Mormons and Jews:
Early Mormon Theologies of Israel

Steven Epperson

Signature Books; Salt Lake City, Utah
© 1992 by Signature Books.

Table of Contents:

Introduction
Judaism in Early Nineteenth-century America and England
Jewish Identity and Destiny in the Book of Mormon
Joseph Smith's Encounter with Biblical Israel
Joseph Smith and Modern Israel
Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery: Identity of Israel and the Church
Orson Hyde and Israel's Restoration
Eschatological Pluralism
Epilogue
photographs
cover


		“Steven Epperson’s study will be an eye-opener for many, both within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and without. Over a century before other churches began to rethink traditional Christian (mis-) understandings of Jews and Judaism, LDS leaders not only saw Judaism in a positive light, they even sent a mission to Palestine to bless the land that it might receive the Jewish people back. In light of current changing Christian attitudes toward Judaism, Epperson raises the question whether Latter-day Saints might not have something to share with this ecumenical movement. Mormons and Jews: Early Mormon Theologies of Israel is a fascinating, well-documented story, one well told. And one that deserves to be known.” —Paul M. van Buren, Director of the Center for Ethics and Religious Pluralism, Shalom Institute at Jerusalem, and author, A Theology of the Jewish-Christian Reality.
	“Mormons and Jews is a major contribution. It reveals how Mormons have held two contrasting views of the role of Jews in the latter days and how Mormons should relate to them. It also puts Mormon intellectuals into a new light: they were the ones bent on converting Jews while Joseph Smith and Brigham Young were content to let Providence lead this other Israel to its own destiny. Anyone interested in Mormon intellectual history as well as in Mormon-Jewish relations will want to read this book.” —Richard L. Bushman, Gouverneur Morris Professor of History, Columbia University, and author, Joseph Smith and the Beginnings of Mormonism. about the author Steven Epperson holds a Ph.D. from Temple University. Currently he is History Curator at the Museum of Church History and Art, Salt Lake City, Utah. He is recipient of the William Grover and Winifred Foster Reese Best Dissertation Award from the Mormon History Association. title page Mormons and Jews Early Mormon Theologies of Israel Steven Epperson Signature Books Salt Lake City 1992 copyright page Cover design: Brian Bean Cover painting: The Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane as Seen from the East Wall of Jerusalem, Gary E. Smith, oil on canvas, 1982. The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements for Information Sciences– Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1984. © 1992 by Signature Books, Inc. All rights reserved. Signature Books is a registered trademark of Signature Books, Inc. Composed and printed in the United States of America. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Epperson, Steven Mormons and Jews : early Mormon theologies of Israel / Steven Epperson. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Mormon Church–Relations—Judaism. 2. Judaism—Relations– Mormon Church. 3. Mormon Church—Doctrines. 4. Jews—Restoration. 5. Smith, Joseph, 1805-1844. 6. Hyde, Orson, 1805-1878. I. Title. BX8643.J84E67 1992 289.3–dc20 92-4952 ISBN 1-56085-006-X

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