Tinkling Cymbals and Sounding Brass: The Art of Telling Tales About Joseph Smith and Brigham Young (The Collected Works of Hugh Nibley)

The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal" (1 Corinthians 13:1). Since then, the terms "tinkling cymbals" and "sounding brass" have often been used to signify words of emptiness and confusion--describing perfectly most writings critical of the Latter-day Saints. Trained in history and interested in classical rhetoric, Hugh Nibley brings a broad perspective to his study of anti-Mormon writing. Included in this volume are: * "No, Ma;'am, That's Not History," Nibley's response to Fawn Brodie's widely touted biography of Joseph Smith * "Censoring the Joseph Smith Story," in which Nibley takes on such anti-Mormon writers as Henry Caswall, John C. Bennett, and J.B. Turner * "The Myth Makers" in which Nibley presents "the case of the World versus Joseph Smith" with a host of anti-Mormon witnesses whose testimonies become a hopeless mass of contradictions and absurdities * "Sounding Brass," which focuses on the story and anti-Mormon writings of Ann Eliza Webb Dee Young Denning, divorced wife of Brigham Young. It also discusses the Danite theme in anti-Mormon writing. In all these works, Nibley explains and defends the life and teachings of the prophets. His skill at recognizing and dissecting flawed arguments allows him to separate the chaff from the wheat. He know the scriptures. He knows that Joseph's name would be known for good and evil, but he has clearly chosen to be numbered among those who sought counsel from the Prophet. He has little patience with those who write to persuade others to dismiss either the prophets or their divine messages.