A review of a review! More specifically, the review of Margaret Barker´s "Temple Mysticism: An Introduction" found in "Interpreter: A Journal of Mormon Scripture 5"
This is a Mormon review of Margaret Barker's book “Temple Mysticism”. Barker is an independent Biblical scholar who argues that primitive Christianity restored a hidden or ancient tradition associated with the First Temple in Jerusalem. King Josiah's reforms attempted to suppress this tradition, but it survived in circles associated with Jewish apocryphal writings, such as the Book of Enoch or the Qumran material. For some reason, the Mormons have chanced upon a similar interpretation, which explains Mormon interest in Barker's work (curiously, Barker herself seems to be a fairly modern Methodist).
Here is an interesting quote from the review: “This is in part due to the close collaboration and communication she has had with many LDS scholars since her 2003 visit to BYU, her 2005 talk on `Joseph Smith and the First Temple Tradition', and ongoing interactions at SBL meetings, and Temple studies groups, first in England and more recently in Utah. It also derives from the obvious convergence of key ideas: Jesus seen as Yahweh incarnate, El Elyon as the Father of Yahweh, Melchizedek priesthood, plain and precious things being lost from the canon, the notion of a Mother in Heaven, and the importance of the council visions, the tree of life, Jerusalem 600 BC, the central importance of the temple, and much more.” (Kindle Locations 94-99).
In and of itself, however, the review isn't particularly interesting and feels rather “in house”, with the reviewer going on for several pages about the word “mysticism” (apparently a negative term among Mormons) being acceptable, after all. In the end, I give the review three stars.
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