An Introduction to Mormonism (Introduction to Religion)

Rating:
Summary: Great Academic Work
Review: Prof Davies neither proves nor disproves the new religious movement, Mormonism, but instead gives readers a lot of information about how this church grows and what doctrines we always misunderstand. To ascertain the facts which always misguide historic Christians, both Latter-Day Saints, or less reverently, 'Mormons', and Christians should carefully study this serious, impartial and in-depth work written by Prof Davies.

Rating:
Summary: Not exactly an Introduction
Review: This is a wonderful book if you are into understanding the more difficult basics of LDS doctrine. Because of its complicated interprative structure, I have a hard time calling it an introduction. He writes as a University Professor and it shows. Certainly it is the best book on the subject written by a non-Mormon, without clinging to isoteria and other people's misconceptions that usually hurt even the best books on the subject. Even the most celebrated non-mormon authority Jan Shipps can be too sceptical and careless rather than understanding. This author, however, stays mostly with the authoritative works first, and the others second when needing clarification.

The touchtone of any treatment of Mormonism is how they approach the LDS Temple. I was very surprised and excited that the author rejected sensationalism and expose. He actually talked about the meaning behind the Temple and other related subjects. It is a far cry better than any other similar studies outside the LDS Church. I would recommend reading "By the Hand of Mormon" by Terry L. Givens with this book. Both are a compliment to each other.

I would like to mention what I see as a weaknesses in his study. One of the reasons I recommended Givens is that Davies misunderstands the Book of Mormon. Perhaps that is going too far as he does have a pretty good sense of its general message. Rather, Davies doesn't understand the deeper teachings within the Book of Mormon, much less the anticipatory sections that touch on things that will show up later in the Doctrine and Covenants. He reads the Book of Mormon, sadly much like LDS members themselves, from a purely surface reading. That causes him to miss the many subtle and complicated issues it brings up, and diludes the connections between it and later LDS Scripture. For instance, Davies doesn't sense the deeply ritualistic and priesthood oriented teachings of the Book of Mormon that continually shows up. Examples would be talking about the importance of mysteries, discussions on Melchezidek, mentioning of Priests and Teachers and Twelve Disciples, setting up Churches. Most importantly he misses the discussion of "turning the hearts of the children to the parents" in Third Nephi that Davies makes a big connection with ritual in other chapters of his study. There are other minor quibles, but they are far less worrisome than what other authors even of the same calibur usually have.