Joseph Smith and the Doctrine of Sealing

by A. Keith Thompson

Overview

Brian Hales has observed that we cannot understand Joseph Smith's marriage practices in Nauvoo without understanding the related theology. However, he implies that we are hampered in coming to a complete understanding of that theology because the only primary evidence we have of that theology is the revelation now recorded as Section 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants and a few entries in William Clayton's journal. This paper argues that we have more primary evidence about Joseph Smith's sealing theology than we realize. The accounts we have of the First Vision and of Moroni's first visits in 1823 have references to the sealing power embedded in them, ready for Joseph to unpack when he was spiritually educated enough to ask the right questions.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940157115708
Publisher:	Interpreter Foundation
Publication date:	07/08/2016
Series:	Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture , #21
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	21
File size:	129 KB

About the Author

A. Keith Thompson, LLB (Hons); M Jur; PhD is an Associate Professor and the Associate Dean at the University of Notre Dame Australia School of Law, Sydney. He also practices commercial and property law in New South Wales and Victoria, Australia. He formerly served 20 years as International Legal Counsel for the Church in the Pacific and Africa Areas and has also served in the Church as bishop, stake president, and mission president. He and his wife, Anita, have eight children and are expecting their tenth grandchild.