A Latter-day Saint Conception of Personhood
The research project proposed here for the Sharon Institute is the production of a volume of research, theoretical, and analytical essays focused on what we might call our fundamental human nature in the light of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and what such an understanding of our nature might contribute to the human sciences and the helping/therapeutic professions that arise from them. The working title is A Latter-day Saint Christian Explication of Personhood: Implications for Psychological, Social, and Moral Life and Flourishing (Hereafter LDSCEP).
The project will entail research, evaluation, and analysis of relevant literature from four “wisdom traditions” that bear on the understanding of our fundamental nature: 1) relevant social scientific/disciplinary literature, learning, and practice, 2) relevant philosophical traditions from the Classical to the Post-modern, 3) Ancient and modern scripture with particular emphasis on the canon of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and 4) prophetic counsel and declarations from Latter-day Saint Apostles and Prophets.