This anthology offers rare access to key original documents illuminating Mormon history, theology, and culture in the United States from the nineteenth century to today. Brief introductions describe the theological significance of each text and its reflection of the practices, issues, and challenges that have defined and continue to define the Mormon community. These documents balance mainstream and peripheral thought and religious experience, institutional and personal perspective, and theoretical and practical interpretation, representing pivotal moments in LDS history and correcting decades of misinformation and stereotype.
The authors of these documents, male and female, not only celebrate but speak critically and question mainline LDS teachings on sexuality, politics, gender, race, polygamy, and other issues. Selections largely focus on the Salt Lake–based LDS tradition, with a section on the post–Joseph Smith splintering and its creation of a variety of similar yet different Mormon groups. The documents are arranged chronologically within specific categories to capture both the historical and doctrinal development of Mormonism in the United States.
- Table of Contents
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Chapter One: Theology and Doctrine
- 1. Joseph Smith, “Latter Day Saints,” from He Pasa Ekklesia: An Original History of the Religious Denominations at Present Existing in the United States (1844)
- 2. Joseph Smith, Selection from The Book of Mormon [3 Nephi 9–11] (1830)
- 3. Oliver Cowdery, “Letter to William W. Phelps on Priesthood Restoration,” from Messenger and Advocate (1834)
- 4. Joseph Smith, “Extract from the Prophecy of Enoch [Moses 7],” from The Evening and the Morning Star (1832)
- 5. Joseph Smith, “A Vision [Doctrine and Covenants 76],” from The Evening and the Morning Star (1832)
- 6. Joseph Smith, Journal Account of Kirtland Temple Visitations [Doctrine and Covenants 110] (1836)
- 7. Joseph Smith, “Letter from Joseph Smith [on Baptisms for the Dead], from Times and Seasons (1842)
- 8. Joseph Smith, “The King Follett Discourse” from BYU Studies (1844)
- 9. Joseph F. Smith, “Vision of the Redemption of the Dead [Doctrine and Covenants 138],” from Improvement Era (1918)
- 10. First Presidency (Heber J. Grant, Anthony W. Ivins, Charles W. Nibley), “‘Mormon’ View of Evolution,” from Improvement Era (1925)
- 11. First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson, James E. Faust, et. al.), “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” from Ensign (1995)
- 12. First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson, James E. Faust, et. al.), “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles,” from Ensign (2000)
- Chapter Two: Scattering of the Saints
- 1. Isaac Russell, “Letter to the Saints in England,” from History of the Church (1839)
- 2. Brigham Young, “An Epistle of the Twelve,” from Times and Seasons (1844)
- 3. Lyman Wight and George Miller, “Lyman Wight to the First Presidency—Preaching the Gospel to the Indians and Proposing to Migrate to Texas,” from History of the Church (1844)
- 4. James J. Strang, “Pastoral Letter” (1845)
- 5. Jason W. Briggs, “Revelation,” from The Messenger (1851)
- 6. William Smith, Epistle of the Twelve (1851)
