Loren Pankratz on Blake Ostler's KFD Revisionism

In this episode, we interview Dr. Loren Pankratz about his article “Was Joseph Smith a Monarchotheist? An Engagement with Blake Ostler’s Theological Position on the Nature of God”. Loren takes us through how LDS philosopher Blake Ostler is not only making theological claims, but historical claims regarding Joseph Smith’s theology – some of which are at odds with the plain reading and more mainstream interpretation of Smith’s King Follet Discourse and Sermon in the Grove. How far did Joseph Smith go in his teaching of a plurality of gods, the nature of god(s), the eternal progression of man, and his re-writing of Genesis 1:1? 

Article: “Was Joseph Smith a Monarchotheist? An Engagement with Blake Ostler’s Theological Position on the Nature of God” (Dialogue, Volume 55, No. 2) 

• Also see this lecture by Dr. Pankratz 
• Check out The Bridge Community 
• God Loves Mormons: here and here

King Follett Discourse (also here) 

• Past Episodes: here and here 

The Sermon in the Grove (also here) 

• Past Episode: here 

Key to the Science of Theology by Elder Parley P. Pratt 

A Rational Theology; Joseph Smith as Scientist by Elder John A. Widtsoe 

• Past Interview with Dr. Thomas Alexander on Elder John A. Widtsoe
• In a chapter on the teachings of Brigham Young, Dr. Alexander states: "For the faithful , such a creation and free agency allowed men and women the possibility of achieving godhood like Adam and Eve. In a statement later attributed to Lorenzo Snow but first spoken by Brigham while the Twelve served their mission in England, he told Snow, 'As God was, so are we now; as he now is so shall we be.' 'Our Father,' he preached, 'was once born of parents, having a father and mother the same as we have.' Eliza R. Snow, Lorenzo's sister and a wife to both Smith and Young, echoed this teaching for women when she wrote a poem of a Mother in Heaven, 'Invocation or The Eternal Father and Mother.' later set to music as 'Oh My Father.'" (Brigham Young and the Expansion of the Mormon Faith, pp. 217-218)

The Truth, The Way, The Life by B.H. Roberts 

Wrestling the Angel; "Joseph Smith and the Forging of Community" by Terryl Givens