women who were initiated into the nexus of temple ritual and priesthood ordinances during the early to mid-1840s. He includes dates for endowments, marriages, proxy marriages, sealings to parents, adoptions of living adults to married couples, and second anointings.


Book Synopsis Nauvoo Sealings, Adoptions, and Anointings by :

Download or read book Nauvoo Sealings, Adoptions, and Anointings written by and published by Smith Research Associates. This book was released on 2006 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Less than four years before his death, Joseph Smith began introducing LDS members to new, ritualized forms of worship. Several of these rites linked individuals not only to God but also to their immediate families and even ancestors. The rituals, practiced by both men and women, served to introduce initiates to new theological developments. On a more practical level, they established layers of social contacts around which the LDS community revolved, bonded, and interacted. Lisle G. Brown makes his comprehensive data base available to researchers 160 years after the fact, identifying the men and women who were initiated into the nexus of temple ritual and priesthood ordinances during the early to mid-1840s. He includes dates for endowments, marriages, proxy marriages, sealings to parents, adoptions of living adults to married couples, and second anointings.


Doctrine of the Priesthood Vol 3 No. 1 - The Nauvoo Doctrine in Light of Book of Mormon Prophecy Part 1 The Concept

Doctrine of the Priesthood Vol 3 No. 1 - The Nauvoo Doctrine in Light of Book of Mormon Prophecy Part 1 The Concept

Author:

Publisher: Collier's Publishing

Published:

Total Pages: 64

ISBN-13: 9780934964463

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Book Synopsis Doctrine of the Priesthood Vol 3 No. 1 - The Nauvoo Doctrine in Light of Book of Mormon Prophecy Part 1 The Concept by :

Download or read book Doctrine of the Priesthood Vol 3 No. 1 - The Nauvoo Doctrine in Light of Book of Mormon Prophecy Part 1 The Concept written by and published by Collier's Publishing. This book was released on with total page 64 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


Joseph Smith’s Polygamy, Volume 2: History

Joseph Smith’s Polygamy, Volume 2: History

Author: Brian C. Hales

Publisher: Greg Kofford Books

Published: 2013-02-26

Total Pages: 603

ISBN-13:

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Few American religious figures have stirred more passion among adherents and antagonists than Joseph Smith. Born in 1805 and silenced thirty-nine years later by assassins’ bullets, he dictated more than one-hundred revelations, published books of new scripture, built a temple, organized several new cities, and became the proclaimed prophet to tens of thousands during his abbreviated life. Among his many novel teachings and practices, none is more controversial than plural marriage, a restoration of the Old Testament practice that he accepted as part of his divinely appointed mission. Joseph Smith taught his polygamy doctrines only in secret and dictated a revelation in July 1843 authorizing its practice (now LDS D&C 132) that was never published during his lifetime. Although rumors and exposés multiplied, it was not until 1852 that Mormons in Brigham Young’s Utah took a public stand. By then, thousands of Mormons were engaged in the practice that was seen as essential to salvation. Victorian America saw plural marriage as immoral and Joseph Smith as acting on libido. However, the private writings of Nauvoo participants and other polygamy insiders tell another, more complex and nuanced story. Many of these accounts have never been published. Others have been printed sporadically in unrelated publications. Drawing on every known historical account, whether by supporters or opponents, Volumes 1 and 2 take a fresh look at the chronology and development of Mormon polygamy, including the difficult conundrums of the Fannie Alger relationship, polyandry, the “angel with a sword” accounts, Emma Smith’s poignant response, and the possibility of Joseph Smith offspring by his plural wives. Among the most intriguing are the newly available Andrew Jenson papers containing not only the often-quoted statements by surviving plural wives but also Jenson’s own private research, conducted in the late nineteenth century. Telling the story of Joseph Smith’s polygamy from the records of those who knew him best, augmented by those who observed him from a distance, may have produced the most useful view of all.


