Comments on: Book Wish List

By: Christopher

Christopher — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 05:58:21 +0000

Sterling,

Jan Shipps is currently working on that exact project. The beginning of her study was published in an article in Church History in 2007.

By: Sterling

Sterling — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 05:34:38 +0000

What about a social history of the Mormons since WWII? I think it would be interesting and significant to analyze how the life of average LDS members has changed over the last sixty years.

By: David G.

David G. — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 20:01:39 +0000

A biography of Karl G. Maeser.

Jed Woodworth is working on that.

By: smb

smb — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 15:23:12 +0000

and read Matt Bowman on Cain and Bigfoot.

By: smb

smb — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 15:22:51 +0000

Ryan, earliest Mormonism demonstrated substantial hyper-literalism. BY was the temporal anomaly in that respect. Read John Taylor ca. 1840-5 if you want a sample of it (T&S editorials).

By: Ryan

Ryan — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 07:48:22 +0000

There are plenty of books to be written, here are some I would like to see:

A book about the Walker War.

More about the church during the Great Depression such as Gov. Blood’s rejection of Pres. Grant’s recommendations concerning the New Deal.

A history of the church and its relationship to the media.

A biography of Karl G. Maeser.

Real biographies of Ezra Taft Benson and Gordon B. Hinckley (sorry if I am not demonstrating enough academic empathy towards Sheri Dew).

A biography of Thomas Sharp.

An analysis of Mormon folklore and where some of it came from (grape juice instead of real wine, babies singing at the Kirtland Temple dedication, Sripling Warriors guarding the temple, three nephite stories, Cain being Bigfoot, Joseph Smith is already resurrected, angels pushing handcarts, the day of Gods power at Nauvoo, Brigham Young turned into Joseph Smith while preaching, etc).

An analysis of when and how Mormonism became more literal in its view of the scriptures and generally anti-science in some respects. For example Young taught that the stories of Geneis were baby stories whereas today we are more literal. Talmage was open to the old earth and not anti-evolution whereas Joseph Fielding Smith was; is it simply a difference in personal views or a change in the culture?

By: Justin

Justin — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:56:50 +0000

The January 2007 MHA newsletter noted two Bennion-Daynes projects:

Plural Wives and Tangled Lives: Polygamy’s Place in Mormon Society, 1850-1890

Every Man Must Have Wives and Every Wife a Husband: The Mormon Marriage Climate 1850-1890

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:50:14 +0000

Jared: The Daynes-Sally Gordon project is different than the Daynes-Bennion project. From last I heard, the Gordon project is farther along, but is still a couple years out.

By: Bret

Bret — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:28:42 +0000

I am a simple man…I would like the prophetic years of Gordon B. Hinckley.

By: Jared

Jared — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:09:55 +0000

Justin,

I agree, though from what I have gathered on the Daynes-Sally Gordon project (the same as Daynes-Bennion?), that is still a few years out. Keep your popcorn bowl out.