The Mormon Jesus: A Biography

by John G. Turner

The nineteenth-century Mormon prophet Joseph Smith published a new scripture dominated by the figure of Jesus Christ, dictated revelations presented as the words of the Christian savior, spoke of encountering Jesus in visions, and told his followers that their messiah and king would soon return to the earth. From the author of the definitive life of Brigham Young comes a biography of the Mormon Jesus that revises and enriches our understanding of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Over the past two hundred years, Jesus has connected the Latter-day Saints to broader currents of Christianity, even while particular Mormon beliefs and practices have been points of differentiation and conflict. The Latter-day Saints came to understand Jesus Christ as the literal son of his father, the exalted brother of God s other spirit children, who should aspire to become like him. They gave new meaning to many titles for Jesus Christ: Father, Son of God, Lord, Savior, Firstborn, Elder Brother, Bridegroom, and Jehovah.

While some early beliefs became canonized and others were discarded, Jesus Christ remains central to Latter-day Saint scripture, doctrine, and religious experience. Contemporary Mormon leaders miss no opportunity to proclaim their church s devotion to the Christian savior, in part because evangelical Protestants denounce Mormonism as a non-Christian cult. This tension between Mormonism's distinctive claims and the church s desire to be accepted as Christian, John G. Turner argues, continues to shape Mormon identity and attract new members to the church."

Genres: Religion, History, Lds, Mormonism, Theology, Nonfiction, Christianity

368 pages, Hardcover

Published January 7, 2016

About the author

John G. Turner teaches religious studies at George Mason University and is the author of Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet and The Mormon Jesus.

Reviews

[Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the second time in 3 years, a non-LDS scholar makes the case that Mormonism is Christian. Like the late Stephen Webb's philosophical Mormon Christianity: What Other Christians Can Learn from the Latter-Day Saints, Turner focuses on the centrality of Jesus Christ in LDS worship. Turner combines his knowledge of modern Christianity with extensive research using materials on Mormonism. Turner discards definitions of Christianity grounded on the Nicene Creed, and instead points out that Mormons did not start following another character (like Christians did with Jesus replacing Moses), so it cannot be considered a new religious tradition. Webb's argument is basically that Mormonism is Christianity on steroids. Turner's depiction of the Mormonism Jesus is that it falls within the Christian tradition in every regard.

Unlike Webb, who did not even address the Nicene-centered definition of Christianity, Turner did, and he also addressed the more redneck "different Jesus" argument. When I met him in person, he said that evangelicals make the "Mormon Jesus is Lucifer's brother argument," saying that they do so without thinking, because there is plenty in Jewish and Christian tradition about Lucifer being a fallen angel and a son of God.

The chapter on the Book of Mormon and "Jesus meets Genesis," was well done. Showed how both the BOM and the Pearl of Great Price read Jesus into the Old Testament.

Today, Mormons are encouraged to pray to receive a witness of the Book of Mormon through the Holy Spirit. In the early days of the Church, Mormons were encouraged to see the face of Jesus! Today, not even apostles, "special witnesses of Christ," would share about that.

Turner is very generous towards Mormons. When Mormons do something embarrassing, like linking dark skin with the curse of Cain, he reminds us that other Christians have done so too. He contextualizes a lot of Mormon thought within the broader Christian tradition. He also treats areas in which Mormonism goes against the grain, like how early Mormons believed in a married Jesus when other Christians were trending the opposite direction.

Surprisingly, the art history chapter, "The Great White God," was quite interesting. I didn't know that President David O'McKay disapproved of Arnold Friberg's painting a muscular Jesus in the Book of Mormon. Resurrected Jesus wasn't a "bodybuilder," Turner said. Also, Mark Peterson was afraid that housing a Christus statue at the SL visitor's center would cause Catholics to genuflect in front of it. Funny stuff!

The whole book is breathtaking and faith-promoting. Thank you John Turner, for writing a book about my Jesus!

[Nigel Ewan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do not know anything about Turner's religious conviction, and I enjoyed that this gave me an ability to read his excellent biography on Brigham Young without prejudice—but this book seemed partisan and made me question Turner's academic neutrality.

