Book Synopsis
The ancient creeds of Christianity define what it means to be Christian. However, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints asserts that those creeds are wrong. Despite this fact, most members of the LDS Church accept and teach non-Scriptural theories of Christ’s Atonement that are founded, at least in part, on the Christian creeds and traditions they are required to reject. The most common Atonement theories one hears taught in the LDS Church are satisfaction theory, payment theory, and substitution theory, or combinations thereof. These theories, as well as others, were developed during the Middle Ages in the context of Nicene-Augustinian Christianity and were still being elaborated during the Reformation period and beyond. However, in an LDS worldview that rejects the Trinity, the Hypostatic Union, creation from nothing, Original Sin, predestination, salvation by grace alone, forensic justification, and so on, the afore mentioned Atonement theories are superfluous, seeking to solve problems that do not exist. Using LDS Scriptures (Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price) interpreted in light of ancient Hebrew concepts of righteousness, justice, mercy, faith and atonement, one may develop a remarkably simple view of Christ’s Atonement that differs significantly from that of normative Christianity. This book presents such a view. It is much more in line with what might be called the “classic theory” of the Atonement than any of the theories developed by the Medieval Church.
About The Author
Rodney L. Williamson holds a BS from Brigham Young University and a Ph.D. from the University of Washington, both in chemistry. He has been employed at Sandia National Laboratories and the University of Texas, and has also done private contract research for companies in the specialty metals industry. He and his wife, Barbara, served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in South Africa from 2017-2019. He has been a student of the historical development of Christian doctrine for many years, focusing primarily on the first six centuries after the birth of Christ.