Binding Earth and Heaven

Binding Earth and Heaven, volume 1, explores the survival and growth of early nineteenth-century Mormonism through a sociological lens. Authors Gary Shepherd and Gordon Shepherd examine how this new religious movement thrived despite intense social opposition and mob violence. The text investigates how the fledgling faith of Joseph Smith maintained member loyalty amidst severe hardships and widespread public contempt. This scholarly work functions as a case study within the sociology of religion, analyzing how specific institutional practices helped a perceived social menace transform into a lasting religious organization.

The book focuses on the unique Christian rituals and liturgical practices that strengthened the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Specifically, it analyzes the practice of patriarchal blessings as an adaptation of Old Testament traditions. By examining these customs and traditions, Binding Earth and Heaven demonstrates how such doctrinal underpinnings provided guidance and verbal rights to followers. This study of Christian rituals and practice illustrates how organizational complexities sustained faith and ensured the continuity of the Mormon movement.