Answers to Gospel Questions

Answers to Gospel Questions compiles the doctrinal writings and responses of Joseph Fielding Smith, who served as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The five-volume work contains answers to hundreds of questions about Mormon theology, practice, and church history that were submitted to Smith during his time as Church Historian. The book covers topics ranging from the pre-mortal existence and the creation to temple ceremonies and the Second Coming. Each entry presents a specific question followed by Smith's detailed response, supported by scripture references and quotes from church leaders. The collection represents over 40 years of Smith's work addressing doctrinal inquiries through his column in the Improvement Era magazine. His responses draw from both canonical Mormon scripture and the teachings of early church leaders like Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. This comprehensive reference work reflects the Mormon perspective on theological issues and demonstrates how church doctrine developed in the mid-20th century. The question-and-answer format provides insight into the concerns and spiritual questions that occupied church members during this period.

Readers value this book as a reference for complex Mormon doctrinal questions, with most appreciating Smith's direct explanations of LDS theology. Many note that while published in the 1950s-60s, the answers remain relevant to modern questions about family, priesthood, and church history. Likes: - Clear answers backed by scripture references - Organized question-and-answer format - Detailed explanations of temple doctrines - Index makes topics easy to find Dislikes: - Some answers reflect cultural views of the 1950s - Writing style can be formal and dense - A few responses contradict current church positions - Some readers find tone too authoritative Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (82 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (31 ratings) Deseret Book: 4.5/5 (12 ratings) "Helped me understand difficult concepts that other sources gloss over" - Goodreads reviewer "Some dated material but still valuable for serious doctrinal study" - Amazon reviewer

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🔹 Joseph Fielding Smith, the author, served as the 10th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and wrote this five-volume series while serving as Church Historian. 🔹 The book series originated from questions submitted by readers of the Improvement Era magazine, where Smith had a regular column answering doctrinal inquiries. 🔹 Smith completed this comprehensive work despite having minimal formal education - he left school at age 14 to work as a clerk in the Church Historian's Office. 🔹 The volumes contain detailed explanations of unique Mormon doctrines, including pre-mortal existence, temple ordinances, and the nature of God, drawing from both scripture and personal revelation. 🔹 The author came from a prominent Mormon lineage - his father was Joseph F. Smith (6th Church President) and his great-uncle was Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon faith.