Claremont j newsletteri

Fall 2011 t Issue no. 5

A Bright Future in this issue by Patrick Mason Howard W. Hunter Chair of Mormon Studies Mormons in the Marketplace Conference page 2 t has been a pleasure and privilege made this entire endeavor possible. i Ito begin my tenure as Howard W. We also enjoy a terrifically sup- k Hunter Chair of Mormon Studies. portive institutional home in the Taking the position previously held School of Religion, as well as the With an Eye to the Future by Richard Bushman is a distinct broader university. President Debbie page 3 honor. All of us who have associated Freund and Dean Tammi Schnei- k with Professor Bushman know that der have been the very pictures of he is irreplaceable. Over the course warmth and collegiality in welcom- Recent Events page 4 of his career, and especially during ing me to the faculty. Under the k his three years at Claremont, Rich- sponsorship of LDS Church Public ard has been nothing Affairs, in early Terryl Givens visits CGU less than the best November President page 4 ambassador for Mor- “Fortunately, my work Freund and Dean mon studies on the as the Hunter Chair is Schneider took a planet. His unique not a solo engagement. two-day trip to gifts were only am- Utah for meetings plified by the addi- I am blessed with a with a number of tional contributions dedicated LDS Council.” LDS ecclesiastical, of Claudia Bushman, academic, and hu- who similarly left an manitarian leaders. indelible impact on the Claremont As Debbie said, they were “dined but program has already produced stu- community. not wined,” and both reported not dents with M.A. degrees, as well as Fortunately, my work as the only being treated exceptionally well a number well on their way to their Hunter Chair is not a solo engage- but also coming back having learned Ph.D.’s. The vitality of the program ment. I am blessed with a dedicated much about Mormonism and the is directly related to the number and LDS Council, led enthusiastically LDS Church’s various worldwide quality of students we have, thus by Steve Bradford, who recently endeavors. making fundraising for student fel- took over for Randy Huff after he Last, but certainly not least, we lowships our top priority. We need was called to be President of the Los owe the success of Mormon Studies to be competitive with the other top Angeles Temple. Steve is joined by at Claremont to a terrifically bright religion programs in the country a number of capable and energetic and hardworking cadre of students. in terms of the financial assistance council members who have rolled up My most gratifying experiences we can offer current and prospec- their sleeves and really gone to work in recent months have been in the tive students, who represent the in recent months. Their work culti- classroom and in my other interac- next generation of Mormon Studies vating relationships with our many tions with our students. Now in its scholars. generous donors is truly what has fourth year, the Mormon Studies What do I envision for the future [see Future, 3]

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CMSSA Biennial Conference Laying Up in Treasure: Mormons in the Marketplace

he CMSSA biennial conference will be held April to produce their own food and goods, and not to trade T13–14, 2012. Given the recent global economic reces- with “gentiles,” and various towns experimented with the sion, high unemployment rates, and strident political United Order. This separation did not last, however, and debates on issues such as deficits, taxation, and economic throughout the twentieth century, Mormons followed a growth, concerns about money are high on public and path of economic integration. With such an example in personal agendas. From monasticism to communitarian- mind, this conference seeks to explore how Mormons ism to prosperity theology, religion has been an impor- have theorized about and used the goods of this world tant variable in cultural attitudes and ideologies toward personally, socially, and theologically across time and in participation in the marketplace. Brigham Young, for various settings. instance, instructed nineteenth-century Utah Mormons A few of the papers to be delivered include:

The Economics of Zion – Elizabeth Mott, “Mormon Women and the Great – Jason M. Brown, “The Beehive and the Steel Mill: Depression” The Value of Work in Mormon Spiritual Life” – Tamara Wallace Ramirez, “Labor, Beauty, and – Jacob Rennaker, “‘There’s Gold in them Sustainable Community: Needlecraft among Thar Mountains’: Deseret Coins, Religious Latter-day Saint Women” Iconography, and a Theology of Economy” – Brandon Dabling, “Mormons and Mammon: Corporate Leadership Models Hugh Nibley and the Principle of Divine – R. Scott Holley, “Mormons at Harvard Business Economy” School” – Blair Van Dyke, “Reconsidering Consecration: – Daymon Mickel Smith, “The LDS Church Office Distinctive Practices in Nineteenth through Building’s Corporate Culture” Twenty-first Century Mormonism” Social Justice and Egalitarianism Gender and Economics in Mormonism – Christopher T. Henrichsen, “Social Justice Texts – Rachael R. Steineckert, “Gender, Economics, and in the : A Mormon Rawlsian Mormon Theology” Exegesis of Jacob 2 and Mosiah 4” – Thomas G. Evans, “Between Nations, Kindreds, Tongues, and People: Mormonism in the Borderlands” – Rachel Hunt, “A Mormon Subscribe to this newsletter k Critique of Growing Income Inequality in the United States” Get the Claremont Mormon Studies Newsletter in your email inbox by subscribing online. Visit claremontmormonstudies.org and provide your name and email address on the home page to be entered into our news and events system. You will receive the newsletter as a PDF file each semester. Please direct any questions to [email protected].

