The World and the Prophets (The Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol 3) [Hardcover]

Hugh Nibley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1987 | Series: The Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol 3

In 1954, Hugh Nibley delivered a series of weekly lectures on KSL Radio. The series called "Time Vindicates the Prophets," was given in answer to those who were challenging the right of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to call themselves Christians. Just as the Church's beliefs and institutions were under attack when these lectures were first given, so today's critics are again attacking the Latter-day Saints' conception of God, their claim to continuous revelation, their belief in Joseph Smith as a prophet of God, their acceptance of the Book of Mormon as a true record, and their insistence that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church of Jesus Christ. The answers given by professor Nibley then are a valid today as they are timely. Dr. Nibley writes: "We make no attempt to argue out the position of the Church... Here we are simply indicating briefly that for better or worse, the Mormons consistently find themselves in a company of ancient Saints and, accordingly far removed from the ways of conventional Christians... It is an historical, not a theological or philosophical, vindication of our prophets." But Professor Nibley does far more than point out identities of doctrines, practices, and institutions between Latter-day Saints and Christians. He also describes with great clarity how the Church changed from an organization with inspired prophets into a thoroughly different and alien institution built upon the learning of men. He shows how prophecy was replaced with self-induced mystical experience, and how the magical wonder-making of the pagans was substituted for the gifts of the spirit. The World and the Prophets demonstrates that the whole philosophical theological enterprise, however well intended, is incompatible with the existence of continuing revelation. As Joseph Smith wrote, "Persecutions may rage, mobs may continue, armies may assemble, calumny may defame," but there will always be an unbridgeable gap between the world and the prophets.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Necessary reading to understand and appreciate prophecy throughout the ages, January 07, 2008 by George This fabulous book explains how prophecy in the true church distinguishes it from all other religions. My appreciation of the truth of the LDS Church grew enormously as I learned how our modern Church compares exactly with with the ancient Christian Church. Critics of the Mormons are repeating the same criticisms against the ancient Christian church, because the true object of their criticism is Jesus Christ. --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 250 pages
• Publisher: Deseret Book Co; 3 edition (April 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 087579078X
• ISBN-13: 978-0875790787
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #487,458 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A series of radio addresses on why prophets provide a different message than the world, September 11, 2005

By 

Craig Matteson (Saline, MI) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The World and the Prophets (The Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol 3) (Hardcover)

The first thirty chapters of this book were delivered as radio addresses by Hugh Nibley in 1954. In 1962 they were published as we have here with two concluding chapters. These lectures all discuss the nature of the prophetic calling versus what the world would praise as leaders. Nibley hammers home again and again that a prophet has nothing to do with earning the world's praise nor is he required to appeal to us. It is our duty to hear God's voice and get ourselves in line with what God would have us do. To do this we need to hear the Spirit who will confirm to us the words we hear from the prophet.

It is always interesting to me that we continue to turn to our own ways even after having the world's folly confirmed to us again and again. Yet, to the world the message of any prophet is foreign and strange to the point of being ridiculous. No wonder they mock and point. It is our job to ignore the world and stay focused on the words of life.

This book can help make following true prophets much easier with greater understanding, confidence, and focus. It does read as a series of talks rather than a treatise that builds up a single argument. Instead, each chapter can be read separately. You might gain by reading one chapter each day for a month and a day and meditate on each one for that day.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nibley on Prophecy, November 19, 2004

By 

Steve Jackson "stevejackson100atyahoocom" (New England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The World and the Prophets (The Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol 3) (Hardcover)

Hugh Nibley is widely considered one of the top scholars that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) has produced. During his long career, he has written extensively on ancient history, Scripture, the Book of Mormon, comparative religion and other subjects. Prof. Nibley has been praised by non-Mormon as well as Mormon scholars, including some Evangelical Protestants, who consider him Mormonism's best apologist. (Incidentally, there are some scholars within the LDS Church that question certain aspects of his methodology and his use of sources.)

For those who don't know, Mormons believe that the Christian church fell into apostasy early on and the Church was restored with the prophetic work of Joseph Smith, Jr. (1805-1844). Although the Reformers challenged some of Rome's teachings, they accepted the idea that revelation was mostly over and placed it in an inspired book rather than an inspired church. The Mormons believe in continuing revelation and Nibley even speaks highly of the Charismatic movement. To a certain extent, then, Mormonism is a form of "restorationism" which was popular during the time of Joseph Smith.

THE WORLD AND THE PROPHETS is a collection of talks that Dr. Nibley gave on radio 50 years ago. Nibley concisely sets forth the Mormon idea of revelation (particularly the importance of prophecy) and contrasts it was historic Christianity, which tends to limit revelation to an inspired Church and an inspired book. According to Nibley, Christianity (if you can all it that) went off the wrong track early on with its emphasis on "mysticism, speculation, and rhetoric." Nibley argues that, on the other hand, Mormonism is a more "literal" and less "speculative" religion.

THE WORLD AND THE PROPHETS' biggest limitation is that inherent in brief lectures. There is a tendency to draw excessively sharp contrasts between Mormonism and more traditional forms of Christianity. For example, Nibley alleges that the rest of the Christian world is given to Greek speculation (such as the classical formulation of the doctrine of the Trinity and the Deity of Christ) yet the same thing could be said with respect to Mormons (in their doctrine of deification and the like). In addition, Nibley has the tendency to make historic Christians out to be something of frauds. In a couple places, he even implies that Church Fathers like Augustine were such blatant phonies that they even had to admit it. I checked out a few of Nibley's references and there are, to put it mildly, more charitable interpretations one could give them.

Even if one is not a Mormon, one can appreciate this book for the insight that it sheds on the Mormon view of historic Christianity. For a different perspective (which doesn't mention Mormonism or Nibley, however) one might consult Jean Danielou's work GOD AND THE WAYS OF KNOWING.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificient!, November 3, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The World and the Prophets (The Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, Vol 3) (Hardcover)

Hugh Nibley, to put it simply, is a genius. This outstanding work goes into the depth on prophets in the Bible, Early Christian Church, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (more commonly known as the Mormon Church). Its striking insights and parallels makes one to think. It is filled with information that deserve to be reread over and over again. A definite aid and an intriguing work. In fact, I think I am going to read it again...