"Inspiring" but Not True: An Added Glimpse of the RLDS Stance on the Book of Mormon

Title

"Inspiring" but Not True: An Added Glimpse of the RLDS Stance on the Book of Mormon

Publication Type

Journal Article

Year of Publication

1997

Authors

Journal

Journal of Book of Mormon Studies

Pagination

218-228

Volume

6

Issue

2

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

Abstract

Since the late 1960s RLDS “liberals” have argued that the Book of Mormon should not be read as an authentic ancient history. This novel reading of the Book of Mormon has been part of a sustained effort by the RLDS hierarchy to make the Reorganization conform more closely with Protestant liberal approaches to the Bible. I demonstrate that the RLDS hierarchy has encouraged changes in the way the Book of Mormon is read by RLDS intellectuals. I then examine the arguments of Roger Launius, currently the foremost RLDS historian, who has recently insisted that the Book of Mormon ought to be read as “inspiring” frontier fiction. I also describe and criticize his claim that any concern with the historical authenticity of the Book of Mormon is not serious historical scholarship, which he wants focused on issues currently fashionable among secularized historians.

Theology
Historicity
Book of Mormon
RLDS
Community of Christ
Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Inspired Fiction

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