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Future, continued from page 1 of Mormon Studies at Claremont? In for me to engage the media, includ- be better situated geographically, part, more of the same. The Wom- ing National Public Radio, the Huff- given southern California’s strong en’s Oral History Project, begun by ington Post, and the Washington connections to both Latin America Claudia Bushman and now in the Post. And the list could go on. and Asia. We need to work even capable hands of Lisa Clayton, has But we should not be content to harder at building bridges of conver- already gathered the stories of over rest on our laurels. We have before sation between the more traditional 120 women and will continue to us the singular opportunity of tak- historical approach to Mormon document this rich—and essential— ing the field of Mormon studies to studies and newer methods and ap- aspect of the Mormon experience. the next level. Without neglecting proaches, notably religious studies, Our hope is to not just continue but the essential early decades of the comparative religion, theology, bibli- expand this one-of-a-kind project. Mormon experience, we need to cal studies, gender studies, philoso- The Claremont Mormon Studies push forward into the twentieth and phy, and ethics, all of which we are Student Association, led this year by twenty-first centuries. It’s sometimes well positioned to do here at Clare- Liz Mott, provides both social and easy to forget that the 121 years since mont. And, as always, we need to do intellectual engagement for interest- Wilford Woodruff’s Manifesto con- a better job of situating Mormonism ed students, both LDS and non-LDS. stitutes over two-thirds of Mormon within broader theories, concepts, They have already made the basic history! Furthermore, we often hear and historical narratives. plans for what proves to be an out- about the LDS Church as a global There remain challenges—partic- standing conference in the spring, church, or Mormonism as the next ularly the twin tasks of fundraising aptly themed “Laying up Treasure: world religious tradition. We must and recruiting more students—but Mormons in the Marketplace.” I do a better job at engaging interna- I am energized by the possibilities continue to offer one Mormon Stud- tional Mormonism, both historical ahead. It is not often that one gets ies graduate course every semester, and contemporary, particularly the the opportunity of helping build a as well as anchoring the school’s pro- experiences of “ordinary” people in new venture that has the potential of gram in North American Religions. the pews who are negotiating their making real impact and change, but Recent events, in particular the religious identities in ways that may that is the position we find ourselves Republican presidential campaign, well look different than the Ameri- in. There is work enough to do, but have provided ample opportunities can scene. Fortunately, we could not I for one am excited about what the years ahead will bring. t

Additionally, he called this present With an Eye to the Future moment a “Golden Age” of Mormon Studies because increasing numbers The Claremont Community of Scholars in the of people want to be part of this Golden Age of Mormon Studies conversation, a conversation that is based on “independent inquiry.” by Elizabeth J. Mott and Bryan Cottle Just as support from the Mormon President and Vice President, Claremont Mormon Studies Student Association Scholars Foundation allowed for the flourishing of the Summer Semi- t the May symposium that was ship.” While historians are often nar at BYU, the LDS Council has Aheld in the Springville Museum accused of only writing for each provided for our very own endowed of Art in honor of Richard Bush- other rather than the general public, chair of Mormon Studies at CGU— man’s 80th birthday, the guest of he said, there is a unique camarade- to which we are pleased to welcome honor and our first CGU Mormon rie that develops among them. “In Patrick Mason. So the burgeoning Studies chair said that he sees all writing for each other, we are say- papers and books as “acts of friend- ing ‘Let’s be friends,’” he reflected. [see Eye to the Future, 5]

