ABSTRACT
In the spring of 2016, prominent evangelical scholar Richard Mouw wrote a thoughtful and earnest piece in First Things magazine encouraging Mormon-evangelical dialogue and expressing his hope that Latter-day Saints would continue to display "a sincere desire to bring a historically heterodox tradition into greater conformity with the orthodox Christian consensus". Two points need to be made explicit that were implicit in survey. First, none of the contemporary Christian thinkers mentioned has pulled all of the doctrines together in any comprehensive way, but there are pieces and fragments scattered everywhere. Second, the methods employed by Joseph Smith and by the contemporary Christian thinkers mentioned vary greatly. While these notable theologians have come to their conclusions presumably through reason, experience, biblical exegesis, or a reconsideration of tradition, Smith'—most often, but not exclusively—bypassed these hermeneutical exercises, claiming instead divine revelation and authority.
