Mormonism Under the Microscope: "Breaking Bad" Vol 2 only

This is volume II of Joel Allred’s In-depth study of Mormonism, with a 3rd Volume to follow. Interested readers may want to read the reviews of Volume I because this is a continuation of the same overall study, but covering further topics. Allred, a retired attorney, is a sixth generation Mormon whose study of his own faith led to deep feelings of betrayal, which he does not try to hide. Like the first volume, this book is a monumental scholarly achievement by any measure: Over 700 well written pages, a comprehensive bibliography, a detailed 24 page index, almost 1700 footnotes, and appendices. In addition, there a 2 sets of illustrated inserts totaling 36 extra pages, but without page numbers. One wishes the author had included them in the pagination because they are of great interest. The book is hard bound and printed in easy to read bold type on heavy bond paper. It is well worth the price. However, the real worth of the book, in my view, is the contents. It is a scholarly dismantling of the official narrative that the Mormon Church teaches its members. The book’s great strength is its extensive documentation and the author’s efforts to draw a clear line from evidence to his conclusions. Two examples: (1) in discussing the evolution of Joseph Smith’s accounting of his “first vision,” Allred painstakingly documents the “six versions of five discrepant accounts” from 1832 through 1842, discussing what was happening at the time and why, as well as how the church has dealt with it up to the present. (Spoiler Alert: Smith was a traditional Trinitarian until sometime after 1832, as evidenced by both the Book of Mormon and his “Inspired Translation.”) (2)The Mormon claim to exclusive authority rests on Smith’s story of the “restoration” of the high priesthood by the New Testament figures Peter, James and John. Allred shows detailed evidence that this narrative was only developed beginning about 1834, long after the church was organized. Smith later added ...