Mormon Doctrine Belonging to Richard L. Evans

This 1958 edition of Mormon Doctrine, featuring the rare vintage black cloth binding, represents a historically significant early printing of Bruce R. McConkie's monumental and complex compendium. Originally subtitled A Compendium of the Gospel, this encyclopedic volume organizes more than 2,000 alphabetically arranged entries across over 700 pages, delivered in an uncompromising, highly definitive tone. While the book became an immediate commercial success among rank-and-file church members, it was never an officially canonized text, and its bold title—alongside highly controversial entries regarding other faiths and contemporary social views—drew intense scrutiny from church leadership. This copy, a scarce fourth printing issued in the very first year of publication by Bookcraft, Inc., retains the completely unrevised text prior to the major structural overhauls and deletions enforced in the late 1960s.

Bruce R. McConkie (1915–1985) was an influential theologian, author, and high-ranking leader who later served as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A lawyer by training and a veteran of World War II, McConkie was the son-in-law of Church President Joseph Fielding Smith, whose strict scriptural literalism heavily informed the contents of this book. McConkie was celebrated for his formidable scriptural memory and a lifelong dedication to organizing LDS theology, authoring extensive scriptural guides and a multi-volume commentary on the life of Jesus Christ. While he accepted full personal responsibility for the contents of Mormon Doctrine, his literalist approach and sharp public rhetoric deeply shaped the cultural and educational landscape of mid-to-late 20th-century Latter-day Saint thought, establishing this early 1958 volume as a vital, foundational artifact of modern religious history.

Adding to the book's complex history within church leadership is its connection to Richard L. Evans (1906–1971), a beloved General Authority and member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who was assigned alongside Elder Mark E. Petersen to officially review the text following its controversial release. Globally recognized as the iconic writer, producer, and voice of the Tabernacle Choir's Music & the Spoken Word radio broadcast for over forty years, Evans was celebrated for his gentle, ecumenical, and universally accessible approach to spirituality. This made him the absolute stylistic polar opposite of McConkie’s sharp, literalist rhetoric. Evans and Petersen meticulously cataloged more than one thousand instances of aggressive tones, scriptural misinterpretations, and unauthorized declarations within the text, submitting a formal report to President David O. McKay that directly resulted in the temporary suppression of the book and the heavily sanitized revisions found in later editions.

Two-toned green cloth binding with lettering to spine and illustration to upper cover. Ownership inscription of Richard L. Evans to preliminary flyleaf and title page. Fine condition.