Three years ago, I sat in a nice café with Kris and her husband John. By the end of the dinner, it was evident that Kris and I shared a complimentary passion for Mormon history and an interest in its particulars. This week, the first fruits of our (if I may say) fabulous collaboration hit my mailbox in the form of the Fall 2008 issue of Journal of Mormon History. I am planning to do a non-critical review of the issue in the near future; but I thought I would throw up a brief outline of “‘They Shall Be Made Whole’: A History of Baptism for Health.” (more…)

I received an email from someone close to me last week. This individual has been reading Rough Stone Rolling and had gotten through Joseph Smith’s polygamic episode. This person was unsettled by certain events and activities involved and wondered if I had any helpful thoughts. I probably should have paged Kevin, but I decided to respond strait-up. The following is my somewhat edited reply, the first of several that ensued: (more…)

I recently sat down with Craig L. Foster via email and we discussed topics relating to two of his recently published works. (more…)

Perhaps not unlike our current Church President, Heber J. Grant was fond of telling stories in Church meetings. He told of the time when Eliza R. Snow blessed him at least five times in General Conference that I have found; and I have run across journal entries that described him telling the story at various stake conferences. It seems that he was also fond of a particular humorous story on politics and repeated it at General Conference at least four times that I have seen: (more…)

The world of Mormon books is a bizarre landscaped marked by all sorts of characters. There are different subsets of the market to be sure – everything from consumer schlock to handcrafted scholarly masterworks. The Joseph Smith Papers Project offering of limited leather-bound volumes in addition to their regular cloth-bound editions (which were recently raised to $50 from $40 a volume) is one manifestation of that. Get one signed by Esplin and certified to have been in the possession of Dean Jessee and you might have yourself a little nest egg. While it is true that digitization has thankfully changed things, there is still a tremendous desire to have the book in our hands (perhaps a lingering nostalgia for our golden plates). (more…)

So, in an effort to quell my journal cover snark, the Executive Committee of the Journal of Mormon History decided to extend to me an invitation to join the Editorial Board. You’ll notice a couple of other additions to the Board on the masthead of the most recent issue: Ardis and Sam MB. By contrast, they were selected for their salutary prolificacy. As a consequence, I won’t be doing critical reviews of the JMH issues. We will likely have someone else review in the future, but for the time being, I will offer a non-critical overview of the recent issue (though please add your critical thoughts in the comments). Behold, the bookreviewish goodness: (more…)

Some years ago I toyed with the idea of there being a hypothetical individual which was interested in understanding Mormonism beyond the modern devotional aspects of the faith. I wondered what four books I would recommend and then posted the list. When I revisit the same question today, I’m quite torn and my list is quite different: (more…)

The following are the notes for the talk I am giving in sacrament meeting today. It is a rough outline of sources with a few points in between. I will hopefully patch it together in some coherent manner. I doubt I will read all of them completely. I have also included my concluding paragraph, which is surely overwrought; but how often do you get to speak on the priesthood revelation at Sacrament Meeting? (more…)

At MHA I had the pleasure of chatting up several of the fine scholars working on the Joseph Smith Papers (JSP) project. I thought it would be handy to write up some of the back-story of the JSP, my observations of the project so far, and point out places where the project could potentially fall short. (more…)

It just so happens that this week, in Sacramento, is the 2008 Mormon History Association annual conference. A number of regulars will be attending and/or presenting. Should be great fun (let’s hope we have no emergency kidney stone passings). MHA also produces the Journal of Mormon History, in all its chromofenestrative glory. The Spring 2008 issue brings us back to last year’s MHA conference in Salt Lake, as several of the papers were delivered there. (more…)

I remember walking from the Mission Training Center in Provo to the Temple during my compressed weeks of language inculcation. One morning as we strolled along the curved sidewalks approaching the carrotesque spire (these were the days before sandblast rejuvenation), what seemed like an ancient lady approached us and grabbed my arm. She declared with solemn triumphalism: “This week, I finished the Book of Mormon for the one hundredth time.” (more…)

Now the BYU finals are over, it is officially open season on hasty nuptials. (more…)

As the last of the Martin handcart company entered the valley, Brigham Young stood before a conference in Salt Lake City. He recounted the peril of the Saints traveling in the snow and declared that they had a great labor ahead: “we had supposed that we should see the kingdom of God established on earth and Zion become the joy thereof, by merely gathering to the several Stakes; and that then our labors would be done and we should have nothing to do but sit and sing ourselves away to everlasting bliss; but we will find that preaching the gospel is but a small portion of the labor that is upon us.” (more…)

Disclaimer: I find the FLDS church and its practice of polygamy very, very disturbing. I have no sympathy for their beliefs. I think that polygamy as practiced by the nineteenth-century Mormon church is something completely different (especially manifest in the uber-liberal divorce laws), though it was not without its own problems. I also hope that people that are clambering the constitutional bells would be so ready for causes far removed from religious groups that claim a similar heritage to Mormonism.