Each chapter of the book follows a similar pattern: 1. Mormonism holds to a christological belief at odds with historic Christianity. 2. Examples are given of Joseph Smith's and early church leaders' heterodox teachings. The point is well-made that Mormonism is at odds with historic Christianity 3. But look! "Other Christians" have also held weird beliefs too! (Here Turner introduces two unrelated types of examples: first, orthodox Christians simply articulating orthodox doctrines with unusual words, and second, examples of weirdo sects such as Shakers, Swedenborgians, or Millerites.) 4. The argument is made: if other Christians have said weird things about doctrine x, Mormonism must not be that unusual! Really? You are telling me I should consider Mormonism "Christian" because the Swedenborgians also believed weird things? But wait, there's more: Over the past 150 years, Mormonism has dramatically walked back its heterodox ways of speaking about this doctrine, and they're trying really hard to be seen as a Christian denomination, so now instead of using heterodox words to talk about Jesus, they've adopted the typical Protestant way of speaking. So everybody must be Christian after all!

I've enjoyed the historical exposition of particular doctrines—particularly the final chapter about Mormon artistic depictions of Christ—but I haven't found Turner's line of argument very persuasive. He writes about historic Christianity like someone with no appreciation for the faith's two-millennia-old heritage of confessional orthodoxy. By undermining the idea that historic Christianity—for all its diversity, yes—can and should be understood as a possessing a consistent articulation of what is and is not orthodox, Turner is able to sneak Mormonism into this big tent. He could have written an excellent book comparing Mormon christology to that of orthodox, historic Christianity—and he did. But he also takes every opportunity to obfuscate what exactly historic Christianity is, and, with that, to imply Mormonism should be seen as a member of the Christian family. This is no clearer than in the final paragraph of the book:

[I]t no longer makes sense to consider Mormonism a "new religion," a "new world religion," or even a "new religious tradition," if that implies a supersession or a definitive break with Christianity. Instead, Mormonism is a vibrant new branch of Christianity, one in which temples, ordinances, and prophets have taken their place alongside a Jesus who is both utterly Christian and distinctively Mormon.

That's all well and good, but Turner misses the point. A heterodox sect does not become a Christian denomination because it encourages its members to place paintings of Christ in their homes, or because it has self-consciously inserted Christ-centered language into its recent hymnody, or because its logo has been redesigned to make "Jesus Christ" the two largest words.

[Ron Tenney · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Turner’s “The Mormon Jesus: A Biography” is a 300-page tour of Mormon teaching and doctrines written in 9 chapters. It is well documents and includes about 50 pages of footnotes and references.
What I loved about this book is the frequent interplay between LDS doctrine and the teachings and doctrines of other Christian faiths. Some of the teachings that an LDS reader might assume were totally unique to our church are to be found in the teachings of contemporaries of Joseph Smith in the early 1800’s. And yet many other teachings are distinctive. Besides showing the contrasts between the LDS and others, the most insightful part of this book is the way Turner traces the evolution of doctrine over time within the church. There are other books delve into how church doctrine eveloved this such as Terryl Given’s “Wrestling the Angel” and Charles Harrell’s “This is My Doctrine”. But Turner’s book is unique in that it is written by an “outsider” with a keen eye and gifted pen.
I expected this book to be a critique, pointing to flaws, weaknesses and inconsistencies of Mormon doctrine and teachings. But I felt that Turner was very objective or even impressed with the scope and power of Mormon Theology. Another reader could come to a different conclusion, especially if they are sensitive to criticism of Bruce McConkie and Joseph Fielding Smith. (Turner reflected my feelings pretty closely so this was not an obstacle for me.)
For a reader interested in LDS church history or teaching, I feel that is a valuable addition to your library. About 60% of the material was review for me. Forty percent was new information or insights from history or other Christian traditions that I was not familiar with. I recommend this for those interested in these areas of study.

[Samuel Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoughtful and insightful book that extends Prothero's treatment of the "American Jesus" into the specific case of the Latter-day Saints. The book benefits from Turner's wide reading in early Mormon sources, and his sympathetic outsider's attention to both insider details and an appreciation of the sense of strangeness that many insiders may not have.

[Ryan Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This excellent book thoroughly investigates primary sources to explore how Jesus has been represented in the Latter-day Saint tradition from its beginnings to the early 21st century. Turner examines these representations through various categories, offering a nuanced perspective.

What stood out to me most was how Turner contextualized these categories within the broader Christian tradition. He highlighted both the ways Latter-day Saint practices and beliefs align with Christianity and how they diverge from it. Much of the Christian history discussed was new to me, and I appreciated seeing Mormon history framed in this comparative context rather than being treated as entirely unique.

The chapters I found most fascinating focused on Jesus's portrayal in LDS temple liturgy and polygamy.

Overall, this groundbreaking work offers a fresh approach to Mormon studies. It sets an excellent example for future scholarship to examine Latter-day Saint issues and concepts within a broader historical and theological framework.

[Jacque Holst · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fair and unbiased Biography of The Lord, The head of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints

John G. Turner has done an excellent job of authoring a fair and unbiased Biography of The Lord, he has done his homework. I think it would be impossible for a faithful member to be as unbiased because of our love for and relationship with Christ as our Savior. I enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to my family and friends.

[Jason Comely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strong meat. Not uplifting but highly informative. A full review is here: https://soundcloud.com/jesusinbooks/t...

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to be up front: this book wasn't what I expected it to be. I had anticipated a book mostly concerned with the Latter-Day Saint conception of/relationship with Jesus Christ. In this regard, I thought it would include some subjective elements to it, at least in the form of personal experiences, as well as some theological comparisons with different faiths surrounding the figure of Christ. And these it did have. But it was often woven into the greater narrative of the Latter-Day Saint tradition. In fact, the first chapter is mostly a quick overview of the restoration and the Book of Mormon. "But," you might ask, "isn't any attempt at explaining Christ in Mormonism incomplete without context?" Well, yes. You've got me there. But for a book that purports to describe the "Mormon Jesus", it seems to spend most of its time on tangential topics. You get in-depth descriptions of Freemasonry, blood atonement, etc. I enjoyed these discussions too, but I felt a little disappointed at the same time.

I also felt that the author really took a scalpel to Mormon history. I understand the need of the historian to attempt to be objective. And I enjoy historical work that makes this a high priority. I like the works of Gregory Prince and Leonard Arrington. But there were some elements of the book that rubbed me the wrong way. For instance, his consistent use of the term "Mormon hierarchs" to describe leaders in the Church. It isn't a term that our Church uses to describe our leaders, nor any other Church, and it has a noticeably negative connotation to it, that the Church is run as an authoritarian theocracy. I have my quibbles with Church leadership, but this seemed petty to me. I also blanched at his entire chapter dedicated to making clear that the Mormon Jesus is white and male, making Mormonism seem like the greatest enemy when it comes to identity politics. Take this passage:

The Mormon God is male, as is Jesus Christ, who possessed a male body before mortality. The Latter-Day Saints also believe in a Heavenly Mother, but Mormon leaders rarely speak of her and discourage Church members from praying to or worshiping her. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are the most important divine figures for Latter-Day Saints. Two white men. A white savior.

I hated this decidedly political tone he decided to take with his history. Just looking at the topics he chose to structure his narrative around seemed poised to call out negatives about Mormons' conception of Christ rather than the positives. The Great White God is dedicated to the image of Christ in Mormonism, documenting how Christ is white and male to Mormons, and that recent efforts at emphasizing Christ in the Church is a big publicity stunt. The Great Bridegroom details how Mormons once believed Christ was a polygamist, but have since distanced themselves from such a belief. Turner details the Adam-God theory and blood atonement in all its glory in The Jehovah of the Temple. It wasn't until the conclusion that I thought I saw I Christ I knew, when he documented Bruce R. McConkie's moving final testimony.

Yes, he is a historian. I like history, objectivity and all. I liked the new church history Saints. I enjoyed Gregory Prince's implied critiques of the bureaucratization of the Church in David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism. I liked Terryl Givens' wrestling with complex topics in Mormonism in Wrestling with the Angel. But each of these works, while openly acknowledging our complex past, still left me feeling inspired. This work, instead, often left me feeling ashamed.

