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Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

Theses and Dissertations

Theses/Dissertations

Mormon Church

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A History Of The Concepts Of Zion And New Jerusalem In America From Early Colonialism To 1835 With A Comparison To The Teachings Of The Prophet Joseph Smith, Ryan S. Gardner Jan 2002

A History Of The Concepts Of Zion And New Jerusalem In America From Early Colonialism To 1835 With A Comparison To The Teachings Of The Prophet Joseph Smith, Ryan S. Gardner

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis discusses the role that the idea of Zion has played in the first three centuries of American religion. Millenarian themes, such as building New Jerusalem, were common religious themes in seventeenth- to nineteenth-century America. Understanding the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regarding this vital subject will be helpful for historians, scholars, and teachers.

When the Puritan colonists came to the New World in the early seventeenth century, they sought not only a land of religious liberty, but also a land of ultimate religious achievement: the establishment of Zion and/or New Jerusalem. Many of …


The Pilgrimage Phenomenon: An Analysis Of The Motivations Of Visitors To Temple Square, Jill W. Knapp Jan 1989

The Pilgrimage Phenomenon: An Analysis Of The Motivations Of Visitors To Temple Square, Jill W. Knapp

Theses and Dissertations

Pilgrimage to sacred places of religious meaning has taken place since the early days of mankind. In the last few decades pilgrimage travel has experienced a world-wide boom due to modern means of transportation. Though pilgrimage is most commonly referred to in the context of the major world religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), there is some indication of pilgrimage-like travel among Mormons.

This thesis looks at Mormon pilgrimage behavior among Mormon visitors to Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. The study undertaken has revealed considerable differences between Mormon and non-Mormon motivations, behavior and visiting patterns visitors to …


The World And Joseph Smith, Lane D. Ward Jan 1980

The World And Joseph Smith, Lane D. Ward

Theses and Dissertations

It is felt by some historians that Joseph Smith was a product of his environment; that his teachings were the amplifications of religious doctrines surrounding his life experience in early America.
Some writings which have been published show similarities between Joseph's "Mormonism" and contemporary religions.
It should be rememebered, however, that if Joseph Smith's call, as restorer, were all that he professed it to be (and he was not alone in that profession), there would, indeed, exist paralleling truths surrounding his "restored" gospel. For, as Joseph tells us, the gospel was preached from the beginning. If that is true, we …


History And Functions Of The Aaronic Priesthood And The Offices Of Priest, Teacher, And Deacon In The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, 1829 To 1844, Robert L. Marrott Jan 1976

History And Functions Of The Aaronic Priesthood And The Offices Of Priest, Teacher, And Deacon In The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, 1829 To 1844, Robert L. Marrott

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis traces the history of the restoration and development of the Aaronic Priesthood and its offices of priest, teacher, and deacon, from 1829 to the middle 1840s in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The major areas of emphasis include the organizational structure of the Aaronic Priesthood, the responsibilities assigned to priests, teachers, and deacons, and the relationship of the functions of the Aaronic Priesthood which are first given in Section 13 of the Doctrine and Covenants, namely the ministering of angels, the preparatory gospel, and the offering of the sons of Levi. Also included is the …


Home Teaching: Attempts By The Latter-Day Saints To Establish An Effective Program During The Nineteenth Century, Gary L. Phelps Jan 1975

Home Teaching: Attempts By The Latter-Day Saints To Establish An Effective Program During The Nineteenth Century, Gary L. Phelps

Theses and Dissertations

Even though home teaching is not unique with the Mormons, its present methods and utilization are unlike the teaching practices used by other churches. The purpose of this thesis is to study Mormon attempts to establish effective home teaching practices within their Church during the nineteenth century.


The Correlation Program Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints During The Twentieth Century, Jerry Rose Jan 1973

The Correlation Program Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints During The Twentieth Century, Jerry Rose

Theses and Dissertations

Within recent years the priesthood correlation program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has received significant emphasis from the leaders of the Church, so much so that it has been regarded by some as a new forceful program for the perfecting of the Saints. However, research reveals that the principles of priesthood correlation have always been a part of the restored Church.
The purpose of this thesis is to write a history of the correlation program of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with particular emphasis on the period 1908 to February 1972.


