Methodists and Mormonism: Similarities & Differences

[_LDSToronto]

Responses to Kevin Graham's thread indicate that Mormonism and Methodism are similar and while I've always heard this, I've never had it explained to me what the differences & similarities are, theologically and practically.

Would some of you who are knowledgeable in this area mind sharing your thoughts and experiences?

H.

[_CaliforniaKid]

Joseph Smith's earliest works take a basically Arminian view of free will. They accept the Augustinian doctrines of original sin and bondage of the will, but also teach that original sin has been removed and freedom restored by Christ's atonement (a concept Methodists call "prevenient grace"). Given that Joseph Smith studied Arminian theology in his Methodist membership class, this is hardly surprising.

The most explicit Mormon text that teaches this theology is Moses 6:54-56. Here we read that although children are "conceived in sin," Christ has "atoned for original guilt" such that "they are agents unto themselves." As in Arminian theology, some taint remains even after prevenient grace does its work, so that "they taste the bitter, that they may know to prize the good." 2 Nephi 2:26 similarly states that because Christ redeemed humans from the fall "they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon."

One interesting thing about this theological construct is that it only really makes sense as a response to Augustinianism or Calvinism. It accepts the Augustinian premises of original sin and bondage of the will, but then adds another step that functionally repeals those premises. So it reflects a history of Christian doctrinal development and accretion that we wouldn't really expect to see in an ancient text like the Book of Mormon.

[_Cicero]

Joseph Smith's earliest works take a basically Arminian view of free will. They accept the Augustinian doctrines of original sin and bondage of the will, but also teach that original sin has been removed and freedom restored by Christ's atonement (a concept Methodists call "prevenient grace"). Given that Joseph Smith studied Arminian theology in his Methodist membership class, this is hardly surprising.

The most explicit Mormon text that teaches this theology is Moses 6:54-56. Here we read that although children are "conceived in sin," Christ has "atoned for original guilt" such that "they are agents unto themselves." As in Arminian theology, some taint remains even after prevenient grace does its work, so that "they taste the bitter, that they may know to prize the good." 2 Nephi 2:26 similarly states that because Christ redeemed humans from the fall "they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon."

One interesting thing about this theological construct is that it only really makes sense as a response to Augustinianism or Calvinism. It accepts the Augustinian premises of original sin and bondage of the will, but then adds another step that functionally repeals those premises. So it reflects a history of Christian doctrinal development and accretion that we wouldn't really expect to see in an ancient text like the Book of Mormon.

Thanks Chris. Hopefully we'll see more of stuff like this on WWE? Personally, I am bit tired of the problem of evil.

[_lulu]

It works on a number of different levels.

CK has set out a nice theological explaination.

Some day when you have time lay out the D&C section on priesthood offices next a 1830's something Methodist Book of Discipline. I think you will find it interesting. For example, a Mormon deacon's office is basically that of a Methodist exhorter. But Joseph Smith, Restorationist that he was, couldn't find "exhorter" in the Bible and uses the biblical term "deacon."

[_Aristotle Smith]

Here are a couple of more academic resources that talk about the influence of Methodism on early Mormonism:

"We Latter-day Saints are Methodists": The Influence of Methodism on Early Mormon Religiosity

John Wesley: A Methodist Foundation for the Restoration

Both are freely downloadable.

[_lulu]

Here are a couple of more academic resources that talk about the influence of Methodism on early Mormonism:

"We Latter-day Saints are Methodists": The Influence of Methodism on Early Mormon Religiosity

John Wesley: A Methodist Foundation for the Restoration

Both are freely downloadable.

Thanks for those, Aristotle.

Nathan O. Hatch "Mormon and Methodist: Popular Religion in the Crucible of the Free Market" Journal of Mormon History Vol. 20, #1, Spring 1994, p. 24, is also good.

http://digitalcommons.usu.edu/mormonhistory/vol20/iss1/