Book Synopsis Joseph Smith’s Polygamy, Volume 2: History by : Brian C. Hales

Download or read book Joseph Smith’s Polygamy, Volume 2: History written by Brian C. Hales and published by Greg Kofford Books. This book was released on 2013-02-26 with total page 603 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Few American religious figures have stirred more passion among adherents and antagonists than Joseph Smith. Born in 1805 and silenced thirty-nine years later by assassins’ bullets, he dictated more than one-hundred revelations, published books of new scripture, built a temple, organized several new cities, and became the proclaimed prophet to tens of thousands during his abbreviated life. Among his many novel teachings and practices, none is more controversial than plural marriage, a restoration of the Old Testament practice that he accepted as part of his divinely appointed mission. Joseph Smith taught his polygamy doctrines only in secret and dictated a revelation in July 1843 authorizing its practice (now LDS D&C 132) that was never published during his lifetime. Although rumors and exposés multiplied, it was not until 1852 that Mormons in Brigham Young’s Utah took a public stand. By then, thousands of Mormons were engaged in the practice that was seen as essential to salvation. Victorian America saw plural marriage as immoral and Joseph Smith as acting on libido. However, the private writings of Nauvoo participants and other polygamy insiders tell another, more complex and nuanced story. Many of these accounts have never been published. Others have been printed sporadically in unrelated publications. Drawing on every known historical account, whether by supporters or opponents, Volumes 1 and 2 take a fresh look at the chronology and development of Mormon polygamy, including the difficult conundrums of the Fannie Alger relationship, polyandry, the “angel with a sword” accounts, Emma Smith’s poignant response, and the possibility of Joseph Smith offspring by his plural wives. Among the most intriguing are the newly available Andrew Jenson papers containing not only the often-quoted statements by surviving plural wives but also Jenson’s own private research, conducted in the late nineteenth century. Telling the story of Joseph Smith’s polygamy from the records of those who knew him best, augmented by those who observed him from a distance, may have produced the most useful view of all.


Joseph Smith’s Polygamy, Volume 3: Theology

Joseph Smith’s Polygamy, Volume 3: Theology

Author: Brian C. Hales

Publisher: Greg Kofford Books

Published: 2013-02-26

Total Pages: 333

ISBN-13:

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Americans of Joseph Smith’s day, steeped in the stories and prophecies of the King James Bible, certainly knew about plural marriage; but it was a curiosity relegated to the misty past of patriarchs Abraham and Jacob, who never gave reasons for their polygamy. It was long abandoned, Christians understood, by the time Jesus set forth the dominating law of the New Testament. But how did Joseph Smith understand it? Where did it fit in the “restitution of all things” (Acts 3:21) predicted in the New Testament? What part did it play in the global ideology declared by this modern prophet who produced new scripture, new revelation, and new theology? During Joseph Smith’s lifetime, polygamy was taught and practiced in intense secrecy, with the result that he never fully explained its doctrinal underpinnings or systematized its practice. As a result, reconstructing Joseph Smith’s theology of plurality is a task that has seldom been undertaken. Most theological examinations have either focused on its development during Brigham Young’s Utah period, with its need to resist increasing federal legislative and judicial pressures, or the efforts of twentieth-century and contemporary “fundamentalists” who continue to marry a plurality of wives. Volume 3 of this three-volume work builds on the carefully reconstructed history of the development of Mormon polygamy during Joseph Smith’s lifetime, then assembles the doctrinal principles from his recorded addresses, the diary entries of those closely associated with him, and his broader teachings on the related topics of obedience to God’s will, marriage and family relations, and the mechanics of eternal progression, salvation, and exaltation. The revelation he dictated in July 1843 that authorized the practice of eternal and plural marriage receives unprecedented examination and careful interpretation that illuminate this significant document and its underlying doctrines. Attempts to explain the history of Joseph Smith’s polygamy without comprehending the theological principles undergirding its practice will always be incomplete and skewed. This volume, which takes those principles and evidences with the utmost seriousness, has produced the most important explanation of “why” this ancient practice reemerged among the Latter-day Saints on the shores of the Mississippi in the early 1840s.


