The Power of Godliness

The Power of Godliness is a key work to understand Mormon conceptions of priesthood authority and gender. With in-depth research and never previously used documents Jonathan A. Stapley explores the rituals of ordination temple sealings baby blessings healing and cunning-folk traditions. In doing so he demonstrates that Mormon liturgy includes a much larger and more complex set of ritualized acts of worship than the specific rites of initiation instruction and sealing that take place within the temple walls.By exploring Mormonism''s liturgy more broadly The Power of Godliness shows both the nuances of Mormon belief and practice and how the Mormon ordering of heaven and earth is not a mere philosophical or theological exercise. Stapley examines Mormonism''s liturgical history to reveal a complete religious world incorporating women men and children all participating in the construction of the Mormon universe. This book opens new possibilities for understanding the lived experiences of women and men in the Mormon past and present and investigates what work these rituals and ritualized acts actually performed in the communities that carried them out. By tracing the development of the rituals and the work they accomplish The Power of Godliness sheds important new light on the Mormon universe its complex priesthoods authorities and powers.