Open Canon: Scriptures of the Latter Day Saint Tradition

By Christopher James Blythe

The publication of the Book of Mormon in 1830 began a new scriptural tradition. Resisting the long-established closed biblical canon, the Book of Mormon posited that the Bible was incomplete and corrupted. With a commitment to an open canon, a variety of Latter Day Saint denominations have emerged, each offering their own scriptural works to accompany the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and other revelations of Joseph Smith. Open Canon breaks new ground as the first volume to examine these writings as a single spiritual heritage.

Chapters cover both well-studied and lesser-studied works, introducing readers to scripture dictated by nineteenth- and twentieth-century revelators such as James Strang, Lucy Mack Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Harry Edgar Baker, and Charles B. Thompson, among others. Contributors detail how various Latter Day Saint denominations responded to scriptures introduced during the ministry of Joseph Smith and how churches have employed the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Lectures of Faith over time. Bringing together studies from across denominational boundaries, this book considers what we can learn about Latter Day Saint resistance to the closed canon and the nature of a new American scriptural tradition.

• Language: English
• Publisher: University of Utah Press
• Release date: Nov 30, 2022
• ISBN: 9781647690830

Book preview

Reviews for Open Canon

[hredwards · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Won this on Early Reviewers. I was interested in this book because I am a member of a church that adheres to some of these beliefs. This was an ebook and I had a struggle with getting it in a readable format after I won it, but once I finally got to the point I could read it, I found it interesting. The LDS church believes that God still gives revelations unto men today. Joseph Smith was the first prophet of this church, after his death the church splintered into many groups and factions as men struggled to gain control of the church. Everyone wanted to be in charge. This book is a collection of essays edited together that discusses the several of the different splinter groups and what they believe and how they canonize their scriptures following the idea that the canon od scripture is open and God is still adding to it.Some of the essays were more interesting than others of course but this was an interesting knowledgeable read.