Book Synopsis Joseph Smith’s Polygamy, Volume 3: Theology by : Brian C. Hales

Download or read book Joseph Smith’s Polygamy, Volume 3: Theology written by Brian C. Hales and published by Greg Kofford Books. This book was released on 2013-02-26 with total page 333 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Americans of Joseph Smith’s day, steeped in the stories and prophecies of the King James Bible, certainly knew about plural marriage; but it was a curiosity relegated to the misty past of patriarchs Abraham and Jacob, who never gave reasons for their polygamy. It was long abandoned, Christians understood, by the time Jesus set forth the dominating law of the New Testament. But how did Joseph Smith understand it? Where did it fit in the “restitution of all things” (Acts 3:21) predicted in the New Testament? What part did it play in the global ideology declared by this modern prophet who produced new scripture, new revelation, and new theology? During Joseph Smith’s lifetime, polygamy was taught and practiced in intense secrecy, with the result that he never fully explained its doctrinal underpinnings or systematized its practice. As a result, reconstructing Joseph Smith’s theology of plurality is a task that has seldom been undertaken. Most theological examinations have either focused on its development during Brigham Young’s Utah period, with its need to resist increasing federal legislative and judicial pressures, or the efforts of twentieth-century and contemporary “fundamentalists” who continue to marry a plurality of wives. Volume 3 of this three-volume work builds on the carefully reconstructed history of the development of Mormon polygamy during Joseph Smith’s lifetime, then assembles the doctrinal principles from his recorded addresses, the diary entries of those closely associated with him, and his broader teachings on the related topics of obedience to God’s will, marriage and family relations, and the mechanics of eternal progression, salvation, and exaltation. The revelation he dictated in July 1843 that authorized the practice of eternal and plural marriage receives unprecedented examination and careful interpretation that illuminate this significant document and its underlying doctrines. Attempts to explain the history of Joseph Smith’s polygamy without comprehending the theological principles undergirding its practice will always be incomplete and skewed. This volume, which takes those principles and evidences with the utmost seriousness, has produced the most important explanation of “why” this ancient practice reemerged among the Latter-day Saints on the shores of the Mississippi in the early 1840s.


Joseph Smith’s Polygamy, Volume 1: History

Joseph Smith’s Polygamy, Volume 1: History

Author: Brian C. Hales

Publisher: Greg Kofford Books

Published: 2013-02-26

Total Pages: 638

ISBN-13:

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Few American religious figures have stirred more passion among adherents and antagonists than Joseph Smith. Born in 1805 and silenced thirty-nine years later by assassins’ bullets, he dictated more than one-hundred revelations, published books of new scripture, built a temple, organized several new cities, and became the proclaimed prophet to tens of thousands during his abbreviated life. Among his many novel teachings and practices, none is more controversial than plural marriage, a restoration of the Old Testament practice that he accepted as part of his divinely appointed mission. Joseph Smith taught his polygamy doctrines only in secret and dictated a revelation in July 1843 authorizing its practice (now LDS D&C 132) that was never published during his lifetime. Although rumors and exposés multiplied, it was not until 1852 that Mormons in Brigham Young’s Utah took a public stand. By then, thousands of Mormons were engaged in the practice that was seen as essential to salvation. Victorian America saw plural marriage as immoral and Joseph Smith as acting on libido. However, the private writings of Nauvoo participants and other polygamy insiders tell another, more complex and nuanced story. Many of these accounts have never been published. Others have been printed sporadically in unrelated publications. Drawing on every known historical account, whether by supporters or opponents, Volumes 1 and 2 take a fresh look at the chronology and development of Mormon polygamy, including the difficult conundrums of the Fannie Alger relationship, polyandry, the “angel with a sword” accounts, Emma Smith’s poignant response, and the possibility of Joseph Smith offspring by his plural wives. Among the most intriguing are the newly available Andrew Jenson papers containing not only the often-quoted statements by surviving plural wives but also Jenson’s own private research, conducted in the late nineteenth century. Telling the story of Joseph Smith’s polygamy from the records of those who knew him best, augmented by those who observed him from a distance, may have produced the most useful view of all.


