Latter-day Saint Thinkers -- Bruce R. McConkie: Scriptural Literalist

https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Podcasts122/v4/38/84/c1/3884c18b-2a27-5431-d519-27f235429af6/mza_5091075641194244022.jpg/600x600bb.jpg

The Analyst & The Fool

Brandon Wilson and Christian Van Dyke

33 episodes

6 days ago

Have you ever wondered to yourself: "How am I here? What is holding the universe together?" Have you ever driven yourself insane trying to understand all of the different methods and theories humanity has used to answer these terrible questions? Understanding the universe and humanity's place within it is an absurd undertaking. Nevertheless, it is an undertaking that has driven and baffled humanity for millennia. Fear not dear listener! Brandon Wilson and Christian Van Dyke are here to share in your confusion. Don your jester caps and professor robes as we analyze the laughably absurd!

Philosophy

Society & Culture

RSS

All content for The Analyst & The Fool is the property of Brandon Wilson and Christian Van Dyke and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Philosophy

Society & Culture

https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/production/podcast_uploaded_episode400/30434431/30434431-1668733082191-9076c2e931559.jpg

Latter-day Saint Thinkers -- Bruce R. McConkie: Scriptural Literalist

The Analyst & The Fool

1 hour 24 minutes 32 seconds

2 years ago

Latter-day Saint Thinkers -- Bruce R. McConkie: Scriptural Literalist

***This episode contains brief and sensitive discussions of racist views--The Analyst & The Fool does not condone these views--Listener discretion is advised***
Bruce R. McConkie (1915-1985) stands as one of the most authoritative voices in present-day Mormonism; his views are pervasive and oftentimes considered to represent Mormonism itself. In lesson manuals that were in use from the mid-to-late-1970s until the Church implemented the "Come Follow Me" program in 2019, Bruce R, McConkie was quoted more than any other General Authority of the Church, including past leaders like Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. His book Mormon Doctrine (1st ed. published in 1958, 2nd ed. in 1968 with a revised version in 1979) is still one of Deseret Book's best-selling texts, despite its removal from shelves in 2010. His Messiah series and his Doctrinal Commentaries series are still available for purchase at Deseret Book.

But what is it about Bruce R. McConkie that made him so authoritative and ubiquitous?

The answer, in short, is that he spoke loudly and carried a big stick!

McConkie is an incredibly controversial figure in Mormon history, despite his authoritative pervasiveness. In fact, it was the authoritative and charismatic way he wrote and spoke that made him so controversial to Church leaders at the time he first published Mormon Doctrine and made a big splash on the Mormon scene. His version of a strict, Puritanical, and law-driven Mormonism made understanding the faith resolute in an era where the Church had been fighting to remain neutral on certain stances (e.g., evolution and the nature of God). McConkie was anti-evolution, anti-creed, and anti-human nature, all while preaching a "particular universalist" salvation where all are saved, but only a select few will be exalted in the Celestial Kingdom. He knew the scriptures inside and out, being able to quote verses perfectly from memory and provide cross-references to other scriptures to provide further context and commentary. He, like Joseph Smith, will forever be known for good and evil in how instrumental he was in shaping Mormon discourse in the present day.

For any questions or comments, please reach out to us at theanalystandthefool@gmail.com