Comments on: Pioneer Prophet Roundtable: Turner Responds

By: Craig M.

Craig M. — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 14:46:54 +0000

Thanks JI for the roundtable and John for the great book. For me, it stands next to The Politics of American Religious Identity as the best “page-turner” I’ve read in Mormon Studies – new insights and information on virtually every page.

By: WVS

WVS — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:32:03 +0000

John, you know what I think of your effort, but let me say it again: fabulous. And thanks to all the JIers who posted. Outstanding.

By: LisaT

LisaT — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:27:19 +0000

“In short, someone should write In Sacred Loneliness: The Sequel.”

Paging Jeff Johnson!

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 14:57:54 +0000

Fine conclusion to an outstanding series of posts on an excellent book.

By: Roger

Roger — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 22:54:01 +0000

Mr. Turner, Compared to the historians and scholars who have commented over the course of the reviews of your book, I can at best consider myself merely an enthusiast or aficionado of Mormon history. I did find your book, extremely well-written, thought-provoking and insightful. I actually finished the book, with a higher regard for Brigham than I had previously—your perspective on the impact of the martyrdom and Gentile pressures lead me to cut him more slack than I have done earlier in my unschooled Rush to Judgment. Had Mormon historians been more willing to be forthright in their treatment of Brigham over the past 100 years, those of us with unresolved conflicts about G-d’s oracles might be able to view them with greater equanimity.

By: John T.

John T. — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 20:52:33 +0000

Thanks to all the above for the kind words.

Gary, an error I most regret is not figuring out the correct date of Brigham Young’s 5 Jan. 1852 discourse on slavery. See the discussion here:

http://www.patheos.com/Mormon/One-We-Forgot-Margaret-Blair-Young-10-01-2012.html

Otherwise, I can’t say I have any major regrets or second thoughts at this point. I’ll probably feel somewhat different a few years down the road, as future scholarship corrects certain things and illuminates things I only saw as if through a glass darkly.

By: n8c

n8c — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 20:18:39 +0000

John, I’m halfway into your book. Well done! This is the most excited I’ve been for a book since RSR and I’m not disappointed! For me, not a brilliant scholar or mind like your reviewers, having a concise, yet thorough and well rounded approach to Brigham has been very instructive. It is expanding my somewhat heavy-sided-Joseph-focused approach to church history. Stick around!

By: Gary Bergera

Gary Bergera — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 18:18:08 +0000

John, I thought you were very gracious in your response. No book can, will, ever satisfy every reader. I assume that your book, as published, is more or less exactly how you wanted it to be. Now, in hindsight, is there really anything you would’ve handled differently? (Thanks for a great, important book!)

By: JanieceJ

JanieceJ — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 17:34:59 +0000

Thanks John. I think I can more fully understand your perspective. And just to make sure it got through, I think you handled this thorny topic very well. Thanks for the exchange.

By: Hunter

Hunter — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 16:14:00 +0000

How wonderful to have a response posted from the author. I’m looking forward to getting my hands on the recently-arrived copy at the local library.