The Mysteries of Godliness: A History of Mormon Temple Worship – David J. Buerger – 2 Stars

The Mysteries of Godliness: A History of Mormon Temple Worship – David J. Buerger – 2 Stars

Title: The Mysteries of Godliness: A History of Mormon Temple Worship

Author: David J. Buerger

Publisher: Signature Books

Year: Paperback 2002

Rating:  2 Stars

Price and Purchasing Options: This book has been around a while, and although I don’t expect to see it when I peruse Deseret Industries, you should be able to get a fairly cheap second hand copy for a couple of bucks off eBay.  If you can’t, you could surely buy it from Amazon, but it isn’t worth getting it at retail price.

Review: Not to bury the lead, I give this book only 2 Stars.  It is a book to read if you are desperate for something on the temple, and you have to scratch that itch, but nothing really more than that.

The individual who is interested in reading this type of book, already has a fairly comfortable background on the temple, and its public and religious history.  This book adds nothing to the conversation, but is a menial summary of what you probably already know about the history of temple worship: Joseph did some things, Brigham said some things, a few things were changed periodically, and there is always some sensational element around it.  Done – I have just given you everything you need to know about the book, and the most you will get out of it.

Not only will I tell you it doesn’t add anything to the conversation of the history of Mormon Temple worships (academically, scholarly, or spiritually), it also isn’t necessarily well compiled.  The writing is fine, but you don’t really understand what the intent of the writing actually is.  It is just a history, but again a history that most people already know.

With that said, everything in this book is found in other places and sources, and each of those other places do a better job at outlining the intent and context of the material.  This kind of falls into the category of building up a sensational title and cover to peak interest and to make sales, and then to deliver mediocre content.  If you can’t tell I was fairly disappointed.

The closest thing to a highlight that I remember through the whole text is a summary of some of Brigham’s teachings in the Nauvoo temple after they started doing the work of endowments, and before they left.  Again, all of that material is in better sources, but it was a nice summary (at it’s best).

Now with this not even being a 3 (meaning it is a good book on the content), let me propose a few options that are great!  Anderson Devery does a wonderful trilogy on the development of temple worship throughout the restoration – I loved it – particularly in comparison to this text.  I would also recommend Holy Temple by Packer, but more so House of the Lord by Talmage – for member of the Church those will give foundational meaning and text to the temple.  From that foundation you can begin to appreciate the nuances in the historical changes and beginnings of temple worship.

Suggestions:  Don’t worry about this book – and if it peaks your interest still stay away unless it is cheap – and know that it is just about the neat looking title and cover.

I hope you have enjoyed this review, and I encourage you to follow this blog as I update more reviews in the coming days, weeks, months, etc.  Please feel free to also follow my YouTube page – however, I enjoy writing more than being on camera!  PLEASE CLICK ON THE VIDEO BELOW AND SUBSCRIBE TO MY LDS BOOK REVIEWS' YouTube CHANNEL!

Review #50

Tags: 2 Stars, Historical, Temple, Mysteries of Godliness: A History of Mormon Temple Worship, David J. Buerger, LDS Book Review, Ryan Daley