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Ben P

New JMH Editor: Martha P. Taysom

By January 29, 2009


For those of you who received a MHA newsletter this week, this is not new. But, I figured I would transcribe it on here for those who haven’t heard yet.

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“May We Keep a True and Faithful Record and History of Thy Church and Kingdom”: Wilford Woodruff and the Preservation of History

By January 1, 2009


[WARNING: Since my Mormon-related research for the next couple months will primarily be focused on Wilford Woodruff?s time as Assistant Church Historian, most of my posts will probably closely relate to that subject; be advised.]

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Book Notice: Joseph Smith, Jr.: Reappraisals After Two Centuries

By November 9, 2008


This weekend, during a trip out to California for a wedding (that we were actually late to because we slept in past our first flight), I got the chance to glance through the newly published Joseph Smith Jr.: Reappraisals after Two Centuries. Edited by Reid Neilson and Terryl Givens, this volume is a collection of, in my opinion, some of the most thoughtful essays on Mormonism?s founder. In the introduction, the editors noted that, ?The rationale behind this collection is that the day has come when the founder of Mormonism and his prominent role in American history and religious thought cannot be denied? (7). While a few of the articles have been published previously, the majority are printed for the first time.

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Rational Supernaturalism, Part III: The Pratt Brothers and Defining Mormon Doctrine

By November 3, 2008


(very) Loosely continuing on the same theme from parts I and II.

The Nauvoo era became a big turning point for the Mormons in many instances. Not the least of these was their new desire to publish their beliefs to the public. While they had been active in printing while in Kirtland and Missouri with newspapers and published revelations, these were always designed for members or other interested persons. However, once settled in Illinois they began to place their attention on using print to reach the masses. Part of the reason for this was the revelatory injunction to publish all the facts regarding the ?sufferings and abuses put upon them by the people of? Missouri (D&C 123:1).

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Rational Supernaturalism, Part II: What’s in a Name?

By October 17, 2008


See part I here.

On the last page of the May 1834 issue of Evening and the Morning Star, the Church included the minutes of a meeting held on May 3, 1834. In a straightforward way, and lacking any fanfare, it included the following:

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Joseph Smith Summer Seminar: Call for Applications

By October 13, 2008


from my inbox:

SUMMER SEMINAR ON JOSEPH SMITH

?Parley and Orson Pratt and Nineteenth-Century Mormon Thought?
Brigham Young University
May 26-July 3, 2009

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“Thou Wast Willing to Lay Down Thy Life for Thy Brethren”: Zion’s Blessings in the Early Church, Part II

By October 2, 2008


*This is continued from Part I.

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“Thou Wast Willing to Lay Down Thy Life for Thy Brethren”: Zion’s Blessings in the Early Church, Part I

By October 1, 2008


*This is the first of a two-part summary of the paper I presented at JWHA this past weekend.

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The Mormons go to Voree: JWHA Conference Redux

By September 29, 2008


This last weekend I had the great privelege of attending JWHA’s 36th Annual Conference, held at exotic Old Voree, Wiconsin. This year’s theme was “1844-1859: A Time of Transition” (preliminary program found here). Reminiscent of DKL’s roundup from last year, here are a few things that stood out to me the most, though there are numerous other experiences and papers I could list.

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Intellectuals in Mormon History

By September 22, 2008


Almost fifty years ago, Leonard J. Arrington sent out a questionnaire to fifty prominent Mormons asking who they thought were the “five most eminent intellectuals in Mormon history.”

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