So here I’m continuing my posts arguing that Joseph Smith was onto something in embracing the ancient theology, or larger truth in addition to the Bible.
While the Bible in certainly important in Mormon theology and historical conceptions, Mormonism rejects Protestant sola scriptura. We do so not only by having additional scripture, but God goes so far as to tell Nephi in his strident rejection of sola scriptua, “I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it.” (29:12).
Here we have a declaration of what is often term religious perennialism, or the idea that there is similar religious truth all over the world. Most who ascribe to that idea say it’s because of either truth spreading from a common historical source (Adam, Noah, Moses) or God giving revelation to all nations. That Book of Mormon clearly stated the revelatory position as did the First Presidency statement from 1978: “The great religious leaders of the world such as Mohammed, Confucius, and the Reformers, as well as philosophers including Socrates, Plato, and others, received a portion of God’s light. Moral truths were given to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals.”[1]
I like the reference to Plato and his teacher Socrates and would argue that such a statement makes it okay for 1) JS to have drawn on such sources, and 2) Mormon doctrine to line up with Platonic themes like the plan of salvation.
But the other point I want to suggest is that such statements, I’m going to argue, put Mormonism in a good position when the evidence indicates the historical problems of the Old Testament. Like I said in other posts, I often see evangelical and Mormons having faith crises over such scholarship, but I’ll be arguing here that we don’t need to either 1) reject human learning in the name of faith, or 2) reject belief in God in the name of human learning.
I think the two CAN go together despite the challenges and will be arguing that the theme of perennialism in Mormonism helps with all this.
My next posts will be on a few books I’ve read about the Old Testament indicating its historical problems. I don’t do so to attack belief in God or Mormonism, but to note the evidence that is out there.
As Joseph Smith said to his followers in the King Follett Sermon, “I suppose that I am not allowed to go into an investigation of anything that is not in the Bible—you would cry treason” (Words of Joseph Smith, 385). I think the Protestant mentality being so pervasive in our society has tended to make us Mormons want to be really biblical in order to “fit in.” But the Prophet wanted to also look at truth outside the Bible.
[1] First Presidency statement, Feb. 15, 1978.