- 7. Sidney Rigdon, Joseph H. Newton, William Richards and William Stanley, An Appeal to the Latter-Day Saints (1863)
- 8. John Taylor, Revelation (1886)
- 9. David Whitmer, An Address to All Believers in Christ: By a Witness to the Divine Authenticity of The Book of Mormon (1887)
- 10. Joseph Musser, “Announcement,” from Truth (1935)
- 11. Wallace B. Smith, Revelation on Priesthood [RLDS D&C 156] (1984)
- 12. Stephen M. Veazey, “A Defining Moment,” from Community of Christ Herald (2009)
- Chapter Three: Gathering to Zion
- 1. Joseph Smith, “Plat for the City of Zion” (1833)
- 2. Sarah Studevant Leavitt, “Autobiography,” from Women’s Voices (1875)
- 3. Artemisia Sidnie Meyers, “Haun’s Mill Massacre Account,” in Bones in the Well (ca. 1850)
- 4. Vilate Kimball, Letter to her husband Heber C. Kimball, from Men with a Mission (1839)
- 5. Elizabeth Ann Smith Whitney, “Reminiscence,” from In Their Own Words (1878)
- 6. First Presidency (Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and Hyrum Smith), “A Proclamation, to the Saints Scattered Abroad,” from Times and Seasons (1841)
- 7. Eliza R. Snow, “The Female Relief Society,” from Woman’s Exponent (1872)
- 8. William Clayton, “All is Well,” from Hymns (1846)
- 9. Brigham Young, “A Revelation given dated Winter Quarters Camp of Israel [Doctrine and Covenants 136],” from Wilford Woodruff’s Journal (1847)
- 10. William Atkin, “Handcart Experience,” from Union (1896)
- 11. Valborg Henrietta Louise Rasmussen, “My Conversion to Mormonism,” from Valborg (1945)
- 12. First Presidency (Joseph F. Smith, John R. Winder, and Anthon H. Lund) “Christmas Greeting to Saints in the Netherlands,” from Der Stern (1907)
- 13. Bruce R. McConkie, “Come: Let Israel Build Zion,” from Ensign (1977)
- Chapter Four: Government and Politics
- 1. Oliver Cowdery, “Governments and Laws in General [Doctrine and Covenants 134],” from Messenger and Advocate (1835)
- 2. Joseph Smith, General Smith’s Views of the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States (1844)
- 3. Letter from Margaret L. Scott to her brother J. Allen Scott, from Army of Israel (1846)
- 4. Brigham Young, “Proclamation by the Governor” (1857)
- 5. Letter from Martha Hughes Cannon to husband Angus M. Cannon, from Letters From Exile (1888)
- 6. First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (Wilford Woodruff, George Q. Cannon, Joseph F. Smith, et al.), “To the Saints [Political Manifesto],” from Deseret Weekly News (1896)
- 7. Reed Smoot, Speech before the United States Senate (1907)
- 8. Susa Young Gates, “The History of Woman Suffrage in Utah, 1900–1920,” from The History of Woman Suffrage (1922)
- 9. J. Reuben Clark, General Conference address, from Conference Report (1936)
- 10. Sonia Johnson and Karen S. Langlois, “All on Fire: An Interview with Sonia Johnson,” from Dialogue (1981)
- 11. Judith Rasmussen Dushku, “A Time of Decision,” from Dialogue (1981)
- 12. Harry Reid, “Faith, Family, and Public Service” (2007)
- 13. Mitt Romney, “Faith in America” (2007)
- 14. First Presidency (Thomas S. Monson, Henry B. Eyring, and Dieter F. Uchtdorf), “Preserving Traditional Marriage and Strengthening Families” (2008)
- Chapter Five: Race and Ethnicity
- 1. Parley P. Pratt, “Mission to the Lamanites,” from Autobiography (1874)
- 2. Jane Elizabeth Manning James, “Autobiography” (n.d.)
