Summary

(From back cover)
In this revealing look at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Richard N. Ostling, one of America's most renowned religion journalists, and journalist Joan K. Ostling disclose why the Mormon Church:

• Has ten million members worldwide and is today one of the fastest growing and most centrally controlled U.S.-based religions worldwide.
• Is by far the richest religion in the United States per capita, with over $25 billion in estimated assets and $5 billion more in estimated annual income.
• Lacks a professional clergy but operates an extensive and organized mission program and an utterly unique and comprehensive church welfare program.
• Concerns itself vitally with its image and with social acceptance.
• Has been immensely influential in the family values movement.

Review

Quote from First Things, March 2000, no.101, p.97, “Is Mormonism Christian?” by Richard John Neuhaus:

“... Then comes a big new book by Richard N. Ostling and Joan K. Ostling, Mormon American: The Power and the Promise, published by HarperSan Francisco (454 pp., $26). It is a remarkable piece of work and likely to be the best general introduction to Mormonism for years to come. The Ostlings are evangelical Protestants. Dick was for many years religion editor at Time and now covers religion for the Associated Press. I have had frequent occasion to say that he is one of the two or three best religion reporters in the country. Joan is a freelance writer with a background in the practice and teaching of journalism. What they have achieved with this assiduously researched and very readable book puts us all in their debt. Apparently the powers that be in Salt Lake City are ambivalent about the book, but it is probably as thorough and fair a treatment of the LDS by outsiders as they are likely to get.”

Contents

Preface
Introduction: A New World Faith

Chapter

1. Sealed with Blood
2. Beginnings: A Very American Gospel
3. The American Exodus
4. Polygamy Then and Now
5. Redefining the Kingdom of God
6. Almost Mainstream
7. Mormons, Inc.
8. Some Latter-day Stars
9. The Power Pyramid
10. Families Forever
11. A Peculiar People
12. Rituals Sacred and Secret
13. Two by Two
14. Saintly Indoctrination
15. Faithful History
16. The Gold Bible
17. Discovering "Plain and Precious Things"
18. "How God Came to Be God"
19. Are Mormons Christians? Are Non-Mormons Christians?
20. Rivals and Antagonists
21. Dissenters and Exiles
22. Mormonism in the Twenty-first Century

Appendix:

1. Joseph Smith's King Follet Discourse
2. How the Income and Wealth Estimates Were Made