Reviewing Hugh Nibley’s Teachings of the Pearl of Great Price (Winter Semester, 1986)
Kerry A. Shirts
How does one review such a giant of a scholar, a man, and a humble servant of Jesus Christ? Hugh Nibley has been the colossus in Mormonism scholarship for decades and he hasn’t let up whatever. For those who have enjoyed his numerous article and books on the Pearl of Great Price, his teachings during the Winter Semester 1986 are every bit as much of a joy to read and learn from.
I can only touch on some of the things that caught my eye as I read through these lectures.
Nibley’s comments that even we in the Church have had contempt for the Pearl of Great Price is shocking as it is true. (Lecture 1, p. 10). When have we ever as a church taken the time to study it as we do that magnificent Book of Mormon or the fantastic materials in the Bible? I suspect it is because we all think it is just too small to worry that much about. Nibley’s over 2,500 pages of commentary so far on it ought to tell us all otherwise!
I thought Nibley’s idea that Christianity has taught seriously for centuries how we must read the Bible allegorically as the ancients have taught was interesting. If it is one thing we LDS have been guilty of it is taking the Bible much too much at its word. In fact, it is precisely this charge that gets us in trouble with the Christians! We are even accused of not being Christians because we take the Bible so literally on many concepts of God! Nibley’s lecture 2 is vintage on this angle.
I thought Nibley’s idea in his third lecture that the Cabalah has parallels with the Book of Mormon were astounding! There is seldom a Mormon alive today who would admit as much. But Nibley’s point is seriuosly significant as well.
"Unlike Origen and the Gnostic Schools, the Cabalah does not regard life as a fall or exile but as a means of education and a beneficient trial. As Nephi says "Our time here became a time of probation." That’s what the Cabalah teaches. (Lecture 3, p. 12). Nibley goes on to quote the Zohar and how it parallels some teachings in the Book of Abraham, such as the Premortal existence of souls. (Lecture 3, p. 12).
I enjoyed Nibley’s etymological analysis of Adam as well. Adam is associated with the diamond. Adamantis means that which cannot be damaged. In other words, that which is immortal. Diamond is the Urim and Thummim! This is the sacred stone given to Adam when he came down. The name Adamantis means "The Prince of Stones." (Lecture 4. P. 8). The fact that Nibley demonstrates there have been many Adams, or at least many individualts fulfilling offices of Adam was quite intriguing to say the least! I come away seeing Nibley as in league with B.H. Roberts on the issue of Pre-Adamites. There were Pre-Adamites, and we had better get used to it, because science has demonstrated this conclusively. How Nibley puts them into context is startling, and may not be agreeable with every Latter Day Saint. But then, that is the sheer power and beauty of Nibley. He doesn't feel he has to conform to the Brethren on every issue. He can still do his own thinking and be a faithful Latter Day Saint, even if some of the General Authority Brethren are not as smart as they ought to be on so many issues. Theirs is not the professor calling anyway. They are ministers, and as such carry out their duties as best they can. Nibley is doing what he does best, and sometimes his best contradicts, or at least, disagrees with the brethren. I have not found so very much to disagree with him when he disagrees with them either.
Nibley’s confirmation that astronomy even in the Middle Ages is what men were most interested in, is what interested me! As I am studying several late Medieval Cabalistic, Alchemical texts, and translating them and analyzing them, I have found this to be exactly the case. The astronomy of our Book of Enoch and Book of Abraham is no accident. They took it seriously all through the Middle Ages as Nibley says, and as I am finding out also. (Lecture 5, p. 4-5).
I was immensely pleased to see how much Nibley has enjoyed both of my very most favorite mythologists, Mercea Eliade, and Joseph Campbell. That to me is quite encouraging, and it is now a little less for me to wonder at how Nibley gets so very many poignant and enduring insights that make his writings so wonderful to read. (Lecture 6, p. 9).
Lectures 7 and 8 on the Shabako Stone are just so truly overwhelming there isn’t much one can say that justifies them. The Council of the Gods are powerfully depicted in the ancient Egyptian Memphite Theology. That is the Quintessence of Nibley’s two lectures here. The etymology, history and ancient religion he demonstrates this with is worth the cost of the book if these were the only two chapters!
His comments that it was the garment of many colors anciently….no! It was the garment with the marks on it…… that is bound to pique the interest of any Endowed Latter Day Saint. (Lecture 9, p. 2)
Nibley’s further use of the Qabalistic text the Zohar was encouraging to me as well. He quotes it as saying that God creates worlds, and God destroys worlds, the cosmology of the Qabalah is not static and created Ex Nihilo. (Lecture 12, p. 3).
His discussion of Lilith was of interest….. in that he even brought it up! He could have gone more in depth, but it was interesting to note he is one of the only LDS scholars I have ever read anywhere who has actually acknowledged this idea of Lilith. This is one reason I love this man so much. He is willing to get the fullest and broadest possible context. Such a joy……..Would that God had somehow made his voice more powerful and meaningful to the LDS by perhaps making him one of the General Authorities so the membership would feel more of an obligation to read him. On the other hand, I thank God that the brethren have just left him alone to share his astonishing talents with us all for all these decades.
While this review is far too short, I have at least shared a few things of interest. This is seriously one of those books, that, in my opinion, has something note worthy on each and every single page. A must read for the serious student of LDS theology and scriptures.