The recent focus on Jonathan Edwards adds a lot to our understanding of the Restoration, but scholars need to be careful to avoid perpetuating false stereotypes.
BYU Professor Gerrit Dirkmaat, an awesome scholar and a great guy, gave a fireside that was uploaded to YouTube. During the fireside he related a misleading account of what Jonathan Edwards taught. Maybe it was effective for his rhetorical purposes, but viewers are better served by learning accurate history.
This is important because of the influence Jonathan Edwards and others had on young Joseph Smith, which we're documenting here: https://www.mobom.org/jonathan-edwards. That site includes annotated chapters and sections from the Restoration scriptures that indicate Joseph's familiarity with ("intimate acquaintance with") the work of Jonathan Edwards. Brother Dirkmaat's presentation leads to another type of annotation. We can read Edwards' works and see how his nonbiblical terminology appears in the Restoration scriptures. An example of this is included at the end of this post.
Brother Dirkmaat makes an important and legitimate point about the influence Jonathan Edwards had on Joseph Smith, but it is neither necessary nor appropriate to misrepresent Edwards' work to make this point.
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This is the section of the fireside where Brother Dirkmaat begins to discuss Edwards. (We'll refer to Brother Dirkmaat as simply Dirkmaat through the rest of this post.)
https://youtu.be/TVSKjHqCFqY?t=253
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This slide shows an excerpt from Edwards' famous sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.”
Below is the YouTube transcript with my comments. Original in blue, my comments in red, interlinear quotations in green.
Dirkmaat introduces Edwards here:
this is Jonathan Edwards who gave the great sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.”
Notice how he explains God's relationship to mankind.
As anyone who reads the sermon can see, Edwards is not explaining "God's relationship to mankind" but instead is describing the fate of those who are not born again. Dirkmaat completely misleads his viewers by omitting Edwards’ introduction to this part of the sermon (see below).
It is possible that Dirkmaat simply relied on the quoted excerpt which he found somewhere, such as in the writings of Terryl Givens and Steven Harper, who teach a caricature of Edwards similar to what Dirkmaat does in this fireside.
But as a professional historian, Dirkmaat surely read Edwards' sermon before quoting an out-of-context excerpt. Thus we are left concluding that he deliberately omitted the introduction for rhetorical purposes.
[Here Dirkmaat quotes from the slide]
God abhors you and he's dreadfully provoked his wrath towards you burns like fire he looks at you as worthy of nothing else but be cast Into the Fire. He is of purer eyes than to Bear you in his sight you are 10,000 times as abominable in his sight as the most hateful and venomous serpent…
Definitely this is harsh rhetoric by Edwards. But is that God's "relationship to mankind" as Dirkmaat claims?
Let's read Edwards' introduction that Dirkmaat omitted, which appears two paragraphs before the except Dirkmaat quoted:
Thus are all you that never passed under a great change of heart, by the mighty power of the Spirit of God upon your souls; all that were never born again, and made new creatures, and raised from being dead in sin, to a state of new, and before altogether unexperienced light and life...you are thus in the hands of an angry God; it is nothing but his mere pleasure that keeps you from being this moment swallowed up in everlasting destruction. [Emphasis added]
Far from explaining "God's relationship to mankind," Edwards was explaining the fate of those who are not born again, using terminology that appears in the Book of Mormon, including nonbiblical terminology. See the annotation at the end of this post.
Now that's not exactly the message that you hear, you know, in church on Sunday, about how much God loves you.
If we don’t hear this in Sunday School, it’s because we no longer quote certain passages from the Book of Mormon, as we can see in the annotation at the end of this post.
In fact the message that Jonathan Edwards is sharing is that God hates you and he hates you because you're a sinner. You're vile in his sight because of that, because you're a sinner and you know once you get through this life, you know, lucky you, you're going to end up most likely going to hell and as Edwards explains how, you know, he gives you an idea of what this hell is like.
Obviously, this is an outrageous misrepresentation of what Edwards taught in this very sermon. Edwards was specifically addressing those who were "never born again," who "never passed under a great change of heart," etc.
Just as the Book of Mormon teaches, using the identical language.
Compare how Dirkmaat portrays Edwards to the actual language Edwards uses in this very sermon, such as this passage. [Note: the terms in red below are nonbiblical Book of Mormon terms.]