Book Synopsis Joseph Smith’s Polygamy, Volume 1: History by : Brian C. Hales

Download or read book Joseph Smith’s Polygamy, Volume 1: History written by Brian C. Hales and published by Greg Kofford Books. This book was released on 2013-02-26 with total page 638 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Few American religious figures have stirred more passion among adherents and antagonists than Joseph Smith. Born in 1805 and silenced thirty-nine years later by assassins’ bullets, he dictated more than one-hundred revelations, published books of new scripture, built a temple, organized several new cities, and became the proclaimed prophet to tens of thousands during his abbreviated life. Among his many novel teachings and practices, none is more controversial than plural marriage, a restoration of the Old Testament practice that he accepted as part of his divinely appointed mission. Joseph Smith taught his polygamy doctrines only in secret and dictated a revelation in July 1843 authorizing its practice (now LDS D&C 132) that was never published during his lifetime. Although rumors and exposés multiplied, it was not until 1852 that Mormons in Brigham Young’s Utah took a public stand. By then, thousands of Mormons were engaged in the practice that was seen as essential to salvation. Victorian America saw plural marriage as immoral and Joseph Smith as acting on libido. However, the private writings of Nauvoo participants and other polygamy insiders tell another, more complex and nuanced story. Many of these accounts have never been published. Others have been printed sporadically in unrelated publications. Drawing on every known historical account, whether by supporters or opponents, Volumes 1 and 2 take a fresh look at the chronology and development of Mormon polygamy, including the difficult conundrums of the Fannie Alger relationship, polyandry, the “angel with a sword” accounts, Emma Smith’s poignant response, and the possibility of Joseph Smith offspring by his plural wives. Among the most intriguing are the newly available Andrew Jenson papers containing not only the often-quoted statements by surviving plural wives but also Jenson’s own private research, conducted in the late nineteenth century. Telling the story of Joseph Smith’s polygamy from the records of those who knew him best, augmented by those who observed him from a distance, may have produced the most useful view of all.


Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture, Volume 16 (2015)

Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture, Volume 16 (2015)

Author: Daniel C. Peterson

Publisher: The Interpreter Foundation

Published: 2015-10-26

Total Pages: 302

ISBN-13: 1518793304

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This is volume 16 of Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture published by The Interpreter Foundation. It contains articles on a variety of topics including: "Toward Ever More Intelligent Discipleship," "A Response to Denver Snuffer’s Essay on Plural Marriage, Adoption, and the Supposed Falling Away of the Church – Part 1: Ignoring Inconvenient Evidence," "A Response to Denver Snuffer’s Essay on Plural Marriage, Adoption, and the Supposed Falling Away of the Church – Part 2: Facade or Reality?", "Careless Accounts and Tawdry Novelties," "The Prodigal’s Return to the Father: House of Glory and Rediscovery," "The Deuteronomist Reforms and Lehi’s Family Dynamics: A Social Context for the Rebellions of Laman and Lemuel," "The Doctrine of Resurrection in the Book of Mormon," "Not Leaving and Going On to Perfection," "Learning Nephi’s Language: Creating a Context for 1 Nephi 1:2," "The Treason of the Geographers: Mythical “Mesoamerican” Conspiracy and the Book of Mormon," "John Bernhisel’s Gift to a Prophet: Incidents of Travel in Central America and the Book of Mormon," "A Treasure Trove of Questions," "The Theory of Evolution is Compatible with Both Belief and Unbelief in a Supreme Being."


Book Synopsis Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture, Volume 16 (2015) by : Daniel C. Peterson

