“theology” is a complicated concept in Mormon discourse. It is routine to say that there is no tradition of formal Mormon theology, or even any Mormon theology at all. This is explained by observing that continuing revelation and the multiple genres of Mormon scripture resist systematization, or that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints eschews seminaries and professionalized clergy. Both the perceived need and the space for discussion of what other Christianities consider theological questions is thought to be constrained by institutional and cultural insistence on the prophetic authority of church leaders. Seminarians are not needed to work out exactly how the atonement works or how many angels might dance on the head of a pin, this thinking goes; if there is something worth knowing about things like that, the Prophet has it covered.
This view of Mormonism's lack of theology depends on a very narrow notion of...