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Guide Home > Doctrinal Issues > Apostasy and Restoration > Creation Ex-Nihilo

Additional Topics

The following are additional topic areas related to Creation Ex-Nihilo. If there is a bracket number after the topic, that number indicates how many actual articles there are related to that subject. If the link for the topic is not live, it simply means the topic is a 'planned area' for future growth.

FAIR Resources

These links are either to Web pages hosted on the FAIR Website, or to FAIR Papers. FAIR Papers are short articles about specific topics or questions, written by members of FAIR. These articles can be downloaded and read in PDF format and are intended to be distributed by e-mail or print for the general use of our patrons. (To read FAIR Papers you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader. It can be downloaded free from the Adobe Web site.) Click on a title below to visit a FAIR Web page or to read the latest version of a FAIR Paper.

Barry R. Bickmore, "Mormonism in the Early Jewish Christian Milieu," (1999 FAIR Conference presentation.) How do uniquely LDS beliefs compare to early Christian and Jewish beliefs?

Blake T. Ostler, Book review of The New Mormon Challenge, edited by Francis J. Beckwith, Carl Mosser, and Paul Owen (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2002), reviewed in The Doctrine Of Creation Ex Nihilo Is A Big Fuss Over Nothing: A Response To Copan And Craig, Part 2. A review of an essay appearing in The New Mormon Challenge, addressing the concept of creation ex nihilo.

Blake T. Ostler, Book review of The New Mormon Challenge, edited by Francis J. Beckwith, Carl Mosser, and Paul Owen (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2002), reviewed in The Doctrine Of Creation Ex Nihilo Was Created Out Of Nothing: A Response To Copan And Craig, Part 1. A review of an essay appearing in The New Mormon Challenge, addressing the concept of creation ex nihilo.

Blake T. Ostler, Book review of The New Mormon Challenge, edited by Francis J. Beckwith, Carl Mosser, and Paul Owen (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2002), reviewed in The Doctrine of Creation Ex Nihilo: A Response To Copan And Craig, Part 3. A review of an essay appearing in The New Mormon Challenge, addressing the concept of creation ex nihilo.

John A. Tvedtnes, "The King Follett Discourse in the Light of Ancient and Medieval Jewish and Christian Beliefs," (Mesa, Arizona: FAIR) In April 1844 Joseph Smith delivered a sermon at the funeral of Elder King Follett. This sermon, heard by up to 20,000 people, has been one of the most controversial discourses given by the Prophet and is one that is frequently cited by critics of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During his lengthy discourse, Joseph Smith discussed the nature of God the Father as an Exalted Man, the heavenly council who participated with God in the creation, the premortal existence of man, and the creation by "organization" rather than "ex nihilo" as was the accepted interpretation of Genesis 1 by Christians of his day. Joseph Smith's revelations of God, man, and creation are often greeted by detractors with scorn, indignation, and charges of blasphemy. Most anti-Mormon writers insist that the Prophet Joseph grossly misinterpreted and mistranslated the biblical text, and that his teachings are completely out of harmony with both Christian and Jewish theology, both modern and ancient. In his presentation, Tvedtnes looks at ancient Christian and Jewish writings pertaining to a heavenly council and creation by ordering chaotic matter. It is clear that though the Prophet Joseph was at odds with the theology of nineteenth century Christendom, he was teaching concepts remarkably close to beliefs held by some early Christians and ancient Hebrews. Joseph's interpretation and translation of Genesis chapter 1 is surprisingly consistent with traditions to be found in both extrabiblical Jewish writings and within the Bible itself, and his teachings can clearly be seen as part of the "restoration of all things."

Other Resources

The resources listed below are related items available on the Web that should be of interest. These links are to information not located on the FAIR Web site.

Keith Norman, "Ex Nihilo: The Development of the Doctrines of God and Creation in Early Christianity," BYU Studies (Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University, Spring 1977), 291-318 An analysis of the development of ex-nihilo.

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Last Updated September 28, 2008
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