Kirsten M. Christensen

KIRSTEN M. CHRISTENSEN {[email protected]} is associate professor of German at Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Washington, where she teaches German language, literature, film, and culture. Her research focuses on the writings of late-medieval and early sixteenth-century women mystics in the Low Countries and Germany. She currently serves in the Primary presidency of the Stadium Ward.

Prophet, Seer, Revelator, American Icon | Reid L. Neilson and Terryl L. Givens, eds., Joseph Smith Jr.: Reappraisals after Two Centuries

Articles/Essays – Volume 43, No. 1

First, a confession and a little context. I am not a scholar of Mormonism, just a Mormon who is also a scholar (of medieval mysticism, it so happens). I am interested in but mostly unfamiliar with the growing body of Joseph Smith scholarship. As a result, I am unable to reference that tradition in this review or to argue how these essays augment or contrast with other work, although it is worth noting that the essays themselves do a fine job of that. Rather, my role, as I see it, is to respond to these essays both as an educated non-specialist and, perhaps most importantly, as a member of the Church who seeks “greater knowledge” (Abr. 1:2) regarding our founding prophet. This collection is a compelling read on both fronts, and I expect to recommend it to my colleagues in religious studies and history and to friends and family in and out of the Church.