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Recent and Upcoming Events

November 10, 2011 February 24, 2012

Terryl Givens “Trailing Clouds of Glory: Poetry, Religions in Conversation Conference: Navigating the Theology, and the Preexistence of the Soul” Sacred and Profane in American Popular Culture

k In recent years academics have paid increasing attention to the dynamic between religion and popular December 8, 2011 culture. This development is not surprising given the salience of religion in public consciousness and discourse, Patrick Mason “‘A Bible! A Bible! We Have a Bible’: especially in the United States: from the Broadway Mormonism’s Selective Love Affair with the King musical The Book of Mormon and commercialized James Bible” forms of Kabbalah to the Left Behind book series and Bill Maher’s Religulous, the topic is clearly relevant, not This year Claremont Graduate University is privileged to mention marketable. This conference will address to be the first stop of a national exhibit celebrating the this relationship between religion and popular culture. 400th anniversary of the King James Bible, entitled Admission is free. “Manifold Greatness: The Creation and Afterlife of the King James Bible.” The first portion of the exhibit k showcases material from the Claremont Colleges’ own March 22, 2012 special collections including items significant to Mormon Studies. Highlighting the exhibit is a first edition King Laurel Thatcher Ulrich Lecture James Bible from 1611, a first edition Book of Mormon from 1830, and a first edition Translation Dr. Ulrich will deliver a Mormon Studies lecture on a of the Bible from 1867. The exhibit will run until January topic to be announced. The topic may relate to her book 6th and the Claremont exhibit will run through the end of in progress entitled, “A House Full of Females”: Faith and Jaunary. Both are located at the Honnold/Mudd Library, Kinship in Nineteenth-Century Mormon Diaries, which 800 N. Dartmouth Ave. in Claremont. will be published by Alfred A. Knopf. Patrick Mason, the Howard W. Hunter Chair of k Mormon Studies, gave this lecture for the exhibit on the King James Bible and Mormonism. Visit www.cgu.edu/ April 13–14, 2012 manifold for more information. Mormons in the Marketplace Conference k See our more detailed article on page 2 for more information about this conference. Prof. Givens visits CGU by Jacob Rennaker

erryl Givens has been a busy tions on Mormonism to news staff Claremont Mormon Studies Student Tman. In the thick of his aca- at CNN, Givens made time for a Association members, he discussed demic responsibilities as a professor number of speaking engagements his thought-provoking article on at the University of Richmond and in the Claremont area from No- LDS conceptualizations of atone- between instructional presenta- vember 10–12. First meeting with ment from the forthcoming The [see Givens, 6]

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Eye to the Future, continued from page 3 field of Mormon Studies encompass- We have already discussed essays than the problem of a lack of talent es an ever-widening sphere, as we are by Elizabeth Mott, Patrick Mason, or originality.” witnessing a demand by Mormons, Elisa Pulido, and Terryl Givens. We We agree with David. Hopefully, university faculty members, and are maintaining an informal, lively CMSSA lunch meetings can help sponsors for an independent kind of atmosphere, but also using this time with this challenge. So let us know if Mormon Studies in the Academy. to help each other overcome our you would like to volunteer to lead a This is going to be a year of writ- writing and publishing fears. Our discussion about an excellent article, ing. Our goal for CMSSA this year purpose is not to multiply meet- or present on one of your own works is to pave the path for ourselves as ings and work. We know everyone in progress, or on one of your own developing scholars to rise to the is busy. These lunch discussions successful conference or publishing challenge before us: to master the are simply intended to help us set experiences. The rest of the time will research skills and scholarship that some achievable benchmarks in the be unstructured, and people are free will enable us to independently writing process and to entice us to to come and go as they please. So inquire, to rigorously and self- submit our work to conferences and mark your calendars for Thursdays reflexively study primary texts and journals by showing it is both pos- during the Spring semester at 12:30 data, to accurately represent them in sible and rewarding. at Hagelbarger’s. our narratives, and to insightfully David Golding, our Web devel- We will continue to host brown compare Mormon stories in their so- oper and desktop publisher extraor- bag lunches with guest speakers. cial contexts to those of neighboring dinaire, says this about trying to Thanks to Patrick Mason, Morris religious and cultural traditions. get submissions for the Claremont Thurston, Russ Frandsen, and the Claudia Bushman has always said Journal of Mormon Studies: “One of Miller Eccles Study Group, Terryl that we have to write, to plug away the major hurdles across the board Givens visited the CGU School of at it, to produce articles and essays for grad students and young pro- Religion on Thursday, November 10. that won’t be seen by professors’ fessors is the writing aspect, and As you can see, Thursdays have eyes only. And we by this I mean the been Mormon Studies days at CGU certainly have places “Our goal for CMSSA this macro-writing, not this fall. In addition to the CMSSA to be heard: our new year is to pave the path for micro-level. All lunch, the Mormon Women’s Oral Claremont Journal too often folks just History Project meetings also met on of Mormon Studies ourselves as developing don’t produce, they Thursdays. Patrick Mason’s course, is eager for submis- scholars to rise to the dilly-dally and put “Approaches to Mormonism,” then sions, and CMSSA challenge before us.” off projects. There immediately followed in the same will be hosting a are plenty of good, venue. conference in April publishable ideas. We really are part of something 2012 about Mormons in the mar- This has been the most common extraordinary here in Claremont. ketplace (see page 2). Also, Mormon response as I’ve approached poten- It is a great deal of work, but it’s the women and scholars are awaiting tial contributors to the Journal: ‘Oh, work that makes the success and the publications on the Claremont Mor- I just haven’t tightened it up yet to camaraderie so worthwhile. Rich- mon Women’s Oral History Project. be worthy of publication.’ Folks have ard Bushman saw his 80th birth- To take advantage of these trepidation putting their name next day symposium as a celebration of publishing opportunities, and to be to something that will linger for a “invisible bonds.” We are confident worth the generous investments of long time, especially when career that in the decades ahead, we, who the LDS Council, we have designated prospects matter so much. So our received our start here in Claremont, our weekly CMSSA lunch meetings challenges as a journal involve writ- will enjoy many more such celebra- as research and writing forums. ers’ confidence and production more tions. t

