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The Power of Godliness: Mormon Liturgy and Cosmology
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.
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.
184 pages, Hardcover
Published March 2, 2018
53 people are currently reading
254 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
April 16, 2018
My initial thought on finishing this book was, "Jonathan Stapley is a chemist, and the fact that he can write a groundbreaking book like this outside of his discipline just isn't fair!" Because that's what this book is: groundbreaking.
Stapley flawlessly reinterprets Mormon cosmology through painstakingly detailed research. Underneath it all is a superb understanding of what Mormonism was at its outset, how it has changed since 1830, and all that it is now. This seminal work for the field tackles the questions that every Mormon struggles with on some level: priesthood, race, polygamy, etc., and does so flawlessly.
I cannot say enough good things about this book. It is timely, well-researched, academically enthralling, and a game changer for anyone who wishes to discuss either cosmology or liturgy within Mormon thought.
Stapley flawlessly reinterprets Mormon cosmology through painstakingly detailed research. Underneath it all is a superb understanding of what Mormonism was at its outset, how it has changed since 1830, and all that it is now. This seminal work for the field tackles the questions that every Mormon struggles with on some level: priesthood, race, polygamy, etc., and does so flawlessly.
I cannot say enough good things about this book. It is timely, well-researched, academically enthralling, and a game changer for anyone who wishes to discuss either cosmology or liturgy within Mormon thought.
March 15, 2018
The slimness of this volume deceives: analytically, it punches far above its literal weight. Drawing from an incredible range of sources, Stapley traces the evolution of Mormon ideas related to liturgy, shining light on concepts that have long been buried under strata of memory and demonstrating how less sensational aspects of Mormon ritual —baby blessings, grave and home dedications— help us understand trends in Mormon thought, ecclesiology, and practice.
Especially fruitful, I think, is the disambiguation of conceptions of priesthood, which makes sense of some of the stranger aspects of modern priesthood discourse revealing that they're really holdovers from now-obsolete ideas. Similarly was his excavation of normative language in handbooks and guides to performances of ordinances: subtle, but important, distinctions, including how the exigencies of evolving church practice (younger missionaries, younger men ordained to priesthood office) induced the textual formalization of rituals and how the textual transmission of only certain rituals ensured their survival and doomed others.
In a couple particular cases, I wish Stapley had elaborated. It sometimes seemed unclear to me why he used the adjective "cosmological" to describe one of his models of the priesthood, and as he never quite explained it, I felt I was working harder than I needed to distinguish his three models of priesthood from each other. Likewise, his use of the term "material heaven" was confusing at first, especially given other scholars' analysis of Mormonism's metaphysical materialism (see, for instance, Stephen Webb's "Mormon Christianity"). It would also have been interesting to see how talk of false priesthoods would have illuminated evolving Mormon concepts of their own priesthood(s).
Those are small reservations, though. It's a praiseworthy, accessible, transformative work of scholarship. Heartily recommended.
Especially fruitful, I think, is the disambiguation of conceptions of priesthood, which makes sense of some of the stranger aspects of modern priesthood discourse revealing that they're really holdovers from now-obsolete ideas. Similarly was his excavation of normative language in handbooks and guides to performances of ordinances: subtle, but important, distinctions, including how the exigencies of evolving church practice (younger missionaries, younger men ordained to priesthood office) induced the textual formalization of rituals and how the textual transmission of only certain rituals ensured their survival and doomed others.
In a couple particular cases, I wish Stapley had elaborated. It sometimes seemed unclear to me why he used the adjective "cosmological" to describe one of his models of the priesthood, and as he never quite explained it, I felt I was working harder than I needed to distinguish his three models of priesthood from each other. Likewise, his use of the term "material heaven" was confusing at first, especially given other scholars' analysis of Mormonism's metaphysical materialism (see, for instance, Stephen Webb's "Mormon Christianity"). It would also have been interesting to see how talk of false priesthoods would have illuminated evolving Mormon concepts of their own priesthood(s).
