Richard bushman, an esteemed cultural historian and a practicing mormon, moves beyond the popular stereotype of. By richard lyman bushman founder of the largest indigenous christian church in american history, joseph smith published the 584page book of mormon when he was twentythree and went on to organize a church, found cities, and attract thousands of followers before his violent death at age thirtyeight. Anytime you get to listen to richard bushman talk on lds historical issues, its worth a listen, but there are a few especially good quotes here i. Embrac ing a radiant mormonism deseret news 112117, 1739. John clark, matthew roper, wade ardern by fair mormon. Richard bushman, the worlds foremost scholar on joseph smith and early mormonism and author of joseph smith. Bushman focuses very much on the culture that joseph smith grew up in, he duscusses joseph smiths parents and grandparents on how they may have influenced him. This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. Rough stone rolling, brother bushman discusses the historicity of the book of mormon, and the credibility of the 3 and 8 witnesses to the book of mormon. Written by the dean of mormon studies, richard bushman. Bushman although a practising mormon, does not sidestep the controversial issue of polygamy,which involved smith taking up to 30 or more wives,the youngest, fanny algers. Hunter chair of mormon studies at claremont graduate university in california.
An earlier version of this essay formed the basis of a speech delivered in oakland and palo alto, california. Bushman, a native of salt lake city, is professor of history at the university of delaware and has previously taught at harvard, brigham young, brown, and boston universities. The book is a cultural study of the gold plates, that. Rough stone rolling and cogeneral editor of the joseph smith. Rough stone rolling gave this introduction at a ces seminar at byu in july 2008. This is a nice little compilation of essays by richard bushman on the book of mormon and mormonism in general. Bushman seattle 2017 fireside indie mormon posted on november 21, 2017 by steve otteson november 21, 2017 recently i attended an lds fireside where richard l bushman, an acclaimed lds historian and author, spoke on joseph smiths gold plates. You may not like the book of mormon the musical, but it has put the name of our key scripture. My wife and i used to sit through sacrament meetings where christ was only inferred in the blessing of the sacrament and the closing remarks of a talk, in the name of jesus christ, amen. Prize, an award given by the trustees of columbia university for the years best book on american history. Long and complicated, written in the language of the king james version of the bible, it boggles the minds of many. Bushmans highlyinformed faith, you may want to checkout his book. A great read for students, faithful ldscommunity of christetc. Richard lyman bushman is gouverneur morris professor of history emeritus at columbia university in new york city, and currently occupies the howard w.
Richard bushman with gina colvin on book of mormon translation posted by churchistrue richard bushman did an interesting interview with gina colvin on the thoughtful faith podcast on the topic of book of mormon translation, as hes getting ready to present on the subject at the faith matters conference on book of mormon translation thursday march 16 at utah state university. I have been living in california and utah for the past year while the musical the book of mormon has been packing the house on. Richard lyman bushman born 20 june 1931 is an american historian and academic who. Richard bushman, an esteemed cultural historian and a practicing mormon, moves beyond the popular stereotype of smith as a colorful fraud to explore his personality, his relationships with others, and how he received revelations. The gold plates in mormon culture and thought by richard. Rough stone rolling, by richard lyman bushman knopf. Essays on faith and scholarship in honor of richard lyman bushman, edited by spencer fluhman, kathleen flake, and jed woodworth, benchmark books in salt lake city will be hosting an evening with bushman and several of the editors and contributors to the volume. The paramount issue with the mormon church and richard bushman is its lack of bringing jesus christ into the conversations. The book of mormon and the american revolution byu studies. The book of mormon warns against mistaking intelligence for wisdom, but adds a crucial caveat. The american scripture that launched a new world religion, by terryl l. Bushman, in a section of his book that he titles mormon reason, explains that mormons have been attracted to the empirical tradition of science since the earliest days of the church. He interrupted his undergraduate studies at harvard to serve as a missionary in new england and atlantic canada where he overcame doubts about the existence of god and became convinced that the book of mormon was right. Bushman is possibly the best historian on the subject of the mormons.
Toward the end of the podcast, they discuss issues of faith, mormon identity, and religious affiliation and. He has also published joseph smith and the beginnings of mormonism urbana. The presentation of evidence for the book of mormon began with joseph smith himself with the inclusion of the testimony of the three and eight. Richard bushman did an interesting interview with gina colvin on the thoughtful faith podcast on the topic of book of mormon translation, as hes getting ready to present on the subject at the faith matters conference on book of mormon translation thursday march 16 at utah state university anytime you get to listen to richard bushman talk on lds historical. In a new perspectives series, bill reel from mormon discussion podcast sits down with various lds authors and scholars to ask them each the same questions of how they frame their belief in the gospel. Hunter chair of mormon studies at claremont graduate university. Mark twain once derided the book of mormon as chloroform in print. Bushman speak to a small audience last week about his new biography, joseph smith. T he book of mormon, much like the old testament, was written to show israel what great things the lord hath done for their fathers, and to testify of the coming messiah. Still, theres only so much one can cover in a beginnings book. To be learned is good, with richard bushman mipodcast. Understanding the book of mormon grant hardy oxford.
