Jews and Mormons: Two Houses of IsraelKTAV Publishing House, Inc., 2000 - 243 pages In the tradition of 1997's How Wide the Divide? A Mormon & an Evangelical in Conversation, old Dartmouth roommates Johnson, an LDS high priest, and Leffler, a retired Reform rabbi, enter into a dialogue about Mormonism and Judaism. But this t?te-?-t?te never quite matches the level of the historic 1997 book, because the writing is mediocre and because the authors lack the fundamental attitude of interfaith respect that characterized the earlier work. After discussing their traditions' history, theologies and basic practices, the authors focus on areas of common misunderstanding, including Mormons' claim to be descendants of the 12 tribes of Israel (a lineage many Jews dispute or find offensive). Some intriguing issues arise hereAe.g., the controversy over Mormons' former practice of performing proxy baptisms for Holocaust victimsAbut these points of interfaith controversy are underdeveloped. The book may have been aided by a less stilted, impersonal tone; we know from the author biography that Johnson converted to Mormonism thirty years ago, but we never learn why. The authors refer to each other as "Mr. Johnson" and "Rabbi Leffler," rather formal titles for men who have been friends for half a centuryAperpetuating the sense that this is not an interfaith conversation but a standard debate, with a projected winner and loser. |
Contents
The Basis and Background of Judaism | 1 |
The Basis and Background of Mormonism | 21 |
Jewish Religious Ideas | 41 |
The Purpose of Mormonism | 61 |
Jewish Life | 81 |
Mormonism in Practice | 105 |
Differences and Similarities | 131 |
Mormonism and the House of Israel | 147 |
Areas of Misunderstanding and Discussion | 173 |
Appendices | 207 |
Glossary | 229 |
Common terms and phrases
Abraham accept active ancient appearance authority become beginning belief Bible biblical blessing body Book of Mormon bring called centuries chapter Christ of Latter-day Christianity church Church of Jesus comes concerning consider continue covenant discussion Doctrine earth eternal ethical Exodus faith Father follow give given God's Gospel hand historical holidays Holy House of Israel human ideas interpretation Israel Jerusalem Jesus Christ Jewish Jews Joseph Smith Judaism known land latter Latter-day Saints literally literature living Lord major meaning mentioned Messiah missionary moral Moses occur Oral Torah Passover Seder person prayer president priesthood prophet questions Rabbi received refer religion religious revelation ritual role Sabbath Scripture sense serve similar sometimes spiritual synagogue teachings temple Thou tion Torah tradition translation true truth understanding unto usually worship written