Those are small reservations, though. It's a praiseworthy, accessible, transformative work of scholarship. Heartily recommended.
December 15, 2022
Honestly? Incredible.
Review for non-Mormons: honestly, skip it. Too much Mormon argot that you won’t understand.
Review for Mormons: MANDATORY read. Too many of us just take the status quo for granted (“The Church has ALWAYS pretty much operated just like this”), not understanding that it has changed dramatically…. Always.
A fascinating look at the evolution of our understanding of “Priesthood”.
Review for non-Mormons: honestly, skip it. Too much Mormon argot that you won’t understand.
Review for Mormons: MANDATORY read. Too many of us just take the status quo for granted (“The Church has ALWAYS pretty much operated just like this”), not understanding that it has changed dramatically…. Always.
A fascinating look at the evolution of our understanding of “Priesthood”.
February 24, 2019
The Power of Godliness is organized by topic and unfolds how Mormon belief, practice and liturgy have evolved throughout its history and discusses lightly some of the factors that have ordered the Mormon experience. Stapley's discussion on the development of LDS ecclesiology and its connection to our evolved and somewhat recent definitions of "priesthood" and "ordinance", were highly insightful and relevant to my personal theological architecture. I personally enjoyed reflecting on how the Church is a living, shifting organism and I look forward to seeing how it continues to evolve throughout my lifetime. I highly recommend this one to those interested in Mormon history and ritual, with a pallet for academic (maybe even esoteric) writing.
August 29, 2023
A quick but very thought provoking tour of Mormonism's varying approaches to understanding what it means to wield Godly power. Its weaving together of temple cosmology, priesthood ecclesiology, folk magic, healing, and salvific ordinances make for a unique portrait of Mormon history. The book offers a good starting point for thinking about what should come next -though Stapley mostly declines to offer his own opinion on that trajectory.
April 17, 2018
Traces the development of Mormon ideas about priesthood. The best treatment on the subject to date.
August 14, 2018
Stapley's work here is fantastic, outlining the history of many various aspects of LDS liturgy. I know that's not really a term that most Mormons are comfortable using, but it seems apropos. He shows how we, in fits and starts, have developed many of our rituals to the place they now occupy, and how their development has impacted believers through each stage of their changes. The chapter on Cunning Folk-Traditions seemed a little sparse. That he was able to find a few Mormons who were in that tradition, even though the leadership was pretty much always cold to it, doesn't mean it had enough of an impact on the history of Mormon liturgical development to warrant inclusion in the book. At the very least, I wouldn't have ended with that chapter—it felt like a letdown after the obviously much more extensively influential rituals of sealing, anointing, healing, etc.
I also think the book highlights some of the failings of history as a lens through which to view something like liturgical development. He ends the book with an epilogue where he says, "This book is not concerned with what Mormons should believe or teach. It is concerned with what Mormons have believed and taught as they have ordered their universe." And that is the perfectly correct sentiment for a historian. But in that concluding chapter he also brings up a few thinkers who try to suss out why the rituals and liturgy have developed in such-and-such a fashion, and lightly condemns them for their project. Raw history is, I think, inadequate, to explain such developments. "And then X turned into Y." "Why?" "That's not a question we ask in this field." Surely there is some middle ground between "this is the correct, God-given and inspired way to perform these rituals" and "we have no idea, this is just how the rituals have randomly developed." The book was a little too far into the "we have no idea" territory for me personally, so was somewhat unsatisfactory.
And then I read this blog post by Jonathan today about his dedication of his father's grave, and it blew me away. It appears to me that my initial reaction to the book was quite unfair, on a personal level. Even we theologians should make sure that pastoral needs come before our cold, academic-minded, systematic theology, and it is evident that Stapley's work has indeed shaped his personal religious response to the passing of his father, and in beautiful ways.
