Reddit reviews Wrestling the Angel: The Foundations of Mormon Thought: Cosmos, God, Humanity

https://www.amazon.com/Wrestling-Angel-Foundations-Thought-Humanity/dp/0199794928

Terryl Givens in the early part of this book talks about the differences between the Restorationism that came through Joseph Smith and what we see in the other Restorationist groups of that time. I believe it's within the first 2 chapters or so, so wouldn't be too hard to find if you have access to the book.

There's an excellent episode from the podcast "LDS Perspectives Podcast" that invites prominent LDS scholar and author, Robert Millet, to speak on this exact issue:

> I wouldn’t press young people or older people for that matter to insist we’re Christians just like they are, because I think that wouldn’t be true. It’s not true.

>How we define ourselves. A religious group ought to have the right of self-definition if anything, and [Mormons] haven’t generally been given that right.

It's popular in an evangelical-LDS dialog to have the principle of “let us define for you what you believe.” Mormons do the same thing. We have in our heads, “You believe this. You believe this.”

The LDS Church has a published essay on the issue of "Are Mormon's Christian?"

Finally, as a source and study of Mormon thought in the context of Christian Theology as it evolved over the centuries I would recommend, "Wrestling an Angel: The Foundations of Mormon Thought: Cosmos, God, Humanity", by Terrly Givens.

Historically, Mormons have not been taken seriously for their theology. One example was the first World Parliament of Religions held during the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. Mormonism was the only religion to be excluded.

Right now we are in the middle of a massive shift where academic circles are starting to take Mormon theology very seriously. Last year, that same World Parliament of Religions held its conference in Salt Lake, with numerous presentation on and serious discussions of Mormon theology. Oxford University Press has published the first of a two volume explication of Mormon theology. Mormon studies chairs and programs are springing up in places like the University of Virginia, Claremont Graduate University, and USC.

Hello!

Congrats on your journey so far. I am a convert to the church (baptized a little over a year ago) and remember feeling exactly like you did. Being baptized into the church was the biggest (and best) decision of my life, but it was not a decision I wanted to make lightly. I have a few book suggestions and then some semi-unsolicited but hopefully helpful comments.

The God Who Weeps by Terryl and Fiona Givens — I read this one while investigating the church, and it really opened my eyes to how truly beautiful Mormon theology is. So many other religions only left more questions for me, and Mormonism was the first thing that clicked. This book brings a lot of those ideas together. Also I am obsessed with Terryl Givens, everything he writes is fantastic, which brings me to...

Wrestling the Angel also by Givens. This is definitely more of a Mormonism 303 lesson as it is quite academic. But Givens does a fantastic job explaining Mormon doctrine within the larger historical landscape of Christianity. The book is organized topically, so you can kind of skip around and read about what interests you.

Some of my favorite talks that have really spoken to me:

His Grace is Sufficient by Brad Wilcox

God is the Gardener by Hugh B. Brown

On How We Know by Truman G. Madsen

Some other suggestions:

Not sure where you live, but I highly recommend attending any local Institute classes that might be happening (your missionaries will know of them). It's a once a week class where people get together and discuss the Gospel. For me it was great to discuss things with people other than the missionaries and the member who introduced me to the church.

Don't feel like you have to know everything. This was my biggest stumbling block to deciding to be baptized. I felt like because this was such a huge decision (it was), I had to know absolutely everything I could before agreeing (impossible). One of the things I love most about the Gospel is its promise of never-ending, always increasing knowledge to anyone who will seek it. Baptism is not the destination. It is merely the gate into the kingdom of God, the beginning of a journey that has brought so much endless peace, joy, and love into my life. At a certain point I realized I could never know everything, but I knew enough to know that this path would take me to where I needed to be, that this is a life worth living.

The doctrine is not straightforward. There are several explanations, including Adam-God to which you referred and Jehovah-Jesus. The Book of Mormon teaches both modalism and trinitarianism. Mormons could also be thought of as somewhat Arianist. My favorite vision is of heaven as sci-fi Mormon Valhalla, derivable from the King Follett Discourse. And don't forget to include Heavenly Mother, or Mothers if you're double-true blue.

If you want a quick answer to what Mormons believe God to be, you won't find one. But if you're interested in meditating on this more fully, check out the section on The Divine in Terryl Givens' recent book.

Letters to a Young Mormon by Adam Miller. This books is a series of letters on gospel topics. It really makes you think about topics that we sometimes gloss over, and I feel like it's helped me be a more deliberate disciple.

First Principles and Ordinances by Samuel Brown. This book is next on my reading list, but everything I've read from this guy has been excellent. I recently saw someone recommend this book for prospective missionaries.

Wrestling the Angel by Terryl Givens. This book is a great history and explanation of Mormon doctrine and compares our beliefs to historical and modern mainstream Christian beliefs. I would highly recommend this one for future missionaries

>certain claims by prophets that it is the most correct of any book.

That's J.S. claiming it's the most true on principle, not like, the most historically / scientifically accurate. "“I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.” (History of the Church, 4:461.)"

The archeology and geological aspects are pretty disappointing. Mormon's Codex by Sorenson is encouraging, but I mean, he claimed to have gold plates given him by an angel that the angel took back. There's only so much you can do with that.

Academic studies in general as well as work on the text is much better.

Oxford press (I recommend both these authors):
http://www.amazon.com/Wrestling-Angel-Foundations-Thought-Humanity/dp/0199794928/
http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Book-Mormon-Readers-Guide/dp/0199731705/

http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/ (including http://publications.maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/periodicals/jbms/ )

http://www.mormoninterpreter.com/

http://www.gregkoffordbooks.com

BYU's philosophy department professors

I do not recommend FAIR.

That should be a good start : )