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Claremont Mormon Givens, continued from page 4 Studies Newsletter Oxford Handbook of Mormonism to the John Adams Center’s website at A joint publication of the Mormonism, which he is co-editing www.johnadamscenter.com). with . Following this Givens ended his far-too-brief Howard W. Hunter Chair of rich discussion, he attended Patrick visit by delivering presentations at Mormon Studies Mason’s “Approaches to Mormon- two Miller-Eccles events. Dovetail- ism” seminar, where he discussed ing on the release of his most recent Latter-day Saint Council the methodological approach in his book Parley P. Pratt: The Apostle on Mormon Studies book By the Hand of Mormon and Paul of Mormonism (co-authored Claremont Mormon Studies with Matthew Grow, published by commented on the current trends in Student Association Mormon Studies. Oxford University Press), he titled Shortly thereafter, he delivered his presentation “Parley P. Pratt and k a lecture at CGU’s Albrecht Audi- the Unveiling of Mormonism.” After torium entitled “Trailing Clouds outlining the long and ambivalent Howard W. Hunter Chair of Glory: Poetry, Theology, and the history of Mormonism’s public of Mormon Studies Preexistence of the Soul,” build- perception, Givens illustrated how Patrick Mason ing upon some of the themes he Parley P. Pratt responded to pub- presented in his recent book When lic attacks on Mormonism and its k Souls Had Wings: doctrines. Far from a Pre-Mortal Existence “His visit demonstrated conciliatory char- LDS Council on Mormon Studies in Western Thought acter, Pratt fought President (Oxford University that Mormon Studies fire with napalm. Steve Bradford Press, 2010). In par- continues to be a vibrant In responding to ticular, he addressed and relevant field of claims of “outland- k the various ontologi- ish” religious beliefs, cal questions that inquiry, one whose Pratt did not simply Claremont Mormon Studies the idea of pre- impact will only increase acknowledge those Student Association President existence answered, in the coming years.” beliefs; he embraced and demonstrated them and supple- Elizabeth Mott how this potent idea mented them with Vice-President persisted in both intellectual and additional distinctive beliefs that had Bryan Cottle religious circles. been left unmentioned by detrac- The very next morning, Givens tors. Givens demonstrated the merit k was interviewed on the intersection of such a bold approach to public of religion, politics, and the public doctrinal questions, and discussed sphere for a podcast produced by the how that might play into the pres- John Adams Center for the Study ent discussion of Mormonism in the of Faith, Philosophy, and Public media. Affairs. During this interview, he As always, Terryl Givens left a addressed topics such as the rela- number of provocative questions tionship between the pre-existence, for those who are both faithful and Howard W. Hunter Chair of agency, and political philosophy, thoughtful. His visit demonstrated Mormon Studies just-war theory in Mormon thought, that Mormon Studies continues to 831 N. Dartmouth Ave. and Parley P. Pratt’s approaches be a vibrant and relevant field of Claremont, CA 91711 to anti-Mormon publications (the inquiry, one whose impact will only entire interview is available through increase in the coming years. t

Page 6 http://religion.cgu.edu t http://www.claremontmormonstudies.org Howard W. Hunter Chair of Mormon Studies 831 N. Dartmouth Ave. Claremont, CA 91711