I also think the book highlights some of the failings of history as a lens through which to view something like liturgical development. He ends the book with an epilogue where he says, "This book is not concerned with what Mormons should believe or teach. It is concerned with what Mormons have believed and taught as they have ordered their universe." And that is the perfectly correct sentiment for a historian. But in that concluding chapter he also brings up a few thinkers who try to suss out why the rituals and liturgy have developed in such-and-such a fashion, and lightly condemns them for their project. Raw history is, I think, inadequate, to explain such developments. "And then X turned into Y." "Why?" "That's not a question we ask in this field." Surely there is some middle ground between "this is the correct, God-given and inspired way to perform these rituals" and "we have no idea, this is just how the rituals have randomly developed." The book was a little too far into the "we have no idea" territory for me personally, so was somewhat unsatisfactory.
And then I read this blog post by Jonathan today about his dedication of his father's grave, and it blew me away. It appears to me that my initial reaction to the book was quite unfair, on a personal level. Even we theologians should make sure that pastoral needs come before our cold, academic-minded, systematic theology, and it is evident that Stapley's work has indeed shaped his personal religious response to the passing of his father, and in beautiful ways.
October 12, 2023
A profound contribution to LDS History. I underlined most of the book. The depth that Stapley goes into with the historical origins and lexical shifts over times of the words priesthood, ordinances, authority, and a few others is outstanding. He offers no opinions during the book but simply shares what Mormons have believed and taught throughout the generations.
During the early years of the Church and up until BY died, the concepts of priesthood and authority were quite different from what they are now. Progressive reforms at the turn of the 20th century, as well as a collective forgetting of these concepts, due to the first generation of members dying, and then of course priesthood correlation later on in the mid 20th century, all contributed to major shifts in the lexical values of a number of words and thus of course lived practice.
Of special interest to me were the sections on healing ordinances (modernly known as healing rituals), the temples, and priesthood ordination. The liturgical authority women exercised in the early years of the church and that we held onto with our pinkies until it was eventually all removed is fascinating. Here's a brief explanation from the book about healing: "Smith and his contemporaries classified the authority to participate in the healing liturgy in a similar manner as the authority to publicly pray, exhort, and translate glossolalia i church meeings....the authority to participate in the healing liturgy remained uncontroversially situated in women for the balance of the nineteenth century." When the 20th century began, as explained above, the shifts began in meaning that gradually took this away from women. Ordination to various priesthood offices also began very differently and evolved over time, with popular opinions shifting and moving throughout the years.
I also loved learning about how the anointings, washings, and sealings with oil that originated within the temple were taken outside the temple and were adapted for healing purposes. The temple was a sacred place for healing as well. People entered the temple to be healed, (through baptisms for health) not just to create heaven on earth through sealings. He discusses many other topics, this is just a brief overview.
During the early years of the Church and up until BY died, the concepts of priesthood and authority were quite different from what they are now. Progressive reforms at the turn of the 20th century, as well as a collective forgetting of these concepts, due to the first generation of members dying, and then of course priesthood correlation later on in the mid 20th century, all contributed to major shifts in the lexical values of a number of words and thus of course lived practice.
Of special interest to me were the sections on healing ordinances (modernly known as healing rituals), the temples, and priesthood ordination. The liturgical authority women exercised in the early years of the church and that we held onto with our pinkies until it was eventually all removed is fascinating. Here's a brief explanation from the book about healing: "Smith and his contemporaries classified the authority to participate in the healing liturgy in a similar manner as the authority to publicly pray, exhort, and translate glossolalia i church meeings....the authority to participate in the healing liturgy remained uncontroversially situated in women for the balance of the nineteenth century." When the 20th century began, as explained above, the shifts began in meaning that gradually took this away from women. Ordination to various priesthood offices also began very differently and evolved over time, with popular opinions shifting and moving throughout the years.
I also loved learning about how the anointings, washings, and sealings with oil that originated within the temple were taken outside the temple and were adapted for healing purposes. The temple was a sacred place for healing as well. People entered the temple to be healed, (through baptisms for health) not just to create heaven on earth through sealings. He discusses many other topics, this is just a brief overview.
