Latter-Day Saint Theology Among Christian Theologies

“Anyone who wants an enthusiastic and thorough introduction to how Latter-day Saint theology fits into the breadth of Christian theology should give this leave-no-stone-unturned book a try… . This will be a valuable addition to a theological library as a sincere, respectful, faithful work to bridge understanding between the people of Christendom and their brothers and sisters in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”–SquareTwo

“Grant Underwood must be a great teacher. His seamless in-text definitions of theological and philosophical terms makes the meaning of these concepts remarkably clear, and thus the book is approachable for casual readers who are not fluent in this specialized language… . Underwood’s book is a valuable and unique contribution to dialogue between Latter-Day Saints and Christians of other faiths.”–Wayfare

“Anyone who still identifies Mormonism with the anti-Christian ‘cults’ should read this wonderful book. Grant Underwood is a gifted Latter-day Saint historian who has established his reputation as an authoritative chronicler of developments in Mormon doctrinal teachings. Now in this impressive work he shows us how Latter-day Saint thought should be seen as occupying a legitimate place in the theologies of the broad Christian community. Underwood treats the major themes of classical theology–such as the divine attributes, Christ’s atoning work, grace, ‘good works, ’ and the power of the Holy Spirit–with empathy, clarity, and an obvious desire to be faithful to the heart of the Gospel. This book is a groundbreaking accomplishment in fostering mutual understanding where there has long been theological name-calling!”–Richard J. Mouw, Fuller Theological Seminary

“In this monumental work, Grant Underwood, drawing on decades of ecumenical experience, produces a good-faith effort that assists interested readers in understanding the similarities and differences between Christian theology broadly defined and Latter-day Saint theology. Using the former to set the theological agenda for the latter, Underwood’s work exhibits a genuine appreciation for the individual scholars and traditions that he engages. Eschewing the kinds of polemical approaches often found in theological comparisons between the Latter-day Saint tradition and other religious traditions, Underwood succeeds in producing a landmark publication that facilitates a better understanding of Latter-day Saint theology for those outside the tradition, as well as theological students located within it. Both the author and the publisher are to be commended for producing this fine volume.”–John Christopher Thomas, Pentecostal Theological Seminary

“Underwood provides readers a comprehensive tour de force of Latter-day Saint beliefs. With consummate care, he details where Mormonism parallels and departs from core elements of Christian theology. This is an indispensable analysis by a scholar who knows his tradition inside and out.”–Colleen McDannell, University of Utah

“Knowing that in the past his church was a marginalized minority, often portrayed as a cult with little or nothing in common with orthodox Christian faith, Grant Underwood has spent a lifetime exploring how the Latter-day Saints fit into the history and theology of the larger Christian world. In this remarkable book, he addresses that question with scholarship of the highest order–well-informed, balanced, and gracious. This book embodies the insights of both the world-class scholar and the gentle and generous Christian that I have known Grant Underwood to be for many, many years.”–Richard T. Hughes, Lipscomb University

Grant Underwood is professor of history and Richard L. Evans Chair of Religious Understanding at Brigham Young University. He was founding co-director of the American Academy of Religion’s Mormon Studies Group and has co-directed a National Endowment for the Humanities summer seminar for university professors and college teachers on Joseph Smith and Mormonism. Additionally, he has published a number of articles and books, such as The Millenarian World of Early Mormonism, that seek to explicate and contextualize the doctrine and history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.