- 3. Parley P. Pratt, “The Standard and Ensign for the People,” from Journal of Discourses (1853)
- 4. Brigham Young, “Spiritual Gifts—Hell—The Spirit World—The Elders and the Nations—The Lamanites—The Temple,” from Journal of Discourses (1854)
- 5. Joseph Fielding Smith, “Appointment of Lineage,” from The Way to Perfection (1931)
- 6. Helen Sekaquaptewa, “My Church,” from Me and Mine (1969)
- 7. Lacee A. Harris, “To Be Native American—and Mormon,” from Dialogue (1985)
- 8. First Presidency (Spencer W. Kimball, N. Eldon Tanner, and Marion G. Romney), “Revelation Extends Blessings of Gospel,” from Church News (1978)
- 9. Joseph Freeman, “A Momentous Weekend,” from In the Lord’s Due Time (1979)
- 10. Chieko N. Okazaki, “Baskets and Bottles,” from Ensign (1996)
- 11. Esmeralda Meraz Amos, “El Evangelio,” from All God’s Children (2004)
- Chapter Six: Sexuality and Gender
- 1. Joseph Smith, “Revelation [on plural marriage],” from Deseret News (1852)
- 2. Eliza R. Snow, “My Father in Heaven,” from Times and Seasons (1845)
- 3. Annie Tanner Clark, “Marriage in Polygamy,” from A Mormon Mother (1941)
- 4. Wilford Woodruff, “Official Declaration,” from Deseret Weekly News (1890)
- 5. James E. Talmage, “The Eternity of Sex,” from Young Woman’s Journal (1914)
- 6. Virginia Budd Jacobsen, “Book Review of New Patterns in Sex Teaching,” from Relief Society Magazine (1936)
- 7. Stephen E. Lamb and Douglas E. Brinley, “Sexual Intimacy in Marriage,” from Between Husband and Wife (2000)
- 8. Oliver Alden [pseudo.], “‘My God, My God, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?’: Meditations of a Gay Mormon on the 22nd Psalm,” from Sunstone (1995)
- 9. Dallin H. Oaks and Lance B. Wickman, “Same-Gender Attraction,” from LDS Newsroom (2006)
- 10. Maxine Hanks, “Introduction” from Women and Authority: Re-emerging Mormon Feminism (1992)
- 11. Emily Milner, “Finding Myself on Google,” from Segullah (1996)
- Chapter Seven: Education and Intellectualism
- 1. Joseph Smith, “Revelation to the First Elders [Doctrine and Covenants 88:73–80, 117–41],” from Doctrine and Covenants (1835)
- 2. Amy Brown Lyman, “Childhood,” from In Retrospect (1945)
- 3. Orson F. Whitney, “Home Literature,” from Contributor (1888)
- 4. Editors, “Vocational Education,” from Relief Society Magazine (1921)
- 5. Juanita Brooks, “To Columbia,” from Quicksand and Cactus (1982)
- 6. Eugene England, “The Possibility of Dialogue: A Personal View,” from Dialogue (1966)
- 7. Richard D. Poll, “What the Church Means to People Like Me,” from Dialogue (1967)
- 8. Henry Eyring, “Science and Religion,” from Reflections of a Scientist (1983)
- 9. Marilyn Arnold, “Unlocking the Sacred Text,” from Expressions of Faith (1999)
- 10. Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, “A Pail of Cream,” from Journal of American History (2002)
- Chapter Eight: Contemporary Religious Life
- 1. Dennis Clark, “A Name and a Blessing,” from Dialogue (1970)
- 2. “Questions and Answers about Baptism,” from Friend (2008)
- 3. Antonia Purina Honrado, “They Gave Me a Copy with All of the Pages,” from Converted to Christ Through the Book of Mormon (1989)
- 4. Boyd K. Packer, “Counsel to Young Men,” from Ensign (2009)
- 5. Lee Tom Perry and Daniel Lyman Carter, “As Now We Take the Sacrament,” from Hymns (1985); Mabel Jones Gabbott and Rowland H. Prichard, “In Humility, Our Savior,” from Hymns (1985); and Karen Lynn Davidson and Hans Leo Hassler, “O Savior, Thou Who Wearest a Crown,” from Hymns (1985)
- 6. Margaret Rampton Munk, “Service Under Stress: Two Years as a Relief Society President,” from Dialogue (1986)
- 7. Laury Livsey, “A Day in the Life of a Missionary,” from New Era (2000)
- 8. Truman G. Madsen, “House of Glory,” from Five Classics (1994)
- 9. Clark T. Thorstenson, “Discovering My Icelanders,” from Ensign (1981)
- 10. Ruth M. Gardner and Vanja Y. Watkins, “Families Can Be Together Forever,” from Hymns (1985); and Janice Kapp Perry, “I Love to See the Temple,” from Children’s Songbook (1989)
- 11. Brenda Williams, “My Terrible, Horrible Day,” from New Era (2001)
- 12. Kathleen Flake, “How to Bury a Prophet,” from Sightings (2008)
- Notes
- References
- Index
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