January 20, 2025
This book is brief, but very dense. Even as someone familiar with the concepts and history I frequently had to reread passages to make sure I followed the logic.
Stapley breaks down priesthood in the LDS tradition into two types, ecclesiastical and cosmological. The typology was described and demarcated very well, with cosmological largely tied to temple rituals. Interestingly the recent turn from church leadership arguing LDS women have the priesthood is a revival of the much older cosmological understanding of early saints.
I know it's not entirely fair to criticize what a book wasn't, but in this case I think it's germane. Probably in the interest of space Stapley doesn't really contextualize why changes were made to practices or understandings, particularly to 20th century ones related to female ritual healing. I think that context would have been very useful in explaining conflict between the ecclesiastical and cosmological in practitioners' lives when they exist.
The book was very thorough in sourcing the developments, including a rich approach of lay practices that sometimes conflicted with hierarchy. That said, the author never adjudicates these positions, even though at times I felt like the book was veering into more normative claims and would have benefitted from some more of that. That may have meant turning to more apologetic or critical positions, but in my mind would have made a more interesting read
Stapley breaks down priesthood in the LDS tradition into two types, ecclesiastical and cosmological. The typology was described and demarcated very well, with cosmological largely tied to temple rituals. Interestingly the recent turn from church leadership arguing LDS women have the priesthood is a revival of the much older cosmological understanding of early saints.
I know it's not entirely fair to criticize what a book wasn't, but in this case I think it's germane. Probably in the interest of space Stapley doesn't really contextualize why changes were made to practices or understandings, particularly to 20th century ones related to female ritual healing. I think that context would have been very useful in explaining conflict between the ecclesiastical and cosmological in practitioners' lives when they exist.
The book was very thorough in sourcing the developments, including a rich approach of lay practices that sometimes conflicted with hierarchy. That said, the author never adjudicates these positions, even though at times I felt like the book was veering into more normative claims and would have benefitted from some more of that. That may have meant turning to more apologetic or critical positions, but in my mind would have made a more interesting read
February 20, 2019
This is a fascinating book! New views and terms to describe how some priesthood ordinances were viewed at the beginning of the church and the changes within the church that explain how we now view them (spoiler: very differently). I heard the author speak about these topics at a gathering recently and he mentioned that if he were to write the book now, he would use the term "temple priesthood" instead of "cosmological priesthood." That change makes sense given how the term seemed to be used almost exclusively with how the temple rituals (or "liturgy") were viewed. Refreshing to read a book with a new take or interpretation of history rather than summarizing it only. I'm not 100% sure I'm convinced with these views, but what an exercise to read original thought! I do think the latter chapters weren't as compelling as the first few, but how can they be after dropping a new paradigm of looking at priesthood ordinations and sealings? Could have stopped after first two chapters and it would have been worth it. Here's a plea to tackle baptism and sacrament next! I think we've jumped the shark with these ordinances.............
February 27, 2019
#Mormon #Christian if you have:
(*) wondered how women can officiate priesthood rituals in the temple,
(*) didn’t know that women perform priesthood functions,
(*) defended the temple and priesthood ban,
(*) been hurt by the temple and priesthood ban,
(*) been curious about women performing and sealing blessings of healing,
(*) not known that women gave blessings,
(*) wondered why we call rituals “ordinances”,
(*) never noticed that “ordinance” is an unusual name for a ritual,
(*) been curious how a prophet is different from a seer or a revelator,
(*) just assumed that a prophet is a seer is a revelator,
(*) been weirded out by seer stones,
(*) never heard of a seer stone,
(*) hated essential oils,
(*) used essential oils,
(*) cannot define liturgical,
(*) cannot pronounce liturgical
then you should read J Stapley’s The Power of Godliness. It will answer so many question you have or should have had.