There were a lot of touchpoints throughout the book that got me excited. Turner mentions Orthodox Christianity when talking about the Mormon concept of deification. Orthodoxy, too, maintains a doctrine of theosis, that man can become divine in some sense. Turner quotes Athanasius who states He was made man that we might be made God. Turner dedicates a chapter to the early Mormon expectation, since faded, of having a personal visitation from Christ. I couldn't help but think of Denver Snuffer's The Second Comforter, which Turner later mentions. Whether you like Snuffer or no, I found his book on encountering Christ absolutely compelling, and I was excited to finally find someone referencing Snuffer's work. My first mission city, Munster, was mentioned in a discussion of the Second Coming when referencing the Anabaptists who believed Munster was their Zion and New Jerusalem.

[Kurtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because I was interested in Turner's perspective on LDS church history as a non-LDS scholar. Overall, I found the book to be very refreshing and inciteful, although certain chapters were more interesting to me than others. I especially enjoyed his concluding chapter ("The Great White God") which mostly focused on depictions of Jesus in Mormon art and how they've changed over the years. Of church artwork today, Turner reports that:

"...the church today favors images of Jesus...that balance noble strength with tender concern and contemplativeness. Indeed, the Mormon savior is the Good Shepherd, the one who welcomes children, the one who reclines on a hillside in prayer. The Mormon Jesus is like the contemporary Mormon man, strong and fit, busy serving his family and community, cherishing a brief moment alone with his Heavenly Father." - pages 267-268

Most of the historical material was not new to me, but I appreciated Turner's ability to describe the crazy, the genius, the disturbing, and the faith-promoting in a respectful and surprisingly celebratory way. After describing the contemporary re-emphasis on Jesus within the church, Turner concludes that:

"Given this trajectory, it no longer makes sense to consider Mormonism a 'new religion,' a 'new world religion,' or even a 'new religious tradition,' if that implies a supersession of or definitive break with Christianity. Instead, Mormonism is a vibrant new branch of Christianity, one in which temples, ordinances, and prophets have taken their place alongside a Jesus who is both utterly Christian and distinctively Mormon." - page 294

[conor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating exploration of the role of Christ in Mormon thought throughout the history of the Church and contextualized with other Christian denominations in the United States and elsewhere. Turner breaks the book down into nine chapters that track different facets of the theology and history of Christ. Turner is interested throughout in examining the question of whether Mormonism is indeed Christian, which guides his analysis throughout the book. Much of the book was familiar to me, but synthesized information in useful ways and provided intriguing quotes from early Mormon leaders and provided provocative context. I was particularly fascinated with the chapters about Christ and the Temple, development of thought relating to Christ's marital status, and the final chapter on race and Christ's "whiteness" in Mormonism. Definitely worth the time for those interested in Jesus's place within Mormon thought, historically, currently, and thinking about its future.

[Kristian · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this wide-ranging book John Turner explorers the place of Jesus within Mormonism (primarily the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but also other branches). He concludes that Mormonism is not a new world religion, but instead "a vibrant new branch of Christianity, one in which temples, ordinances, and prophets have taken their place alongside a Jesus who is both utterly Christian and distinctively Mormon". The success of this book is how Turner demonstrates in ways large and small the validity of this claim. The Jesus described in these pages is often shockingly Mormon and surprisingly Christian, but it is always both, which both comforts and discombobulates--but in a good way!

Turner's Brigham Young biography showed his mastery of Mormon history. This book shows that he has equal mastery of Mormon theology and culture. It really is a very good read.

[Caleb Stott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rested this book for a time after starting it earlier in the year. I’m glad I found time to finish it as it’s a source of understanding Mormonism within the broader context of its own history and Christian history in general. I especially appreciated the depth of polygamy’s role in the different phases of the church and the chapter “The Great White God” about artwork Mormon depictions of Christ informing generations of members in how to view Christ. Overall I felt that Turner, whose writing I both respect and enjoy, created a helpful narrative of Mormon though concerning Christ and His roles within the church as they’ve evolved through time. Thank you.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Turner, American religion historian and author of Brigham Young's definitive biography, writes his second book on Mormonism. This book tracks how the Latter-Day Saints beliefs about Jesus have evolved over time. He covers the uniquely Mormon beliefs, as well as how we fit in the broader ecumenical Christendom. He concludes that Mormons are Temple Christians.

He traces the Book of Mormon's modalistic trinitarianism, to Joseph Smith's later declarations of separate beings. I thought Turner fairly addressed the progression. In discussing the first vision accounts he notes the sparse historical evidence, either way. "Visionaries, claim to see things others cannot see. One does not have to accept their supernatural origin to acknowledge that, throughout human history, countless individuals have narrated such experiences, nor must one adhere to a methodological naturalism to acknowledge that Smith's memories of his earliest spiritual encounters evolved as his beliefs and practices developed."

Much as the early Christians saw Jesus in the Hebrew writes, Joseph Smith's revelations in translating the bible further Christianize the Old Testament.

His chapter on "the words of the Lord" was very interesting. Even in Joseph's time, the frequency of written revelation diminished after the early 1830's. Brigham Young attempted to write a revelation to call the saints to repentance in Winter Quarters in April 1847. After writing sixteen lines, he went to bed. The next day he "harangued the camp at length." He never returned to finish writing the revelation. Brigham said in 1845, "I never read much scripture. I have not time to read it. I am a perfect Bible myself." Today, the Church emphasizes feeling the word of the Lord rather than hearing it, or seeing His face, as was the expectation of the early church. Turner cites sociologist Max Weber for the demystification or rationalization of religion. Mormonism is a textbook case of the "routinization of charisma." Rodney Stark observed that "religious movements founded on revelations will attempt to curtail revelations or to at least prevent novel (heretical) revelations." Today, Latter-day Saints maintain a firm belief in ongoing revelation, yet we have reformulated its form and function. Today, we no longer speak in unknown, heavenly tongues, but believe that God helps missionaries learn foreign languages. Rarely do we expect immediate miraculous healing, but rather pray for healing while placing one under the care of a physician. No longer do we hear the verbatim words of Jesus Christ, but rather believe in the still small voice of the Spirit.

Another topic that is crucial to our history is the almost Nicean moment in the early 20th century upon the publication of Jesus the Christ. For more than 70 years, there was no consistent teaching on the nature of the Godhead. The disagreements grew sufficiently wide-spread that Wilford Woodruff, in 1895, instructed the Saints to "cease troubling yourselves about who God is; who Adam is, who Christ is, who Jehovah is." Since Elder Talmage's book and his penning a first presidency doctrinal statement in 1916, the teaching has been consistent.

Other topics include the millennialism of the early 1830's that motivated the founding of Zion in Jackson county. It was the main driving force for why people picked up and left their possessions behind. Millennialism ebbed and flowed through time. After loosing Jackson County in 1833, it diminished. During the civil war, Brigham Young thought it was the beginning of the end of the United States. Again, during the Cold War, millennial and apocalyptic rhetoric reached a zenith. Today, it has subsided.

Another one, I found quite interesting was the chapter on "The Great White God." (Elder Mark E. Peterson's title of a New Improvement article....incidentally Peterson thought Thorvaldsen's Christus Consolator was too Catholic). It covered the history of artistic depictions of the savior. I learned that Harry Anderson was a Seventh Day Adventist. Also, that our first nationally recognized artist, Arnold Friberg, was instructed by President McKay for his twelve commissioned paintings not to "paint Christ into the Book of Mormon," because of the difficulty for humans to "conceive of the infinite." Today's artists, like Greg Olson or Simon Dewey are popular among Mormons and other Christians, alike. In this arena, Mormons have fully become accepted in the larger Christian fold.

Turner again turned out a fascinating, well written book analyzing Mormonism. He concluded by contrasting McConkie's harshly sectarian rhetoric (calling all non-Mormon Christians antichrists), to Stephen Robinson's 1992 book Believing Christ , which is far more gentle and ecumenical Jesus. A tone we set in today's teachings. Turner cites Elder Uchtdorf's grace-filled declaration that "Salvation cannot be bought with the currency of obedience." We have progressed from the 19th century "Mormon-Israel" to the modern day "Christian Mormonism."

[Stephen Cranney · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Mormon who tries to stay up on things most of this was old hat to me, the one exception being the chapter on early LDS theology about Jesus being married. Fascinating.

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and informative.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

It started out with interesting insight but seemed repetive after a while.

[Alan Thacker · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting analysis of LDS Church history and doctrine. I found it to be very balanced and respectful.

[Wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Turner provides important historical and contextual insights in his beautiful exploration of the Mormon view of Jesus. The author is not a member of the faith but is incredibly well versed in the nuances of Mormon culture, history and doctrine, I really enjoyed his even-handed approach in this book. He utilizes visions and writings of Joseph Smith and other leaders, and discusses the role the Book of Mormon plays in the faith's narrative. “Regardless of whether [Joseph] Smith revealed a long hidden ancient text, composed the book himself through a hitherto latent genius, or otherwise obscured its true source, the Book of Mormon added scriptural heft to the visions Joseph Smith had experienced for nearly a decade.” p 27-8.

Turner charts the development and evolution of Mormon doctrine and describes what has shaped the faith's view of the Godhead and man's relationship to deity. He compares theological similarities and differences between Mormons and other Christian denominations, “the contemporary LDS church is a new genus of Christianity rather than a new religious tradition or a new world religion. Mormon Christianity is not Catholic, Protestant or Orthodox. Instead, the Latter-day Saints have charted their own Christian course.” p 18.

Turner discusses Joseph's influential (and controversial) discourse following the death of King Follett (shortly before his own death in 1844) with its relationship to Lorenzo Snow's famous couplet “as man now is, God once was. As God now is, man may be.” He explains that this concept was not without precedent in Christianity, “The Mormon idea that men could become divine has many Christian antecedents, usually revolving around the related Christian ideas of incarnation and resurrection... Many early Christian bishops and theologians explained that, in the person of Jesus Christ, God had become like us, so that we correspondingly could become like him. Most famously Athanasius summarized that 'He was made man that we might be made God.' Such ideas retained their currency in Eastern Orthodoxy. In the West, however, Christians came to so strongly insist on the qualitative difference between God and human beings that the concept of human divination seemed hubristic and blasphemous.” p 167.

I really enjoy Turner's thoughtful and academic descriptions of Mormonism.

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I may or may not take the time to write a more complete review for this book, but as a faithful Latter-day Saint (feels weird yet necessary to put that fact out there) I will say that I was pleasantly surprised by this text. The author, though not LDS, deals with a multiplicity of issues within Mormonism with grace and sensitivity. I greatly appreciated his manner of writing. When introducing a new topic, Dr. Turner presents the church's teachings, "then" (19 th century) and now, the modern day, in context of other Christians practices and traditions, much of which I'm certain few Christians know about it understand. In doing so, he warns reads not to look at LDS teachings as odd, counter-Christian, or ex-nihilo. There is history, even if is 1900 years old and was voted down by the Council of Nicea, et al, to many of our beliefs.

I will freely admit, there were parts of Turner's writing that disturbed me, things about Brigham Young, in particular, that I found unsettling. In fact, I'm grateful I was not part of the church in 1850, though I have ancestors who were. However, I've no doubt there are Christians who look at the Crusades, or the Inquisition, or the Conquistadores, or Christian slave holders, and cannot imagine being apart of Christianity during those eras, cannot fathom how their faith/ denominations could ever have been involved in such things. Alas, people are fallible, even men and women of God. A quick perusal of the prophets and leaders in both parts of the Bible make that perfectly clear.

My final thought upon finishing Mormon Jesus was, " So-called Mainstream Christianity has had 2000 years of growth and development of their dogmas, some positive, some negative, the Latter-day Saints, as a branch of that Christian tradition, has only had 200 years- and we're evolving within the era of the hypercritical, ignorant-of-history Age of the Internet. Give us a break!"

[Brent Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

You live your whole life as a Mormon and think you know your history and theology. Then along comes this non-Mormon scholar who finds a fresh way to tell the story. Good history and good theology, with impeccable accuracy - how did he get us so right?

Each chapter covers a different topic across the 180 years of the Church - personal and ecclesiastical visions, millennial expectations, the Jesus of the Book of Mormon, the "elder brother" doctrine, the married Jesus, the temple, artistic depictions - with abundant insights and new learning in each chapter.

Like Jan Shipps, Turner is both scholarly and sympathetic, earning and deserving his insider/outsider status. As Dan Wotherspoon suggested, the book would make an excellent primer to Mormonism in a religious studies survey course - it's that good.