Many people in and out of the media are asking for more information about the FLDS church and other sectarian polygamists. What follows are some helpful resources. (more…)

With the relatively successful reception of the purple and blue cover of last fall, the folks at the Mormon History Association decided to rock our worlds with innovation: blue and purple. (more…)

I recently spent some time in Utah. As I am wont, I spent a couple days at the various archives (LDS, UU & BYU). I cast my net and received a bounty. One First Presidency letter I stumbled upon in Lester Bush’s papers at the UU reminded me of some of the comments in a previous thread on Brigham Young’s natural gifts: (more…)

The smooth transition that we all currently take for granted following the death of the President of the Church, has not always been so. Much of the way we do things now has slowly been worked out over time. Consequently (and inspired by Justin’s fine post), I thought a nice potpourri of succession history would be nice. (more…)

One of the greatest canards in the last decade has been that Mormons somehow are starting to hide their doctrine of theogony, which previously had been a deep and foundational principle of Mormon identity. Cast up your arms in disbelief, ye paladins of cultural caricature. (more…)

For those that are not familiar, Elijah Able is one of a cadre of black men that were ordained to the Priesthood in Joseph Smith’s lifetime. Elijah is a great hero of the Restoration. The following is the first paragraph of his patriarchal blessing, delivered by Joseph Smith Sr.: (more…)

I often think that modern Mormons view the sustaining of their governing Church hierarchy as “prophets, seers and revelators,” as being exclusive to the offices. This is most readily apparent in the proclivity for us to refer to the President of the Church as “The Prophet,” when no such office in the Church exists. It was at Kirtland that Joseph, with ornate splendor, cracked the walls that separate people from prophets. And Brigham Young is perhaps the greatest fruit of his labor. (more…)

And so it is that 2007 is past away and with it, the triannual publication of the JMH. Starting in 2008, JMH will be offered quarterly, much to the delight of history wonks. Further this last issue has offerings from some bloggernacle regulars. Elder Ballard would be proud. (more…)

Time for the second annual recommendations for stress-free holiday shopping (see last year’s list for more titles). Let’s face it, nothing says, “I don’t care about you” more than a gift basket. For your Mormon friends and family, books are always an easy way to give without pressure. Feel free to give your recommendations as well. (more…)

On December 14, 1914 Joseph F. Smith, Prophet and President wrote a Christmas epistle to the Saints. On this holiday in the U.S., in which we remember combatants and specifically their armistice, his words remain puissant: (more…)

Every once and a while, my ward will have combined Elder’s Quorum and High Priest Group lessons. This last Sunday, we had one such meeting and we discussed next year’s lesson manual. After a brief introduction to Joseph Smith historiography, including news about the Joseph Smith Papers, we went to the appendix of the new manual entitled, “Sources Used in This Book.” (more…)

I have finally finished the last issue of JMH and am pleased to report a dramatic improvement in cover color scheme. From the neon atrocity of Spring, we move to an ode to Florida professional sports (or if you prefer the vernacular: Brighton High School). (more…)

In the twentieth century, leaders of the Church didn’t like to discuss the history of the God the Father. Their nineteenth century counterparts, however, weren’t so hesitant. Joseph revealed part the temple in May 1842 and then all the ordinances of the House of the Lord in the fall of 1843. 1844 brought schism, contention and grave accusations that Joseph was no longer in God’s favor. At the General Conference in April, Joseph addressed the Saints and defied them: “Would to God I had 40 days & nights I would let you know that I am not a fallen prophet.” (more…)

Jane Manning James is a great hero of the restoration. Many know of her story as the most prominent Mormon pioneer of Black African descent. Her life is tragic and I can barely talk about the sensitive issues without choking up.

She participated in the Relief Society and some of the meetings minutes where she participated were reprinted in the Woman’s Exponent. The following is a selection of these minutes: (more…)

The ministering of angels is one of the central themes in the restoration narrative. John the Baptist, Peter, James and John, then the Kirtland trifecta of Moses, Elias and Elijah. Each of these angels bestowed on Joseph priesthood and keys. Dispensationalists, eager to systematize doctrine and narrative have also tried to incorporate another series of angels that don’t get as much attention, but nevertheless appear to have been very important to Joseph. (more…)

At the last priesthood session of General Conference (April 2007), President Monson spoke about a tender experience during his military service. (more…)