(*) wondered how women can officiate priesthood rituals in the temple,
(*) didn’t know that women perform priesthood functions,
(*) defended the temple and priesthood ban,
(*) been hurt by the temple and priesthood ban,
(*) been curious about women performing and sealing blessings of healing,
(*) not known that women gave blessings,
(*) wondered why we call rituals “ordinances”,
(*) never noticed that “ordinance” is an unusual name for a ritual,
(*) been curious how a prophet is different from a seer or a revelator,
(*) just assumed that a prophet is a seer is a revelator,
(*) been weirded out by seer stones,
(*) never heard of a seer stone,
(*) hated essential oils,
(*) used essential oils,
(*) cannot define liturgical,
(*) cannot pronounce liturgical
then you should read J Stapley’s The Power of Godliness. It will answer so many question you have or should have had.
August 19, 2019
A very interesting history of the cultural and institutional development of priesthood and authority in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I learned and came to understand so much about church history, as well as thoughts and actions in more modern times. The language was quite academic. I found myself rereading nearly every paragraph to understand what was being said. Most of the time I enjoyed it, but sometimes I wished the ideas had been stated a little more simply.
I really gained greater understanding about polygamy and the evolution of LDS cosmology. Once I envisioned the early cosmology of the saints, I made so many connections. This book has really aided my understanding of church history events and attitudes, and I can now see how they have morphed into what they are today. It will be interesting to see where things go from here. This is one I would definitely like to read again.
The notes were great. It would have been nice to have included a bibliography.
I really gained greater understanding about polygamy and the evolution of LDS cosmology. Once I envisioned the early cosmology of the saints, I made so many connections. This book has really aided my understanding of church history events and attitudes, and I can now see how they have morphed into what they are today. It will be interesting to see where things go from here. This is one I would definitely like to read again.
The notes were great. It would have been nice to have included a bibliography.
November 14, 2019
This book was a revelation. And by that, I mean A) it had a lot of insight into how the priesthood–itself a revelation–was understood by different prophets, and that B) that insight explains a lot of other cascading changes. Stapley's main thesis is that the priesthood of God has been understood in two ways: as a cosmological priesthood, where the "priesthood" is basically the sum of sealed-together relationships–the eternal web of family–and then, later, as an ecclesiological priesthood, or "the power of God" manifest in ecclesiastical hierarchy. I could say more, but seriously–go read it. Not only is there an excellent chapter summarizing the changes and shifts in priesthood–itself a fact that helpfully contextualizes the priesthood restriction and polygamy–but he also dives into the history of sealings, baby blessings, and even magic! (Yes, magic.)
It's a great book. Seriously. And it made me appreciate my faith's history a lot more.
It's a great book. Seriously. And it made me appreciate my faith's history a lot more.
March 24, 2020
This book closes with a brief summation of David Holland's (son of Jeffrey R. Holland) extended metaphor that "...described the teachings of the church leaders as strokes of a brush, which through generations and layers reveal an emergent and cohesive image..." This is a great book and I highly recommend to anyone interested in the history of LDS priesthood [Power of Godliness] from the gender-inclusive cosmology of the Nauvoo period through the exclusively male ecclesiastical priesthood today. I agree that the short sections on seer stones and folk traditions seem out of place. However, those sections were extremely fascinating and did impact the developing liturgy. I didn't give 5 stars because this book is kind of tough to read (but, well worth the effort). Also, in the end, I would have liked to see "the emergent and cohesive image" or perhaps a scriptural basis for the line upon line, precept by precept formulation of latter day liturgy. But, maybe, that is a different book.
April 8, 2019
I appreciate the contextual landscape the author creates to understanding the developing term “priesthood” in the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS. It was not as rigorously written as a historian professional might pen, but it was well-documented, allowing the reader to do follow-up research on the author’s interpretation of the data, if one so desired. The writing and points were very clear and that made the logic easy to follow. I also appreciated the insights this book had to offer on the journey of collective psyche of the church about specific issues.