Download or read book Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture, Volume 16 (2015) written by Daniel C. Peterson and published by The Interpreter Foundation. This book was released on 2015-10-26 with total page 302 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is volume 16 of Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture published by The Interpreter Foundation. It contains articles on a variety of topics including: "Toward Ever More Intelligent Discipleship," "A Response to Denver Snuffer’s Essay on Plural Marriage, Adoption, and the Supposed Falling Away of the Church – Part 1: Ignoring Inconvenient Evidence," "A Response to Denver Snuffer’s Essay on Plural Marriage, Adoption, and the Supposed Falling Away of the Church – Part 2: Facade or Reality?", "Careless Accounts and Tawdry Novelties," "The Prodigal’s Return to the Father: House of Glory and Rediscovery," "The Deuteronomist Reforms and Lehi’s Family Dynamics: A Social Context for the Rebellions of Laman and Lemuel," "The Doctrine of Resurrection in the Book of Mormon," "Not Leaving and Going On to Perfection," "Learning Nephi’s Language: Creating a Context for 1 Nephi 1:2," "The Treason of the Geographers: Mythical “Mesoamerican” Conspiracy and the Book of Mormon," "John Bernhisel’s Gift to a Prophet: Incidents of Travel in Central America and the Book of Mormon," "A Treasure Trove of Questions," "The Theory of Evolution is Compatible with Both Belief and Unbelief in a Supreme Being."


Mary Oldfield, 1791-1875, Tooele, Utah Pioneer

Mary Oldfield, 1791-1875, Tooele, Utah Pioneer

Author: Karen Lindberg Rasmussen

Publisher: Lulu.com

Published:

Total Pages: 100

ISBN-13: 130049994X

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Book Synopsis Mary Oldfield, 1791-1875, Tooele, Utah Pioneer by : Karen Lindberg Rasmussen

Download or read book Mary Oldfield, 1791-1875, Tooele, Utah Pioneer written by Karen Lindberg Rasmussen and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on with total page 100 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:


Come Up Hither to Zion

Come Up Hither to Zion

Author: Cheryl L. Bruno

Publisher: Greg Kofford Books

Published: 2024-06-11

Total Pages: 325

ISBN-13:

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Come Up Hither to Zion: William Marks and the Mormon Concept of Gathering delves deep into the life of William Marks, a devoted follower of Joseph Smith and a key figure in the early history of the Latter Day Saint movement. Marks's journey from a descendant of Puritan settlers to a fervent convert to Mormonism is a fascinating exploration of faith, community, and the quest for spiritual truth. As Marks navigates the tumultuous landscape of early Mormonism, readers are taken on a gripping journey through pivotal moments such as the banking crisis in Kirtland, the expulsion of Saints from Missouri, and the clandestine practice of plural marriage. However, Marks's story goes beyond mere historical events; it is a testament to the enduring struggle to define one's place within a religious tradition while attempting to balance devotion to the faith, interpersonal relationships, and personal integrity. After the death of Joseph Smith, Marks found himself at the center of a power struggle among various groups claiming succession. His interactions with Brigham Young, James Strang, and others illuminate the diverse interpretations of Mormon doctrine and the differing visions of what Zion should be. From his involvement in defining moments in Mormonism to his break with Young and eventual ordination to the First Presidency of the Reorganized Church, Marks's life encapsulates the challenges and complexities of early Latter Day Saint history. Through meticulous research and insightful analysis, Come Up Hither to Zion sheds light on the intricate tapestry of beliefs and practices that shaped Marks's spiritual journey and offers a compelling exploration of the Mormon concept of gathering as both a physical and philosophical endeavor.


Book Synopsis Come Up Hither to Zion by : Cheryl L. Bruno

Download or read book Come Up Hither to Zion written by Cheryl L. Bruno and published by Greg Kofford Books. This book was released on 2024-06-11 with total page 325 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Come Up Hither to Zion: William Marks and the Mormon Concept of Gathering delves deep into the life of William Marks, a devoted follower of Joseph Smith and a key figure in the early history of the Latter Day Saint movement. Marks's journey from a descendant of Puritan settlers to a fervent convert to Mormonism is a fascinating exploration of faith, community, and the quest for spiritual truth. As Marks navigates the tumultuous landscape of early Mormonism, readers are taken on a gripping journey through pivotal moments such as the banking crisis in Kirtland, the expulsion of Saints from Missouri, and the clandestine practice of plural marriage. However, Marks's story goes beyond mere historical events; it is a testament to the enduring struggle to define one's place within a religious tradition while attempting to balance devotion to the faith, interpersonal relationships, and personal integrity. After the death of Joseph Smith, Marks found himself at the center of a power struggle among various groups claiming succession. His interactions with Brigham Young, James Strang, and others illuminate the diverse interpretations of Mormon doctrine and the differing visions of what Zion should be. From his involvement in defining moments in Mormonism to his break with Young and eventual ordination to the First Presidency of the Reorganized Church, Marks's life encapsulates the challenges and complexities of early Latter Day Saint history. Through meticulous research and insightful analysis, Come Up Hither to Zion sheds light on the intricate tapestry of beliefs and practices that shaped Marks's spiritual journey and offers a compelling exploration of the Mormon concept of gathering as both a physical and philosophical endeavor.


