RLDS Priesthood: Structure and Process
Paul EdwardsDialogue 17.3 (Fall 1984): 6–10
It sometimes appears that RLDS members are more impressed with receiving an inspired document from the Prophet than they are with what it says.
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Volume 17, No. 3
Fall 1984
The Fall 1984 issue focuses on themes related to women, priesthood, and the intersection of faith and society within Mormonism. Paul M. Edwards discusses the structure and processes of RLDS priesthood, while L. Madelon Brunson offers a personal response to a 1984 document addressing women's roles. Jill Mulvay Derr explores the LDS tradition of endowment as a source of power for women. Mark L. Grover analyzes the relationship between Mormon priesthood and racial dynamics in Brazil. Grant Underwood examines early LDS theology concerning the Book of Mormon, and Garland E. Tickemyer delves into Joseph Smith's alignment with process theology. Linda King Newell and Valeen Tippetts Avery reconsider the lore surrounding Emma Smith and analyze her writings. Michael K. Collings discusses the connections between Mormonism and science fiction. Personal voices from Maggie Smith and Gael Ulrich address childlike qualities in faith and the importance of communication within the Church.
Contents
Articles/Essays
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Stranger in a Strange Land: A Personal Response to the 1984 Document
L. Madelon BrunsonDialogue 17.3 (Fall 1984): 11–16
Delegates of the 1970 conference moved to adopt a resolution which stated that women constituted a majority of the church membership but had limited opportunity to act as representatives.
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An Endowment of Power: The LDS Tradition
Jill Mulvay DerrLatter-day Saints share a belief in and a commitment to the Restoration. The LDS and RLDS churches declare that God spoke to the Prophet Joseph Smith that a people might by covenant be commissioned. Latter-day…
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Religious Accommodation in the Land of Racial Democracy
Mark L. GroverDialogue 17.3 (Fall 1984): 23–34
Brazil, with a high concentration of African heritage, was a difficult place for the Church (because of the Church’s racial policy) to make headway among native members. Due to the high risk of Brazilians potentially having African ancestry, the Church came to the point where they eventually discouraged missionaries in Brazil from baptizing anyone who is known to have African ancestry.
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Book of Mormon Usage in Early LDS Theology
Grant UnderwoodDialogue 17.3 (Fall 1984): 37–75
As one step in that direction, this article explores Book of Mormon usage in the pre-Utah period (1830—46), and seeks answers to the following questions: Which passages from the Book of Mormon were cited and with what frequency? How were they understood?
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Joseph Smith and Process Theology
Garland E. TickemyerDialogue 17.3 (Fall 1984): 75–88
Utah Mormons have had over a hundred years in which to systematize and institutionalize their beliefs. Institutionalized religion tends to expend its energies in conserving and promulgating the truths once delivered to the saints.
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The Emma Smith Lore Reconsidered
Linda King NewellDialogue 16.3 (Fall 1984): 69-76
Emma spent her remaining years far removed from the associates who had helped shape the events of that first decade of the Nauvoo period. Like those around her, she did not always react rationally nor did she always make decisions in those trying years that others would have wished her to make.
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Emma Smith Through Her Writings
Valeen Tippetts AveryDialogue 16.3 (Fall 2016): 75–88
Emma Hale Smith’s adult life spanned more than a half century from the 1820s to 1879.
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Refracted Visions and Future Worlds: Mormonism and Science Fiction
Michael R. CollingsAlthough science fiction and religion both attempt to define possible or J probable future states, they often seem incompatible. Critics of science fiction frequently argue that including religion in science fiction vitiates the power of…
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A Physician’s Reflections on Old Testament Medicine
Roderick SaxeyLatter-day Saints demonstrate a perennial interest in health issues of all kinds, from the dietary role of meats to the therapeutic use of herb teas. At least some of this interest can be attributed to…
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Fiction
Much of a River
Marden J. ClarkI guess it wasn’t really much of a river, only thirty feet wide or so where it had enough fall to ripple over the rocks. Except during the spring runoff. Then it filled and sometimes…
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Aunt Betsy
Jerrie W. HurdShe was my great-aunt on my father’s side and I hated her. She was fat. I She used two long crochet hooks to tie her shoes. Everybody knew it. Unless, of course, I was around.…
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Letters to the Editor
Personal Voices
Childlike, Not Childish
Maggie SmithThree floors up, Frank and I sat on our apartment balcony one early morning, blowing bubbles—huge, soapy bubbles that rose and fell like floating balloons. We were trying out a new, round wire contraption Frank…
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Speaking Up: Two-Way Communication in the Church
Gael UlrichIn my journal, I termed it the Sunday Massacre. The disagreement centered on how much money we, the bishopric, could extract in good conscience from our struggling ward members for the stake building fund. I…
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Poetry
Oil upon Oil
Brooke Elizabeth SmithLike the sound of laying the warp, whispered names
resonate within the grained, muraled, marble
and curtain walls of this holy place, and veil
the light and air with your form, hands
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Born Again
Mary Lythgoe BradfordAs you enter the water unsinning,
I shall repent eight years
Of watching in the dark and loving
Without turning on the light.
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Expatriate
Jim WalkerThe Hawaiians are surprised that we also had beaches.
In their minds we represent one vast igloo
Filled with people anxious to escape
To winter in Hawaii.
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Response
Stranger in a Strange Land: A Personal Response to the 1984 Document
L. Madelon BrunsonDialogue 17.3 (Fall 1984): 11–16
Delegates of the 1970 conference moved to adopt a resolution which stated that women constituted a majority of the church membership but had limited opportunity to act as representatives.
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Reviews
A Survey of Current Literature: Selected Bibliography of Recent Articles
Stephen W. StathisFrom its early years on the social fringe,” U.S. News & World Report I recently told its readers, the Mormon Church “has become America’s largest and wealthiest home-grown religion by offering shelter in stormy times.”…
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Sermon
Remarks at Chase’s Missionary Farewell
Douglas H. ParkerThere is an apparent rule, honored in some wards as often in the breach I as in its observance, that talks given at missionary farewells are not to be devoted to eulogizing the departing missionary. I enjoy the sentimental per sonal sharing that attends eulogies and do not mind meetings that deal in personalities, but I will follow the rule and devote my remarks to gospel subjects. This is difficult to do because I am very proud of my son and have deep feelings of gratitude and joy relating to the mission experience that awaits him and his readiness for it. I hope he will sense this as I share some advice concerning missionary service.
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