Family. Isn’t it about … time?

Yes, and so is the Gospel in general, according to Philip L. Barlow.

The fifth out of the seven books in the Themes in the Doctrine and Covenants series that I read is the one by Philip L. Barlow on time. It was one of the two books that I was most surprised to see in the list as a topic to explore in connection with the Doctrine and Covenants, since Time seemed a bit esoteric as a general topic. It made more sense as I dove in. On the one hand, Barlow has taught university-level courses about religious views on time. And, on the other, time-related topics like the sabbath day, the Second Coming, work for the dead, and impact on agency are core themes that come up throughout the Doctrine and Covenants. Thus, it works as a contribution to the series. 

One thing that I have found interesting across this series is how frequently they come back to redemption of the dead as a topic. Out of the five I’ve read so far (Agency, Divine Aid, Redeeming the Dead, Revelation, Time), only one has not featured a discussion about the topic at some point in the book. Dr. Barlow features an entire chapter on the topic, discussing how family relationships span time and tie us to both the past and future. It was actually a fairly moving chapter, and I was impressed that he even worked in a J.R.R. Tolkien quote from Gandalf (a move after my own heart) to discuss preparing and preserving the world for future generations.

I also found the chapter about eschatology to be insightful and interesting. In it, Barlow discusses historical context and the ways in which the concept of preparing for the Second Coming can positively impact our lives. But, in addition, he offers some correctives to distortions of the doctrine that can negatively impact our lives. Specifically, he addresses the plausibility in our notions surrounding the nearness of the Second Coming, Karl Marx’s assertion that religion is an opiate of the masses, images of a vengeful deity, and the mental health risks of chronic urgency. It made for some fascinating discussion and thinking.

In the end, Time: Themes in the Doctrine and Covenants by Philip L. Barlow was a fantastic entry into the series and a thought-provoking study related to the Doctrine and Covenants.