Brigham Young

Brigham Young

Author: John G. Turner

Publisher: Harvard University Press

Published: 2012-09-25

Total Pages: 511

ISBN-13: 0674067312

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Brigham Young was a rough-hewn New York craftsman whose impoverished life was electrified by the Mormon faith. Turner provides a fully realized portrait of this spiritual prophet, viewed by followers as a protector and by opponents as a heretic. His pioneering faith made a deep imprint on tens of thousands of lives in the American Mountain West.


Book Synopsis Brigham Young by : John G. Turner

Download or read book Brigham Young written by John G. Turner and published by Harvard University Press. This book was released on 2012-09-25 with total page 511 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Brigham Young was a rough-hewn New York craftsman whose impoverished life was electrified by the Mormon faith. Turner provides a fully realized portrait of this spiritual prophet, viewed by followers as a protector and by opponents as a heretic. His pioneering faith made a deep imprint on tens of thousands of lives in the American Mountain West.


The Power of Godliness

The Power of Godliness

Author: Jonathan Stapley

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2018-02-02

Total Pages: 224

ISBN-13: 0190844450

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The Power of Godliness is a key work to understand Mormon conceptions of priesthood, authority, and gender. With in-depth research and never previously used documents, Jonathan A. Stapley explores the rituals of ordination, temple "sealings," baby blessings, healing, and cunning-folk traditions. In doing so, he demonstrates that Mormon liturgy includes a much larger and more complex set of ritualized acts of worship than the specific rites of initiation, instruction, and sealing that take place within the temple walls. By exploring Mormonism's liturgy more broadly, The Power of Godliness shows both the nuances of Mormon belief and practice, and how the Mormon ordering of heaven and earth is not a mere philosophical or theological exercise. Stapley examines Mormonism's liturgical history to reveal a complete religious world, incorporating women, men, and children all participating in the construction of the Mormon universe. This book opens new possibilities for understanding the lived experiences of women and men in the Mormon past and present, and investigates what work these rituals and ritualized acts actually performed in the communities that carried them out. By tracing the development of the rituals and the work they accomplish, The Power of Godliness sheds important new light on the Mormon universe, its complex priesthoods, authorities, and powers.


Book Synopsis The Power of Godliness by : Jonathan Stapley

Download or read book The Power of Godliness written by Jonathan Stapley and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2018-02-02 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Power of Godliness is a key work to understand Mormon conceptions of priesthood, authority, and gender. With in-depth research and never previously used documents, Jonathan A. Stapley explores the rituals of ordination, temple "sealings," baby blessings, healing, and cunning-folk traditions. In doing so, he demonstrates that Mormon liturgy includes a much larger and more complex set of ritualized acts of worship than the specific rites of initiation, instruction, and sealing that take place within the temple walls. By exploring Mormonism's liturgy more broadly, The Power of Godliness shows both the nuances of Mormon belief and practice, and how the Mormon ordering of heaven and earth is not a mere philosophical or theological exercise. Stapley examines Mormonism's liturgical history to reveal a complete religious world, incorporating women, men, and children all participating in the construction of the Mormon universe. This book opens new possibilities for understanding the lived experiences of women and men in the Mormon past and present, and investigates what work these rituals and ritualized acts actually performed in the communities that carried them out. By tracing the development of the rituals and the work they accomplish, The Power of Godliness sheds important new light on the Mormon universe, its complex priesthoods, authorities, and powers.