The Mysteries of Godliness: A History of Mormon Temple Worship

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 244 pages
• Published by: Signature Books November 2002
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 1560851767
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-1560851769
• Book Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Weighs: 12 ounces

Midwest Book Review
Drawn from authentic sources, David Buerger's The Mysteries of Godliness: A History of Mormon Temple Worship is an insightful, comprehensive and scholarly history of LDS temple worship. Readers will learn of its humble beginnings in Ohio where members practiced Old Testament-like ceremonies to the adoption and transofrmation of Masonic ritual in Nauvoo, Illinois, to recent modifications which suggest an adaption to contemporary concerns for appearing relevant to today's political and social issues. The Mormon concept of "continuous revelation is reflected in the dynamics and continuing evolution of Mormon temple worship. Chapters cover the prelude to endowment, the Kirtland Ceremony, Joseph Smith's ritual, Brigham Young's revisions, developments in nineteenth century Utah, the twentieth century temple, and the authors conclusions from his research data. Appendix One features "The December 1845 Meetings of the Holy Order". Appendix Two features "Published Descriptions of the Temple Ceremony". A unique, accurate and insightful publication. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

John L. Brooke, The Journal of American History
"Buerger puts Joseph Smith's creative encounter with Freemasonry into an appropriate perspective"

Reader Reviews
This review is from: The Mysteries of Godliness: A History of Mormon Temple Worship (Hardcover) The best and by far the most complete study of Mormon temple ceremonies. Not only does it address the endowment and the chages the church has made in their ceremonies(most recently in 1990) but also lesser known ordinaces such as the second endowment. The book is daring in subject matter and approach cutting right to the facts. This book tells it how it is without any display of personal religious viewpoints, which in and of itself is an accomplishment. Nowhere else will you find such a frank and fair description of Mormon ceremonies. Comment (1) | | (Report this)