And now you have an extraordinary opportunity, a day wherein Christ has flung the door of mercy wide open, and stands in the door calling and crying with a loud voice to poor sinners; a day wherein many are flocking to him, and pressing into the kingdom of God; many are daily coming from the east, west, north and south; many that were very lately in the same miserable condition that you are in, are in now an happy state, with their hearts filled with love to him that has loved them and washed them from their sins in his own blood, and rejoicing in hope of the glory of God.
How awful is it to be left behind at such a day! To see so many others feasting, while you are pining and perishing! To see so many rejoicing and singing for joy of heart, while you have cause to mourn for sorrow of heart, and howl for vexation of spirit! How can you rest one moment in such a condition? Are not your souls as precious as the souls of the people at Suffield, where they are flocking from day to day to Christ?
[Dirkmaat next quotes this slide, again without explaining Edwards' additional introduction]
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It would be Dreadful to suffer the fierceness of the Wrath of the almighty God for one moment but you must suffer it for eternity.
Ironically, this is another example of the influence of Jonathan Edwards on Joseph Smith. The term "fierceness" appears in the scriptures in this frequency: OT (9) NT (1) BM (1) DC (2)
But the phrase "fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God" appears only twice in the scriptures--both in the Doctrine and Covenants.
107 When he shall deliver up the kingdom, and present it unto the Father, spotless, saying: I have overcome and have trodden the wine-press alone, even the wine-press of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God. (Doctrine and Covenants 76:107)
106 And again, another angel shall sound his trump, which is the seventh angel, saying: It is finished; it is finished! The Lamb of God hath overcome and trodden the wine-press alone, even the wine-press of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God. (Doctrine and Covenants 88:106)
There will be no end to this Exquisite horrible misery.
"Exquisite" is a nonbiblical term that appears in this frequency: BM (2) DC (1) PGP (1).
"Horrible" appears in this frequency: OT (6) BM (2)
"Misery" appears disproportionately in the Book of Mormon in this frequency: OT (6) NT (1) BM (25) DC (3) PGP (3).
When you look forward you shall see a long forever, a boundless duration before you which will swallow up your thoughts and amaze your soul. And you you will absolutely despair of ever having any deliverance, any end, any mitigation, any rest at all. You will know certainly that you must wear out long ages, millions of millions of ages in wrestling with this Almighty, merciless vengeance. And then when you have done so, when so many ages have actually been spent by you in this manner, you will know that that is all but a DOT to what remains. So that your punishment will indeed be infinite.
It's important to reiterate that Edwards was specifically addressing those who have not been born again, such as in this passage.
How dreadful is the state of those that are daily and hourly in danger of this great wrath, and infinite misery! But this is the dismal case of every soul in this congregation, that has not been born again, however moral and strict, sober and religious they may otherwise be. ... If we knew that there was one person, and but one, in the whole congregation that was to be the subject of this misery, what an awful thing would it be to think of! If we knew who it was, what an awful sight would it be to see such a person! How might all the rest of the congregation lift up a lamentable and bitter cry over him!
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Consider this, you that are here present, that yet remain in an unregenerate state.... Now God stands ready to pity you; this is a day of mercy; you may cry now with some encouragement of obtaining mercy; But when once the day of mercy is past, your most lamentable and dolorous cries and shrieks will be in vain."
Compare Alma: "now is the time and the day of your salvation... this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God... For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked." (Alma 34:31, 32, 35)
Note: "prepare to meet God," "procrastinate," "subjected to," "spirit of the devil," and "final state" are all nonbiblical Book of Mormon terms used by Edwards several times. E.g., "the judgment of God, by which the final state of wicked men is determined..." (Alma 34:35)
Like the Book of Mormon, Edwards often quotes Isaiah as authority. Here is an example from this sermon:
How awful are those words, Isaiah 63:3, which are the words of the great God. "I will tread them in mine anger, and will trample them in my fury, and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment." 'Tis perhaps impossible to conceive of words that carry in them greater manifestations of these three things, viz. contempt, and hatred, and fierceness of indignation.
Thus it will be with you that are in an unconverted state, if you continue in it;
[Next, Dirkmaat makes his rhetorical point, which is a good one that explains how Joseph was affected by Jonathan Edwards in a positive way (as were most of Edwards' listeners and readers).]
