Joseph Smith's Response to Skepticism: cover

Joseph Smith's Response to Skepticism by Robert N. Hullinger Signature Books; Salt Lake City © 1992 by Signature Books. Table of Contents:
	Preface Introduction
	Part I. The Defender 1. Purpose of the Book of Mormon 2. Translator or Author Part II. A Defense Needed 3. New England and Western New York 4. The Palmyra Region Part III. Sources for the Defense 5. The Indians' Lost Book of God 6. Ezekiel's Two Books 7. Isaiah, Buried and Sealed 8. Masonic Ritual and Lore	Part IV. Case for the Defense 9. A God of Revelation 10. Prophecy Proves Revelation 11. Records of Revelation Part V. The Defense Rests 12. An American Prophet Epilogue Appendix 1 Appendix 2 Bibliography cover


		As an ordained Lutheran minister, Robert Hullinger approaches Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon skeptically. At the same time, he explains in this thought-provoking re-evaluation of early Mormonism, "I prefer to put the best construction on Joseph Smith and let his expressed motives speak for themselves, then draw conclusions from the evidence. This approach may not always rule out a negative opinion of Joseph Smith, but it allows for a more charitable estimate of his intentions." "One of the most charitable studies of Joseph Smith ever written by a non-Mormon" — Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought "[A] serious theological analysis." — Glenn C. Stone, Lutheran Forum "In Hullinger's hands, [Joseph] Smith becomes a guide to frontier intellectual life." — Ben L. Kaufman, religion reporter, Cincinnati Enquirer
	"Hullinger … places Joseph Smith in his time and environment. The effort of the young Smith reveals itself as an original and genuinely religiously motivated answer to the religious and national problems of its religious milieu." — Heikki Raisanen, Theologische Literaturseitung "Robert Hullinger has extracted the major religious thought patterns from the Book of Mormon, steeped himself in the ideas and literature of Joseph Smith's time, and correlated his findings into a readable account. He makes available to readers a great amount of material in bringing to our generation the flavor and overtones of those days in western New York." — Wesley P. Walters, pastor, Marissa, Illinois, Presbyterian Church about the author Robert N. Hullinger serves Bethany Lutheran Church in Erlanger, Kentucky, as pastor. He is a graduate of Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, California, and of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. He lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.
	title page Joseph Smith’s Response to Skepticism Robert N. Hullinger Signature Books, Salt Lake City, 1992 frontispiece

	Joseph Smith, Jr., 1805-44

copyright page
A version of this book was published in 1980 as Mormon Answer to Skepticism: Why Joseph Smith Wrote the Book of Mormon by Clayton Publishing House, St. Louis, Missouri.

Cover design by Connie Disney

∞ The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper Printed for 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
Hullinger, Robert N.

Joseph Smith’s response to skepticism / Robert N. Hullinger.
p. cm.
1. Smith, Joseph, 1805-44. 2. Book of Mormon—Evidences, authority, etc. 3. Authority (Religion)—History of Doctrines—19th century. 4. Deism—History—19th century. 5. Skepticism— History—19th century. 6. Revelation—History of doctrines—19th century. 7. Mormon Church—Doctrines—History—19th century. I. Title.

BX8695.S6H85 1992
289.3—dc20 89-27211
ISBN: 0-941214-83-4

dedication
To Charlotte,
my inspiration,
and
to Lisa, Jennie, and Rob,
our on-going revelations
well, most of the time.

Table of Contents: