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Restoring Christ: Leaving Mormon Jesus for Jesus of the Gospels
I have come to greatly prefer the Jesus of the Gospels over the Jesus of Mormonism. This book is an exploration of the foundations of my journey, and what I have chosen to believe, what I hope others might consider. I write on Christianity and I write on Mormonism, with the hope that struggling Latter-day Saints can find a way forward with Christ as their foundation. Looking at both Christianity and Mormonism, my intent is to lift the baby from the bathwater, to restore the Savior, with no desire to save the Jesus of Mormonism. Joseph Smith’s Restoration has grave problems. He went astray in my view, because he went beyond the footprint of Jesus’ teachings—committing the same mistake he claimed others had made.
I suppose this book is a Restoration-type endeavor; an effort to rediscover what is most basic, most important. How ironic to seek to restore the Christ of the Gospels from Mormonism! So what does a Latter-day Saint do when they discover that the church narrative they were taught all their life has fallen apart? For me, the “revelations” of Mormon Jesus and their practice by Joseph Smith—as especially seen in chapters 9, 17-19—is radically different from the behavior, character and personality of Jesus of Nazareth. For example, Smith produced “scriptures” which depended on nineteenth-century sources, claiming them to be ancient. He initiated a secret “spiritual wife system” which included concubines and slandered women who resisted his sexual advances. He married young teenagers and other men’s wives. He cursed his enemies and set up a secret organization, had himself ordained king and sought to violently overthrow the Nation. Comparing the two portraits has been the single most cathartic event since my crisis of faith. I find the Jesus of the Gospels to better reflect God’s nature and love, and thus how to clearly respond to others as a disciple.
I suppose this book is a Restoration-type endeavor; an effort to rediscover what is most basic, most important. How ironic to seek to restore the Christ of the Gospels from Mormonism! So what does a Latter-day Saint do when they discover that the church narrative they were taught all their life has fallen apart? For me, the “revelations” of Mormon Jesus and their practice by Joseph Smith—as especially seen in chapters 9, 17-19—is radically different from the behavior, character and personality of Jesus of Nazareth. For example, Smith produced “scriptures” which depended on nineteenth-century sources, claiming them to be ancient. He initiated a secret “spiritual wife system” which included concubines and slandered women who resisted his sexual advances. He married young teenagers and other men’s wives. He cursed his enemies and set up a secret organization, had himself ordained king and sought to violently overthrow the Nation. Comparing the two portraits has been the single most cathartic event since my crisis of faith. I find the Jesus of the Gospels to better reflect God’s nature and love, and thus how to clearly respond to others as a disciple.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 19, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 3, 2018
3-Stars (out of 5)
It's complicated, but here's the nutshell version: Grant Palmer is a brilliant historian and a terrible theologian.
The historical data in the book is fantastic - and probably worth buying the book for. If this book had JUST been that it would be a fantastic (but thin) book. However, that said . . .
The theology in the book is just awful. To give you an idea, in several places in the book he recommends that the LdS Church become more like the Community of Christ (aka the rebranded RLDS Church). I'm sure that our ex-RLDS/CoC friends who are now Biblical Christians would have something to say on the wisdom of that stance.
And that's just the tip of the iceberg. There is problem after problem with this book theologically.
The bottom line is that this book makes it clear that Grant Palmer never really fully embraced the Biblical Christ and Biblical Christianity. The Christ he describes in the book is much more like the simplistic, superficial Post-Modern Jesus that's so popular in some Ex-Mormons circles rather than the complex, multi-faceted Christ that's actually revealed in the New Testament.
So it looks like, as so many Ex-Mormons do, after leaving Mormonism he kind of cobbled together his own religion that was a strange blend of conservative Mormon and Liberal Christian theology. Candidly, until the end, I had NO idea that this what was really going on with him.
That said, I believe that deep down in his basement Grant Palmer really loved Christ and accepted His salvation by grace alone, through faith alone. His Jesus might have been a bit "tweaked" but his understanding of the biblical gospel was sound. I most definitely believe that I will see him in heaven.
However, I did NOT enjoy the theology delivered in this book - it's so flawed that I not only can't endorse it, I feel like I have to warn others about it. I am SO disappointed that I have to say these things. It just breaks my heart because I loved and respected Grant Palmer so much while he was alive. If you read my reviews of Grant's other books, they're glowing!
I have held this review out of that respect, but unfortunately, an Emptor Caveat is required if, not for anyone else, Ex-Mormons who might think that the theology espoused in this book is Biblically sound. Sadly, it's not. Let the buyer beware.
That said, Grant Palmer the historian, you are missed, I loved the new, groundbreaking historical work in this book. Well done on that front and we'll see you soon!
It's complicated, but here's the nutshell version: Grant Palmer is a brilliant historian and a terrible theologian.
The historical data in the book is fantastic - and probably worth buying the book for. If this book had JUST been that it would be a fantastic (but thin) book. However, that said . . .
The theology in the book is just awful. To give you an idea, in several places in the book he recommends that the LdS Church become more like the Community of Christ (aka the rebranded RLDS Church). I'm sure that our ex-RLDS/CoC friends who are now Biblical Christians would have something to say on the wisdom of that stance.
And that's just the tip of the iceberg. There is problem after problem with this book theologically.
The bottom line is that this book makes it clear that Grant Palmer never really fully embraced the Biblical Christ and Biblical Christianity. The Christ he describes in the book is much more like the simplistic, superficial Post-Modern Jesus that's so popular in some Ex-Mormons circles rather than the complex, multi-faceted Christ that's actually revealed in the New Testament.
So it looks like, as so many Ex-Mormons do, after leaving Mormonism he kind of cobbled together his own religion that was a strange blend of conservative Mormon and Liberal Christian theology. Candidly, until the end, I had NO idea that this what was really going on with him.
That said, I believe that deep down in his basement Grant Palmer really loved Christ and accepted His salvation by grace alone, through faith alone. His Jesus might have been a bit "tweaked" but his understanding of the biblical gospel was sound. I most definitely believe that I will see him in heaven.
However, I did NOT enjoy the theology delivered in this book - it's so flawed that I not only can't endorse it, I feel like I have to warn others about it. I am SO disappointed that I have to say these things. It just breaks my heart because I loved and respected Grant Palmer so much while he was alive. If you read my reviews of Grant's other books, they're glowing!
I have held this review out of that respect, but unfortunately, an Emptor Caveat is required if, not for anyone else, Ex-Mormons who might think that the theology espoused in this book is Biblically sound. Sadly, it's not. Let the buyer beware.
That said, Grant Palmer the historian, you are missed, I loved the new, groundbreaking historical work in this book. Well done on that front and we'll see you soon!
August 13, 2017
This is another book that will be difficult for orthodox Mormons to digest. Grant Palmer (who is a distant relative of mine) left the LDS faith many years ago, due in part to a loss of faith in the historicity of many Mormon truth claims.
In this book, Palmer points out many of the differences between the Jesus of the Gospels and the Jesus of Mormonism (and I concede that there are some key differences). Surprisingly, Palmer doesn't take too many shots at the LDS church (at least not until the end of his book). He simply addresses what he sees to be significant discrepancies between the biblical Jesus and the Jesus of the LDS church.
While I appreciated many of the key variations pointed out by Palmer, I do think that he was splitting hairs with many of the arguments he makes (the fact that Mormons reject the doctrine of the Trinity pollutes any argument regarding Christology).
The final chapters of his book, however, were quite enlightening. Palmer devotes a good portion of his closing chapters to Joseph Smith and some of his...shall we say...less-than-pleasant dealings with women.
Overall the book was decent. Again, I doubt that the orthodox LDS will enjoy it but I still found value in it.
In this book, Palmer points out many of the differences between the Jesus of the Gospels and the Jesus of Mormonism (and I concede that there are some key differences). Surprisingly, Palmer doesn't take too many shots at the LDS church (at least not until the end of his book). He simply addresses what he sees to be significant discrepancies between the biblical Jesus and the Jesus of the LDS church.
While I appreciated many of the key variations pointed out by Palmer, I do think that he was splitting hairs with many of the arguments he makes (the fact that Mormons reject the doctrine of the Trinity pollutes any argument regarding Christology).
The final chapters of his book, however, were quite enlightening. Palmer devotes a good portion of his closing chapters to Joseph Smith and some of his...shall we say...less-than-pleasant dealings with women.
Overall the book was decent. Again, I doubt that the orthodox LDS will enjoy it but I still found value in it.
August 31, 2017
The first part of the book was very helpful. I especially liked 'How God Received a Violent Reputation in the Bible. It is refreshing to read the writings of a Christian who does not take the Bible as 'literal.' Looking to the Gospels over the rest of the Bible for the character of God sounds like a sound plan.
A couple of years ago, the back half of the book is what would have interested me more, but I think I've been Joseph Smithed out. I read that Emma Smith biography recently because I felt the urge to read it fading.
There are some topics you can look at and see how much slack the historian is willing to give J. Smith. If Fanny Alger was his first wife or just a 'dirty, nasty affair.' If the Smiths wanted to be swingers with the Laws. And if John C. Bennett was Smith's abortionist. Grant H. Palmer gives Smith very little slack indeed.
A couple of years ago, the back half of the book is what would have interested me more, but I think I've been Joseph Smithed out. I read that Emma Smith biography recently because I felt the urge to read it fading.
There are some topics you can look at and see how much slack the historian is willing to give J. Smith. If Fanny Alger was his first wife or just a 'dirty, nasty affair.' If the Smiths wanted to be swingers with the Laws. And if John C. Bennett was Smith's abortionist. Grant H. Palmer gives Smith very little slack indeed.
May 17, 2021
Its a great read for someone who is leaving Mormonism but I had my husband who is a nevermo read it to understand Mormon doctrine and teaching better and we discovered if you weren't raised it (or actively study Mormons and what they were taught) reading this book won't help bridge the gap in why what was taught in Sunday school is waaay off on the historical facts. Also, I feel bad but I noticed spelling and grammar mistakes in my print and I'm not a great writer (my long run on sentence at the beginning for reference) but I felt like because of that I couldn't share this book with my Mormon family because it would get dismissed for being sloppily put together.
February 24, 2024
The book was well researched, objective, and succinct. An honest reader—especially an LDS believer, will have to decide for him or herself what to do with the painstakingly documented information once it is understood. To pretend that the information doesn’t exist, or to deny that it has any impact on the sanitized and curated traditional LDS narrative, would be disingenuous.
October 25, 2024
An easy to read review of the differences between NT Jesús teachings and the BOM Jesus. Well researched.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews