"The American Religion: The Emergence of the Post-Christian Nation" by Harold Bloom

Joseph Smith's King Follet Discourse defines the theomorphic definition of God as an exalted man. Anthromorphic man fades to Theomorphic man, sparked by an introspective understanding of the potential of man to become like God.

Joseph Smith's genius and prophetic revelations provided a complete explanation of Adam's fall, the teachings of Adam, teachings so old and accurate, as to parallel ancient Kabalistic Jewish thought shocking Bloom, which at the time were not a part of modern Judaism; the Abrahamic pronouncement that the elements, truth, intelligence, and priesthood are eternal; Enoch's ascension, transcending to a divine God-like personage, sphere of intelligence, with the divine power to move and act - demonstrating a higher level of existence; Enoch's Zion a refuge and place of peace; Visions of civil war, race related rioting, symbols of John the Revelator, the manifest destiny of America, God's heavenly kingdom, the ancient hierarchy of patriarchs, the sounding of seven trumpets, the smashing down of the winepress, the restoration of the tribe of Levi, and the doctrine of celestial marriage allowing eternal increase. Joseph Smith's revelation of celestial marriage separates angels from Gods, connecting to some of the deeper doctrines taught by the Apostle Paul and fulfilling the prophecies of Malachi and Elijah. Joseph successfully connected the promises of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; built temples restoring the spirit and power of Elijah; received the keys of the Kingdom from Peter, James, and John; was ordained to the Aaronic priesthood by John the Baptist connecting a preparatory hierarchy; received the keys to the gather of Israel connecting the lost 10 tribes; Joseph Smith saw the final celestial state of the earth.

Joseph Smith translated the Book of Moses. The Pearl of Great Price contains the writing of Moses and Enoch, a precious gem of truth. The Book of Enoch was written by Moses. The significance of the Book of Moses demonstrates God's love towards mankind, the pain God feels when man breaks his laws and the visions of a Creator-God, who creates worlds as expansive as the sands of the seas. A Creator who understands nature and knows beauty and aesthetics. Additionally, the Book of Moses gives an apocalyptic view prior to the Millennium: earthquakes, tidal waves, and cosmic cataclysms. Next to Daniel, Enoch's apocalyptic view paints a very detailed description of the humiliation of the wicked and the redemption and exaltation of the righteous. What I find more compelling is the account that Enoch walked and talked with God. God reasons with man, as one man reasons with another—a natural process for learning and growing that does not violate free will. Enoch provides a scientific view of the cosmos, not a mystic view; Enoch understood astronomy.

Bloom argues the Book of Moses was plagiarized from the Book of Enoch, a book translated by Archbishop Richard Laurence. The chronological events dismiss such an improbable charge. Laurence had finished translating the Book of Enoch before Joseph Smith started translating the Book of Moses and Abraham, known as the Pearl of Great Price. Unfortunately, the Book of Enoch received little recognition or prestige after its translation and lost most of the zeal sponsored by various religious institutions. Even after 90 years, there is still little interest in the Book of Enoch, as it remains hidden in religious archives.

The opportunity for Joseph Smith to read, study, and memorize the Book of Enoch seems deficient in strength. Just what would have Joseph Smith read and what would he have taken? How could Joseph Smith take doctrines hated by both the Catholics and the Protestants and create a new literary work? It’s impossible. Could Joseph Smith have found avid followers among the Gnostics? No, they didn't like the book either. What about the freethinkers? No, they could have used the Book of Enoch against the Christians, exploiting any absurdities. Accessibility is another issue. American clergy did not have ready possession of the Book of Enoch. So what opportunity existed for Joseph Smith to borrow a copy of the book from a clergyman? Who was Joseph’s source for the manuscript? Why would an American clergyman be willing to share an unpopular book with a common man?

Why was the Book of Enoch hated? The Book of Enoch was an ancient, non-secularly manuscript. The Book of Enoch predicted the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. The Book of Enoch explained the mission of the Elders. The Book of Enoch was handed down through the centuries with the intent to bring comfort to the persecuted saints in every dispensation of the gospel. The Book of Enoch was a plain and precious truth kept from the common man. All these reason presented a threat to established religion to release this document to the masses. In essence, it would destroy the monopolist hold the Catholic Church and the Islamic Church hold over its people.

As for the Book of Moses, it pierces the confines of intellectual observation by granting a view that God created the Universe and continues to expand his creations by evidence of vast numbers of universes. Science reveals billions of universes even in the most remote areas of visual space. This was a revealed type of revelation unique to all previous religious thought—creation and cosmos revealed by God, a God of the Universe.

Furthermore, Enoch understood God's purposes and designs, as Enoch established Zion, the Holy City. Zion represented a community protected by God's power, and Enoch’s seraphic power diverted streams and moved mountains against the enemies of God. The written account of Enoch's repulsion of the enemies of Zion foster great hope for the same protection in America. America was the land of promise. Zion was a community allowed to grow and exist under the protections of the constitution. Zion was divinely protected—a place where no weapon could prosper against it, nor would any need to be stockpiled for this purpose. Europe represented a continent fascinated with death, mechanized killing machines, and self-fulfilling prophecies of annihilation, whereas America represented a righteous nation of puritan quality, a Holy City, a promised land. The effect that the Book of Moses had on the spiritual enthusiasm was monumental.

A more interesting point missed by Bloom concerns the gathering of Adam’s descendants in the last days. Joseph Smith taught that Adam was the prince of this world, and as such, would gather his descendants for an accounting. The priesthood hierarchy was accountable to the great patriarch, Adam, before the world received its paradisiacal glory, Adam would make an accounting of the children of men and judge them; after which, he would make an accounting to Jesus Christ, the God of this world, who would reign in the Millennium. The imagery of Daniel with the rock rolling down, gaining size and strength, smashing apart the Nebuchadnezzar Statue, was fulfilled in Adam’s great gathering.

The Book of Enoch awakened great curiosity. Why was the Book of Enoch not popular with Gnostics? The intellectuals argue that the Book of Enoch teaches old Christian and Jewish stories. Thus, Joseph Smith effectively connected all the mysteries of the Old and New Testaments in the religion. That is a miracle in itself. So, Bloom's observation of the Book of Enoch being Kabalistic may be in line with the intellectuals’ observations. However, this weakens Bloom's fascination and connection with the ancient writings, thus demonstrating the insufficiency of Gnostic thought. Divine revelation from God through a living prophet is the best way.

Joseph Smith's first vision pots-sharded the conventional belief of "three in one" and pointed to a God with body parts and passions. Joseph Smith testified that God the Father and Jesus Christ were two, separate beings. The nature of the Holy Spirit, as testifier and comforter become clear through the teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith provided an immense understanding of the nature and function of the Godhead. Furthermore, Joseph Smith objectively verified the existence of these divine beings, dismissing any charge that God was a fable, and since Heavenly Father knew Joseph by name, it is logical to conclude a connection is possible.

During the first vision, a startling revelation was disclosed to Joseph Smith. A revelation of an apostasy so great that Christ denounced all religions of the earth as being religiously corrupt, having a form of godliness, but denying priesthood power. This revelation drove a bitter fear into the local religious leaders and led to severe persecution against the Mormons. Joseph Smith conveyed to us a portrait of a living, caring, powerful, just and immortal God; who insisted on the devotion, obedience, and love of his people. This Mosaic appeal paralleled the culture described in Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. God sought to gain the love and devotion of his people, and the people sought the love and devotion of God. The ancient connection to the Jewish God, Jehovah, and the merciful God of Compassion, Jesus Christ, was brilliantly established by Joseph Smith. The coherence of the doctrines, revelations and teachings of Joseph Smith connected God’s interactions with man’s, spanning seven dispensations spoken of by John the Revelator, a feat only a prophet or Holy man of God could accomplish.

The revelation of true doctrine, within a ten year period of time, chronologically, has the Prophet Joseph Smith accomplish the: translation and publishing of the Book of Mormon, revealing new doctrine in the Book of Commandments, translating the Books of Moses and Abraham, restoring the priesthood and organization of the Church. These events and doctrines exceeded the output of all other Christian thought combined. No religious individual exceeded Joseph Smith's intelligence to accomplish such an impossible series of tasks; especially considering the lack of time to study existing, contemporary, religious philosophy, literature, and doctrine; furthermore, the persistent distractions of a young family; the time consumption of over 200 legal charges and litigative actions; the civil unrest pursuing numerous brutal attacks on the Mormon Community of various protestant groups persistent on proving fraud; political self-defensive uncertainty concerning the massing numbers of Mormons and their political influences on elections, laws and interests.

Bloom grasps at a reason for Mormon growth by claiming Joseph Smith was charismatic, and as such, used spiritualism to overwhelm the people. The charismatic personality of Joseph Smith surely contributed to the growth and migration of saints to America, but it did not account for the compelling reason for the massive growth of the European conversion. A much more powerful, spiritual force was sweeping the earth like a flood—the Holy Spirit!