A Rational Theology, as Taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

In Short

This book functions as a structured primer on Latter-day Saint theology, written to explain the faith’s doctrines not as mysterious dogmas, but as a rational, ordered system of universal laws. It traces the journey of the human soul from its pre-existent state through its earthly probation and into an eternal future. By emphasizing the necessity of individual will, the importance of physical health, and the mechanics of divine authority, the work provides a comprehensive overview of how a believer might navigate life with both faith and intellectual rigor.

The Story

The narrative arc of this theology begins long before the birth of any human, in a realm of pre-existence where intelligent beings—the ancestors of all mankind—first exercised their individual wills. These beings possessed consciousness and the capacity for growth, and they operated under the same fundamental laws of cause and effect that govern the physical universe today. The core of this existence was a search for knowledge and power, driven by an innate desire to secure joy and avoid the pain caused by resisting natural law.

The central conflict of the human experience stems from the transition to earth-life. Upon entering mortality, man is enveloped by a veil of forgetfulness, stripping him of the memory of his past and leaving him seemingly helpless amidst the vast forces of the physical world. This trial is intentional. Without the memory of his pre-existent state, man must exercise his will to search out the laws of nature and the truth of the Gospel. He is not a passive recipient of fate but an active agent; his progress is determined by how he uses his earthly time to acquire knowledge and align himself with the divine order.

The structure of this earthly life is provided by the Gospel, which was taught to the first human parents, Adam and Eve, immediately after they left the Garden of Eden. This "Great Plan" established the necessity of a Savior—Jesus Christ—whose sacrifice makes the resurrection of the body possible, transforming mortal decay into an eternal state of physical existence. The Church serves as the earthly instrument for this plan, holding the authority to perform ordinances such as baptism and marriage, which function as literal seals that connect families across time and into eternity.

As the argument unfolds, the focus shifts to the practical implications of these beliefs. Human relationships are governed by the principle of the brotherhood of man, which finds its highest expression in cooperative systems where the strong assist the weak, fostering mutual growth. The individual, meanwhile, has a duty to respect his own physical vessel, treating the body as a sacred instrument that limits or facilitates the expression of the spirit. The importance of education, bodily health, and regular rest are presented as spiritual obligations rather than mere worldly concerns.

The story concludes with the final transition beyond mortality. Death is not an end but a passage into a world where progress continues forever. Because the intelligence of man is indestructible, the trajectory of his existence is infinite. There is no final, static state of "damnation" in the sense of eternal, useless suffering; instead, existence is a series of varying degrees of advancement. Those who have diligently sought knowledge and obeyed the laws of the universe find themselves moving toward higher states of glory, reflecting the light of an eternal, progressive career that began in the dawn of time and extends, without limit, into the future.

How It Unfolds

The foundation of knowledge The author establishes that human understanding is derived from sensory experience, reason, and the "sixth sense" of spiritual insight. He argues that transmitted knowledge, passed down through records and tradition, allows humanity to build upon previous discoveries rather than starting from scratch.

The agency of the individual The narrative moves to the assertion that the will is the defining characteristic of the intelligent being. By exercising this will, spirits acquired power and experience in the pre-existent state, a process that continues through the choices made during mortality.

The organization of the universe The text details the hierarchy of the heavens, defining God the Father and Jesus Christ as literal, glorified beings who have traversed the same path of progression as humanity. This section outlines how authority is delegated through the Church to manage the spiritual affairs of the living and the dead.

The reality of eternal progression The argument addresses the afterlife, positing that resurrection is the ultimate goal of the earthly journey. It describes a universe where eternal life is defined as a continuous, upward search for knowledge and joy, rather than a fixed state of rest.

The People

At the center of this theology is God the Father, who is described not as an abstract force but as an exalted being who has successfully navigated the same plan of development that humans are currently undertaking. His authority and love are rooted in the memory of his own past struggles, making him a relatable, albeit supreme, guide for his children. Jesus Christ acts as the essential mediator and the "God of this earth," whose role is to provide the mechanism for resurrection and to represent the Father’s will.

Adam and Eve are the primary earthly figures, representing the transition from the perfection of the Garden to the reality of the mortal world. Their experience of forgetfulness sets the standard for all humanity; they are the first pupils of the Great Plan, tasked with learning the laws of the earth and establishing the path of obedience and baptism. Man, as a collective, is the protagonist of this work. He is an intelligence seeking joy, forced to balance his physical limitations with a spiritual capacity that demands growth. Whether he is strong or weak, he is expected to participate in the "brotherhood of man," using his intelligence and his will to cooperate with others, thereby fulfilling the divine mandate to multiply and progress.

In Its Own Voice

"By proper exertion he may intercept messages from out the directly unknown, as completely as this may be done by man-made instruments."

The author describes the "sixth sense" of intuition and revelation as a verifiable tool for acquiring knowledge alongside science.

"God, the Father, the greatest God concerned in our progression, is the supreme God."

This line defines the relationship between the deity and the individual as one of fatherhood and mentorship, based on the principle that God has himself experienced the mortal journey.

"There is no Godliness in pain, except as it is an incident in securing more knowledge."

The author justifies the existence of suffering by framing it as a necessary byproduct of the learning process in a universe governed by law.

What It's Really About

The central question is how an individual can achieve eternal progress in a world of rigid natural laws. The book argues that there is no conflict between science and religion because both are explorations of the same universal principles. The underlying theme is the sovereignty of the will: man is responsible for his own destiny because he has the power to choose whether to align himself with divine laws. By framing religion as a "rational theology," the work seeks to demystify the spiritual experience, insisting that morality, health, and social organization are practical, logical requirements for the perfection of the human spirit.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in the history of religious thought will find this a fascinating window into the early 20th-century attempt to codify a faith as a system of science and logic. The prose is earnest, clear, and unadorned, reflecting the author’s background as a scientist and academic. However, modern readers should be prepared for the book's dogmatic tone; it is an exposition of doctrine written for members of the faith, and it assumes the truth of its premises without engaging in debate with skeptics.

The book is relatively short, yet it moves with a density that rewards careful, quiet reading. You will encounter the specific, sometimes jarring, cultural assumptions of the 1915 era—particularly regarding gender roles and the perceived necessity of large families as a divine duty. While the prose is straightforward, the sheer volume of scriptural references and the focus on administrative structures (like stakes and wards) may feel clinical to a casual reader. Nevertheless, it stays with you as a striking example of a worldview that refuses to separate the physical from the spiritual, ultimately leaving the reader with a sense of cosmic optimism—the idea that the universe is not chaotic, but a grand, orderly school for the eternal advancement of the individual.