Wow. I mean that's certainly is a message uh about God. You can see the reason why a young Joseph hearing sermons like that might, as he writes in the 1832 account he gives of the first Vision, at about the age of 12 years old my mind became seriously impressed with regard to the all important concerns for the welfare of My Immortal Soul which led me to the searching the scriptures.
I mean this, this idea is something that matters to him because he's hearing about the fact that hell is terrible and you're probably going there
In this 1832 account, Joseph Smith referred to "my intimate acquaintance with those of differant denominations."
The evidence of Joseph's "intimate acquaintance" exists throughout the Restoration scriptures, which is also evidence that Joseph actually translated the plates (contrary to SITH).
To reiterate: The recent focus on Jonathan Edwards adds a lot to our understanding of the Restoration, but scholars need to be careful to avoid perpetuating false stereotypes.
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Annotation of Edwards' introduction quoted above, showing blending of biblical passages. Red words are nonbiblical Book of Mormon terms used by Edwards.
Thus are all you that never passed under a great change of heart, by the mighty power of the Spirit of God upon your souls; all that were never born again, and made new creatures, and raised from being dead in sin, to a state of new, and before altogether unexperienced light and life...you are thus in the hands of an angry God; it is nothing but his mere pleasure that keeps you from being this moment swallowed up in everlasting destruction. [Emphasis added]
Biblical and Book of Mormon terminology
mighty power: OT (4) NT (2) BM (4) DC (1) JE (150)
Spirit of God: OT (14) NT (12) BM (20) DC (3) PGP (4) JE (100s)
born again: NT (3) BM (4) PGP (1) JE (140)
E.g., "if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven. (Alma 7:14)
raised from: OT (1) NT (9) BM (4) JE (100)
being dead: NT (4) BM (1) JE (60)
altogether: OT (25) NT (4) BM (1) DC (5) PGP (1) JE (700)
in the hands: OT (2) [hands of Aaron and his sons] BM (10) [hands of God, the Lord] DC (5) [hands of the church, the bishop, Christ, the Saints, of the people] JE (200) [hands of God, the Lord, Christ]
angry: OT (37) NT (7) BM (69) DC (6) PGP (4) JE (600)
E.g., "For it is not written that Zenos alone spake of these things, but Zenock also spake of these things— For behold, he said: Thou art angry, O Lord, with this people, because they will not understand thy mercies which thou hast bestowed upon them because of thy Son. (Alma 33:15–16)
I, the Lord, was angry with you yesterday, but today mine anger is turned away. (Doctrine and Covenants 61:20)
nothing but: OT (7) NT (13) BM (3) DC (3) JE (100s)
pleasure: OT (43) NT (18) BM (17) DC (5) JE (100s)
E.g., O then, why not able to command the earth, or the workmanship of his hands upon the face of it, according to his will and pleasure? (Jacob 4:9)
Fear not thine enemies, for they are in mine hands and I will do my pleasure with them.
(Doctrine and Covenants 136:30)
from being: OT (14) NT (1) BM (3) JE (100s)
swallowed up: OT (11) NT (4) BM (15) (200)
Note: "swallowed up in" NT (1) BM (12)
everlasting destruction: NT (1) BM (9) JE (40)
And behold I say unto you all that this was a snare of the adversary, which he has laid to catch this people, that he might bring you into subjection unto him, that he might encircle you about with his chains, that he might chain you down to everlasting destruction, according to the power of his captivity. (Alma 12:6)
Nonbiblical Book of Mormon terminology
change of heart: BM (2) JE (25)
I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart (Alma 5:26)
which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart unto them— (Helaman 15:7)
upon your souls: BM (1) DC (2) JE (3)
Why have ye transfigured the holy word of God, that ye might bring damnation upon your souls? (Mormon 8:33)
These words are given unto you, and they are pure before me; wherefore, beware how you hold them, for they are to be answered upon your souls in the day of judgment. (Doctrine and Covenants 41:12)
Be not ashamed, neither confounded; but be admonished in all your high-mindedness and pride, for it bringeth a snare upon your souls. (Doctrine and Covenants 90:17)
new creatures: BM (1) JE (30)
And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. (Mosiah 27:26)
Note: "new creature" appears in 2 Cor. 5:17 and Gal. 6:15.
a state of: BM (24) JE (100s)
Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked, yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; (Alma 40:14)
this moment: PGP (1) JE (45)
just at this moment of great alarm (Joseph Smith—History 1:16)
