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The Expanded Canon: Perspectives on Mormonism and Sacred Texts
Among the most distinctive and defining features of Mormonism is the affirmation of continuing revelation through modern day prophets and apostles. An important component of this concept is the acknowledgement of an open canon—that the body of authoritative scriptural texts can expand as new revelations are made available and presented to the membership for ratification. This volume brings together both Mormon and non-Mormon scholars to examine the place, purpose, and meaning of the LDS Standard Works (Christian Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price) in the Mormon tradition, as well as the extra-canonical sources that play a near-scriptural role in the lives of believers. Approaching LDS scripture from a variety of disciplines, methodologies, and perspectives, these scholars offer new insights into both the historical and contemporary understandings of Mormon continuing revelation.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 4, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
September 19, 2018
In recent years I have grown more interested in understanding the nature of our scripture. The Expanded Canon: Perspectives on Mormonism and Sacred Texts looks to be an excellent resource for me as I look at and ponder the standard works of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am impressed by the contributors to this book, and have enjoyed their insights on interpreting scripture and the uniqueness of the Latter-day Saint view on revelation and open canon. The contributions of the various authors cover a wide spectrum from Old Testament to the Book of Mormon, D&C and Pearl of Great Price. More attention is paid to the modern day revelations, understandably, given the focus on "expanded" or "open" canon. I expect this is a book that I will read, re-read, and read again.
September 19, 2018
I grabbed this book because I'm a huge fan of Grant Hardy and I think he does absolutely exceptional work. His chapter (5-The Book of Mormon as Post-Canonical Scripture) was awesome. I actually really enjoyed the whole book. It's important to me that a book expand my current thinking and this book did just that.
September 19, 2018
This book pushes to you to think about old ideas(that Mormons reject a Closed Canon) in different ways. I have re-read many of the essays just because a first reading wasn't enough to absorb all the ideas.
September 5, 2018
Members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are fairly unique when it comes to scriptural writings. The prophet Joseph Smith introduced the world to ancient documents he said were translated "by the gift and power of God" known as The Book of Mormon. The church believes that since then living prophets and apostles have added to the canon of scripture. Smith himself introduced not only the Book of Mormon, but several others books the Latter Day Saints consider scripture.
In this book; "The Expanded Canon: Perspectives on Mormonism and Sacred Texts", as the authors state in the introduction; "This volume is a collection of essays designed to explore various dimensions of Mormon scripture. Consistent with other volumes in this series, our aim is to advance the academic study of Mormon theology by promoting quality scholarship from a variety of disciplines and perspectives."
In this book; "The Expanded Canon: Perspectives on Mormonism and Sacred Texts", as the authors state in the introduction; "This volume is a collection of essays designed to explore various dimensions of Mormon scripture. Consistent with other volumes in this series, our aim is to advance the academic study of Mormon theology by promoting quality scholarship from a variety of disciplines and perspectives."
September 6, 2018
Review of Blair G. Van Dyke, Brian D. Birch, and Boyd J. Petersen, eds. The Expanded Canon: Perspectives on Mormonism & Sacred Texts. Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Books, 2018. 258 pp. $25.95.
Short version: I highly recommend this book, the first volume of the new UVU Comparative Mormon Studies series.
Long version: In The Expanded Canon, the editors point out that Latter-day Saints, like many other faith traditions, have “an open canon—that the body of authoritative scriptural texts can expand as new revelations are made available and presented to the membership for ratification” (ix). Beyond the standard works, Latter-day Saints view other documents as scriptural but not canonized—for example, “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” The editors assert that church members deal with some complex scriptural matters such as Joseph Smith’s revisions of the Bible. In this case, the term translation does not tidily fit. As Kathleen Flake notes, it was more of “an interpretive response to the text” in which he “appeared more interested in preserving the meaning of the revelation rather than the language” (xv).
David Holland’s chapter traces how Christianity adopts scripture through a triangle consisting of the scriptures, the living representative of Christ, and inspiration from the Holy Ghost. Which has the greatest power? Protestants argue that authority comes from the Bible alone. Latter-day Saints, however, use all three sides of the triangle because even statements by prophets must be sustained by the people, who are invited to gain their own witness through the Holy Ghost.
In her chapter, Claudia L. Bushman invites people to “read women back into the scriptures.” She proposes writings of women that should be considered as inspired, including Relief Society minutes, Eliza R. Snow’s poetry, Lucy Mack Smith’s history of Joseph Smith, and even Chieko Okazaki’s Lighten Up!
In a very insightful chapter, Grant Underwood asks readers to relish the revisions of the revelatory process that produced the Doctrine and Covenants. Joseph Smith, he argues, was “more than a mere human fax machine through whom God communicated finished revelation texts composed in heaven” (182). According to Orson Pratt, Joseph received impressions and then had to “clothe those ideas with such words as came to mind” (182).
For those who want to learn about how various faith traditions adopt and canonize scripture, and particularly Latter-day Saint scripture, I highly recommend this book.
Short version: I highly recommend this book, the first volume of the new UVU Comparative Mormon Studies series.
Long version: In The Expanded Canon, the editors point out that Latter-day Saints, like many other faith traditions, have “an open canon—that the body of authoritative scriptural texts can expand as new revelations are made available and presented to the membership for ratification” (ix). Beyond the standard works, Latter-day Saints view other documents as scriptural but not canonized—for example, “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” The editors assert that church members deal with some complex scriptural matters such as Joseph Smith’s revisions of the Bible. In this case, the term translation does not tidily fit. As Kathleen Flake notes, it was more of “an interpretive response to the text” in which he “appeared more interested in preserving the meaning of the revelation rather than the language” (xv).
David Holland’s chapter traces how Christianity adopts scripture through a triangle consisting of the scriptures, the living representative of Christ, and inspiration from the Holy Ghost. Which has the greatest power? Protestants argue that authority comes from the Bible alone. Latter-day Saints, however, use all three sides of the triangle because even statements by prophets must be sustained by the people, who are invited to gain their own witness through the Holy Ghost.
In her chapter, Claudia L. Bushman invites people to “read women back into the scriptures.” She proposes writings of women that should be considered as inspired, including Relief Society minutes, Eliza R. Snow’s poetry, Lucy Mack Smith’s history of Joseph Smith, and even Chieko Okazaki’s Lighten Up!
In a very insightful chapter, Grant Underwood asks readers to relish the revisions of the revelatory process that produced the Doctrine and Covenants. Joseph Smith, he argues, was “more than a mere human fax machine through whom God communicated finished revelation texts composed in heaven” (182). According to Orson Pratt, Joseph received impressions and then had to “clothe those ideas with such words as came to mind” (182).
For those who want to learn about how various faith traditions adopt and canonize scripture, and particularly Latter-day Saint scripture, I highly recommend this book.
September 20, 2018
This was a fantastic collection of very thoughtful, intelligent, and creative essays on Mormonism's relationship with canon. While there were one or two I didn't love, even they taught me something or made me think.
A few of the highlights for me were:
* David Holland's chapter on different sources of authority in historic Christianity and in Mormonism (canonized scripture, words of living prophets/church authorities, and personal inspiration) and how they are weighted when it comes to deciding which source is the ultimate arbiter of truth. It's hard to summarize, but I found it to be immensely helpful in thinking through these issues in a more systematic way.
* Claudia Bushman's challenge to create an unofficial (for now) collection of women's writings (and revelations given to women through prophets) to cherish and learn from. The only downside of her chapter is that I wish it were longer: it feels more like initial thoughts, but maybe that's what is best for a whole new direction like this.
* Grant Hardy's positioning of the Book of Mormon among world scriptures--not just comparing it only to the Bible, or even the Quran as is occasionally done. I don't think I'm alone in being relatively conversant in Mormon studies, but almost completely ignorant of the many books of scripture outside those of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. As Hardy puts it, "What we see in the Book of Mormon depends, to some extent, on what we compare it to," and he does a great job putting the Book of Mormon in context with other scriptures that share some similarities with it.
* Richard Bushman, like his wife Claudia, unfortunately didn't write a long chapter, but it has great stuff in what's there. He does a wonderful job of exploring how the story of the gold plates shapes how Mormons read the Book of Mormon.
* Ann Taves has the most creative and fascinating chapter in this volume. Despite being a non-believer in Mormonism's origin stories, she nevertheless does her best to take the historical evidence in favor of gold plates seriously and makes a thoughtful and surprising (albeit admittedly somewhat speculative) case for a middle ground between Joseph Smith digging up ancient Nephite plates or being a conman--and utilizes concepts from Mormonism's own scriptures to explain her theory.
There are also other fantastic thoughts in this book about the Pearl of Great Price, patriarchal blessings, the Family Proclamation, and other topics. I highly recommend it if you have any academic interest in what Mormonism can say about canon, scripture, and religious community.
A few of the highlights for me were:
* David Holland's chapter on different sources of authority in historic Christianity and in Mormonism (canonized scripture, words of living prophets/church authorities, and personal inspiration) and how they are weighted when it comes to deciding which source is the ultimate arbiter of truth. It's hard to summarize, but I found it to be immensely helpful in thinking through these issues in a more systematic way.
* Claudia Bushman's challenge to create an unofficial (for now) collection of women's writings (and revelations given to women through prophets) to cherish and learn from. The only downside of her chapter is that I wish it were longer: it feels more like initial thoughts, but maybe that's what is best for a whole new direction like this.
* Grant Hardy's positioning of the Book of Mormon among world scriptures--not just comparing it only to the Bible, or even the Quran as is occasionally done. I don't think I'm alone in being relatively conversant in Mormon studies, but almost completely ignorant of the many books of scripture outside those of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. As Hardy puts it, "What we see in the Book of Mormon depends, to some extent, on what we compare it to," and he does a great job putting the Book of Mormon in context with other scriptures that share some similarities with it.
* Richard Bushman, like his wife Claudia, unfortunately didn't write a long chapter, but it has great stuff in what's there. He does a wonderful job of exploring how the story of the gold plates shapes how Mormons read the Book of Mormon.
* Ann Taves has the most creative and fascinating chapter in this volume. Despite being a non-believer in Mormonism's origin stories, she nevertheless does her best to take the historical evidence in favor of gold plates seriously and makes a thoughtful and surprising (albeit admittedly somewhat speculative) case for a middle ground between Joseph Smith digging up ancient Nephite plates or being a conman--and utilizes concepts from Mormonism's own scriptures to explain her theory.
There are also other fantastic thoughts in this book about the Pearl of Great Price, patriarchal blessings, the Family Proclamation, and other topics. I highly recommend it if you have any academic interest in what Mormonism can say about canon, scripture, and religious community.
December 16, 2018
I've been picking away at this book for months, but finally finished. It is a fascinating collection of essays about scripture and Mormonism that contain a number of provocative and thoughtful ideas that are worthy of more of my time. The collection felt a bit uneven--not in the quality, but like many essay collections, I wish there had been more conversation between the ideas that were put forward by the authors. As is, it often feels like the seeds of more work to come and I am hungry for the fruits of these seeds. That said, the ideas that are planted here are fascinating and well worth engaging with.
I found the following essays particularly worthy of attention:
David Holland's piece about the triangle of authority in Mormonism (scripture, prophets, and the Holy Ghost/personal revelation) should be required reading for conversations about authority and struck me as advancing a compelling case for his position, while exploring the seeming contradictions to it.
James Faulconer's entry on reading scripture literally, which is provocatively titled and makes a convincing case for treating scripture more seriously as a community (by which he means more literally, or literarily). Faulconer's work appealed to my literature background and stresses aspects of scripture that I think we often neglect as a community.
Claudia Bushman's essay about the need for creating a canon of women's scriptural voices is powerful and a call to action that we should heed.
Ann Taves' entry is the most intriguing of all of the pieces gathered here (likely the most controversial as well). She seeks to find a middle-ground in the history surrounding the physical reality of gold plates and presents a fascinating argument that demonstrates a compelling use of close reading (and admittedly, some speculation).
David Bokovoy's piece on the Book of Moses as prophetic midrash is fascinating and well-worth engaging with.
The other essays are also intriguing and touch on the Family Proclamation, patriarchal blessings, post-canonical scripture, electronic scripture and more. While I want more from many of the contributors, this book is well worth your time.
I found the following essays particularly worthy of attention:
David Holland's piece about the triangle of authority in Mormonism (scripture, prophets, and the Holy Ghost/personal revelation) should be required reading for conversations about authority and struck me as advancing a compelling case for his position, while exploring the seeming contradictions to it.
James Faulconer's entry on reading scripture literally, which is provocatively titled and makes a convincing case for treating scripture more seriously as a community (by which he means more literally, or literarily). Faulconer's work appealed to my literature background and stresses aspects of scripture that I think we often neglect as a community.
Claudia Bushman's essay about the need for creating a canon of women's scriptural voices is powerful and a call to action that we should heed.
Ann Taves' entry is the most intriguing of all of the pieces gathered here (likely the most controversial as well). She seeks to find a middle-ground in the history surrounding the physical reality of gold plates and presents a fascinating argument that demonstrates a compelling use of close reading (and admittedly, some speculation).
David Bokovoy's piece on the Book of Moses as prophetic midrash is fascinating and well-worth engaging with.
The other essays are also intriguing and touch on the Family Proclamation, patriarchal blessings, post-canonical scripture, electronic scripture and more. While I want more from many of the contributors, this book is well worth your time.
October 24, 2019
The analysis of the "expanded canon"
Really enjoyed the many perspectives and ideas explaining why and how latter-day saints believe and trust in an expanded canon beyond the Bible. As in every book with different writers the essays are also different in its scope and reach. Definitely recommended for anyone interested in these topics.
Really enjoyed the many perspectives and ideas explaining why and how latter-day saints believe and trust in an expanded canon beyond the Bible. As in every book with different writers the essays are also different in its scope and reach. Definitely recommended for anyone interested in these topics.
June 12, 2020
This collection of essays is loosely tied together with the theme of the ongoing expansion of the canon of scripture in the LDS faith.
My favorite essays were by David Holland and Grant Hardy.
If your taste in reading includes new perspectives on what constitutes sacred scripture and how does that scripture function in the modern church and in the lives of its members, I recommend this book.
My favorite essays were by David Holland and Grant Hardy.
If your taste in reading includes new perspectives on what constitutes sacred scripture and how does that scripture function in the modern church and in the lives of its members, I recommend this book.
September 1, 2018
This was enjoyable reading. One paper was overly academic and I skipped it,
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews