The Ways of Life and Death: Overview

Title

The Ways of Life and Death: Overview

Publication Type

Chart

Year of Publication

1999

Authors

Welch, John W. (Primary), and Welch, Greg (Primary)

Number

5-66

Publisher

Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies

City

Provo, UT

Terms of use

Items in the BMC Archive are made publicly available for non-commercial, private use. Inclusion within the BMC Archive does not imply endorsement. Items do not represent the official views of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or of Book of Mormon Central.

Bibliographic Citation

Welch, John W., and Welch, Greg. "The Ways of Life and Death: Overview", Vol. 5-66. Provo, UT: Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1999.

Abstract

Many prophets in the Book of Mormon discuss in great detail the doctrine that men and women can choose to follow one of two courses: the way of life or the way of death. Though each Book of Mormon prophet addresses this doctrine in a unique way, all have in common a dualistic view of reality. This view is similar to ancient Israelite and early Christian worldviews, further supporting the ancient origin of the Book of Mormon. Understanding this dualistic conception of reality in the Book of Mormon is vital to our understanding of salvation and is the framework upon which additional revelation in the Doctrine and Covenants is built. The revelations of the three degrees of glory and the spirit world (see D&C 76; 138), while not dualistic in themselves, can be seen as supplementary to the dualistic Book of Mormon perception. The fact that the Prophet Joseph Smith used little dualism in his own preaching and writing, it has also been argued, is secondary evidence that he was not the author of the Book of Mormon.
Two Ways

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