I begin with the first generation of believers and critics and work my way down to tony kushner and angels in america. Joseph smith by richard lyman bushman audiobook download. Richard bushman on new mormonism, the term some use to refer to a nuanced or. Mormon historian richard bushman recently sat down for an interview with blair hodges for the maxwell institute podcast. The narrative touches only incidentally on the society, economics, and politics of the nephites and. Bushman is professor of history at boston university. Richard lyman bushman retired as gouverneur morris professor of history at columbia university in 2001 and came out of retirement in 2008 to accept a position as visiting howard w. The book of mormon and the american revolution bushman, richard l the book of mormon and the american revolution.
Widely published in both mormon and nonmormon journals, he is the winner of the bancroft and phi alpha theta prizes for from puritan to yankee. Bushman, professor emeritus of history, columbia university, and author of joseph smith. Bushman is best known for his biography of mormon founder joseph smith and as an expert in early. Richard bushman with gina colvin on book of mormon. Bushman is working on a new book about the gold plates, from which church founder joseph smith said he translated the book of mormon. Richard bushmans 2010 book of mormon archaeological forum bmaf presentation. Its a bit dry at times, and follows no real theme because its a collection but youll be a better person for it. The second vatican council and mormon correlation from the pulpit and the pew. Richard bushman reaffirms his testimony of angels, plates. The book is a cultural study of the gold plates, that is, an investigation of how people have thought about the plates. Rough stone rolling, richard lyman bushmans biography of the mormon prophet joseph smith, is the crowning achievement of the new mormon history, an intellectual and historiographical movement that carried the. A practicing mormon attempts to understand the founding prophet of mormonism in realistic but sympathetic terms. Naturally, this would tip the reader off to expect bushmans work to be bias towards mormonism.
While many experts continue to view joseph smith as a controversial figure, renowned scholar and latterday saint richard bushman locates joseph in his historical and cultural context, fleshing out the many nuances of nineteenthcentury american life that produced such a fertile ground for emerging religions. Although he has written several books on latterday saint history, including his marvelous biography of joseph smith, rough stone rolling, bushman is primarily a historian of the intelectual and cultural history of the united states in the colonial and earlyrepublican period, with joseph smith living at the. Richard bushman introduction to joseph smith and his critics seminar. Richard bushman on new mormonism lds church is true blog. I believe this is the most important hour of discussion any mormon in the church today can listen to. Richard lyman bushman, the story of joseph smith and.
On topic of book of mormon appears to have 19th century content in it. What does it mean that the church is true, that the book of mormon is true, what is scripture, and. Bushman, professor of mormon studies at claremont graduate university, speaks at a brown bag lunch event on march 10, 2011, sponsored by the institute for signifying scriptures. Where lds founding prophet joseph smith declared that a person is saved no faster than they get knowledge, historian richard bushman adds a corollary. Is there a danger in mormon history of overcorrecting to compensate for. He is working on a book about the gold plates, which latterday saints believe tell the religious history of peoples in the ancient americas and which smith said he translated into english. Richard bushman at benchmark books by common consent, a. A very short introduction explains who mormons are. Essential books on mormonism the christian century. The quotation is from the title page of the book of mormon. Rick egan tribune file photo mormon historian richard bushman gives a talk at benchmark books in salt lake city, wednesday, jan.
Richard lyman bushman born june 20, 1931 is a latterday saint historian. Richard bushman with gina colvin on book of mormon translation. Character and the social order in connecticut, 16901765 cambridge, mass harvard university press, 1967, was awarded the bancroft and phi alpha theta prizes. Bushman is a member of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Rough stone rolling, a biography of the founder of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. The gold plates in mormon culture and thought by richard bushman by bmaforg. Educated at harvard college, where he graduated phi beta kappa and received his a. Prof richard l bushman has produced a warts and all biography of the man whose visions resulted in the book of mormon and those cleancut young men who knock on our doors. This commentary by columbia universitys gouverneur morris professor emeritus of history, dr. Richard bushman, an esteemed cultural historian and a practicing mormon, moves beyond the. In this post ill summarize his remarks about his approach and method for writing a biography of joseph smith, touching on the ways in which he seems to move the paradigm for writing 19thcentury. Founder of the largest indigenous christian church in american history, joseph smith published the 584page book of mormon when he was twentythree and went on to organize a church, found cities, and attract thousands. In conjunction with the new festschrift, to be learned is good. The role of the church history department in mormon scholarship.
Bill reel recently published a podcast interview with richard bushman. Richard bushman, is part of an ongoing deseret news opinion series exploring ideas and issues at the intersection of faith and thought. I think that for the church to remain strong it has to. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 1982. Written by richard lyman bushman, an eminent historian and practicing mormon, this compact, informative volume ranges from the history of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints to the contentious issues of contemporary mormonism. Founder of the largest indigenous christian church in american history, joseph smith published the 584page book of mormon when he was 23 and went on to organize a church, found cities, and attract thousands of followers before his violent death at age 38.
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