A Study To Determine The Understanding Of The Nature And Mission Of Jesus Christ By Third Year Seminary Graduates Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, Terry R. Baker Jan 1973

A Study To Determine The Understanding Of The Nature And Mission Of Jesus Christ By Third Year Seminary Graduates Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, Terry R. Baker

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to determine what degree of understanding third year graduates of the SLVN Seminary District had of the nature and mission of Christ.

The study was composed of a random sample of 200 third year seminary graduates. Each participant answered a questionnaire designed to test his understanding of the nature and mission of Christ. The responses were tabulated and presented in written and illustrative form.

The students met the minimum established standard of 75% in four of the five concepts which they were questioned concerning the nature of Christ. The students met the minimum established …


Prophetic Authority In The Teachings Of Modern Prophets, Clifford Gary Bennett Jan 1973

Prophetic Authority In The Teachings Of Modern Prophets, Clifford Gary Bennett

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the extent of prophetic authority as it is understood and taught by those denominated prophets in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The purpose was accomplished by examining four specific areas: (1) What are prophets and what was their authority in the past as articulated in the accepted scriptures of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? (2) What is the foundation of prophetic authority for the present dispensation? (3) How does prophetic authority relate to the member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? (4) How …


A Study To Determine Reasons Why Lds Students Were Not Enrolled In Lds Seminary In The Southern Alberta Seminary District During 1970-71, Robert Owen Mcclung Jan 1972

A Study To Determine Reasons Why Lds Students Were Not Enrolled In Lds Seminary In The Southern Alberta Seminary District During 1970-71, Robert Owen Mcclung

Theses and Dissertations

Religious education in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as given by the seminaries is to help youth achieve a meaningful testimony that God lives, Jesus is the Christ, and Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. The purpose of this study was to determine why some youth were not taking advantage of this training by enrolling in seminary.
It was determined that the teachers were a negligible reason for lack of enrollment. Rather, the reasons stemmed more from a lack of awareness of the nature of the seminary program by some priesthood leaders, by the youth and …


An Evaluation Of The Adequacy Of Selected Formal Church Programs In Preparing Male Members To Enter The United States Air Force, James R. Palmer Jan 1971

An Evaluation Of The Adequacy Of Selected Formal Church Programs In Preparing Male Members To Enter The United States Air Force, James R. Palmer

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Church programs in preparing young Latter-day Saint servicemen to accept and live the gospel of Jesus Christ as determined from the opinions of servicemen and bishops. The teaching programs, counseling, continual Church activity, Church publications, and the preservice and inservice Church orientations were evaluated for their effectiveness in teaching the five objectives: Testimony building; commandment living; continual activity, missionary work, and patriotism.

One hundred eighteen servicemen, who had completed basic training and were attending technical training schools, along with seventy-seven bishops provided the information used in this study. …


A Study Of Basic Philosophies Of Seminary Teachers Determined By The Ames Philosophical Belief Inventory, V. Mack Sumner Jan 1970

A Study Of Basic Philosophies Of Seminary Teachers Determined By The Ames Philosophical Belief Inventory, V. Mack Sumner

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not there were differences in the basic philosophies of Seminary Teachers who were ranked highest and lowest by experienced coordinators. It also sought to determine which philosophical background was associated with the most successful teachers, and which with the least successful.

Seminary teachers of three districts were surveyed by the Ames Inventory, and each coordinator identified his ten most successful and least successful teachers. The results of the Inventory and the teacher rankings were tabulated and compared, using Chi Square analysis to determine if differences were significant.

The findings indicated …


A Study Of The Definition Of The Gospel Of Jesus Christ And Its Theological Implications In Latter-Day Saint Literature, David Earl Perry Jan 1969

A Study Of The Definition Of The Gospel Of Jesus Christ And Its Theological Implications In Latter-Day Saint Literature, David Earl Perry

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis attempts to treat four problems: What is the gospel, as defined in Latter-day Saint literature? Do ancient and modern sources agree? Has there been an historical development of the definitions? Can any disagreements be rationalized? The results of this research reveal that the gospel is complex in that it is capable of handling all the problems of eternity, yet it is simple in that it is a plan of specific principles which lead man step by step to perfection. The author determined that ancient and modern sources do agree in placing six "first principles" at the beginning of …


The Relationship Of The Priesthood Correlation Program To The Latter-Day Saint Concept Of Zion, Dale C. Mouritsen Aug 1968

The Relationship Of The Priesthood Correlation Program To The Latter-Day Saint Concept Of Zion, Dale C. Mouritsen

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study is to analyze the Latter-day Saint concept of Zion and the Priesthood Correlation Program in order to determine how they are related and to what extent the Correlation Program is attempting to prepare the Church for the establishment of Zion.


