Emerson–The Sequel!

By February 19, 2008


Well now, Ben beat me to it. But, since I might have some interesting things to say in addition (and I have an admin logon this week bwahaha) I’m just going to make it a new post.

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I’m Only 92% Mormon

By February 19, 2008


According to the Belief-O-Matic Quiz at beliefnet.com, my beliefs regarding God, the afterlife, human nature, etc. match up 92% with Mormonism.  According to the site, they match up better (100%) with “Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants.”  I imagine this is due to the fact that “Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants” include a wide range of religious groups and beliefs.  More interesting to me was the fact that my views lined up well with the Quakers (both orthodox and liberal varieties), as well as the Ba’hai faith, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and (gulp) Neo-Paganism. 

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The Role of History in Religion: Two Diverging Views

By February 19, 2008


We as Latter-day Saints love to quote Ralph Waldo Emerson.

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The 1834 Hurlbut Trial and the Finding of the Book of Mormon

By February 18, 2008


From January 13-15, 1834, the State of Ohio held a preliminary hearing, ostensibly to determine if anti-Mormon Doctor Philastus Hurlbut had in fact threatened the life of Joseph Smith. After hearing several witnesses, the justice of the peace determined that there was sufficient evidence that a threat had occurred, and the case was set for the following April. But the JP also allowed for testimony on far more than just the alleged threat. The First Presidency wrote not long after the hearing to the Saints in Missouri that the trial included an investigation of “the merits of our religion.”[1] It appears that the JP heard testimony concerning Hurlbut’s research on the Soloman Spalding manscript and even had Joseph testify concerning the finding of the Book of Mormon. Hurlbut’s attorney, James A. Briggs, wrote several letters later in his life

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Hats and Bicycles

By February 17, 2008


This one goes out to Ardis 😉

And can I also say I’m glad these photos are intriguing people because they really are a hugely wonderful yet hugely untapped resource that only recently has become accessible (aka, not fragile glass plates in large cardboard boxes with no index).

Selection from my paper:

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The “New Woman” in Central Utah

By February 16, 2008


As a historian I, of course, have some issues with historians. My main bugaboo this past year has been what I term “source prejudice.” We favor textual documents over visual, no doubt about it. What really gets me is that one of the main defenses for this has been that textual documents are more open and reliable, visual more obscure and relative. Well now, there are definitely interpretation issues within textual documents too; we still need to consider intention, audienc

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“Zion’s Noblest Sons are Weeping”

By February 15, 2008


When Joseph the Prophet and Hyrum the Patriarch were murdered, the Mormon community felt as if the worst event possible had happened.

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Welcome Heidi!

By February 15, 2008


The Juvenile Instructor has come into a bit of luck recently in attracting solid and talented guest bloggers. That luck has not run out. We’re pleased to announce our latest guest, Heidi, known also as Pinto. Heidi received a BA in Humanities and History at BYU in 2006, and will graduate with a Masters in American Studies at Boston University this spring. I got to know Heidi this summer as part of the Joseph Smith Seminar with Richard Bushman and Terryl Givens (although we quickly discovered that she was that “Special Collections girl” [meaning she worked there] and I was “that guy with a shaved head always looking up Joseph Smith stuff” when we were undergrads at BYU). She tells me that s

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Thank you, BHodges

By February 14, 2008


The Juvenile Instructor would like to thank BHodges for his contributions as a guest blogger the last week and a half.  His insights into the Journal of Discourses produced some great discussion, and we encourage everyone interested to keep up with his exploration of the JD over at his blog, Life on Gold Plates.  Please leave a comment helping us thank him for his contributions.  Thanks again, BHodges.


Contrasting Attitudes: Keeping things in context

By February 14, 2008


Guest post by BHodges.

Heber C. Kimball
June 29, 1856

Because leaders and speakers didn’t give prepared sermons or refer to notes in most cases, the discourses contain unique insight into their feelings and emotions. A good example of the differing nature of the discourses is found by contrasting a few from Heber C. Kimball.

In February of 1855 Heber recounted some experiences connected with being driven from Nauvoo, and included some fiery rhetoric:

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Jack on BH Roberts on Plato: “Thanks for your insights--you've really got me thinking. I can't get away from the notion that the formation of the Great and Abominable church was an…”


Steve Fleming on BH Roberts on Plato: “In the intro to DC 76 in JS's 1838 history, JS said, "From sundry revelations which had been received, it was apparent that many important…”


Jack on BH Roberts on Plato: “"I’ve argued that God’s corporality isn’t that clear in the NT, so it seems to me that asserting that claims of God’s immateriality happened AFTER…”


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