Comments on: Book Review: Jared Farmer’s On Zion’s Mount: Mormons, Indians, and the American Landscape

By: Corn Duck

Corn Duck — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 18:00:32 +0000

After reading Farmers book two years ago I was quite critical. Probably about commentary on BY.
However now, looking back, the part that has stuck to me was the wonderful documentation of Roberts and his historic hikes up to Timp. If you havn’t made the hike, do it soon.
Thanks Jarad for the wonderful research.

By: Steve Evans

Steve Evans — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 19:52:58 +0000

Good review. I agree that Farmer is at times distortive and can seem desperate to suit the facts to his chosen thesis. Overall, however, it was a satisfying book if a bit too bent on thrashing current Utah culture.

By: Steve Fleming

Steve Fleming — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:11:13 +0000

I’m from Orem. Timp is a big deal but the story about a leap to appease the gods I never heard. I heard something like: Timp looks like an Indian maiden lying down (it doesn’t really) and if you can’t see it, it supposedly looks more like it from the back side. I heard a story about some sort of competition where the Indians had to run around Utah lake (some tried to swim it and drowned). I can’t remember the rest but some sort of tragic death for the maiden. I was out of state for 4th grade.

Timp really is the central landmark for Orem. The mountain’s name between Timp and Y mountain is hardly known (is it Cascade?) Our kitchen window faced Timp which my mother really liked.

By: L-d Sus

L-d Sus — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 14:03:58 +0000

I was contacted by a publicist for Farmer’s book a couple years ago, and was given an excerpt to review. The publicist figured that I would be interested in the book as I blog on Mormons and the environment.

I read the excerpt I thought, “That book is so boring, good luck with that!”

Apparently I have poor taste.

Thanks for the review. I may give Farmer’s book another chance.

By: David G.

David G. — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 06:43:06 +0000

See also Dave Banack's thoughts on the work, which he posted on Times and Seasons.