A Comparative Study Of The Teaching Methods Of The Lds And Non-Lds Sunday School Movements In The United States Prior To 1900, Ronald Lewis Knighton May 1968

A Comparative Study Of The Teaching Methods Of The Lds And Non-Lds Sunday School Movements In The United States Prior To 1900, Ronald Lewis Knighton

Theses and Dissertations

Sunday schools were an important part of the development of religious education in the United States and in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (L.D.S. Church). It was the purpose of this study (1) to analyze the teaching methods of both the L.D.S. and non-L.D.S. Sunday school movements in the United States prior to 1900; and (2) to compare the teaching methods used by these Sunday school developments and determine similarities and differences.


A Study Of The Attitudes Of Latter-Day Saint Seminary Students Toward Certain Church Standards Of Dress And Conduct, Alfred Lawrence Pace Iii Jan 1967

A Study Of The Attitudes Of Latter-Day Saint Seminary Students Toward Certain Church Standards Of Dress And Conduct, Alfred Lawrence Pace Iii

Theses and Dissertations

Standards of dress and conduct of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are presented to the youth in a variety of ways. Although these standards are all important, the seminary youth do not consider them to have equal relevance in their own personal lives; for they are concerned with particular standards, in particular ways, and at particular times. While some attempts have been made to solicit their views pertaining to such standards, most studies to date have not dealt with material which has been published and made available to all of the youth of the Church. Since teachers …


A Follow-Up Study Of Four Selected Seminaries To Determine The Effect The Seminary Program Has Had In Helping To Prepare Their Graduates To Be More Effective Missionaries Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, James Gordon Vaughan Jan 1963

A Follow-Up Study Of Four Selected Seminaries To Determine The Effect The Seminary Program Has Had In Helping To Prepare Their Graduates To Be More Effective Missionaries Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, James Gordon Vaughan

Theses and Dissertations

In view of the aforementioned emphasis on the missionary program of the Church there was a felt need by the author, with encouragement from Ernest Eberhard Jr., of the Department of Education, to do a follow-up study to determine what effect the seminary program has had and is now having upon the lives of its graduates now in the mission field. Only the missionaries who arenow in the mission field and who are seminary graduates of four selected seminaries are used in this study.
There are three major areas of seminary influence and effectiveness that this study attempts to determine. …


A Comparative Study And Evaluation Of The Latter-Day Saint And "Fundamentalist" Views Pertaining To The Practice Of Plural Marriage, Dean C. Jessee Jan 1959

A Comparative Study And Evaluation Of The Latter-Day Saint And "Fundamentalist" Views Pertaining To The Practice Of Plural Marriage, Dean C. Jessee

Theses and Dissertations

Since the issuance of the Manifesto by President Wilford Woodruff on September 25, 1890, discontinuing the practice of plural marriage by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, intensive efforts have been made by dissenters to show that authority to practice polygamy has secretly continued to the present day. Claiming that the Church departed from its original teachings when it discontinued the practice of plural marriage and that the Manifesto was adopted merely as an act of appeasement, "fundamentalists" have attempted to show that the doctrine of plural marriage was revealed to the Latter-day Saints as an irrevocable decree, …


A Study Of The Problem Of A Personal Devil And Its Relationship To Latter-Day Saint Beliefs, Lamar E. Garrard May 1955

A Study Of The Problem Of A Personal Devil And Its Relationship To Latter-Day Saint Beliefs, Lamar E. Garrard

Theses and Dissertations

The problem of the existence of a devil is important, since it relates to other beliefs which a person or his religion may uphold. The orthodox Christian concepts of the divinity of Christ, the Fall of man, the Atonement, and the inspiration of the Bible are altered when a belief in Satan is discarded.

The prophets of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) take a very definite stand concerning the existence of Satan. They declare that the devil and his angels exist and that they tempt and try to deceive men. L.D.S. scriptures, given through modern revelation, …