Before commenting on the book, I'd like to supply a few statistics about the book:

1. The Introduction is 91 pages long.
2. The list of abbreviations is 21 pages long (including reference works cited)
3. The list of definitions is 4 pages long.

And all this comes before the book proper begins.

Additionally, the blurb on the back flyleaf makes the following statement:

Edward Watson uses forty Bible versions and more than sixty Bible Dictionaries, Hebrew-English and Greek English Lexicons all of which are from the leading non-Mormon scholars in examining the usage and interpretation of pertinent biblical words and passages. He also draws from Kabbalistic writings, Rabbinical literature, the Pseudepigrapha, Apocrypha, the Church Fathers, Philo, Josephus, Dead Sea Scrolls, Targums and even theoretical physics and modern cosmology in presenting Mormon thought in a logical and biblical manner.

The point? It appears Bro. Watson has been very, very busy. No one can accuse him of being lazy in his research.

Having said all that, let's get into the book proper. Mormonism is just one of a projected set of volumes designed to explain, and defend, the faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Encyclopedic in nature, and thoroughly apologetic in design, It grabs a question, turns it upside down and backwards, and squeezes every piece of information possible out of it.

Volume 1 comprises three sections, each dealing with a broad topic. Section 1, "Heavenly Father," explores the nature of the Father. 18 subdivisions approach the issue from a different perspective. #10, for example, asks the question, "Can God be Called Man?" Many scriptures follow, along with a rationale for answering the question either in the affirmative or the negative. The following subdivision, #11, "Many Early Christians Believed God Has a Physical Anthropomorphic Body," cites early church fathers in their support of this idea.

Subsection 14, "A Tale of two Cosmologies: Multiversal and Universal," is a fascinating discussion of the nature of the universe, time, space, and other concepts.

Section 2, "Jesus Christ," discusses the nature and person of the Son. Section 3, "The Holy Ghost," finishes out the discussion of the Godhead with an extended discussion of Unitarianism vs. Trinitarianism.

Clearly, this isn't a book one just sits and reads and pooliside. It is the kind of book you go to when you need support and reference on a specific question regarding LDS theology, providing tools that the average member will find useful.

Very intriguing are two opening statements, one called "Warning to Mormons" and the other "Warning to Non-Mormons." The first is a simple two-paragraph warns members not to depend on this book, or on scholarship at all, to produce a testimony. He understands that tools like this book may lead toward self-righteousness and pride as members present their critics with strong arguments. This is not his design.

The "Warning to Non-Mormons" is much more exhaustive. In five strong and non-compromising questions, Watson urges non-Mormon readers to "be honest with yourselves and with God," embracing those ideas which are demonstrably true and provable.

I thoroughly enjoyed perusing this volume. I've found myself turning to it for clear, sound discussions of questions concerning Mormon theology. And while Watson uses hundreds of sources and tackles some very difficult questions, his method is designed for comprehension and appeal to the non-scholar.

For example, pages 148-188 contain an extended discussion of the theodicy question, titled "God and the Problem of Evil"? An example of the plain discussion follows:

Mormonism teaches we are actually uncreated "intelligences." This central portion of our being is the very core of who we are. Our "Intelligence," the foundation of man's spirit wasn't created by God. (157)

Mormonism views God as working with self-existent intelligences. He is thus limited. He can be all-good but the evil in the world is not his responsibility. He is simply doing his best being limited by our free-will, the pre-existent nature of Good and Evil and by the causality of the universe. (159)

And while some contemporary Mormon literature works its way around some of these difficult issues, Watson attacks them head-on, neither dodging issues nor spouting cliches to support them.

I'm very glad to have this book, and highly recommend it to serious students who will appreciate a major work of research and scholarship.

I anxiously await further volumes in this series. The publisher, Liahona Publications, lists an address at 41-7188 Edmonds St., Burnaby, B.C. Canada V3N 4X6. To find out more about the book visit Edward Watson's personal homepage. Autographed or dedicated copies of the book can be purchased directly from Edward Watson by contacting him at ewatson@home.com. Shipping, handling, and taxes are waived for direct orders. The book can also be purchased from Amazon.com, any LDS bookstore that deals with Granite Distribution, and any major bookstore chain such as Borders and Barnes & Noble that deals with Partners West.

-- 
Jeff Needle
jeff.needle@general.com