Method Infinite

"""In this book, authors Cheryl L. Bruno, Joe Steve Swick, and Nicholas S. Literski have shown us just how prevalent Freemasonry was in the culture, lives, and minds of Joseph Smith and his contemporaries, and, more importantly, how interwoven it is in the teachings and rituals that became so important in early Mormonism. The full truth about Smith's restoration movement cannot be understood without the deep, poignant research that makes up this volume. The reader will find it packed with evidence pulled from a variety of solid sources. This book is a game changer for sure. ""- Devery S. Anderson, editor, The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1845-2000: A Documentary History""Sweeping in scope and meticulous in detail, Method Infinite excavates the shared past of Masonry and the Latter-day Saint Restoration-and skillfully uncovers a lost context of Joseph Smith's prophetic work. ""- Don Bradley, author, The Lost 116 Pages: Reconstructing the Book of Mormon's Missing Stories""Method Infinite is the culmination of decades of research and scholarship, a massive work of importance to understanding early Mormon history in the context of the time and places of the Restoration. . . . [The] authors bring the insider perspective of both the LDS Church and Masonry. Swick and Literski are Master Masons with advanced degrees in the Craft, and with Bruno are also scholars steeped in Mormon history. Together, they have completed the most comprehensive treatment of the parallels and direct Masonic influences on the founding of the LDS Church to date."" - Kevin Folkman, Association for Mormon Letters""Method Infinite is an eye-opening, comprehensive reconstruction of early Mormon connections with Freemasonry, showing how Masonic lore and practice informed early Mormon development much sooner and penetrated more deeply than previously imagined. Mormonism drew not only on the ritualistic forms and language of Masonry, but also on its theological narratives of dispensationalism, continuing revelation, redemption from sin, Christian perfectionism and theosis, just to name a few. This work is an important contribution to Mormon Studies and fundamentally changes the way one thinks about the intersection between Masonry and early Mormonism."" - Charles R. Harrell, author, ""This Is My Doctrine"" The Development of Mormon Theology""An insightful and information-packed volume about a plethora of possible points of contact between Freemasonry and the Restoration. . . . While many studies of Masonry and the Latter Day Saint movement focus primarily on temple rituals, Method Infinite covers the entirety of Joseph Smith's life and follows the influence of Masonic ideas and rituals into some of the major branches of Mormonism that emerged in the aftermath of the Prophet's death. . . . I found it to be a fascinating read and would recommend it to scholars and others interested in gaining a deeper understanding of both 19th century American Freemasonry and the early Latter Day Saint movement"" - Chad Nielsen, Times and Seasons"