And the Moon I

Shall Turn to Blood

A Review by T. Eugene Shoemaker

The relevance of Velikovskian theory for Latter-day Saints is the topic of

Anthony Larson’s book, And the Moon Shall Turn to Blood. Larson not only
believes Velikovsky’s claims, he also promulgates the idea that cataclysmic
history holds the secret to our understanding of the future when applied to
ancient and modern prophecy. From the dust jacket of his book we read:
“In this work … a stunning new understanding of cosmological changes in
the heavens and on the earth joins with the truths of the restored gospel to
give an incredible insight into prophecy.” The reader’s first reaction might
well be that this is just so much hyperbole and media promo. I firmly believe
it is not. Indeed, it seems to me that Larson adequately makes his case.
He first asserts the centrality and and catastrophism, produced by extra-
inspiration of Velikovsky’s ideas to terrestrial forces. These become inexorably
the concepts upon which his book wedded when, for example, they are
is based, explaining “If the idea of applied to the catastrophes found in
catastrophism — the cataclysmic instigation the Book of Mormon. The events of the
of cosmic and terrestrial change — is universal cataclysm foretold in connection
a correct principle, and if Velikovsky’s with the second coming also show this
cosmological explanation for the cause intrinsic unity. Such prophecies, seldom
of such change is also correct, then we intelligible in their own terms, are
may expect these theories to conform not clarified by Velikovskian concepts, says
only to ancient scripture, but to modern Larson. Moreover, the ideas of Velikovsky
revelation as well”(p. 55). aid our understanding of the prophetic
This is the crux of Larson’s exposition. pronouncements of latter-day church
He identifies three interconnected leaders who speak of a holocaustal
themes common to much of ancient and premillennial cataclysm caused by
modern prophecy: prophetic symbolism, extra-terrestrial forces from planetary
historical events (accurately recorded), encounters.
 While his book may not be immediately
persuasive, it does seem plausible and
reasonably conceived. If one were to treat
Larson’s discovery of catastrophism as a
strict ‘law,’ then there may not be enough
evidence to corroborate it. But if one takes
it, as I do, as a stimulating intuition, it casts
a fascinating light upon the usual prosaic
discussions of the modern prophecies
of Adventism. I, for one, am grateful for
an exposition on prophecy that does not
assault one’s intelligence, nor make God
a magician.
Although Mormonism is based
on a strong prophetic tradition, most
lds writings on the subject have been
recording of modern prophetic events
and interpretative books about prophecy.
(The works of W. Cleon Skousen and
Duane S. Crowther are typical of most
of the prophecy literature the church has
produced throughout the 20th century.) I
consider it nearly indistinguishable from
much of the prophecy writings issued
by other Christian millennialists. Taken
together, Mormon and non-Mormon,
these interpretative remonstrations seek
only to confirm the Second Coming,
emphasizing its imminence and the
horrible destruction of the wicked.
Larson’s book is, by contrast, not just a
book about prophecy. It is a prophetic
book. For example, he applies Velikovsky’s
thesis to the obscure images of the book
of Revelation, a book of which Mormons
have seldom tried to make much sense,
being content to leave such interpretative
musings to their ‘less inspired’ Christian
brothers and sisters of protestant
fundamentalism. Larson’s reasonable
deciphering of that scripture is refreshing
and an added justification for reading his
book.
And the Moon Shall Turn to Blood
should find a wide reading audience
among the Latter-day Saints …
More published works of the kind
and quality of Larson’s book can be very
helpful in restoring reason to latter-day
prophetic interpretation. It makes a unique
and very necessary contribution to the
prophecy literature of Mormonism. In
fact, I have come across nothing recently
in this regard which I have enjoyed more.
For those of us who live lives of thought,
this work is a welcome and challenging
adventure. Despite its size, this book is a
major work, seminal in scope, of original
scholarship, and based on much research
in the writings of Velikovsky and the words
of the prophets, both ancient and modern.
The Sunstone Review, Vol. #3, May 1982, p 29, 30.
T. Eugene Shoemaker teaches in the government
department of the California State University at
Sacramento.