A Radical Spirit

About the Book

The early Latter Day Saint movement embraced a vision and mission that challenged the political, social, and economic systems of the nineteenth century. Andrew Bolton, Taunalyn Ford, and Patrick Q. Mason edit essays that explore the ideas and transformative energy at the root of the Latter Day Saint tradition that gave rise to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Community of Christ.

Early followers of Joseph Smith believed their new faith could organize society from the ground up and create a religious community shaped by justice, equality, and spiritual transformation. The essayists look at the movement’s diverse influences—religious, philosophical, and cultural—alongside the economic, gender, and racial issues that informed its radicalism. They also trace the competing pressures inside and outside the movement that helped determine which radical ideas survived and which faded or were later enhanced.

Eye-opening and expansive, A Radical Spirit rediscovers implications of the original heart of the Restoration tradition that thrived among the marginalized poor in the USA, Canada and in Europe—a radical Spirit of Jesus that offers possibilities for our times.

Contributors: Andrew Bolton, Gerard Charmley, Rebekah Clark, Taunalyn Ford, Russell Arben Fox, Erik J. Freeman, David J. Howlett, Brad A. Martell, Lori Martell, Patrick Q. Mason, Michael Ratcliffe, Jennifer Reeder, Joseph M. Spencer, Jordan T. Watkins, Walker Wright