May 26, 2019
I have mixed feelings about this book. Yes, our understanding of the priesthood has evolved over time. Yes, it will continue to evolve. I don’t know that that is a meaningful insight. All authors interpret data through their own biases (as we all do). But I’d appreciate some acknowledgment from Stapley (and many others in his crowd) about that bias. This is not the source of truth on this topic. It’s one perspective among many and I look forward to other perspectives and the continuing development and understanding of priesthood.
October 17, 2018
An intellectually demanding book, it was absolutely fascinating!! Mind and spirit expanding. My only complaint is that I had to look up the meaning of a whole lot of vocabulary as I read, so it was slower than I wanted to absorb the information. Thank you Jonathan Stapley, for this carefully wrought history - I loved the ability it gave me to imagine the Restoration time more authentically, with reference to priesthood and temple teachings, and through the years since then.
December 22, 2019
This book was an eye opener. I loved the historical perspective on so many topics (many controversial). Jonathan has exhausted his life is research and it shows clearly in the book. In the book he overviews how Mormon Priesthood has changed overtime and it’s a fascinating study.
The chapter on polygamy was my favorite, as I will never look at the practice the same way again.
The chapter on polygamy was my favorite, as I will never look at the practice the same way again.
January 7, 2020
Stapley has produced one of the finest books ever written about LDS priesthood, ritual, religious experience, and ecclesiology. It will be essential reading in Mormon Studies for generations to come and it has opened a space for new research in material culture, liturgy, performance, practice, and ritual studies for scholars of Mormonism.
October 2, 2020
Excellent high level fly by of many important doctrinal developments in the LDS church. Well researched and sourced. There are many topics Jonathan skims over quickly, so this is a good overview with many jumping off points for deeper study. Really enjoyed it!
Brett Folkman
Doctor of Ministry
Brett Folkman
Doctor of Ministry
December 26, 2021
A fascinating read
This was a meticulously researched book, that discusses some major changes from the Nauvoo period to now in regards to the practices of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I didn't feel this book was an attack on the church, but pointed out ways in which 5hings have evolved, which I feel is a good thing to be aware of to have an informed faith
This was a meticulously researched book, that discusses some major changes from the Nauvoo period to now in regards to the practices of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I didn't feel this book was an attack on the church, but pointed out ways in which 5hings have evolved, which I feel is a good thing to be aware of to have an informed faith
September 8, 2018
Terrific exploration of the roots of Mormon liturgy. I'd read Stapley's earlier paper on women giving healing blessings but it was good to review some of that material. The information on baby blessings and folk magic was new to me and very interesting.
September 2, 2019
The Power of Learning
This book is a required reading for anyone who wants to truly understand the evolution of the undertanding of Priesthood among Latter-Day Saints for over 180 years, and how that evolution shaped the current cosmology and liturgy in the LDS Church.
This book is a required reading for anyone who wants to truly understand the evolution of the undertanding of Priesthood among Latter-Day Saints for over 180 years, and how that evolution shaped the current cosmology and liturgy in the LDS Church.
August 2, 2020
An excellent resource for how the idea of Priesthood has been used from the beginning of the church to the present time. The best thing this book does is show the idea of a cosmological Priesthood and how it differed from the ecclesiastical Priesthood.
December 1, 2020
Seems well-researched with good, valid endnotes. I learned a lot from this book about how things evolved from where they began to how they are today. It was really quite fascinating. It has left me with many more questions.
September 25, 2025
This book looks small, but packs a powerful punch. It is very dense, and I needed a dictionary at hand to read it. It us a thoroughly researched look at the history and development of Mormon concepts of priesthood and it's ordinances and practices.
June 2, 2018
Wow super interesting book.
December 31, 2018
Brilliant!
January 3, 2020
Well done. Pretty academic, but there’s so much stuff in there. A great reference book. There’s no way you can remember everything that is in the book.
February 28, 2021
This is not a passive read. You have to read fully engaged as it reads rather academically.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews