Volume Six, Number Three May-June 1981

Publisher/Editor RELIGION PEGGY FLETCHER 44 Defending the Keystone: The Comparative Method Madison U. Sowell Managing Editor Reexamined SUSAN STAKER OMAN Did Joseph Smith borrow from View of the Hebrews? Associate Editor 45 Defending the Keystone: Book of Mormon Difficulties George D. Smith, Jr. LORIE WINDER B. H. Roberts did not ignore potential problems Assistant Editors 10 Ritual as Theology John L. Sorenson DENNIS CLARK, POETRY Language is not easily shared in a culturally JOHN R. SILLITO, BOOK REVIEWS diverse church MARK THOMAS HISTORY Staff Writers 15 Mormonism in Black Africa: Changing Attitudes RON BITTON Newell G. Bringhurst JAMES CARTWRIGHT and Practices 1830-1981 LORRAINE CHRISTENSEN Reconciling racist stereotypes and Mormon KAYE SENZEE universalism 36 From the Pen of a Cohab Dale Z. Kirby Art Director Prison life of Mormon polygamists RANDALL SMITH CONTEMPORARY 28 The Institutional Church and the Individual: J. Bonner Ritchie Staff How Strait the Gate, How Narrow the Way? KERRY W. BATE The benefits and costs of sustaining a necessary JAN EYRING VINCE ITURBE though uneasy alliance L. JOHN LEWIS 24 Politics of Extremism DAVID C. RACKER Perspectives by Ray R. Canning, Esther Landa, and CHRIS THOMAS W. Cleon Skousen STEPHANIE WOODWARD HUMOR Administrative Assistant 22 Clinical Notes on the RM Tim Torkildson JOANN S. ARBON Stalking the real Real Thing Circulation/Promotion FICTION REBECCAH T. HARRIS 40 Demons Linda Sillitoe Business Manager BRUCE BENNETT POETRY Financial Assistant 27 Group Session Stephen Gould SHAWN GARCIA SCHOW To a Mother in Zion Roger Ken t Petersen National Correspondents The Covenant Susan Howe James W. Lucas, New York City; George D. Smith, San Francisco; Temperate Alison Booth Bonnie M. Bobet and Charlotte Johnson, Berkeley; Joel C. Peterson, Dallas; REVIEWS’ Anne Castleton Busath, Houston; Kris Cassity and Irene Bates, Los Angeles; 58 Bread and Milk and Other Stories by Eileen Gibbons Kump Lisa Thompson Susan Sessions Rugh, Chicago; 59 A Land Called Deseret by Janet Dailey Pamela Gillie Carson Janna Daniels Haynie, Denver; Allen Palmer, Rexburg; 59 To Utah by Edward L. Hart Dian Saderup Anne Carroll P. Darger, Boise; 60 Moods of Late by Marden Clark Dian Saderup Renee Tietjen, Boston; Curtis Bumett, Washington, D.C.; 61Nicholas Groesbeck Morgan: The Man Who Moved City Hall Samuel W. Taylor T. Eugene Shoemaker, Sacramento; by Jean R. Paulson Diane Bennion, Seattle; Sunstone is published six times each year bv $9 for students, missionaries, and retired Kathryn F. Fowles, Menlo Park; the Sunstone Foundation, a non-profit " people. Overseas subscriptions are $15 per corporation with no official connection to year. Sunstone is mailed third class bulk and Stephen Durrant, Provo; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day is not forwarded. Subscribers are Saints. Articles represent the attitudes of the responsible to notify the magazine at least Thomas McAfee, San Diego; writers only and not necessarily those of the one month in advance of address changes. Marjorie Spencer, Ogden; editor/pubIisher or the editorialboard. ~unstone is not responsible for undeLivered Manuscripts for publication should be Issues. Bellamy Brown, Phoenix; submittedin duplicate, typewritten and Send all correspondence and manuscripts to double-spaced, and shodld not exceed six Sunstone, P. O. Box 2272, Salt Lake City, Roger Thomas, Bloomington. thousandwords. For increased readability, Utah 84110 (Phone 801-355-5926). Sunstone discourages manuscripts with Unsolicited manuscripts should be excessive footnoting. accompanied by sufficient return postage. Subscriptions are $12 for one year, $2l for Copyright @ 1981 by the Sunstone two years, and $30 for three years. One-year Foundation. All rigl~ts reserved Printed in Cover Illustration Barbara Bailey subdcnptions are offered at a discount rate of the United States of America.

May/June 1 I am aware that mixing scholar:ship and personal feelings can turn one :into a propagandist rather than a scholar; in fact I have written a book on that very subject (Folklore and Nationalism in Modern Finland). But I reiterate: In this instance I could no longer simF.ly gather rs’Forum my data and then objectively report: "This is the way some Mormons responded to the priesthood revelation." I couldn"t because the Passionate Researchers or Fussy First of all, you are wrong about the way Kingdom matters too much to me, Moralists? we collected the material. We did not because obeying the ’,Savior’s irtjunction The article "The Curse of Cain and other stand before our classes, cheerily ask to love all men matters too much to me, Stories: Blacks in Mormon Folklore" was them, "Do you know any good jokes because doing what I can to bring about a interesting and enlightening. The about the blacks and the priesthood?" world in which that love prewails matters research appears to have been solid. The and then berate them later for giving us more to me, finally, tlhan my reputation topic certainly is timely. what we asked for. Because we had as a scholar. But something keeps bothering me heard so many of the jokes ourselves in Shortly after our article appeared, about the article. Wilson and Poulsen natural contexts (without soliciting them Poulsen and I became aware of a joke seem to me to be of two minds. On the at all), what we did was stand before our that had evidently gained some one hand they seem to be dispassionate classes, tell our students that we were currency: "How do you keep tl-te little researchers, observing and noting the interested in the. general reaction to the black kid quiet in primary? You pin his human condition as manifest in priesthood revelation, and then ask lips to the wall." At the same ti~ne I anecdotes, legends, and folktales. On them to record a nd share with us what listened to a priesthood leader in my the other they appear to be fussy they had heard in their own social ward announce that tlhe music in an moralists. worlds. They kr~ew why we wanted the upcoming social would be very good, material and what we intended to do I can close my eyes and visualize them "not nigger music." I believe--at least I with it. Unfortunately, I know of no way hope--that such attitudes are not standing in front of their classes saying, of collecting unpleasant material--like "Anybody know any good jokes about widespread among us;. But so long as this racist humor--except by asking for they exist in any degree, we cannot lay the negro and the priesthood’?" Then I it. can visualize them getting together over claim to being a Zion people. If using a 7-LIp somewhere, shaking their heads You are correct when you say we tend to what I know through folklore study to and saying, "People willing to accept be both researchers and moralists. When help eradicate these attitudes completely blacks into full fellowship simply would we began the work, I had intended to makes me a "fussy moralist," I guess I’ll not tell this kind of joke." remain as dispassionate about the have to claim the title. On the one hand they say that telling project as you would have us be. But I William A. Wilson jokes, anecdotes, and stories ihelps eventually came to believe that in some Utah State [2Iniversity people articulate, and, hence, adjust to instances, in matters of most new social conditions. But the authors importance, one has to do more than Seduced, Provoked, and In Love then berate the people for doing so. simply observe and report certain SUNSTONE has stirred, ]provoked, features of the human condition--he seduced, aroused, inflamed, excited, Ethnic humor ca~ be cruel, demeaning, must also take a stand. Especially did angered, and even embarrassed me. In and, as Earl Butz,found out, socially ancl this seem true in this case since we were short, I LOVE IT! Almost every issue perso.nally costly. Ronald Reagan got writing mostly to an audience of induces mental "letters to the editor," into some hot water during the New fellow-Mormons and for SUNSTONE, but with my eight children presently Hampshire primary with an ethnic joke. which is interested not just in ranging in age from four months to I haw_~ no quarrel with someone who dispassionate articles, but also in essays eleven years I’ll have to make do with deplores ethnic slurs. aimed at making.: Mormons think about this one generalized letter for the time I guess my problem i,s that I don’t think their own behavior. being. It’s a bright day when the mailbox that the authors make it clear whether contains my SUNSTONE, and with the new they are researchers presenting the I am a committed folklorist, but I am also S. "Review" life will be twice as. bright! results of their observations or are a pair a committed Mormon. In my past Tracy (the man of the house) loves it too. of post-pubescent Ho’l’den Caufields studies of Mormon folklore, I have tried Betsy Hall expressing frustration because they can’t to keep my own feelings out of my Orem, Utah erase all the obscene graffiti in New York analyses. But this time I could no longer do that. This time I had to say: "This is ("Elizabeth H.", my formal signature, City. just didn’t seem to fit the intimatte way I Mary Jane Heatherington wrong! If we really believe that all of us feel about SUNSTONE. Lawrence, Kansas are literally brothers and sisters, descended from the same heavenly parents, then we must no longer demean Beer for Man Reply to Ms. Heatherington our brothers and sisters by behaving in The May-June 1979 issue of SUNSTONE Thank you for sending me a copy of your this way!" To have looked at the featured a discourse by Elder Stephen L. letter to SUNSrONE. What I’ll say in evidence before me and to have Richards preceded by three paragraphs response to your letter is, of course, my responded in any other way would to me on "Word of Wisdom Findings" which view only--I cannot speak for Poulsen. have been unthinkable. have caused us to reflect upon the

2 Sunstone popularly held current interpretation of referring to the beer drinking incident been especially distressed over the fact the Word of Wisdom. have been deleted from the modern that so many of our Elders out in the field Elder Richards stated: "First, I hold that version of the History of the Church.) are using such things as Jack West’s it is entirely compatible with the genius The vacillations in findings of medical slides to "prove" the Book of Mormon. of the Church to change its procedure experimentation are well-known, and When they meet up with someone who and interpretations as changes in we are not prepared to state that the final knows something about New World thought, education, and environment of word on the healthfulness of moderate archaeology, they quickly find out just people from time to time seem to alcohol consumption is in, but perhaps how poorly done the Jack West slides warrant, provided, of course, that no there is now sufficient favorable are. The works of Cheesman and violence is done to the elevated concepts evidence to merit a second look at the Farnsworth and Priddis are equally of truth which lie at the basis of our basis for our present interpretation of the worthless when you’re dealing with work .... Old conceptions and Word of Wisdom. We note that the only someone who is familiar with New traditional interpretations must be beverages specifically endorsed by the World archaeology. I hope Raish’s article influenced by newly discovered Lord in the document are mild drinks will cause at least some of our evidence. Not that ultimate fact and law made of barley. There is evidence (Paul missionaries to stop using the works he change, but our understanding varies Peterson, "An Historical Analysis of the analyzed. I also hope that once they have with our education and experience." Word of Wisdom," BYU History done this, that they will then begin to use Department, MA Thesis, 1972) that the some of the real scholarly works on Book The "Word of Wisdom Findings" cited early Saints associated "strong" drinks of Mormon archaeology that have been two recent studies at the Universities of with distilled spirits, and "mild" drinks done by such men as Jakeman, Pittsburgh and Minnesota which with fermented drinks. Over time, Sorenson, and Norman. The work of indicated that moderate drinking (of particularly with the advent of the these men is sound and reliable, and our alcoholic beverages) tends to be Prohibition Era, the word "alcoholic" missionaries would do well to start using beneficial to the heart, reducing blood began to be substituted for the word it. pressure, cholesterol accumulation, etc. "strong" in discourses about the Word of Elder Michael T. Griffith Harvard University and the University Wisdom. Unless there has been some Texas Dallas Mission of Hawaii have reached similar divine clarification regarding the kind of conclusions in favor of moderate mild beverages made of barley that the Equal Rights on the Pioneer Trail drinking, reporting that limited amounts Lord has endorsed, we suggest that a While reading 723 pioneer journals of alcohol consumption contribute to careful reevaluation be undertaken with during my recent sabbatical in Utah to longevity. respect to our church position on the Word of Wisdom. research a new book, I came across an We turn to Section 89 of the D&C and see interesting and revealing account left that while we are counseled against the Lest our interest in this matter be behind by one of our stronger minded (internal) use of strong drinks and hot dismissed with knee-jerk ad hominem grandmothers. It pertains to some early drinks, we are also encouraged to use innuendos, we affirm that neither of the Mormon female thinking about equal mild drinks made of barley. To our authors of this communication has rights. friends uninitiated to the present dogma partaken of alcoholic beverages of Mormonism, this is clearly an (although we have, on occasion, imbibed In May of 1846 the 44-year-old Louisa endorsement of beer, which is defined as limited quantities of Barnes Pratt was getting ready to quit a mild drink made of barley. Our postum, o. lukewarm, of course!) Nauvoo and follow the first Pioneers perplexing protestations to them that the west. She had been born in Lord was advocating the use of Postum David F. Babbel, Ph.D. Massachusetts, become a member of the Berkeley, California Episcopal Church, had taught school in (a hot drink containing no barley) strike Vermont and New Hampshire, and in these friends as an affront to the English Daniel W. Marcum, LLM 1831 had married Addison Pratt. They language. (The barley-Postum Salt Lake City, Utah connection is common Sunday School joined the Restoration in 1837 and folklore. Note that the D&C says nothing eventually moved to Nauvoo where, in about caffeine, but decries the use of hot Missionary Distressed 1843, Addison was called on a mission to drinks. In light of medical evidence I was glad to see Martin Raish’s critique Tahiti. reported by the Washington Star early in (SUNSTONE 6:1) of some of the more As a lone female preparing to go west, 1971 that the heat content of tea and amateurish works on Book of Mormon Louisa wondered out loud "why those coffee is far more damaging than the archaeology. It is high time that someone who had sent my husband to the end of caffeine, our friends’ objections may be stepped up and pointed out the the earth did not call to inquire whether I on target.) Moreover, either Joseph erroneous nature of some of the more could prepare myself for such a perilous Smith, Jr. and other leaders of the popular books supposedly dealing with journey." She was informed, "Sister Church were disobedient or interpreted evidences for the Book of Mormon. It is Pratt, they expect you to be smart differently the meaning of the clause on books such as Cheesman’s that have enough to go yourself without help, and barley beverages and strong drinks, for virtually crippled Book of Mormon even to assist others." Whereupon this they continued to drink beer long after studies in the past. While such amateurs particularly strong-willed and the word of Wisdom was given. (E.g., as Cheesman, West, and Priddis are self-reliant sister concluded to" show under date of June 1, 1844, in Joseph hailed as the Church’s "Book of Mormon them what I can do." Smith’s history he stated: "They went to scholars," the real pros, such as Perhaps the best example of her John P. Greene’s, and paid him and [akeman, Sorenson, Norman, and many others, are virtually unheard of by the character in this respect is revealed in her another brother $200. Drank a glass of account of what happened on the beer at Moessers. Called at William average Latter-day Saint. This is tragic. evening of June 6, 1846, about 100 miles Clayton’s...’" The seven words As a missionary for the Church I have west along the road from civilization to

May/June 3 sundown, somewhere in the Mormon Lake City to explore possibilities of ways calculated to embarrass or "put Mesopotamia of wild Iowa. acquiring it for the RLDS Archives. I down" the LDS Church and/or its "Last evening the ladies met to organize. did NOT take a Book of members. This grieves me, andL I want Mrs. Isaac Chase was called to the chair. Commandments (value: $10,000, not you to know that I shall do all I can, both She "was also appointed President by $20-25,000!) with me at that time. in writing and in public ministry in the unanimous vote. Mrs. L[ouisa] B. Pratt, Rather I wen ~ there mostly to try to RLDS Church, to steer its members away counsellor and scribe. Several determine whether the blessing was from such pointless petulance. resolutions were adopted: 1st authentic. I did not anticipate that Richard P. Howard Resolved: that when the brethren call on such determination could be made in Church Historian us to attend prayers, get engaged in one day. I returned to Independence Reorganized Church of Jesus; Christ conversation and forget what they called that same day (2 March) to engage of Latter Day Saints us for, that the sisters retire to some handwriting’experts not related in Independence, Missouri convenient place, pray by themselves any way to eii:her of the two churches. and go about their business. 2nd. If the 2. I called Hofmann on 3 March, and Bet on the Right Horse men wish to hold control over women, we agreed that he would come to I wish to make some observations on the let tk~em be on the alert. We believe in Independence on 17 March for conclusions of the essay "Mormons equal rights. Meeting adjourned, sine submission of the document to Against Hitler" in Nov./Dec. issue of die." Louisa eventually reached the handwriting analysis. This meant, to Sunstone. Valley safely, joined her husband on his me, that his previously written It is true that Huebener’s situation was second mission to Tahiti, and died in commitment (his 24 February letter) rather hopeless.., but did he actually 1880. to bind himself to RLDS options until hope that by his actions alone tihe Nazi 8 March was now to be extended to at regime would collapse? Of course not. I Stanley B. Kimball least 17 March. assume he hoped that his efforts would Southern Illinois Uniw_~rsity make a contribution to a larger at Edwardsville 3. Meanwhile, LDS church interest undermining activity in Germany and The Rock was growing, to the extent that on abroad, which, combined with the Allied James B. Allen’s and John Harris’ Friday, 6 March, without notifying efforts, would lead to a rapid destruction delightful article on LTM graffiti brought me, Hofmann sold the document to of Nazism. Huebener’s case should not a flood of memories from my own stay in LDS officials., also without telling be presented as an isolated case, but them of his binding commitment to must be seen in a much larger context of the "]Rock." As a returned "Frenchie," me. I learned of this transaction that anti-fascist underground activi~fies, howe.ver, I feel constrained to note that same day. which have been an important help for most of those masterworks were penned[ the Allied powers, and in some cases by Elders in the Spanish ranks--and 4. On 9 March I mailed a letter to decisive (Yugoslavia!!!). they always were the rowdiest! Hofmann, objecting to his modus David John Buerger operandi, sending a copy to Donald In some circumstances it is advisable to Campbell, California Schmidt of the LDS Archives. follow a policy of "close-mouthed Chagrined at learning the LDS neutrality," say the authors of the essay. Church had acquired the blessing First of all I cannot see how anybody Hidden World under those conditions, Schmidt and can--even from a strictly tactic~d I thoroughly enjoyed the article on the Olson on 13 March began the process viewpoint--be neutral in this world. In LTM.. I remember discovering or at least of trying to transfer ownership of the our first pre-existent estate we could not being informed of the hidden world on blessing to the RLDS Church. This be neutral either. What seems to be the other side of the ceiling. And our culminated in my return to Salt Lake "close-mouthed neutrality" may very good friends, members of the same City on 18 March, this time with a well turn out to be disguised ideology, district, came into our room not only to Book of Commandments, plus the shot through with explicit and implicit check: out our ceiling but to display with text of a previously agreed upon value judgements, and controversial pride their contribution, Mr. Begay and conditional agreement. One normative claims. The attitude of Otto etc., which made your front cover. stipulation of that agreement was that Berndt wasn’t neutral, although it Val Larsen RLDS officials would have ninety seemed so, but was based on an explicit Hobbs, N.M. days in which to authenticate the value appraisal of the Nazi regime, and document, with sole power to what he did was right, considering the abrogate the agreement if such circumstances he was in. Events Clarified authentication could not be achieved. What about a threatened survival of You did a perceptive, insightful story on The agreement was signed and the individuals or the Chm’ch itself? In the the January 17, 1844, Blessing of Joseph exchange made on 19 March. case of Nazi Germany" it seemed Smith III by his father, Joseph Smith, Jr. I I note your eloq~.~ent plea for a more probable that Nazism in the long run write to clarify a few items which responsible and enlightened reaction to would replace all chtu:ches, once perhaps you got from your Utah Holiday these events by the church. And while German world hegemony be source, and which represent a distortion you point your concern to the LDS established. Does this, future state of of how the RLDS Church came to own Mormon Church specifically, I wish to affairs not justify any action which aims this document. go on record with a concern of my own at the undermining of such a system? It 1. Hoffman phoned my office on 24 regarding the proper response of the certainly is an honor to give one’s life in February asking to trade the blessing RLDS Church. Already I have noted such a struggle for freedom "we hold so for a Book of Commandments. On 2 some unfortunate local responses in dear." Of course one must be careful not March (not twenty-four hours later) Ii which members have shown a tendency to let fellow members run unnecessary met him in the LDS Archives in Salt to use the newly discovered document in risks, but this doesn’t mean we must

4 Sunstone leave it up to others to do the dangerous years, but dishonest and corrupt men bloodshed. Where stops our work and join in only when victory is supported by our western democratic leaders responsibility in the crimes our secure. with the misleading argument that these democratically chosen leaders commit Another reason to support actively regimes are at least anti-communist, abroad? Are we convinced that our pro-freedom resistance activities is that have systematically repressed these hands are clean? If it’s the president’s with a plural participation they are not trials to establish at least an apparently responsibility only, then we admit that left up to an extreme minority, which in democratic procedure with much there is no real difference between our future may well become a next tyrant, bloodshed, under the pretext that democratic systems and the Soviet deciding all by itself what the new "communists were ready to take over to Union, for instance, whose inhabitants society will be like. Participation in eliminate democracy." Here applies cannot be held responsible for the liberation movements will have a what the late bishop Romero of E1 actions of their leaders they did not balancing effect on the outcome. This Salvador said: "The violence of an choose. argument holds for present situations in insurrection is not worse than the violence of repression." These truthful This shows how the wicked may rule, countries where human rights are not while we think we are following respected. In January 1977 Argentinian words were sealed with his own blood. parents of dismissed and tortured Now the bloodshed continues, both in Huebener’s lead and commitment to political prisoners directed a letter to the Bolivia as in this latter small Central freedom. The way we as citizens American country. Thousands are killed perceive things is much more decisive Roman Catholic bishops in this country, than the way things really are. Our asking why only Marxists seem to be by the regular armed forces "in order to determined to offer their lives for suppress communism." A paranoid democratically chosen leaders abuse our U.S. president, a "good, honest, and naive belief that our perception and freedom and popular well-being, while reality overlap. Christians seem to be more preoccupied wise man," chosen by 70 percent of the with heaven. I believe the risk of being Utahn Mormons, supports a What about "close-mouthed neutrality" persecuted as a church by an existing government which deliberately commits in E1 Salvador now, and in Guatemala oppressive regime doesn’t outweigh the genocide on its own people. "But what tomorrow, or Haiti, or Argentina, Chile, future possibility of being outlawed by a matters human life, especially when it or the Philippines, etc, etc. Are 45 years newcoming anti-clerical regime of isn’t American human life, if we can of "close-mouthedly" tolerated Somoza orthodox Marxists. Let me illustrate this make a strong fist again towards the dictatorship preferable to two years of with an example: Cuba shouldn’t have Soviets, showing them that we are struggle for more freedom? The people become anti-clerical if churches would seriously meaning what we say." themselves will decide when the not have taken such an Thousands of landless peasants are moment has come to stand up, and we as anti-revolutionary stand, including the sacrificed on the altar of academicians or religious leaders can’t Mormon Church who had one of its anti-communism; peasants who only pretend to provide prescriptive rules, apostles in U.S. government! If, on the want social justice, education, and since we live "out of context." What we contrary, a more realistic attitude had alimentation; peasants who don’t even may try is to go and stand in the shoes of been taken by Christians, including their know who Marx is are for convenience’s those mothers and fathers, whose participation in Castro’s movement, sake stigmatized as "communists" and children are dismissed and are told to quite another result might have come thus free as a bird.., to be killed. "wait a few years." out. There was a chance missed and now People who are misled by such Our acts may very well become tenable, the only thing left for us is to lament with hopeful and life-giving when they are all those who were blinded by "open-mouthed" demagogy of their elected president symbolize the tragedy performed in a self-conscious network of commercial interests (greed) or thought purposeful strategy. it was better to follow a "close-mouthed of mankind. They do not see that their neutrality." freedom is only one side of the medal, Eric van Empel whose reverse is tyranny and Eindhoven, The Netherlands A Dutch proverb says: "One must bet on the right horse," which means that one must analyze the processes of society and face its challenges and answer the question: which direction is society going to take and how can I influence circumstances to the better? Christians must actively "bet on the right horse," and have their influence and _ ne Fold commitment to righteousness be felt with those who took the lead in a process of liberation, whether they are communists or not. We at SU~VSrONE would like to welcome our reviews in New Review of Books and new editor of the One Fold section-the Of course we must "seek for and uphold Religion and Anglican Theological Reverend Anne Thieme-and introduce her to Review. honest and wise men," but this counsel our readers. She and her husband Richard are sounds a little out of context in those co-rectors of St. James Episcopal Church in AlcoholismmNo Respecter of Churches countries where there is no way Salt Lake City. She received a BA and MA in anymore to let one’s vote be heard like Alcoholism is now considered by leading English literature from Northwestern health and medical authorities to be the we can in our western democracies. In University in Chicago and a Masters of third gravest health problem in America. Bolivia, for instance, there have been Theological Science from Seabu ry- Wes tern several elections held in the last two It affects 10-30 percent of alcohol users Theological Seminary. She has published directly, and at least four times that

May/June 5 number indirectly through the Thirdly, because alcoholism is a chronic, interventions, to break the conspiracy of consequent disruption of personal progressive disease, it is 100 percent fatal silence within the home and thereby to relationships. Only heart disease and if it remains untreated. But it is, in fact, lead the alcoholic into treatment. cancer outrank it in their power to treatable. The nationally renowned Roman Catholic priest Fr. Vaughan devastate the lives of the American Johnson Institute in Minnesota claims a Quinn, himself a recovering alcoholic, people. 67-79 percent recovery rate runs the Sacred Heart Rehabilitation (maintenance of sobriety) for those Center for Alcoholics in Detroit, As a disease, alcoholism is no respecter patients gradua ling from their pioneer of church doctrine and moral codes. Michigan--a non-sectarian, program in the treatment of alcoholics self-supporting institution which treats Statistics gathered by local governments and their families. across the country indicate that no 1500 alcoholics and drug addicts a year. matter what stance predominant An institutional ,church, committed to an In an effort to reinforce the idea that it is religious or cultural majorities might active ministry c,f love and service and possible to have fun while sober, the take towards drinking, the per capita the well being of its membership, stands Center owns and operates a fleet of five indicators as to levels of substance abuse in a unique posil:ion visa vis alcoholism. antique fire trucks. Typical of many such do not vary. It is likely that at least seven It has a core of ntinisters drawn into centers, the majority of Fr. Quinn’s staff percent of every church congregation in many contacts with a broad range of are themselves recovering alcoholics and the country, be it Roman Catlholic, people; their role within the community drug addicts. gives them the prerogative to reach out MetEodist, or Mormon, are victims of In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the De Paul alcoholism. directly to those in need. Unlike other members of the "helping professions," a Rehabilitation Hospital hosts a program One explanation for this, according to church’s minister--whether lay person run by Dr. Roland Harrington which Ken Odell, director of the Salt Lake or ordained, formally or informally specializes in the treatment of County Alcohol and Drug Services,* is trained--is bound by no ethical "impaired" physicians. Many’ alcoholic that the highest risk segments of the injunction to await the victim’s own cry or drug dependent physicians are drinking population as a whole are those for help. He or she is free to act referred to De Paul’s program by the individuals whose families of origin responsibly on Eis/her own initiative. Wisconsin State Medical Socie~f, which were alcoholic or were teetotalers. Thus calculates that at least 15 percer~t of religious or cultural prohibitions against On an institutional level, many physicians are so impaired. drinking in one sense aggravate natural. church-affiliated hospitals across the In addition to treatment programs, many susceptibilities within theoretically country run alcc.holic treatment churches also sponsor educational abstinent populations. In this context, it programs on boi:h inpatient and programs on the local, regional., and is encouraging to discover that many outpatient bases.. Typically these national level. For example, the church groups are responding to this programs follow the model set by the Episcopal Church in America went on probl[em. Johnson Institute founded in record at its General Convention in 1979 Minneapolis by The Rev. Vernon supporting such programs as well as the In the past, alcoholism has not been Johnson, a recovering alcoholic. This understood as a disease but rather as a work of specialized agencies within the facility combines initial detoxification, field. It also pledged to reexamine its characterological disorder to be treated intensive group and individual therapy by moral exhortation and appeals to personnel policies regarding alcoholism sessions, and a~. intensive education and assigned a staff officer to implement common sense. Even when diagnosed as program on the nature and progression the primary problem, such diagnoses national programs. These include of the disease. The patient’s spouse and national mailings, guJidance for regional were rarely followed by any prescribed children are key participants as well, mode of treatment at all. And in most programs, and the encouragement of cases, because of the moral stigma supporting the patient’s personal further training for clergy to deal more recovery and in addition understanding effectively with the disease. The CAP attac]hed, alcoholism was simply the their own contributions to the impaired hidden factor which disrupted otherwise program (described above) was singled family system. They, in a sense, recover out as an exemplary regional project. routine treatments for a variety of as well. Such patient programs normally physical and emotional problems. require a six-week residency followed by In the Roman Catholic hierarchy, such a two-year, after-care program involving programs are typically run on a regional During the last twenty years, the continued group therapy and support. basis. Thus, within the diocese of Salt growing consensus has been that Lake City, there have been a variety of alcoholism itself is a primary disease, A successful ministry modeled on this parish education and support groups for with particular symptoms and clearly program is Church Alcohol Projects families of alcoholics established and identifiable phases. As a result, (CAP), founded and sponsored by also retreats for victims themselves. physicians and therapists are now well Christ Episcopal Church, Shaker aware that until an alcoholic’s alcoholism Heights, Ohio..Clergy are educated in Within both the Roman Catholic and itself is being treated effectiw,qy, the techniques of intervention Episcopal Churches, there are national secondary problems such as a diseased developed by tt’Le Johnson Institute. In organizations for recovered alcoholic liver or emotional stress cannot be dealt addition, CAP sponsors an exceptionally clergy. These groups help members with successfully. complete Literature Center and runs maintain their own sobriety but also serve as springboards for extending the Secondly, it is now broadly recognized Family Hope Classes for nonalcoholics, ministry to other sufferers. that denial and impaired judgment are who in a sense also suffer from the characteristics of the illness itself. illness. The function of Family Hope Many American churches also lend Consequently, the traditional view that Classes is first to help nonalcoholics informal support to t]he one ought to wait until alcoholics "come understand that they can get better non-denominational National Council to their senses" or "bottom out" may whether the alcoholic chooses to or not on Alcoholism, which provide,,; a well result in their death. and second, through encouraging network of education., research, and

6 Sunstone community services including the Surely alcoholism should no longer be accepted," assured Arrington. operation of alcoholism information considered a matter of poor conduct or centers, diagnostic and treatment clinics, apostasy--it is a deadly disease touching Mormon Disneyland? and the procurement of hospital beds for the life of every church in this country. Mormons in the Interior Department are the treatment of acute alcoholism in The means and the tools, the mandate wearing small lapel buttons sporting general hospitals. In addition, many and the opportunities to respond are all pictures of the Washington Temple, churches use their facilities and ready to hand. according to "The Ear" in the Washington newsletters to help local support and *Ken Odell, Director of the Salt Lake County Star, 23 February 1981. Calling it "a therapy groups and such national Alcohol and Drug Services, telephone Groundswell of Nouveau Reverence," organizations as Alcoholics interview with the Rev. Anne Thieme, May the column reported that "an Interior Anonymous, A1-Anon, and Ala-Teen. 29, 1981. Evangelical Christian greeted an Interior Morman’s [sic] button: ’My, isn’t that nice. When did you go to Disneyland?’ " The column, in an apparent allusion to new found Mormon political power in the Reagan administration, concludes, "Come, darlings. Play nicely. It’s a long four years." LDS Help Refugees While in Salt Lake City for April Conference, Marion D. Hanks of the First Quorum of the Seventy told the Salt Lake Rotary Club about Church efforts to Genealogy Pileup Rexburg, Idaho. Assistant station John Brockert, director of the Utah help refugees in Southeast Asia. manager Vince Gregg and station Mormon teachers and social workers are Bureau of Vital Statistics, (Deseret News, manager Loie Jones decided that many 14 April) says efforts by Mormons to of the songs being played on the air were instructing thousands of refugees in complete their four-generation large teaching sheds in a refugee transit not appropriate for a Church-owned camp in Panatnikom in Chonburi .genealogy project by July I has resulted radio station. With approval of faculty in an eight- to ten-week backlog. And Province, 100 miles from Bangkok in adviser John Haeberli, several students Thailand. Others work at camps in Hong additional time is taken by callers went through the records. "It took us complaining that it is taking too long to more than 50 hours to check each record Kong. get the records searched. As of April 1, for references to sex, drugs, profanity, The Church works at acculturating the the Bureau had 3,800 requests on hand. and anything that could possibly refugees to Western lifestyles, while influence even one of our students to other groups handle medical needs. He Ban Leone’s Book break the moral code in any way," noted that "the church made a strict Mormon Fred Moser recently asked the asserted Gregg. commitment that there would be no Dubuque, Iowa, city library to ban Mark proselyting of any kind in the camp" P. Leone’s Roots of Modern Mormonism From a record collection totaling 870, the (Deseret News, 8/9 April). (Salt Lake Tribune, 11 April). "I just don’t group discarded or smashed 451, despite pleas from some students who wanted think this is the type of thing that public Atheists Congregate in Utah money should buy to disseminate to the rejects. "They were trash," said It looked like a family fight April 17-19, local taxpayers," he argued. "I don’t Jones, "and we decided to keep trash off our programs." However, Gregg when the Annual American Atheist think my tax dollars should buy books Convention convened in Salt Lake City. filled with lies." The book is inaccurate, conceded, "We’re kind of low on music. But we’ll make it, and we’ll feel good Choosing Salt Lake City for the he says, and portrays Mormons as convention, Madalyn Murray O’Hair, "disloyal to the United States." about what we have done. That is worth a lot." founder of the Society of Separationists, Elizabeth Donnan, city Library Director, charged Utah was the most religiously originally rejected the request but upon Sesquicentennial History Project repressive ~tate in the union next to Moser’s appeal appointed a "Members of the Mormon History Arkansas. l~ut most media attention five-member review panel, which Association will want to be informed that centered on O’Hair’s renegade son, includes one Mormon, Barry Porter, the so-called Sesquicentennial History William J. Murray, founder of the Faith Iowa State Librarian. The panel will read project, as announced in 1972, has been Foundatior~, a born-again Christian the book as well as comments by the modified," announced Leonard J. organization. While the atheists were author, a University of Maryland Arrington in the February issue of the "de-baptizing" and auctioning off anthropology professor, and the Mormon History Association Newsletter. garments, this Murray was holding publisher, Harvard University Press. A The sixteen-volume history will not be prayer vigils and responding to phone public hearing is also scheduled, the first published under LDS sponsorship. Each calls generated by a quarter page ad in for this purpose in Dubuque in more individual author will decide how his or the Salt Lake Tribune. Another Murray than a decade. her book will be published. Some son, John Garth, called the convention a volumes may be published by other trementious success: "We got a lot of Record Breaking Binge presses prior to publication by the recognition. We got the Mormons "A giant in trying to uphold the Deseret Book Company. "We continue talking’about us. We wanted to raise standards of the LDS Church," to expect that all of the volumes will be some awareness that there are atheists according to a recent Church News article, published under the most appropriate throughout the country, even in Utah." is Radio Station KVIK at Ricks College in auspices as soon as completed and The convention program sported a

May/June 7 caricature of the Salt Lake Temple with Deseret News, andNew York Times, as well the Council of the Twelve Apostles, who Mickey Mouse on top blowing a horn. as blurbs on the CBS Evening News and delivered the keynote address at the However, only two speeches during the National Public Radio’s "All Things Fourth Annual Meeting of the Utah three-day affair specifically discussed Considered." A::ticles also appeared in Association of Women held in Salt Lake Mormonism--G.T. Harrison attacking Time, Newsweek, and Utah Holiday. City April 24 and 25. what he called "Mormon Fables" and The Reorganized Church members were That music, which portrayed sex, drugs, Opal Fisher, widow of Vardis Fisher, pictured as "Humble, Happy, and rebellion in a favorable light, caused speaking on "The Saga of Mormon Documented," by the New York Times. a decline in moral values, an increase in Deceit in Respect to Vardis Fisher." In self-centered thinking, and a her c][osing remarks O’Hair called "Controlled elation" is how one RLDS described their reaction. "It’s wonderful, proliferation of troubles for the United Mormonism "the most dangerous States, he said. "I witnessed the early religion in America." but we knew it all along," said Eugene Austin, RLDS official. He added that he developing of protests on college hoped it would enable the RLDS "to be campuses, protests against the Vietnam Beehive Business War, with protestors using Beatle-type "Always intriguing and occasionally seen in its own identity, not as an offshoot of Mormonism." music to express their feelings against stunning," said the Washington Post’s our government, against our ~military, Hank: Burchard about "The Grand The Utah Mormons pointed out that and against authority in general. This Beeh:ive Exhibition." Assembled by Hal Joseph Smith ha~d mentioned several spread into college classrooms and Cannon, folk-art coordinator for the different methods of succession, opened an era of criticism of almost Utah Arts Council, the exhibit opened 24 including apostolic succession and lineal anything that was pa~,’t of the past. April for an eight-month run at the succession. They also suggested it was a Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery in father’s blessing to his son, not Urging Utah women to take a lead in Washington, D.C. raising pure and wholesome young instructions to the Church. "Among the people, Haight told them: "You have The show, exhibited at the Salt Lake Art rank and file Mormons," said Jan such a profound influtence in ethics, Center last fall, explores beehive Shipps, past president of the Mormon civility, the culture of our peop]~e, and symbolism in Utah’s folk, commercial, Historical Association, "this will be like a the refinement that has been slowly religious, and political art. "The hive, pebble hitting water--cause a few slipping from us." He praised the which once symbolized the defensive ripples and drop quietly to the bottom." Association and expressed optimism for and secretive bastion of the Mormons the future because there seerns to be a against the world, now appears on the Choir Sings for Abandoned Children new national pride and faith ~n eternal Great Seal of Utah as emblematic of the "We agree that ~;esolving the problem of principles. industriousness of the now-secular the abandoned .children is critical to the state," writes Burchard. But the symbol future of the western hemisphere," Well Placed Mormons in Utah really represents the "land of commented Tabernacle Choir president "Enormously conservative, enormously milk and honey," says the April Oakley S. Evans when announcing the Republican, and increasingly well Smithsonian. It was "chosen to represent Choir’s benefit concert in Brazil on behalf located in this new Republican era." the industry and community spirit of the of the new Research Center for the Study That is the Mormon church, according to Mor~non pioneers," says Americana. of the Problem of Abandoned Children. a fifteen-page feature in the "The beehive is an unmistakable phallic Washingtonian. Such success springs symbol," says Sarah Booth Conroy in The first Week of Music of the Americas, naturally from Mormon beliefs, for the Washington Post, "perhaps an effort May 24-30, found the Choir in Sao Paulo, Mormonism is "the American religion, a to superimpose a male domination on Brazil, singing in the 12,000-seat religion sprung from the soil of the New the bee’s matriarchal society," and adds Ibirapuera Auditorium in a concert to be World," one that emphasizes patriotism "the Mormons managed to forget that beamed via sat~.llite to various countries. and the belief that this countTy is a the beehive is ruled by a queen bee." The Research Center to be funded by the "choice land." Though Conroy dismisses the objects as concerts will be established in Sao Paulo Mormonism succeeds because it "a tawdry lot," noting "they photograph at the Mackenzie Institute and will be combines "an unbending doctrine with better than they are," she gives high responsible for gathering reliable the hope of material advancement, to praise to Cannon and David Pendell’s statistics on the problem of abandoned proffer the hope that rewards of book, The Grand Beehive (a "brilliant children, analyzing the causes, effects, righteousness will not come solely in essay") and says Brent Herridge’s and consequences, and establishing heaven, to hold out to those who hunger photography is "excellent." pilot projects to resolve the situation. in spirit not only a Christ but also a J. Estimates of the number of abandoned Willard Marriott." National Press Notes Joseph’s Blessin:g children in all of Latin America range up Material success translates into a "Prophets can be an inconvenience to to 80 million. "One of the serious growing Mormon population in the their followers," noted the New York problems in South America," concluded nation’s capital. "Today, Washington Times of 22 March, "especially if they Mr. Evans, "is-~he abandonment of has the highest concentration of commit their thoughts to paper." The children by parents untrained in the Mormons east of the Mississippi River," subject of the discussion was the recently skills needed for employment or survival maintains the feature. They "are well discovered blessing Joseph Smith gave in metropolitart areas." (California placed in Washington, and are in the to his son, Joseph Smith III. The Utah Intermountain News, 23 April 1981.) very fabric of the place." Eleven Mormons were pictured as "mildly Mormons now serve in Congress. Other discomfited" (New ¥brk Times) and Beatles Caused Troubles influential Mormons include: L. Ralph "subdued" (Salt Lake Tribune, 20 March Many of today’s problems can be traced Mecham, Washington Stake p~:esident, 1981). Front page articles appeared in the to the music of the Beatles in the early now a representative for Anaconda Los Angeles Times, Salt Lake Tribune, 1960s, according to David B. Haight of Company; Jack Carlson, heacl of the

8 Sunstone National Assodation of Realtors; Jack described the missionary experience as a reaffirm the Church’s patriotism in the Anderson, "next to the "rigid rite of passage" and concluded it is face of charges," commented Scott Lloyd Osmonds... perhaps the most famous forever timely because "companions in a letter to the Deseret News (May 14), Mormon"; Dale Van Atta, Anderson’s from the celestial kingdom will call on "but the kindest thing I can say about his chief reporter; Lee Roderick, non-Mormons in the lower realms of statement is that it is overly simplistic." Washington reporter for the Scripps heaven, offering them one last chance to Lloyd pointed out that the statement League newspaper chain; Merlo Pusey, accept the latter-day gospel of Joseph "implies blind acceptance of any editorial writer for the Washington Post; Smith." conceivable military adventure Glenn T. Potter, formerly a counselor in "A comfortable search for roots," read undertaken in the name of national the Washington Stake presidency; the front page of the travel section in the defense or patriotism." He suggested William D. Ladd, former Washington Milwaukee Journal March 29th. Heritage that a German citizen under Hitler Stake president and congressional Tours, for a modest fee, will shepherd would not have violated Church liaison for the Agriculture Department; the uninitiated genealogist to Salt Lake doctrine by resistance and said "I think and Max Reed, director of personnel in City, give free classroom instruction in within the Church there must be a spirit the Department of Agriculture. genealogical techniques, and provide a of tolerance for those of us who could not According to the Washingtonian, Reed special "Before You Come" packet for bring ourselves to participate in mass saw to it that the "Mormon network" murder or genocide, even though we built by former Agriculture Secretary the would-be sleuth. "Booze or no booze," the Journal concludes, believe we could be excused for it in the Ezra Taft Benson "stayed well greased." "evidently it’s all healthy. According to hereafter." Other departments with powerful Salt Lake City’s record keepers, the city Mormons include the Central possesses the nation’s highest birth rate Man Fires Visitors Center Intelligence Agency, the Federal Bureau and its lowest death rate." Charges of terrorism and arson have of Investigation, and military been filed against Max Asay, a intelligence. Robert Bennett, with "Joseph Smith was one of dozens of 40-year-old Salt Lake City man accused "shadowy connections throughout the con-men working the American frontier of starting a fire in the Temple Square intelligence community," is son of in the 19th century who found religion a Visitors Center. According to complaints former Utah Senator Wallace Bennett; sure route to personal aggrandizement," signed by Fire Lt. Kenneth D. Dailey Marvin M. Poulton, first counselor in a is how D.L. Kent in "Joseph’s Myth: A before Fifth Circuit Judge Melvin H. Virginia stake, "is in military Fact Sheet on the Mormon Church" Morris, Asay was in the visitors center 30 intelligence." dismisses the life of the first Mormon minutes before the fire, and later came "There are a lot of Mormons in the CIA prophet. Kent’s article, published in the back, causing a "ruckus." and FBI," agrees Dale Van Atta. April issue of American Atheist, attacks "They’re represented the origins of the Church, dismisses The fire caused an estimated $3,000 disproportionately. You have a better Joseph Smith as insane, objects to damage to curtains and portions of the chance of getting in if you’re Mormon, Mormon treatment of homosexuals, says walls. Asay was released on and one of the reasons is that Mormons "the Mormon Church sheds no tears for recognizance prior to the arson charge don’t drink. But the real reason is that physical murder," and concludes it being filed. they’re trusted, and there’s a lot to be "pervades the state of Utah and society said for trust. Most Mormons I would wherever Mormons are found." But not Conserve Meetinghouses trust far before I’d trust other people." to worry: the church is trivial and "is Calling for wise use of Church resources, Other Mormons have come to town with dying from within." a March 2 message from the First the Reagan administration. Richard A front page story on Mormon temples Presidency announced new guidelines Wirthlin, former BYU professor, serves graced the March 20th Denver Post’s for the "Maximum Use of Church as Reagan’s pollster; Richard Richards, Religion Newsweekly. The article Physical Facilities." First, all future former Utah State Republican chair, is explained the significance of the temple, buildings will be constructed using chair of the Republican National the reason it is not opened to "new, economical, standard Committee; and Terrell Bell from Utah is non-Mormons, the kinds of ceremonies meetinghouse plans," which will result head of the Education Department. performed, and the clothing required for in substantial savings. Second, buildings the ceremonies. Also featured was will be shared across ward, stake, and Despite these connections, too much can region boundaries in areas of high be made of Mormon power. The "Mormon Temple in Colorado is Unlikely for Now," a story which Church member Washingtonian concludes that while concentration: "Although this may Mormons and Episcopalians have suggests for the foreseeable future most Colorado Mormons will continue to require limited travel for some local similar numbers in the United States as a units, it will assist the Church in whole, Episcopalians have seven times patronize the Manti temple. the representatives in Congress. providing meetinghouses in other areas LDS Objectors? of the world where the need is great." Mormon Media Image "There is no place in Mormon Third, all existing meetinghouses will be Four other publications recently philosophy for the conscientious shared by several units before additional highlighted Utah or the Mormons: objector," Don LeFevre of the LDS buildings are constructed. Finally, every Newsweek’s Kenneth L. Woodward church’s public communications meetinghouse and Church building is to wrote in the April 27th issue that "most department said in responding to the Air be "maintained at dedication standard in Force general who suggested the Church order to prolong its useful life and missionaries are obedient, ~rovide clean, attractive surroundings in single-minded, and, if anything, had overlooked its responsibility to over-zealous." Woodward found defend the nation (Deseret News, May 7 which to worship the Lord." Noting that and Salt Lake Tribune, May 8). these measures are "departures from missionary discipline "unique," with past practices," the First Presidency missionaries "eager for adventure." He "I recognize that LeFevre was trying to urged wholehearted support.

May/June 9 10 Sunstone 0 y

Answers to ultimate questions about God and man may not be found in formal theology.

John L. Sorenson

~H.EOLOGY is usually considered an intellectual covered that the plays set out to reinforce commitment to ~ activity for philosophers and educated religionists the Church and virtues such as obedience, optimism, .~. who talk among themselves in carefully logical sacrifice, and family support. Problems are laid out and terms about the nature of God and man and the relation- the process of moral decision-making is outlined. In the ships between them. But philosophers are not the only end, goodness is triumphant and evil thwarted as the ones concerned with clarifying or confirming answers to standard Mormon protagonists figuratively ride off into ultimate questions: the nature of sacred or suprahuman the sunset. The situations and characters are as powers; the nature of humans and their potential; the stereotyped as those in a Western movie (but not more means by which men, gods, and the universe came into SO). 2 existence. In fact, it is in the nature of our species, by vir- Myth and lore also communicate values and beliefs. tue of humanity’s very biological, psychological, and so- Answers to ultimate questions are found in the telling of cial condition, to seek to understand our place in the a sacred story. Mormon missionaries do little more than widest possible scheme of things. Unfortunately, the relate the story of Joseph Smith’s first vision when they formal statements of the elite--based on logico-verbal want to explain our view of the nature of God and the communication which emphasizes disciplined, rational need for restoration. Among ourselves, a recital of the thought and a high degree of literacy--simply do not tale of the crickets and seagulls or of an appearance of the speak to most people. Three Nephites serves similarly as a shorthand affirma- Other mediums may. John Wiley Nelson in Your God is tion of a shared belief, a Alive and Well and Appearing in Popular Culture argued that the mass media presents the "American cultural reli- Perhaps the most universal mode for communicating gion" to millions of faithful worshipers weekly. Televi- the meaning of life and the nature of divine powers, sion particularly communicates "a systematically ar- however, is ritual. By ritual I mean formal patterns of be- ranged set of answers to basic life-problem questions." havior in which issues of ultimate significance are af- firmed, reflected, or brought into thoughtful considera- The problems of life are defined, solutions proposed, and tion. Ritual thus defined can involve all of the senses. continual reinforcement given to the idea that cherished values indeed provide salvation from the threatening While words are usually included, words are not suffi- forces. John Wayne is a kind of pontiff of this belief sys- cient. Symbolic representations may require kinaesthetic tem about the individual. Courage, competence, justice, motion, priests and devotees kneeling or gesturing, or and ultimate deliverance are u~der constant assault by processions moving slowly. Chants, singing, and in- ambiguous social forces, and traditional values must be strumental music are added to the formulaic utterances confirmed again and again even while variants on the by officiators and responses by participants. Visual ef- values are tried. 1 fects can be important too. Costumes, spatial arrange- For Latter-day Saints drama has served a similar func- ment of participants, architecture, and decoration of the tion. Gary L. Stewart, who analyzed 45 MIA plays, dis- setting are often important. To be sure, ritual is heavily dependent on verbal JOHN L. SORENSON is chairman of the Department of Archaeology communication as well, although the language is often and Anthropology at BYU. He received his PhD in Anthropology from esoteric or stilted, not rational and thoughtful. I am not UCLA. saying that ritual could, let alone should, be a substitute

Mayqune 11 Private/Family Ward/Stake/Local Temple General Church Patently Special blessing by Funeral Sealing, including Solemn assembly to Religious father Saying "Amen" marrying, living sustain President Ritual Prayer for family at Sustaining officers Sealing the dead Dedicating a nation funeral All meetings with Endowing the living for preaching the Dedicating grave devotional segments Endowing the dead gospel Dedicating house (song, prayer, Baptizing the dead Dedicating general Family home evening conducting) Confirming the dead church building Family prayer Breaking ground or laying Ordaining the dead Special fasting Individual prayer cornerstone Initiatory ordinances General coifference, Blessing on food Dedicating local structure for the living and area conference Home teachers’ visit Blessing an infant the dead Hosanna shout Anointing sick Confirming Second anointings Consecrating oil newly-baptized Prayer circle Fasting Setting apart Preparatory meetings Anointing the sick Solemn assembly Consecrating oil Temple dedicating Ordaining to the priesthood Patriarchal blessing Prayer circle, Fasting Sacrament

Quasi- Family reunion Sustaining action by Receiving a name as Religious Scripture study officers proxy Ritual Missionary departure Accepting new ward Placing name on Visiting teachers’ members prayer roll visit Release with thanks Preparing and caring Priesthood stewardship for temple clothing interview Preparing family Easter commemoration history and program genealogy Christmas Working on welfare commemoration project program Mothers’ Day commernoration program Fireside/study group Missionary report Missionary lesson presentatVion Recommend interviewing Interview and calling one to accept an assignment Other interviewing Bearing testimony in fast meeting Tithing settlement

For example, wedding For example, Social Ritual For example, missionary post-funeral reception for ward with reunion Religious eating and members Overtones socializing by relatives

12 Sunstone for linguistic consideration of religion. The virtues of the guilt, and obedience. Participants "speak" to each other two modes are different. Words can be highly ambigu- by presenting themselves in the appointed place for the ous, yet they also have unique penetrating power. Ritual ceremony at the scheduled moment and taking the is often more universally applicable, yet a rite may not emblems (or, more eloquently, by not taking them) as a express subtle distinctions in meaning; a few words can social act. Authorities "speak" to lesser priesthood and be more focused or economical. deacons to congregation by performing the required pro- Mormons, of course, have been conditioned to believe cedures. Even worshipers "speak" to themselves in shortcomings of ritual and are decidedly uncomforta- through actions and contemplations. ble with the wordmwe tend to always attach the adjec- Much of the power of this language resides in its com- tive "mere." Some Church authorities have said that the prehensiveness. Surely it says more, to more persons, Latter-day Saints have no rituals, only "ordinances." than a mere talk would. For many the sacrament ordi- However, I suggest that rituals are very widely employed nance is more consequential than the sermons which in Mormon religious life; the designated ordinances are follow. The Church’s insistence on the absolute necessity only the beginning of a list. Furthermore, I maintain that of certain ordinances further underlines the point. For rituals have been increasing in frequency and importance example, "the mysteries of godliness" cannot be ex- among us. pounded through purely linguistic discourse but only through ritual. Verbal explanation lays a foundation in understanding; then ritual affirms or clarifies what has THE ceremony is rich enough that been taught. The alternation of word and act continues rhythmically to expand the worshiper’s depth of percep- repeated participation does not exhaust tion. its possibilities. Ritual can, of course, be didactic. It invariably involves a teacher~the authorized officiator. The baptizer, for in- Consider the range of religious ritual in Mormon life, stance, says in effect: "I am herewith displaying a vital, classified according to the degree of religious concern: (1) invariable principle through my action and yours." patently religious ritual; (2) quasi-religious ritual; and (3) A rite may also be compared to a text. Repetition may social ritual with religious overtones. And classified ac- be as essential in learning from ritual as it is in learning cording to participation: (A) personal or family, (B) con- from verbal discourse. Often the depth of insight can gregational, (C) temple, and (D) general church. (See only be penetrated progressively. Written texts, such as sidebar; this list is illustrative, not exhaustive; some his- the scriptures, demand repeated searching at several torically dated, less common, or infrequently discussed levels; a text’s meanings are not easily exhausted. What rites are not included.) one draws from a text depends heavily on one’s situation All the behavior patterns listed seem to me to conform and experience to that moment. Rereading the text in- to the definition of religious ritual, even though conven- vites continuing reassessment, so the student partici- tional usage among Mormons does not give them all pates in a process, not a single event. The implications of equal standing. Some of the rituals may best be termed a given ritual, even where the substance is specified as in ceremonies since there are component elements. Thus, the temple ceremony, function much the same as those of the sacrament includes breaking bread, kneeling to bless a rich text. the emblems, first passing each emblem to the presiding Many people find such meaning and satisfaction in officer. The temple endowment ceremony is still more in- ritual that they inexorably elaborate existing forms. tricate, while general conference lasts for days and en- Mormons distrust ritual because of this fact. A number of compasses scores of component rites. examples of elaboration of LDS,ritual were reported What ultimate issues emerge from the worshiper’s during World War II, when general Church officials consideration of Mormon rituals? Virtually every princi- could not closely supervise local affairs. Mormon con- ple and meaning we connect with the gospel. In the sac- rament, for instance, the worshiper ponders the desig- nated prayers under unusually evocative conditions; he or she may weigh such issues as how well he or she is keeping the commandments, in what sense his or her soul is to be sanctified, and what is the relationship of the Son to the Father. The ceremony is rich enough that re- peated participation does not exhaust its possibilities. The terms, acts, and structure not only raise questions gregations used candles in worship services in Europe but help provide answers. The sacrament ritual rein- and placed bottles of consecrated oil in the house corners forces the saving role of Christ and the congregation’s so- in Hawaii to protect against evil spirits. Church leaders cial sharing in this renewal as well as other important have fought for years to keep the sacrament free from de- gospel beliefsmthe authoritative role of the priesthood in tailed local prescriptions, deacons keeping one hand be- administering the ceremony, the precedence of the au- hind their back throughout the ceremony, for example. thorities seated at the elevated front of the room, and the And a majority of members still teach their children to reverential orderliness in the whole proceeding. take the bread and water only with the right hand, de- The entire set of words, sounds, actions, sights, and spite repeated statements from General Authorities that even tastes constitutes a kind of language. Amid the si- there is no authoritative basis for the practice. lence of the sacrament, God and Christ "speak" to the Even given such difficulties, I find evidence that LDS worshipers about mercy, sin, repentance, perfection, ritual is increasing. Though detailed statistics are not av-

May/June 13 ailable on the number of most rites performed, frequency vegetarianism, apartheid, liberalism, capitalism, col-- of certain rituals must have increased as "activity" has onialism, and socialism, with greater or lesser ,difficulty risen during recent years. For example, attendance at according to the case. This "closet theologizing" is in.- sacrament meeting has gone up markedly, so ritual in evitable in an increasingly decentralized church. that setting has also increased. Rarely does a Mormon The growing emphasis on ritual will only compound. meeting lack a ritual sequence: seating according to auL- this tendency. Only the most minimal instr~.~ction is thority, prayer, greetings, congregational singing, and given about the "meanings" of the temple ceremonies. an agenda. Thus the more meetings held, the more rites The sacred privacy of these rites make c,ertain that discus- performed. Family prayer and family home evening are sion of them will remain general, and vague; every par-. apparently more frequent now than at most times in the ticipant is left to make of them what he or she can. Even past. More home teachers formally visit homes and pray baptism is little discussed, aside from a few traditional with families; more officers are set apart; more members statements about which members remain somewhat un-. participate in area and general conferences. Admittedly, clear. So it is with most of the other sacred performances. temple participation, on a per capita basis, is only margi.- Members are left to their own exegesis of these com- nally different from what it was 60 years ago, and special prehensive "texts." fasting: is less common. Still, most of the common rituals The very universality of ritual thus ironically forces are more frequently performed. ~ the individual into a supremely intimate relationship It is interesting to note that while ritual has increased, with God and life’s meanings. The Doctrine and Coven-. formal theologizing has decreased. Both tendencies may ants (1:20, 19) points to the ideal of the restoration in this very well be related to the increasing cultural diversity in dispensation: That "every man might speak in the name the Church. In the days of the major systematizers of of God" and that "man should not counsel his fellow Mormon theology--Talmage, Roberts., Ballard, Widtso~, man." The prominence of ritual in Mormon life seems to and the young Joseph Fielding Smit]h--most Mormons lead us toward that ideal. shared, a common conceptual background and usually Notes language. Today Saints from far flung nations and from 1. John Wiley Nelson, Your God is Alive and Well and Appearing in Popular every corner of the United States have differing educa- Culture, Philadelphia: Westminster, 1976. tional and class backgrounds and rnay share little in 2. Gary L. Stewart, "A Rhetorical Analysis of Mormon Dra~na," Ph.D. terms of experience, ideas, and learned symbols. A dissertation, Universi ,ty of Iowa, 1968. growing need for unity in the world Church has been m~.t 3. The popularity of aesthetic forms, whether dramatic, musical.. by concentrating on basic doctrines rather than continu- graphic, or architectural, as expressions of belief stems in part from their convenience as "containers" (Compare my comment in F.L. Tub- ing to elaborate theology. In fact, Church leaders have re- lis, general editor, Mormonism: A Faith for All Cultures, Provo: BYU sisted theological discussion as potentially divisive and Press, 1978, p. 31) which we use to capture and store concepts and sym-. have pressed members to phrase gospel discourse in bols in manageable form. This insistence on form even at the expense of scriptural terms,s Meanwhile the more universal lan- accuracy is an axiom in folklore studies. See Clifton Jolley, "The Mar-. guage of the sacramental ordinance, rebirth and entry tyrdom of Joseph Smith: An Archetypal Study," Utah Historical Quar- terly 44 (Fall 1976): 329-350. The structural demands of tlhe genre~in into the Church by baptism, family rituals, laying on this case the "martyred hero narrative"--lead rnany of us to insist on hands, and the temple ceremonies have been encour- the presence of features in the Carthage martyrdom which definitely aged. These apply in Japan or Samoa: or Switzerland as were not there and which even the Church leaders have formally de-- appropriately as they apply in Manti. Structured ritual is nied. But the need for closure must be met; we pack history and mean- ings into structural molds much as we tuck small articles into a hand-- more easily shared than the specific explanations of Tal- bag, for convenience. mage or Roberts. 4. This paper was delivered before the advent of the combined meeting I believe that this retrenchment of doctrine accom- schedule. panied by expansion of ritual will not constrict the 5. This trend toward more universalized communication also shows up spiritual lives of Church members, however, but will in the emphasis on scripture, which provides a common phrasing fo~ rather expand them. Despite past efforts to systemize discourse about the gospel for Mormons. Individual members are now Mormon thought, a surprisingly wide spectrum of reli- urged by leaders to study the scriptures more often and more sys-- tematically than at any time in the past. A study by A. Kim Smith ("An gious beliefs continues to exist among Latter-day Saints. 6 Effect of Media Coverage on General Conference," unpublished) has Mark Leone in Roots of Modern Mormonism argued that shown that the number of scriptures cited in General Conference talks increased over four times between 1900 and 1974. 6. Scholars have not yet gone very far in learning what individual[ STRUCTURED ritual is more easily Mormons hold in their world views. We have bits and pieces of at-. titudinal data from surveys which report that most Mormons give the shared than the specific explanations of "correct" answers when questioned, yet abundant anecdotal evidence Talrnage or Roberts. also suggests that substantial individual and regiional variation lies be-- neath the "official theology." Horsley’s thesis on a "heretical trend" in one aspect of belief among a southern Utah population (A. Bert Mormonism leaves individuals notable freedom to con- Horsley, "The Consideration of a Possible Heretiical Trend Developing struct their own systems of belief. By what he calls "do- in the Religious Philosophy of the Latter-day Saiints People in a Given it-yourself theology" the Saints approach key questions Geographical Area," MA thesis, BYU, 1954), some of ~ny data on fun-- of belief in their instructional classes, but these are usu- eral practices and death beliefs ("Mormon Funeral Behavior," unpub-- lished), and Richard Poll’s distinction between "liahonas" and "iron-- ally not authoritatively resolved; instead members are rodders" ("What the Church Means to People Like Me," Dialogue left to settle upon their own answers in terms which fit 2:107-18), as well as other studies, hint that a wi,de spectrum of beliefs with ~their social, cultural, and psychological cir- exists. cumstances and needs. ~ Thus, Mormons have been able 7. Mark Leone, Roots ~fModern Mormonism, Cambridge: Harvard Uni- to fit some personal version or other of the gospel with versity Press, 1979, p. 188.

14 Sunstone MORMONISM IN BLACK AFRICA Changing Attitudes and Practices 1830-1981

BLACK AFRICA SEEMED FORBIDDING TO EARLY MORMONS, WHO PREACHED ONLY TO WHITES, BUT ALL THAT IS CHANGING.

N SEPTEMBER 29, 1978, just tively proselytizing among African. three months after the June blacks. This stands in sharp contrast: O announcement that as a result to the limited involvement by the of revelation worthy men of all races, Church during the nineteenth cen- including blacks, were eligible for the tury and first half of the twentieth. In Latter-day Saint priesthood, Presi- fact, Mormon attitudes and practices dent Spencer W. Kimball admonished towards the black residents of Africa a Regional Representatives Seminar have gone through three basic in Salt Lake City to pursue their "di- phases. vine commission to preach the gospel The first phase lasted from 1830 to in every nation and to every crea- 1850. During this period, Mormon ture." He encouraged missionary spokesmen seemed of two minds work on "the whole continent of Af- about sub-Sahara Africa. On the one rica," where black Africans "have hand, early Latter-day Saints believed waited so long already." He looked that they must carry the message of forward to missionaries in Mormonism to all people, regardless "Ghana... Nigeria, Libya, Ethiopia, of race, color, or creed. The Book of the Ivory Coast,... the Sudan" and Mormon explained that the Lord "in-. elsewhere in black Africal--a conti- viteth" all mankind nent with "more than one-tenth of the to come unto him and partake of his good-. entire population of the world." hess; and he denieth none that come unto President Kimball’s speech under- him, black and white, bond and free, male scores the emerging emphasis on ac- and female, and he remembereth the heathen, and all are alike unto God, both NEWELL G. BRINGHURST, who teaches his- Jew and Gentile. 2 tory at Indiana University at Kokomo, received In this same spirit an early Church an MHA award in 1979 for "Elijah Abel and the hymn published in 1835 admonished Changing Status of Blacks Within Mor- monism." A book, Saints, Slaves and Blacks: The the Mormons to Changing Place of Blacks Within Mormonism, will Go forth all ye servants unto every na- be published by Greenwood Press in December. tion... NEWELL G. BRINGHURST

May/June 15 Go pass, throughout Europe, and Asia’s dark Regions to China’s far shores, and to Afric’s Black legions and proclaim to all people as You’re passing by the fig-trees are leaving-- THE CHURCH OF JESUS CIqRIST The summer is nigh .... 3 Five years later, Apostle Parley P. Pratt expressed this same universal theme in a hymn in which the "Cho- sen Twelve [Apostles]" had The keys of this last ministry to every nation Hearken, 0 )’e Gentiles, and heat" the words of .lesus under heaven from land to land, from sea to Christ T,~e Son ~]" the Living sea .... "And Jesus, when he was God. Turn all ye Gentiles, India’s and Afric’s sultry plains from your wicked ways: and baptized, went ~p straightway Must hear the tidings as they roll repent of your evil doings... out of the water: and, to the Where darkness, death, and sorrow reign and from all your wickedness 4 heavens were opened unto . And tyranny has held controll’d and abominations atld come In that same year, Joseph Smith enth- dove, and ]ighttng upon him." my name, that )’e may receive used that "people from every land Math. 3 v 16 a remission o[ l’o~tr sit~s, and and from every nation" would soon be f!lled with the Hol~, Ghost, be "flocking to" Nauvoo--"the that .l’e ma.F be mlml)ered with my people who are polished European" and "the de- the house of l~rael. graded Hottentot."s 3 Nephi 3,1-2 On the other hand, the Latter-day Saints ,.’lid not send missionaries to black Africa despite this universalistic THE HOL Y GHOST BAPTISER rhetoric and despite the fact that other This is to certify that Christian denominations were pro- selytizing there. 6 Mormons remained skeptical about any potential success in the area. In 1845, the Times and Sea- was Baptised by lmrnersion at sons asked: Have the common propensities of the Date of Birg~." ...... Da~e Baptised." ...... heathen to do evil been lessened by the labors of the clergy, in as great a proportion Sinion: ...... as drunkedness and debauchery had in- creased by civilized intercourse under the THE 13 ARTICLES OF FAITH OF THE CHURCH board of foreign mission?7 I. We belie’.e in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, 8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is Chri ..... d in t~e Holy Gh ...... iated ...... ly ..... Iso beti .... he Book of Mot ..... to be the word or God. The Mormons seemed to reject po- ~. We believe that men will be punished for their o~n sins, ~. We believe all that God has re,,ealed, all lhal He does nou and not for Adam’s transgression. reveal, and we beheve ~ha~ He ’~ill yel re~ea~ m~n) great and tential missionary work in the area at 3. We believe ,hat through the A! ...... , o~ Christ, all .... im~or,ant things ~ertaining to the Ki~gd .... fGod kind may be saved, I~y obedience to lhe laws and ordinances o~ 10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in that time for two reasons. Though ~he Gospel. restoration of ~he Ten Tribes: tha~ Zion ’MII be b~ill u~on this 4. We bell .... hat the firs, principl .... d ordi .... es of ,he ~ ) .... i .... ; that Chris, ~,ilt reign ~ ...... Ily u~on skeptical about missionary work, Gospel are: first, Faith in lhe Lord Jesus Chris~; second, Repent- ~aradisiaca!the earth; and, glory. tha~ ~he earth will I~e renewed a:~d receive its anc¢ ; third, Baptism be immersion for the remission of sins ; Mormon publications did talk about Laying on o[hands ~0r lhe gill of the Holy Gh .... |1. Weclain’ltheprivilcgeoging Io ~he diclatcs o[ our ....own hippingAIrnigh~yGod conscience, and allow all men ...... the g. We believe ~hat a man mus~ be called og God, by ~ro~h¢cy, same ~rivilege. let lhern worshi~ how. where, or what ~hey may. the possibility of sending ex-slaves to and by the laying on of hands, by th .... h .... i .... tholi~y to 17.. We believe in being subiect to kings, ~reside~! ..... I ...... d ~reach ~he Gospel anc. adminisler in ~h¢ ordinances lhereof, magiswa~es, in obeying honouring, and sustaining ~he law. 13. We believe in being honest, H’ue, chaste, bene\olen~, vir- Africa. One article, appearing in the 6. We believe in ~he same organization tha~ existed in ~he tuous, and in doing good to all men: indeed, we may say ~hat we Prirniti,~¢ Church. ~z., apostles, ~rophels. ~astors, ~¢achers, follow ~he admonition of PauI--We b,:lievc all things, wchopcall Evening and Morning Star in 1833, de- evangelis, ..... hing .... h ..... d~,red .....y ,hing .... d ho~e to be abl ...... dure 7° We believe irl ,he gi~! of tong ..... prophecy .... ¢lafi .... ~1 things. |r there i .... ything ,i ...... lovely, .... g lg~od scribed the colonization of emanci- visi .... healing, i .... ~ retation of tong ...... praisev, orthy, We seek af .... hese things--Joseph Smith. pated American blacks in Africa as one of the "wonderful events of this

age. ,,8 Another journal, the Latter Day MFANTSIMAN PRESS LTD CAPE COAST Saints Messenger and Advocate, crypti- Members received these certificates of baptism before official church contact in 1979. cally noted four years later: wide, Africa was a gloomy place cial characteristics were the outward Of Africa we can say but little, only that it was once the home of the black man. Liberia where "sorrow reigned" and indication that black Africans were is situated on its coast and is famous for the "tyranny" controlled. less likely to convert to Mormonism colony of emancipated negroes established But Mormons had a second, even than other ethnic groups. ~ Joseph there by the munificence of citizens of our more basic reason, for avoiding con- Smith seemed to allude to this view in own government. 9 tact with black Africans. Blacks, ac- his 1840 statement t]hat the Hottentot Africa might be a wonderful place to cording to a widely-held belief, were was "degraded" and in an 1844 send ex-slaves, but most Mormons inherently unfit for conversion to the . statement that "Africa, frorn the curse did not find the continent a compel- true faith. Mormon writings, scrip- of God has lost the use of her ling place to go themselves. It was tural and otherwise, characterized limbs.’’~ While the Mormons con- forbidding. Even in the sweeping black skin color as the symbol of a di- tinued to believe that black Africans universalistic rhetoric of the songs vine curse and thus lent theological and other ethnic-racial groups would about preaching the gospel world support to the stereotype. ~o These ra- eventually be converted, they felt that

16 Sunstone this process would not take place until plained about the difficulty of finding In response, Church President Joseph some indefinite time in the future. converts.19 According to one disap- F. Smith wrote that black Africans In 1852, the Latter-day Saints fi- pointed missionary, South Africa was could enter Mormon temples in order nally launched some proselytizing ef- a "hard country to labor in" and to perform the ordinances of baptism forts in Africa--in Capetown, South "darkness" seemed to "reign and confirmation for their deceased Africa. But in contrast to other Chris- throughout this land of Ham.’’2° relatives. At the same time, Smith told tian denominations, the Mormons Thus, the black majority was again Hendricks not "to encourage the preached only to the white European tagged as the factor retarding Mor- Negro saints of South Africa to emig- immigrants, not the native blacks. 13 mon growth.21 Indeed, one anxious rate to Zion in order.., to do temple This move signaled the beginning of a missionary, A.H. Noon, writing from work in behalf of their dead." Like his second phasema limited missionary South Africa during the American predecessors, he reaffirmed the pre- phase~which would last, with some Civil War, expressed his belief that vailing Mormon practice, that South interruptions, for a hundred years. South Africa, because of its wicked- African missionaries confine their ef- ness and failure to embrace the true forts to "the white class of people" faith, would soon be engulfed in a and avoid black Africans. 25 civil war of its own. In "a few short Despite this advice, the problems EVEN in the years," he wrote, "... God will stir up of blacks and their place in the South universalistic rhetoric of the Kaffirs and make the instruments African mission continued to haunt of his anger." But the chances for a Mormon leaders into the 1920s. Don the songs about preaching white victory in such a race war did Mack Dalton, mission president in the gospel world wide, not seem bright to him since whites 1929, had to grapple with the "color Africa was a gloomy place were outnumbered by blacks ten to question" at Mowbray, the largest where sorrow and tyranny one. 22 branch in the area. He described cer- Although such a race war failed to tain "smart" and "obnoxious" black reigned. materialize, hostilities did develop be- members of the branch and suggested tween two groups of South African the "possibility of segregating those whites--the Boer-Afrikaners and the with color from the full whites. ,,26 It is region’s English-speaking popula- not clear whether Dalton’s proposal Mormon missionaries avoided tion. This conflict, which ’climaxed in was actually carried out, but it ap- contact with the Kaffir and Fingoe the Boer War of 1899-1902, delayed pears that the Church in South Africa populations because they had "too the return of Mormon missionaries to did not experience these types of dif- much of the blood of Cain in them, for South Africa until 1903. When Mor- ficulties after 1930.27 Indeed, the total the Gospel to have much effect on mon missionaries finally returned, ’’1’~ number of black Africans associated their dark spirits. But they did re-they continued to focus their efforts with the Mormon movement in South gard the region’s dark-skinned on South Africa’s white population. Africa was probably never very Malay-Mohammedan population as Nonetheless, during the early 1900s, a large. 28 potential converts. Jesse Haven, the significant number of black Africans By the mid-twentieth century, Mormon leader in Capetown, be- were unexpectedly attracted to the Mormonism’s focus in Africa shifted lieved this ethnic group would "yet Church. Local leaders were con- to Nigeria. This marked the beginning receive the Gospel" because they cerned; in 1903 H.L. Steed, president of a third phase of Mormon activity in were "descendants of Abraham by his of the mission, wrote to Utah seeking sub-Sahara Africa--deliberate Mor- wife Hagar." Even though their skins advice on how to handle this unex- mon involvement with African were "darker than the American In- pected situation which "he had not dian," they had "none of the Negro encouraged." Steed was told to features.’’is Despite such statements, "preach the gospel" to those blacks however, Church missionary efforts who expressed interest. But the in- MORMON writings focused on the whites, though even termingling of blacks and whites among this group there were few should be avoided and black members characterized black skin converts. 16 Many of those who did "should be encouraged to form color as the symbol of a join the Church eventually migrated branches composed of their own class divine curse and thus lent to Utah--including, interestingly of people. ,,23 theological support to enough, at least four African blacks. 17 Two years later, the "great many For at least two reasons, mission- blacks [that] had become members of racial stereotypes. ary activity in South Africa came to a the Church in South Africa" also temporary halt in 1865~a suspension posed problems for B.A. Hendricks, which lasted until 1903. This action the new president of the mission blacks. Actually, the initial impetus was part of the Church’s worldwide there. Hendricks asked Church lead- did not come from the Mormons scaling-down of missionary efforts ers in Utah if black members could themselves, but rather from a black during the vigorous campaign waged enter Mormon temples to be baptized Nigerian citizen, O.J. Umordak of the in the United States against the Mor- and confirmed on behalf of their dead Uyo District. In 1946 Umordak, who mons and their peculiar institution of ancestors. This question was impor- had somehow heard about the polygamy.18 In addition, success in tant because of the Church’s ban on Church, wrote to the president of the the area had always been limited. black priesthood ordination--a pro- South African mission asking for Church missionaries often com- hibiton in effect since the late 1840s.24 Mormon literature and missionaries

May/June 17 for Nigeria. Church leaders in Salt Lake City, who learned of his request, delayed their response until they could "give the matter further consid- eration." Impatient, Umordak asked again the following year. Again, Church leaders "decided to postpone [an] answer" until the question re- ceived further study. 29 Finally, in 1959 Utah leaders dis- patched the requested tracts along with a Church representative from Salt Lake City. 30 After evaluating the Nigerian situation, the Church in early 1963 decided "to open mission- ary work" in this black African nation. Five missionaries under the leader- ship of Elder LaMar S. Williams were set apart for this purpose.31 The Church made tentative plans to set up a large number of Sunday Schools, headed by Nigerians but supervised by white missionaries, who would travel from congregation to congrega- tion teaching and administering the Members, Crossriver State, Nigeria sacrament and other ordinances. Schools and small hospitals, as well as Whether the aborted plans for a these native blacks had formed their churches, were also proposed.32 The Nigerian mission helped to prepare own unauthorized branches of the 1963 decision to establish this mission for the ultimate decision to abandon "Mormon Church." When the Can- represented a revolutionary depar- black priesthood denial is unclear. But nons and Mabeys visited these ture from the long-established prac- certainly the revelation, when it fi- branches, they were enthusiastically tice of not proselytizing among black nally came, removed a major im- people. Thus the decision probably pediment to Mormon missionary ac- helped to fuel rumors that Mormon tivity in sub-Sahara Africa. Just five WEST African mission leaders were on the verge of aban- days after the announcement, leaders have implemented doning their longstanding priesthood Spencer W. Kimball indicated that the Church would send missionaries into a go slow policy until they ban for blacks. These rumors, how- 36 ever, proved to be premature. In real- black Africa. In August 1978 two can get the native ity, the Latter-day Saints never had special representatives for the Church, Edwin Q. Cannon, Jr., and leadership trained. Merrill Bateman, left for Nigeria on a fact-finding trip.3v In November 1978received because of their status as of- AFTER evaluating the President Kimball asked Cannon to ficial representatives of the Church. Nigerian situation, the return to Nigeria with his wife and Thus by the time they returned to another Mormon couple, Mr. and Utah in November 1979, over 1700 Church in early 1963 Mrs. Rendell N. Mabey, in order " to Nigerians and Ghanians were on the decided to open do religious service there for one rolls of the Church. 39 missionary worl there. year." They operated as "special rep- Such grass roots response was also resentatives of the International Mis- noted by Garth Mangum, another sion." In addition to their primary Utah Mormon who visited Nigeria the opportunity to establish this mis- fact-finding responsibilities, the two under the auspices of the State De- sion. In March 1963, the Nigerian couples were "authorized to baptize, partment in the summer of 1980. government, through a strongly- confirm, ordain to the priesthood, Mangum found that the Church en- worded editorial in the Nigerian Out- and establish the Church there.’’38 joyed its greatest strength in "the look, expressed its displeasure at The Cannons and Mabeys also visited small towns and villages which are Mormon anti-black practices, par- the neighboring country of Ghana. quite isolated" but had only limited ticularly black priesthood denial. 33 As They found enthusiastic grass roots support in the large cities such as a result, the Nigerian government de- interest in Mormonism in both coun- Lagos. 40 Responding to the interest in nied resident visas to the Mormon tries. Those black Africans interested Mormonism, Church officials or- missionaries. 34 Finally, the possibility in the Church were mainly Christians ganized the Africa West Mission in of any further Mormon activity in who had, in many cases, already July 1980. Presided over by Bryan Es- Nigeria was effectively precluded by learned about Mormonism from tracts penschied, the mission includes the outbreak of civil war in Biafra in and from friends and relatives who Nigeria and Ghana and is headquar- the late 1960s. 3s had been converted. In some cases, tered at Enugu, Imo State, Nigeria.41

18 Sunstone Meanwhile, local leaders in South concepts are similar to those found in nites have been active in this region Africa, encouraged by officials in traditional indigenous African cults since the 1950s, particularly in Nigeria Utah, have tried to fulfill the spirit of and in independent Christian de- and Ghana. According to its own fi- the 1978 revelation by reaching out to nominations, 46 there is a tendency for gures, this group has 3000 members "colored" and black African people.42 isolated African Mormons to deviate (42 branches) in Nigeria and 200 While white South Africans, in the from accepted Mormon doctrines and members in Ghana.s° The Reor- words of one observer, have "been modes of worship and lapse into Afri- ganized Church, active in Africa since remarkable" in accepting "Church can ones.47 the early 1960s, claims 2500 members discipline" on this question, they This problem is compounded by in Nigeria, 250 in Liberia, and 40 in have not been completely enthusias- the small number of adequately Kenya. s 1 tic. 43 Typical were the remarks of one trained native leaders. While men old Afrikaner who said, "I don’t like such as Anthony Uzodimma Obinna it, but if that’s the way the Lord told and Cyril Mbata in Nigeria and Joseph MANY Mormon his prophet, it’s got to be and I have to W.B. Johnson in Ghana have pro- learn to accept it.’’44 South Africanvided extraordinary local leadership, concepts are similar to Church officials have also found it dif- the Mormons could use many more those found in traditional ficult to get "coloreds" or African such leaders.48 In fact, according to blacks to join the Church and partici- one observer, West African mission African cults and pate in the activities of the predomin- leaders have implemented a "go independent Christian antly white branches. According to slow" policy or "moratorium" on bap- cienominations. another Mormon observer, one rea- tizing new members "until they can son blacks and "coloreds" have been get the native leadership trained. ,,49 reluctant to join is peer pressure from A second problem is the competi- It will be interesting to see how other blacks who shun them for their tion that the Utah Mormon Church Utah Mormonism meets these and association with white men in a relig- faces from two rival Mormon 4s other challenges. Can the Church ion dominated by whites. Despite groups---the Reorganized Church of continue to attract large numbers of these problems, Mormon leaders in Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and black African converts while at the April 1981 announced plans to build a the Church of Jesus Christ (or the Bic- same time maintaining the loyalty of temple in South Africa. kertonite Mormons). The Bickerto- those who have already joined?s2 While the abandonment of black priesthood denial has facilitated Mormon missionary work among black Africans, certain basic problems remain. First, as Mormonism con- tinues to expand in sub-Sahara Af- rica, it must preserve the uniqueness or "orthodoxy" of a number of beliefs and practices which makes it appeal- ing to black residents in this reg- ion: the belief in a plurality of Gods, a pre-existence, eternal progression, apocalyptic millennialism, the idea of a church led by a "living prophet," the ability to perform certain sacred ordi- nances for one’s dead ancestors and an emphasis on the virtues of a strong family. The Church’s ability to main-

WHAT impact will the influx of blacks and other third world people have on Mormon theology and Church institutions? tain the purity of these beliefs is appa- rently becoming more difficult in the more remote, isolated areas in Nigeria and Ghana--areas where the Church is currently enjoying its greatest ap- peal. Since many of these Mormon Cape Coast chapel in Ghana, as the missionaries found it b~ Fore contact with the church

May~June 19 dents as well as its white ones paral- lels the evolution of Mormortism from a small sect with very limited-ethnic- geographic appeal into a worldwide religion with members from a wide variety of racial-ethnic groupsD white, red, yellow, brown, and now black, ss Active Mormon involvement with black Africans also signals the eclipse of racism, which hal~ always been at variance with Latter-day Saint universalism. With the Church’s mis- sionaries and its priesthood freely of- fered to blacks, the call to join the re- stored gospel can now be extended to all peoples~regardless of race, color, or creed.

~otes An earlier version of this essay was pre.~ented at an Adjunct Session of the Mormon History Association held in conjunction with the American Historical As- sociation Meeting in Washington, D.C., i.n December 19~0. The author wishes to express his deep apprecia- tion for the suggestions and information provided by the following individuals: Lester E. Butsh, Jr., As- sociate Editor of Dialogue; Garth L. Mangum of the University of Utah; Edward L. Kimball and David J. Whittaker of Brigham Young University; William F. Lye of Utah State University; Edwin Q. C~,nnon, Jr., of the International Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and Dwight W. Hoover of Ball State University. Without the assistance of these indi- viduals, this article would not have been possible. 1. Spencer W. Kimball, ’’The Uttermost Parts of the Earth," The Ensign, 2-9. 2. Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 26:33. 3. W.W. Phelps, "There’s a feast of fat things for & C.," contained in A Collection of Sacred I~rymns for the Church of the Latter Day Saints (Kirtland, Ohio, 1835) edited by Emma Smith. 4. Parley P. Pratt, "Ye Chosen Twelve" contained in A Collection of Sacred Hymns for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in Europe, selected by Brigham Young, Parley P. Pratt, and John Taylor, ~.840. 5. Times and Seasons (Nauvoo, Illinois), October 1840. 6. For a good general overview of the history of Christian missionary activity in Sub-Sahara Africa see C.P. Groves, The Planting of Christianity in Africa (Lon- Relief Society, Crossriver S rate, Nigeria don, 1948-58), 4 vols. For a study of missionary activity in Nigeria see E.A. Ayandele, The Mission Impact on What role will the Church play in ful- One final question, which is perhaps Modern Nigeria 1842-1914 (London, 1966). filling the material needs of these the most intriguing of all: what im- 7. Times and Seasons, 1 May 1845. black African converts, many of pact will the continuing influx of 8. Evening and Morning Star (Independence, Mis- whom are poorly fed, ill-housed, and blacks as well as other so-called "third souri), July 1833. However, an earlier issue of this same publication was careful to note the difficulties uneducated? Spencer W. Kimball world" people have on Mormon and hazards involved in such colonizing efforts. See theology and Church institutions? .Evening and Morning Star, April 1833. Will the Church accept and adopt 9. Latter Day Saints Messenger and Advocate (Kirtland, RACISM has always "African-like" modes of worship or Ohio), June 1837. even beliefs? Will Church leaders as- 10. This view particularly is. evident in the Books of been at variance with Moses and Abraham (The Pearl of Great Price) which Latter-day Saint sume more of a "third world" orienta- like The Book of Mormon are considered as Holy tion in the way they view and ap- Scripture on a par with the Bible. In justifyi. "ng the lack universalism. of Mormon involvement among blacks, Church proach basic social, economic, and apologists would often cite: Moses 7:8; 7:12; 7:22, Ab- political questions?s4 raham 1:21-27. suggested that Church members have Whatever the response to these 11. For two somewhat different views concerning the an obligation to new problems, the transformation of relationship between such racist attitudes and Mor- mon doctrine and practice see Lester E. Bush, Jr., help educate the youth of these congrega- Mormon attitudes and practices "Mormonism’s Negro Doctrine: An Historical Over- tions and teach them the principles of which has already taken place in view," Dialogue 8 (Spring 1973): 11-68 and Newell G. growth and development which will allow sub-Sahara Africa is significant for Bringhurst, "An Ambiguous Decision: The Im- them to improve themselves economically plementation of Black Priesthood Denial for the Black and culturally as well as spiritually and in- two reasons. First, the Church’s even- Man," Utah Historical Quarterly 46 (Winter tellectually,s3 tual embrace of the area’s black resi- 1978): 45-64.

20 Sunstone 12. Times and Seasons, 4 June 1844. 27. My own tentative conclusions based on an exami- 43. Indeed it appears that President Spencer W. Kim- 13. Lawrence E. Cummins, ’~The Saints in South Af- nation of various materials on the South African mis- ball was alluding to the question of black Africans and rica," The Ensign, 4-10 gives a brief overview of Mor- sion contained in the Bush, "Compilation on the their place within the Church when he addressed the mon missionary activity in this region. Also see An- Negro in Mormonism" and elsewhere. opening general session of the South African area con- ference on 24 October 1978 in Johannesburg. Kimball drew Jenson, Encyclopedia History of Latter-day Saints 28. This conclusion is based on the fact that the total (Salt Lake City, 1941), 808-9 and David J. Whittaker, told his audience that: white Mormon membership of the South African mis- The works designs and progress of God cannot "~Early Mormon Imprints in South Africa," BYU sion was itself never very large. By 1930, the mission Studies 20 (Summer 1980): 404-16. be frustrated, neither can they come of naught. numbered only 800. And although it had grown to He warned that the work of the Lord must go forward 14. Latter Day Saints Millennial Star (Liverpool, Eng- 5,856 by 1971, this number is not very large within the and those who fight against it "will find disillusion- land), June 7, 1856. However, according to David J. context of South Africa’s total white population of 3.8 ment and misery." See: Dell Van Orden, "Do not stifle Whittaker quoting Jesse Haven Diaries located in the million in 1970. work of the Lord, prophet tells so African LDS," LDS Church Archives in Salt Lake City, several blacks 29. Council Meeting, 24 October 1946, Council Meet- Church News,-4 November 1978, p. 4. were baptized during the 1850s. See entries for 2 Au- ing minutes, 9 October 1947, Adam S. Bennion Pap- gust 1853, 19 March 1854, 15 September 1854, as ers. 44. Letter from Garth Mangum to Newell G. Bring- hurst, 2 December 1980. quoted in letter from David J. Whittaker to Newell G. 30. Time, 18 June 1965. Bringhurst, 9 December 1980 (letter in possession of 45. Letter from William F. Lye to Newell G. Brin- author). 31. Deseret News, 11 January 1963. ghurst, 2 December 1980 (original in possession of au- 15. /bid., 17 May 1856. 32. Account of Lamar S. Williams given to Lester E. thor). However, Lye’s observations concerning the Bush, Jr., 26 November 1968, contained in Bush, reluctance of South African blacks contrasts with the 16. According to Jenson’s Encyclopedic History, by 1855 "Compilation on the Negro in Mormonism," pp. observations of Garth Mangum who claims that the there were 6 Mormon Branches (Congregations) with 365-66. An account of Williams’ experiences in Nigeria blacks there are "eager" to join. See Letter from Garth a total of 126 in South Africa. Cummins, "The Saints in is his "Journal" which covers the period October 1961 Mangum to Newell G. Bringhurst, 2 December 1980. South Africa" gives the total at that time as 176. to February 1965, and is in the LDS Church Archives. 17. Kate B. Carter, The Negro Pioneer (Salt Lake City, However, access to it is restricted. 46. These beliefs not only include those mentioned above but also an emphasis on the importance of lay- Utah, 1965) pp. 47, 49. "Journal History," 13 Sep- 33. Nigerian Outlook, March 5, 1963. tember 1861 (Original in LDS Church Archives, Salt partidpation in sacred rituals. A number of books have Lake City, Utah). 34. Time, 18 June 1965. For the best collection of source dealt with the beliefs and practices of these indigenous materials dealing with the Nigerian Mission see Lester and Independent Christian sects and denominations. 18. Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses, VI, 24 January E. Bush, Jr., "Compilation on the Negro in Mor- The most noteworthy works are Geoffrey Parrinder, 1858. monism," pp. 360-368. West African Religion (London, Second ed., 1961); John 19. Latter Day Saints Millennial Star, 6 February 1864. 35. According to Lester E. Bush, Jr., the objections ex- S. Mbiti, African Religions & Philosophy (London, 1969); 2.0. Ibid., 19 December 1863. Also see the Latter Day pressed by the Nigerian government were "largely T. Beetham, Christianity and the New African (New Saints Millennial Star for 13 January 1855, 14 March overcome." However, the "Church itself tabled the York, 1967); Aylward Shorter, African Culture and the 1857, 19 April 1862. project--apparently because of the potential expenses Christian Church (London, 1973); David B. Barrett, Schism and Renewal in Africa (Nairobi, Kenya, 1968); 21. /bid., 14 November 1863. involved in the educational and medical services pro- jected .... " Lester E. Bush, Jr., "Response to Newell Victor E.H. Hayward, ed., Africa Independent Church 22. Ibid., 10 December 1864. Mormon fears about the G. Bringhurst’s ’Mormonism Amongst Blacks in sub- Movements (London, 1963); Noel Q. King, Religions of war-like tendencies of the black African population Sahara Africa: A Historical Overview of Changing At- Africa (New York, 1970). It is interesting to note that were probably re-enforced by the tribal hostilities titudes and Practices, 1830-1980’ "28 December 1980. Nigeria and Ghana are experiencing many of the same waged between the Hottentots and Ambacas during (Copy in possession of the author.) socio-economic changes evident in America during the 1860s, as reported in the Mormon press. See Latter the early nineteenth century when Mormonism Day Saints Millennial Star, 9 November 1861. 36. Deseret News, 13 June 1978. For an informative dis- emerged. A variety of religious denominations and cussion of recent Mormon activity in West Africa sects exist and two nations, like America during the 23. "Council Meeting Minutes," 27 May 1980 in Adam see: Spencer J. Palmer, "Mormons in West Af- Jacksonian period, are currently experiencing pro- S. Bennion Papers. The Bennion Papers were origi- rica: New Terrain for the Sesquicentennial Church," found economic transformation. nally located in the Harold B. Lee Library at Brigham Annual Religion Faculty Lecture, Brigham Young Young University but were removed from circulation University, 27 September 1979 (typescript copy avail- 47. This is a problem noted by various individuals in during the mid-1970s. Prior to this removal, Lester E. able from BYU). terms of both modes of worship and beliefs. See Janet Bush, Jr., obtained a typescript copy of those portions Brigham, "Nigeria and Ghana," p. 73, and Gerry of the Bennion Papers relevant to Mormon-black rela- 37. John L. Hart, "Church Spreads in Nigeria, Avant, "Nigerian members share testimonies, grow in tions. Bush has collected these typescript copies in "A Ghana," Church News, 22 December 1979, p. 5. knowledge," and Garth N. Jones, "Expanding LDS Compilation on the Negro in Mormonism" (copies in 38. "Nigeria: A Rich History," Church News 4 Church Abroad: Old Realities Compounded, Dialogue possession of author and in LDS Church Archives). November 1978, p. 4; letter from Edwin Q. Cannon, 13 (Spring 1980): 12. Jr., to Newell G. Bringhurst, 17 February 1981 (original 48. Anthony Uzodimma Obinna, "Voice From 24. For the best discussion of the origins and de- in possession of the author). velopment of Mormon black priesthood denial Nigeria," The Ensign (December 1980): 29-30; Gerry see: Lester E. Bush, Jr., "Mormonism’s Negro Doc- 39. John L. Hart, "Church Spreads in Nigeria, Avant, "Nigerian members share testimonies, grow in trine: An Historical Overview." Also see Newell G. Ghana," p. 5, Janet Bingham, "Nigeria and Ghana: A knowledge"; Spencer J. Palmer, "Mormonism in West Bringhurst, "An Ambiguous Decision: The Im- Miracle Precedes the Messengers," The Engisn (Feb- Africa: New Terrain for the Sesquicentennial plementation of Black Priesthood Denial for the Black ruary 1980): 73-76. There is some disagreement with Church," pp. 4-7. Man," and forthcoming book, Saints Slaves and this figure. According to Garth Mangum there were 49. Letter from Garth Mangum to Newell G. Brin- Blacks: The Changing Place of Blacks Within Mormonism only "about 500 members" and according to Spencer J. ghurst, 2 December 1980. (Westport, Connecticut, 1981). Palmer there were 1000 Mormons in Nigeria as of Sep- tember 1979. Letter from Garth Mangum to Newell G. 50. According to letter from Joseph Calabrese to 25. "Council Meeting Minutes," 10 November 1910 Bringhurst, 2 December 1980 (original in possession of Newell G. Bringhurst, 24 November 1980 (copy in and letter from Joseph F. Smith and Anthon H. Lund author); Spencer J. Palmer, "Mormons in West Af- possession of author). to Rudger Clawson, 18 November 1910. Both in Adam rica: New Terrain for the Sesquicentennial Church," 51. These are the Reorganized Church’s figures as of S. Bennion Papers. p. 10. 1978. See Saints Herald, August 1978, pp. 6,12. 26. Letter from Don Mack Dalton to Heber J. Grant, 11 40. Gerry Avant, "Nigerian members share tes- 52. Along this line, Garth L. Mangum seemed to September 1929. It is unclear whether Mormon offi- timonies, grow in knowledge," Church News, 1 question the long-term allegiance or affinity of those cials in Salt Lake City approved of Dalton’s sugges- November 1980; Letter from Garth Mangum to Newell Africans joining the Church. He suggests that "they tion. A letter from the Church First Presidency to Don G. Bringhurst, 2 December 1980. Mack Dalton, 9 November 1929, seemed to sidestep may be another set of Maoris, easy to convert but hard this question. Both of the above in Adam S. Bennion 41. "Africa W. Mission leader announced," Church to stabilize." Garth L. Mangum to Newell G. Brin- Papers. However, according to Lester E. Bush, Jr., a News, 6 September 1980. However, there is some con- ghurst, 2 December 1980. group of black South African Mormons had formed fusion over the precise date this mission was estab- 53. Spencer W. Kimball, "The Uttermost Parts of the their own Mormon group, the "Branch of Love" dur- lished. According to Carlos E. Asay, President of the Earth," p. 7. ing the 1920s. See Bush, "Compilation on the Negro in LDS International Mission, "the Africa West Mission, Mormonism," p. 99. Also see: Hal Knight, "Touching was officially created in July [1980]." Letter from Car- 54. Some of these questions are perceptively outlined Temple fulfills a dream for aged women," Church los E. Asay to Newell G. Bringhurst, 4 December 1980 by Garth N. Jones, "Expanding LDS Church News, March 7, 1981, which describes the activities of (original in possession of author). However, according Abroad: Old Realities Compounded." Alice Daniels Okkers, a long-time black member of the to the September 6, 1980, Church News Article cited 55. For two accounts describing the process and Church in South Africa whose father apparently or- above, Esperschied had been presiding over this mis- sion "since April 17 [1980]." problems of universalizing Mormonism see Spencer J. ganized this "Branch of Love" because "the social at- Palmer, The Expanding Church (Salt Lake City, 1978) mosphere of the time made it difficult" for this black 42. Hal Knight, "Labors thrive among minority, and Sterling M. McMurrin, "Problems in Univer- farrdly to meet with the regular Mormon branch near ethnic groups in many areas," Church News, 14 June Capetown. salizing Mormonism" Sunstone 4 (October-December 1980, p. 16. 1979): 9-17.

May/June 21 CLINICAL NOTE ON THE R.M.

HE IMPULSE that propels a returned missionary (always capitalized) most missionaries in the field have (RM) to make a fool of himself with women is of with some sweet young thing (SYT) back home. The SYT T mysterious origin. Doubtless, Hugh Nibley could unfortunately understands the Understanding some- solve the mystery in a moment; but he is busy explaining what differently than the missionary. While the mission- Egyptian graffiti. It seems quite likely, however, that the ary is either frying in the tropics or freezing in some arctic initial impetus can be traced back to the Understanding region, constantly urged on by a dog-eared photo of him-

TIM TORKILDSON hails from Minneapolis. After a thoroughly a nearby wardrobe trunk. Circus management took a dim view of this, middle-class childhood and adolescence, he kicked over the traces and however, and Tim found himself free to pursue another profession. He joined Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey Circus as a clown. After several chose the field of broadcasting, and currently is employed by KBTO years traveling with the circus, and a brief jaunt to Mexico to study pan- radio, in Bottineau, North Dakota, as their news director. tomime, Tim served a mission in Thailand, from 1975-1977. Upon his Tim has authored several plays, dozens of short stories and poems, return, he again joined up with the Big Top, but unfortunately had an and one novel. This is his first piece to see the light of day. If he doesn’t argument with Michu the Midget, billed as the Worlds Smallest Man. get a raise soon, he’ll probably write some more. (Editors" Note: How Tim had the great satisfaction of shoving the Worlds Smallest Man into does one shorten such a bio?)

22 Sunstone self and the SYT, the SYT finds herself widowed at an in- For the next two weeks, he flushes in her presence, hums convenient age and does not long remain deaf to the en- old Bread tunes incessantly, and sells his car to buy the treaties of other men (usually RMs). rings. Upon discovering that his Understanding is the The upshot of all this is that the poor fool (PF) out in woman’s Irritation, he goes into shock for at least 24 the mission field receives a wedding announcement one hours. When he recovers, he does not remember any- day, on expensive cream-colored paper, telling him that thing between the time he got off his mission and when his Understanding has been misunderstood. Moreover, he came out of shock. Only the fact that his car is missing the SYT artlessly scrawls on the announcement that the makes him the slightest bit suspicious about the events in PF needn’t feel bad about not sending a presentmMr. between. SYT’s daddy is loaded. His final slap in the face occurs a The RM soon feels up to dating again. He has a short year later when Mrs. SYT writes to the PF, still toiling fling with an attractive, earthy woman who cooks only away in distant regions, saying that they are going to organic food. He gags down soy milk and nibbles on name their first child after him. (Bishops know that this is tofu-carob casserole before fleeing. After a large antidote tlhe self-sacrificing stuff of which Relief Society presi- of pizza, he generally runs into the female owner of an dents are made.) over-used Kodak Instamatic. She has slides of every single unimportant event in her life, from the Heritage He starts lifting weights and attending Halls Preference Dance to her recent pilgrimage to New Jersey, where her ancestors once farmed. The RM en- social events where he giggles witlessly when dures several thousand of her photos before he comes to his senses. He then hides in someone’s attic for a month, he spots a former mission companion giving out the news that he has perished at sea, or is waiting for a lady missionary. He emerges from his en- with his wife. forced imprisonment a sadder, but wiser, fellow. This is usually when he falls in love with someone he The foolish compulsion toward the opposite sex blos- home teaches. Though love may be the by-product, soms when the dupe returns home as the celebrated RM. home teaching in a student ward is designed to provide After two long, dry years, he finds himself yearning for RMs with physical exercise. Called upon at least once a tieless companionship. He peruses the home ward and week to move yet another female home teachee out of decides that unless he wants to marry for spirituality one apartment into another, the RM strains every muscle alone, he’d better check out the nearest University Ward. while cramming the home teachee’s solid mahogany There, instinctively, the RM immediately begins looking dresser into his compact car. While recuperating from for Miss Right. (If he happens to obtain an education at backstrain, this helpful RM realizes that he is deeply in the same time, so much the better.) He flings himself on love with the home teachee. Not puppy-love, like the all available females with the wild abandon that drew previous affairs, but the Real Thing. praises from his mission president when he applied it to The Real Thing lasts exactly one date--during which breaking tracting records. the female home teachee burns dinner, has an embarras- In his mind, the RM begins to misperceive the merely sing fight with her latest set of roomies, and spends the polite response of female ward members and thinks him- rest of the evening sporting a broad grin which does any- self irresistible. At this point, he feels obligated to for- thing but hide the bright green pieces of broccoli cas- mulate a systematic plan of action and draws up a docu- serole lodged between her bicuspids and incisors. ment listing all the qualities he desires in his mate. Such documents are kept carefully hidden from the public view and are never openly discussed by the author, un- Doubtless, Hugh Nibley could solve the less he is invited to address a fireside audience of over five hundred. The RM’s list mandates that the longed-for mystery in a moment; but he is busy mate be a superb cook, an excellent musician (i.e., she can play Primary tunes flawlessly on any piano), thrilled explaining Egyptian graffiti. by the thought of babies by the dozen, able to stay thin even during pregnancy, and unable to utter a cross word. Unless the real Real Thing happens at this crucial Ivlost of these lists omit good looks--but that is only be- time, the returned missionary now desires nothing so cause the RM assumes that only diaphanous beauties will much as a long bachelorhood. He starts lifting weights be coming his way. and attending social events with other RMs, where he While the RM is carefully matching his list with the giggles witlessly when he spots a former mission com- women he dates, he undergoes an interesting transfor- panion with his wife. This final stage lasts anywhere mation. Hair sprouts from every pore of his face and from a few months to several years, depending on the Levi’s are worn like a second skin. Ties are almost un- humidity. It is marked by vain attempts to avoid the compromisingly avoided, as are shirts of white or any judgmental gaze of a marriage-minded bishop and to other color found in nature. cover a gradually receding hairline, thinning tresses The RM’s dating patterns become predictable. His flapped over his scalp from just above the left earlobe. first date is with a cousin. This is to get into practice Soon the RM abandons the University ward (except for again. The second date is usually with a chance acquain- an occasional visit to look over the new crop of Freshman tance in the University ward, arranged on the spur of the co-eds) and joins the swelling ranks of Special Interests moment. The woman thinks it mundane, but the RM is in the nearest Singles ward. convinced that a new Understanding has been reached. Here he takes root.

May/June 23 POLITICS OF

I have seen more harm done in this world by those who tried to storm the bastions of society in the name of utopian beliefs, who were determined to achieve the elimination of all evil and the realization of the millenium within their own time, than by all the hurnble efforts of those who have tried to create a little order and civility and affection within their own inti- mate entourage. George F. Kennan Extremism in the defense of liberty iis no vice. Moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue. Barry Goldwater

OME ages are lukewarm and quadrants of the spectrum, from the primary question is not which person complacent, other ages, of churches as well as the legislative or group is too extreme but rather why S’which the present is one, are chambers, SUNSTONE felt this exchange fanatics arise and why certain of their unbalanced and prone to faction," raised important issues which would tactics are frightening. wrote C.S. Lewis, who certainly interest our readers. Canning cited a number of studies characterized the swings of contem- Dr. Canning: provided a helpful which have explored psychological porary society. The tactics and charac- framework for the discussion. Ex- factors as integral to any adequate teristics of extremists in these factious tremism is not synonymous with the explanation of extremism: Milton times--individuals most often united radical right nor is it restricted to the Rokeach (The Open and Closed Mind) under such lofty banners as justice or political arena, he pointed out. The created "Dogmatism and Opiniona.- human, rights or religion--were tion Scales" to characterize "bigots examined April 2 at the third annual who, by definition~, are obstinately Campus-Community Forum spon- The fanatic is a person of and often blindly devoted to their sored by the University of Utah’s Lib- excessive zeal because he own opinions to the point of excessive eral Education Program, the Utah En- feels he is inspired by actions against other people who do dowment for the Humanities, and the divinity. not share them." Gustavu:s Myers Utah League of Women Voters. Fea- (History of Bigotry in the United States) tured speakers were sociology profes- chronicled the national persecution of sor Ray R. Canning, Esther R. Landa, "Quakers, Freethinkers, Jesuits, Ma- former president of the National sons, Jews, Blacks, Mormons, Council of Jewish Women, and W. Evolutionists, and so-called ’Party.- Cleon Skousen, founder of the Liners’." Josef Rudin (Fanaticism: A Freemen Institute. Because ex- Psychological Analysis) suggested that tremism is pervasive, coming from all the "fanatic is a person of excessiw~,

24 Sunstone zeal because he feels he is inspired by munist journal, Political Affairs, once admit- ANDA identified the "alliance of divinity.., the more intense one is, ted that he believed in free speech "for evangelical religious leader~ everyone except racists, fascists, and others L the less he is selective of ends and with unscientific ideas." The Overstreets with the far right" as the extreme means." Eric Hoffer (The True Believer) commented upon this example: "Coming faction she most fears. "The danger of explored the social contexts in which from spokesmen for a Party that has de- the religious new right is not that they extremism arises. "When people are stroyed civil liberties wherever it has seized are speaking out on political issues, power, while exploiting them everywhere ripe for a mass movement any appa- else, such statements have a grisly humor." which is their right, if not their obliga- rently effective one will do." Thus, tion," she explained. "It is the way 3. Organizing discontent. Communistic the leadership which emerges is cru- disruption of the status quo is well they attack the integrity and character cial; wise leaders can quiet fears while documented. Not so well known are state- of anyone who does not stand with demagogues can fan the flames of ments from Paul Weyrich, Director of the them." The "Litmus Test" approach reaction, playing on insecurity and Committee for the Survival of a Free Con- to politics results--specified and ab- buried anger. In fact, C.J. Jung taught gress, who said, "We are different from pre- solutist positions are prescribed on vious generations of conservatives. We are that "fanaticism is the brother of no longer working to preserve the status many key political, social, and moral doubt." quo. We are radicals, working to overturn issues. "You’re either for us or ’agin Canning then outlined the tactics the present power structure in this coun- us.’ God help you if you’re ’agin us,’ often used by extremistsNnoting the try." And I might add, parenthetically, because you are not just ’agin us,’ but "Succeeding at it." Howard Phillips, foun- paradox that "extremists who lean der of the Conservative Caucus, said, re- you are the incarnation of evil. If you heavily toward absolutism in sub- cently, "We organize discontent. We must have a different political idea, you are stance demonstrate startling relativity prove our ability to get revenge on people not just jousting in the marketplace of iin their tactics": who go against us." ideas, but you are consigned to the 1. Hiding behind fronts; taking on protec- 4. Misleading and oversimplifying. Scaring nether regions." Civility under these tive coloration, deceptive facades. Com- us with conspiracy theories which lead circumstances has gone out of the munist fronts project themselves as "peace Smelser to identify the "if only" mentality. political process, she lamented. lovers," "anti-imperialists," "seekers after If only the world were converted to Com- Labeled a baby-killer and rooted on social justice." The Far Right tries to estab- munism (or some other ism) all would be lish its near-exclusive concern for strong well; but there are these evil people con- the outside of attempts to "Christ- families, the right to life, and patriotism spiring to keep it from happening. ianize" the nation, she echoed the proven through anti-Communism. Unfor- 5. Attacking, scapegoating, destroying plea of A1 Vorspan of the Union of tunately, under these euphemistic covers, those who differ. Destruction is the ultimate both have violated "truth in advertising." tactic, but it need not always be literal. 2. Misusing the protections of a free society. Character assassination is an effective way Extremists who lean Gus Hall, when Executive Secretary of the to demonstrate that the end justifies the Communist Party USA, was asked by a re- means. heavily toward absolutism porter if he believed the Bill of Rights should in substance demonstrate cover the John Birch Society. He said, "No, Though such tactics may be effec- the John Birch Society is out to destroy the tive in achieving goals, they under- startling relativity in their Bill of Rights." And the editor of the Com- mine values at the very core of an tactics. open and democratic society. Can- ning presented these ideals which he We need to learn to live thought to be at the heart of the with some measure of human struggle--ideals threatened ambiguity, doubt, by overzealous partisans: brokenness, partial 1. The diversity of human experiences and talents must find expression for there is claims, and partial defeats strength for individual and society alike in and successes. pluralism, when differences are exchanged honestly, openly, and with dignity. I said openly and honestly, not covertly and not distorted through manipulation and prop- aganda. Honest interaction dignifies all par- ties. 2. This can happen only in an atmosphere of freedom with responsibility, responsibil- ity which is increasingly self-imposed as we mature~as its reasonableness becomes un- derstood. Canning’s conclusion (from Alan Crawford) that "what is at stake is no- thing short of what kind of Democ- racy is to prevail in America" was echoed by Esther Landa in her more personal response to the topic, "If we can’t preserve our pluralistic, demo- cratic society here, there is no other place on earth where it can be pre- served."

May/June 25 American Hebrew Congregations for win some, you lose some." According the survival of pluralism: "The issue to Marty, these new militants "are is not church-state separation; it is the met best by listeners, by understan- survival of a pluralistic society in the ders of their g~devances, by people face of the simplistic notion that only who try to draw them from ideology one brand of politics is acceptable to into the zone of political give and God. The issue is not liberalism vs. take .... " This give and take charac- conservatism. It’s a viable American terizes the center, said Landa. pluralism vs. a new form of political cannibalism, in which the exacerba- CLEON SKOUSEN also tion of one issue, sectarian ab- discussed the virtues of the Baby fed; solutism, threatens to tear apart the W# "balanced center," which He slobbers the universal fabric of the political order." he defined as government perfectly Spittle of a sad decay. poised between the extremes of anar- She also quoted Martin E. Marty, Tended in a stranger’s house Professor of Church History at chy and political oppression. The University of Chicago Divinity Founding Fathers firmly planted the By the broken edges of a School: "We need to learn to live with "American Eagle" of government in Breck beautician’s cup, some measure of ambiguity, doubt, the center of the spectrum, he Our little president brokenness, partial claims, and partial explained. But recent developments Contemplates the future rise in defeats and partial succes- have forced government far to the left Coffee commodities, towards tyranny or "ruler’s law." ses... That’s politics, an art designed And wonders at such to minimize the inevitable violence Federal Government, "in direct viola- that threatens human relations be- tion of the Tenth Amendment" and Marvelous news. cause societies are made of competing the Founding Fathers’ original for- Roger Kent Petersen individuals and interest groups. You mula, has penetrated fo.rbidden areas: land, schools, air, water, energy, health, welfare,, labor- The danger of the religious management F, roblems, intra-state new right is the way they commerce, ind~strial production, city attack the integrity and finances, city beautification, sewage disposal, electric power, thermal character of anyone who power, police problems. The United does not stand with them. States, he explaiined, is suffering from "a deteriorating money system, a frightening rate of inflation, a monu- mental national debt of a tri][lion dol- lars (more than all other nations of the world combined!), a crushing burden of taxes, a tidal, wave of Federal reg- ulatory agencies, a deteriorating na- tional morality, a shattering of tradi- tional family life, the abandonment of many important Constitutional prin- ciples, a serious invasion of traditional states’ rights." The recent Republican landslide was simply a mow.~ back to- ward the center. All three participants had thus placed their views of the world at the center of the spectrum. Audience reaction durir~g the question and answer period .only underscored the fact that no consensus exists on who or what is extreme and what: kinds of tactics might endanger the fabric of society. Many questioners merely made rhetorical queries--veiled or unveiled statements to support or at- tack one or more of the participants. Though a resolution of conflict re- mained illusory, however, iit is clear that the exchanges of that evening probed a raw nerve ending on our collective psyche.

26 Sunstone She watches the man’s closed eyes: An hour and a half, "I will liken thee, O house of Israel how night falls the conversation wooden, constrained, unto a tame olive tree." Jacob 5:3 augurs next weather; I did not find my others there. I might have been this tree-- Lies awake on her plain, the olive-- a booming, open place someone else’s chiseled notes well-beloved of the lord he marked with posts and wells, struck, passing, to request its shape of the vineyard, saplings into the wind. of an unresolving stone; nourished through millenia- And now he rests. at the end I walked away. pruned, dug about, dunged-- Day by day she tends: I walked downhill. Obliged, ancient, endless, promised. weeding sunlight, I bought my food prepared, and then gnarled and scarred. rotating the cellar scion of a family old as man like a slow clock I eat this food in hunger, the knotted trunk decayed, hollowed to the heart. still on last summer and but without the appetite for it. a new crop in; strung to life by Stephen Gould rings of living wood, Stitches the red sky thin and few, with a compass needle wrenching moisture up darning stars to toughened branches. against the storm. silver-grey with leaves of He turns to sleep life. everlasting life. like a boulder rolled Susan Howe from a field and she’ll be up in time to set the dial and vane. Alison Booth

May/June 27 HOW STRAIT THE GATE, HOW NARROW THE WAY? The Insfitufional Church and t,he Indivi& all

Necessary, though unea;sy, alliances exist between institu- tions and individuals. The underlying tension is fundamen tah A central purpose of mortality is to allow individual growth through the exercise of free agency. A central purpose of in- stitutions generally is to maintain themselves with a minimum of disorder. Ir,’.dividual free agency, in its purest form,, implies the existence of unlimited choice. Institutions, on the other hand, requ:ire a certain l~’vel of conformity in order’ to preserve their identity. With this introduction, the B.H. Roberts .Society, an indepen- dent group devoted to "’examining and discussing all aspects of the Restored Gospel as thQ! relate to contemporary society," announced a series of lectures to explore the benefits and costs of sustaining the relationship between the institutional church and the individual. The first lecture was delivered on 12 March 1981 by J. Bon- ner Ritchie of the Organizational Behavior Department at Brigham Young University. He in effect set the stage for future discussions by outlining some of the inevitable strains which exist, some of the potentially dysfunctional ways that individu- als and organizations may face off. Professor Ritchie’ s presen ta- tion was informal, lively, personal-and timely. His long-time associate’ Carl Hawkins of the BYU Law School responded by relating Church experiences the two had shared. Judge Christ- ine Durham moderated the question and answer period which followed. We wanted to pres~’rve the tone of the evening as much as possible; the transcript has been edited somewhat but not, we hope, significantly altered. Future lectures in the series will cover such related topics as women and the Church and the responsibility of the individual in church affairs. The second lecture entitled "’The Church in Politics?" was held 28 May 11981. Edwin Brown Firmage, Pro- fessor of Law at the University of Utah, and I.D. Williams, Professor of Political Science at the University of Utah, addres- sed the following questions: Should the LDS Church involve it- self in politics? If so, what is the process by which its positions are formulated? What are ~.he parameters of its political in- volvement, and what are the consequence:~ with regard to the attitudes and actions of both dissenting and conforming men~- bers? J. BONNIER RITCHIE

28 Sunstone WENTY years ago I was serving in Germany as a that debate vividly. It started about eight o’clock at night. young second lieutenant in the Army. In the middle I remember the defiant stand I took. As my mother went T of the night, as often happened, I received a tele- through a series of arguments, I think she felt that she phone call to go pick up a couple of soldiers in my platoon was teaching me a very final truth. What she was in fact who were drunk and in trouble. One of them had been doing was teaching me a process in which questioning is ihit by a train, and the other was not terribly rational. As I important, in which debate is useful and fun. A process ¯ took them back to the dispensary, I was intrigued and in which having a different opinion is not a reason to re- frightened by the comment of the uninjured one, "He’s ject but a reason to discuss. A process that demands probably better off dead than being a soldier in the Fif- rigor, that demands inquiry, that makes one uncomfort- tieth Ordnance Company." As a new platoon leader in able with anything but carefully developed, even if some- that organization, I wondered what my role was going to times defiant and rebellious, positions on any series of is- be. How could I cope with that environment? How could sues. I change that attitude? I think I can trace my beginning as My father, on the other hand, was a very peaceful, a behavioral scientist to the reflections of that night. I easy-going, pleasant individual. I recall his behavior as a began the process of making a long-term professional priesthood quorum advisor, where he put incredible ef- commitment--it has been reinforced over the years by fort into loving and helping people. He did not flaunt or many other events, some humorous and some more neglect organizational procedures but rather placed in a poignantmthat I was going to dedicate my life to trying to secondary position sanctions, policies, and tenets of a help people protect themselves from organizational abuse. I theological system in favor of loving a group of boys, of didn’t know exactly how I was going to do it, what which I was one. I have observed my dad as a bishop, a academic or professional route to follow. Besides I had stake president, and in a temple presidency, but never another three years’ commitment to the Army, plenty of have I learned a more important lesson than when I saw time to formulate career goals. him make people more important than organizations as Another military experience: One morning, I told a my deacon’s quorum advisor. young private what to do, and he said, "Hell no, Lt. From that background I arrived at a crusade of great Ritchie. I’m not going to do that." I started thinking about importance to me. While I do not feel that we can make organizations a little further. Now I was really wonder- organizations safe for people, I think we can help people ing. I had a piece of paper signed by Dwight Eisenhower protect themselves from organizational abuse. By doing saying that I was an officer and that people would do what I said. A few did, and I thought it was magic and everybody would obey. Then one day an individual did I was going to dedicate my life to trying to not. help people protect themselves from I didn’t know quite what I was going to do when I got organization abuse. out of the Army, but I ended up back in graduate school at Berkeley during the 1960s, trying to understand what universities were doing to students and what students were doing to universities. As chairman of a doctoral so, we can free people to develop their creative potential student organization at Berkeley during the Free Speech using the organization as a resource, rather than as a Movement, I had an interesting perspective on what limiting force. I would hope that we can make our or- people sometimes force organizations to do to them. ganizations (especially the Church) more effective tools Then I was caught up in civil rights activities. Driving be- for noble purposes. This is especially important in a con- tween West Point and Tupulo, Mississippi, one day with temporary world where we so often see a dichotomy be- a group of black people who were trying to organize a cat- tween a self-indulgent narcissistic approach to organiza- fish farm, we were trailed by a pickup truck with no tions, on the one hand, and the noble dream of the ideal- license plate. The person sitting in the right hand seat ist on the other. The individual and the organization are had a shot gun that he began firing. I was reminded that not inevitably pitted against each other, but there is al- organizations like the KKK sometimes provide an excuse ways the high probability of a negative effect which must for people to behave in ways that they might not behave be guarded against. It is the latter point I would like to in full public review. With those shots ringing out, I explore further. started to think about how you help a group of black If I were a better behavioral scientist, I would give a farmers trying to make a living, but receiving only a third talk tonight on the messages I have received from all the return of white farmers producing the same product. those who knew I was speaking. I’ve had enough pre- I would like to suggest one more explanation for my scriptions about what I should do that if I followed my perspectives--the family I grew up in. I distinctly recall normal pattern, which is to resist all such advice, there the night when I was a young teenager that my mother would be nothing left to say. I would have been preemp- either kept me up or stayed up with me--I’m not sure ted by people who told me that I should give a very care- whichmmost of the night, debating whether or not ful and rigorous theological talk, because some are a little God’s omniscience, foreknowledge, and perfect infor- suspicious of my theological interpretations. There were mation took away individual freedom. I can remember those who told me that I should give a very professional organizational theory talk in order to establish academic J. BONNER RITCHIE, chairman of the Department of Organizational credibility. There were others who told me I should pro- Behavior at BYU, received his PhD from the University of California, vide a historical trace of individual-church conflicts. Berkeley, in 1968. Others told me that I should deal with purely contem-

Mayqune 29 porary conflicts in the institutional-individual battle- be slave to God!... I’d go at His behest; but would not be His slave. ground.. Some said that my only purpose should be tc, I’d rather be extinct than be a slave. His friend I feel I am, and He is mine:---a slave! The manacles would pierce my very bones--the suggest a set of practical future strategies. It is interesting: clanking chains would grate upon my soul--a poor, lost, servile, to compare those who said that I should present an objec- crawling wretch to lick the dust and fawn and smile upon the thing tive, detached, academic value point of view, and others. who gave the lash! Myself--perchance my wiw.~s, my children to dig who said that I should relate my own personal feelings. the mud, to mould and tell the tale of brick and furnish our own As I look at such prescriptions, I wonder what they re.- straw! * * * But stop! I’m God’s free man: Iwillnot, cannotbe a slave! Living, I’ll be free here, or free in life above--free with the veal about all of us and our agendas? What do they say Gods, for they are free:... (B. H. Roberts, Life qfJohn Taylor, p. 424.) about our pain or frustration with organizations? What about the attempt to skirt the issues by virtue of academic This condition is expressed by Sartre: we are con- niceties.? And, what about the demand to take on the is.- demned to choose. We are condemned to be free in the sues wi:th a gut-level confrontation? What is the process sense that there is always a final choice that none of us within each of us? Can we back off and identify those can defer to anyone else. forces within us that make us so self-righteous in our If we do not abbrogate our choices to leaders, what apology for the organization or so defensive in our attack part should religion play in our lives? Gordon Allport* on it, so protective of individual prerogatives in light ot described religion in terms of intrinsic and extrinsic organization encroachment or so defensive in terms ot criteria---the growth and security functions. Security re- the right of the organization to dictate? ligion provides refuge. It builds an ecclesiastical wall These ought to be some of the questions generated for which protects from the onslaught of questions and each of us. What are our motives as we defend or attack a doubts and decisions. Growth religion, on the other point o.f view in the individual-organization interface? hand, forces its adherents to grow, to accept responsibil- Tonight I would like to suggest a series of issues over ity, to assume the burden of proof, to move beyond ex- which this interface can lead to serious dysfunctions for trinsic constraints. Growth religion provides not a wall either tlhe individual or the organization. but stepping stones to climb for the purpose of under- The first issue is the concept of responsibility. We standing., analyzing, serving, and making choices. We all sometimes use the organization as a default mechanism., seek the safe harbor at times. We need to be protected, to absolving us of the responsibility of making moral rest so we can go back for the battle. Security needn’t be an inhibiting force; it can and should be positive. Whether it is or not depends more on how the ~nember Security religion builds an ecclesiastical responds, to the system than how the system makes de- mands on the member. wall which protects from the onslaught of One of my favorite talks (to a ward with a 3 o’clock sac- questions and doubts and decisions. rament meeting) begins with the question, "Where are you supposed to be at 3 o’clock on Sunday afternoon?" And the usual answer is "Well, you’re supposed to be at choices. The organization becomes the repository of vir- sacrament meeting." While that is not the worst answer, tue or the repository of responsibility. One of the biggest my answer is a little more qualified. Yes, you’re sup- "cop-outs" you can hear in any organizational context posed to be in sacrament meeting, if you haw~ nothing and especially in Mormon culture is the statement that "I better to do. Be careful what you regard as something be- will do what I am told and if it’s wrong, the person who tter, but if you never have anything better to do, you may told me. must bear the responsibility." I am justified be- not be thinking. And if you never have anything better to cause I am obedient. If I am told to do something that do, you are not accepting the responsibility of choosing turns out to be evil or inefficient or unproductive, my to go for a good reason. If the only reason you go is that loyalty to the organization somehow absolves me of re- sacrament meeting is happening every Sunday after- sponsibility for the results of that choice. noon at tlhat time, I would argue that you have defaulted I am very troubled when someone says you will not be in your responsibility. I remember one particular after- held responsible because you are obeying legitimate au- noon when I was a new bishop, and I had gone to the thority .or usurped authority. The degree of responsiblity ward a half hour before sacrament meeting. The new el- can, of course, be qualified in contexts such as war, li- ders quorum president was there. A call came f~:om the mited information, constrained resources, or lack of abil- wife of a California man who was in the UniversiVy hospi- ity. However, we still should be aware that while organi-. tal with .a rare blood condition. She asked if someone zational loyalty can and should be a very positive force, it would come see him. I approached the elders quorum can turn into one of the most insidious forces in any social president, "There is a man at the hospital who ~s very ill. system when it binds the hands or the mind. It becomes a Would you go visit him?" He said, "Sure, I’ll go this force which victimizes the individual, who feels freed evening." I said, "No, maybe you’d better go right now." from the burden of moral choice. And I know of nothing iHe said, "You mean you’re asking me to miss sacrament in political, ecclesiastical, social, athletic, academic, or meeting to go to the hospital?" I said, "Forget it; I’ll go to military history which justifies that kind of philosophy of the hospital. You conduc.t sacrament meeting."’ And I organizations. We cannot allow the dictates of anyone to left. The sacrament meeting got conducted; I’m not sure relieve the burden, pain, or growth that goes with indi- by whom. I really wasn’t terribly conoerned about it. I vidual responsibility. A quote from John Taylor expres-- remember the next Sunday comments were made about ses the points succinctly: passing a bleeding, starving, hungry person to get to the "I was not born a slave! I cannot, will not be a slave. I would not synagogue to learn how to care for your fellow men.

30 Sunstone Where should you be on Sunday afternoon? If you never cept the responsibility for acting. had a sick person, someone in need, a priority above and Another issue is the expectation for individual intel- beyond institutional contraints, then you could be de- lectual resolution. In Mark Leone’s interesting book, faulting your responsibilities. Roots of Modem Mormonism (Harvard University Press, Sometimes we look at moral choices just in terms of 1979), he gives a convincing, if in my mind not altogether choosing between good and evil. While these are impor- accurate, perspective on the dilemmas of Mormon theol- tant decisions, I think that the higher moral responsibility ogy and Mormon behavior. He says that one of the comes not in choosing between good and evil, but in strengths and weaknesses of Mormonism is the process choosing between two goods. The essence of the issue by which it transfers to the individual the burden of in- comes in the process of making the choice, not simply in tellectual reconciliation: we are told not so much what to the external criterion measurement applied to the choice believe in detailed theological terms, but rather that we made. Some of the most difficult decisions I have had to should all be in harmony and that it is up to each indi- make have been between spending time with a twelve vidual to get there through prayer or study. We assume year old boy or a seventeen year old girl. that there is an integrated system which encompasses theology, politics, economics, interpersonal relations, I remember a program for a group of explorers years and athletics (from listening to some students and ago. We were trying to help them understand the organi- alumni, BYU football is a part of the system). Any time zation of the Church and the role of the bishop. So we individuals fall short of this synthesized, integrated decided to have them role play the bishop’s job. We took philosophical system, it is their fault. When things do not the situations right off my bulletin board. The bishop fit, there is something wrong. We demand answers and comes home on Friday; a week long vacation is planned agreement. This is a difficult issue in the individual- with his familymtime the family really needs away to- organization relationship. gether. There have been several telephone calls for the Another aspect of this problem comes as we carry the bishop during the afternoon. Someone has broken into same logic into other dimensions of life: What if we all the Church and defaced a sacred picture. Someone else don’t come up with the same recommendation on a put a hose in the basement and flooded the church; the political candidate? Or, if we don’t come up with the floor of the recreation hall is buckling. A teenage girl is same criterion for when it ought to rain? This drive for pregnant, needs counseling, and, subsequently, a mar- riage ceremony. The death of an older person has occur- red, and of course, the family wants the bishop to con- We go about creating the questions in order duct the funeral the following Tuesday. The local Unita- rian church calls to ask the Mormon bishop to speak to make the answers fit; managers are often about Mormonism at their church the next Thursday solutions in search of problems. night. The Relief Society president reports that a person who has been receiving fast offering funds is using them to buy beer. Anyway, a typical weekmitems which de- consensus can come from either the top or from the bot- mand the attention of the bishop. The situation was set tom of the organization. I was intriqued going through up to provoke thought about the complications of the job. my random files (those are the only kind I have really I remember that as we had these kids play out the role, to found worthwhile) by a quote from an old Church priest- a person they said, "I’d cancel my vacation." I remember hood bulletin (July, 1970). Listen to the following state- one young explorer looking at me and saying, "Well ment by the First Presidency and the Council of the what would you do?" I said, "I’d go. I’d make at least one Twelve on women’s and girls’ dress: call to my first counselor; possibly three: to a counselor, The Church has not attempted to indicate just how long women’s or the elders quorum president, and the Relief Society girls’ dresses should be nor whether they should wear pant suits or president.’" I remember that this nice-looking, humble, other types of dothing. We have always counseled our members to be modest in their dress, maintaining such standards in connection boy looked up at me and said, "Boy, I’m glad you’re not therewith as would not be embarrassing to themselves and to their my bishop." We do live in a world of multiple expecta- relatives, friends, and associates. tions. We have advised our people that when going to the temple they The issue is whether or not we personally default on should not wear slacks, or mini-skirts, nor otherwise dress immod- our responsibilities and instead allow systems or un- estly. We have not, however, felt it wise or necessary, to give instruc- tions on this subject relative to attendance at our church meetings, analyzed perceptions to dictate behavior. Then we be- although we do feel that on such occasions they should have in mind come pawns in somebody else’s chess game with a high that they are in the house of the Lord and should conduct them- probability of resentment. The willingness to make the selves accordingly. choice--between a hospitalized seventy year old widow The fact that this institutional directive was, in some in- who needs visiting, a seventeen year old girl who needs stances I am aware of, translated into a police-type situa- to talk, or a twelve year old boy who doesn’t want you to tion with someone standing at the doors on Primary day say you love him, he wants you to play football with him keeping out little girls who were dressed in pants is one (borrowing Marvin Ashton’s poignant metaphor). These of the more insidious indications of the process by which are choices between good alternatives. We can’t do them a lower level organizational officer can generate a type of all at the same time--and often not even sequentially. dominion. That’s where growth comes and that is an opportunity of I recall during the early 1970s when a young girl, who the Church: teaching us to make those choices, reasona- had been inactive in the Church, came into our ward- bly, rationally, intelligently, compassionately and to ac- house wearing a mini-skirt and was quickly chastised by

May~une 31 an individual and instructed to go home. She left de- down that cone. We get more and more control over less fiantly.~ We managed to reach another inactive girl in and less until finally we have perfect control over no- similar attire, before someone instructed her that she thing. That is exactly the fate of most organizations. That wasn’t wanted. I performed a marriage for the first--a is where systems find themselves as they attempt to run pregnant fifteen year old rejected by the Church because every aspect of the lives of people, as they attempt to dic- of noncompliance. I was pleased to receive a temple tate all policies, as they become weighted down by wedding announcement a few years ago from the sec-- bureaucr.atic rules, with more and more tests of obedi- ond. She had not only worn a mini-skirt to Church, but it ence, loyalty, and conformity. was reported she had smoked in the rest room. I re-- Another quote. (This one may be apo, chryphal. I have member the difficulty of convincing some of the parents not verified it. With George Bums, "I never let the truth of teenagers in the ward to love and help her for just a get in the way of a good story.") In Samuel Taylor’s little while longer rather than judge and condemn. Nightfall at Nauvoo (p. 163), the following incident is de- Unfortunately, patience for the person who violates scribed. Someone asked Joseph Smith about the rc~oon as someone’s organizational norm is not universal. In fact., he and Eliza Snow were going to a party. Were there there is a predictable tendency in organizations toward a people up there? Indeed, answered Joseph, and he pro- conservative convergence. Picture this phenomenon as ceeded to describe their dress, size, and age. After the movement toward the point of a cone. Organizational party, Eliza asked Joseph how he knew so much about membership carries with it a surrender of alternatives in the moon and why he hadn’t told the people abo~.~t it be- many respects. I give up the choice of playing tennis and fore. He answered that he really had no idea about the skiing every day from eight till five for some organiza-- moon. She should realize that a prophet always had to tional benefits which are important. In the process I may have an answer to every silly question. People do make resent what I have given up, and I may wonder if I hav-- some strange demands of prophets which create con- en’t made a bad trade. So I try to justify my organiza-- tradictory forces in the organizational process. tional involvement, especially if I happen to have a This respect for the person who is supposed to give leadership position, by converging on rules, criteria, and the answers, who is in the position of authority, can be a procedures that demand compliance by myself and stabilizing force, or can become a kind of adoration which others in order to justify the fact that my position is im-- is oppressive and frightening. This adoration from the bottom is poignantly referenced by Jerzy Kosinski in The Painted Bird. He describes the young Jewish vagabond We get more and more control over less struggling for survival in Poland, who encounters the and less until finally we have perfect Nazi officer: control over nothing. Nonchalantly the officer approached me, beating a swagger stick against the seam of his freshly pressed breeches. The instant I saw him I could not tear my gaze from him. His entire person seemed to portant and worthwhile. In making sure that other have something utterly superhuman about it. Against the people benefit from my contribution, I may measure my backgrotmd of bland colors he projected an unfadable blackness. In a world of men with harrowed faces, with smashed eyes, bloody, success by the level of compliance of my organizational bruised and disfigured limbs, among the fetid, brok:en human members and may even come up with rules to be used as bodies, of which I had already seen so many, he seemed an example tests even if they are not necessary. of neat perfection that could not be sullied: the smooth, polished In fact, we often think that we have to answer ques- skin of his face, the bright golden hair showin~g under his peaked cap, his pure metal eyes. Every movement of his body seemed prop- tions that may not even need to be asked. We go about elled by some tremendous internal force. The granite sound of his creating the questions in order to make the answers fit--a language was ideally suited to order the death of inferior:, forlorn contemporary critique of management (M.D. Cohen and creatures. I was stung by a twinge of envy I had never experienced J.Q. March, Leadership and Ambiguity, McGraw-Hill, before, and I admired the glittering death’s-head and crossbones 1974) says that managers are often solutions in search of that embellished his tall cap. I thought how good it would be to have such a gleaming and hairless skull instead of my Gypsy face which proble~ns. There is something very ipernicious about was so feared and disliked by decent people. convincing someone he or she has a problem in order to The officer surveyed me sharply. I felt like a squashed caterpillar implement your solution. That kind of tactic is rampant oozing in the dust, a creature that could not harm anyone yet in the world of high pressure sales, and it works in Mor-. aroused loathing and disgust.. In the presence o.f such a resplendent being, armed in all the symbols of might and majesty, I was mon culture as well. We induce guilt by insisting that we genuinely ashamed of my appearance. I had nothing against his have the only solutions to problems which the person killing me. 1 gazed at the ornate clasp of his officer’s belt that was may not know he or she has until we point them out. As exactly at the level of my eyes, and awaited his wise decision. Abraham Maslow said, "If the only tool you have is a The courtyard was silent again. The soldiers stood about obe- hammer, then you treat everything as though it were a diently waiting for what would happen next. I knew my fate was being decided in some manner, but it was a matter of indifference to nail." If the only tool you have is one leadership process,. me. I placed infinite confidence in the decision of the man facing me. you treat everything as though it ought to fit that model. I knew that he possessed powers unattainable for ordinary people. We need a type of dynamic tension to fight the con- Another quick command rang out. The officer strode off. A sol- servative convergence in organizations. That’s why we dier shoved me roughly toward the gate. Regretting that the splen- did spectacle was over, I walked slowly throu~gh the gate and fell need those people who pull us out of the cone, though straight into the plump arms of the priest, who was waiti~ng outside. sometimes in unconventional ways. Students, feminists,, He looked even shabbier than before. His cassock was a :~iserable racial minorities, and other "useful radicals" have thus thing in .comparison with the uniform adorned by the death’s-head, helped us over the years. Otherwise, we move too far crossbones, and lightning bolts.

32 Sunstone As shown by this example, the worship of authority fi- Another issue involves the idea of goals. A cruel myth gures can put the individual in the ultimate subservientin the world of institutions is that organizations have role. It doesn’t matter if the person of authority is an of-goals. Organizations don’t have goals. Whom do you ask ficer, a church leader, an athlete, a teacher, or parent. about an organizational goal? People have goals for or- Organizations are victimized from the bottom by peopleganizations, and people use the mechanism of organiza-

who do this. The Savior’s response is instructive (Mat- tional goals to achieve their own noble or selfish pur- thew 19:16-17), "And, behold, one came and said unto poses. When we impute an anthropomorphic nature to him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may the organization and give it the dignity of needs, too- have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou fives, value systems, and goals, we corrupt the process me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if by which individuals control organizations rather than thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." are controlled by them. Organizations are the vehicles by

May/June 33 which we perform functions, but they don’t have pur- this discipline. Though discipline is often oppressive, it poses. needn’t be. The organization provides a vehicle for us to A study done about the national foundation which test ourselves and develop a disciplined identity--like sponsors the March of Dimes underscores this point. the Indian tribe initiation which proves whether the per- Why did the March of Dimes continue after the Salk vac- son has the right to move through a transition phase cine eliminated polio and thus the espoused goal of the based on some physical or mental feat which tests and organization? After the Salk vaccine was developed, the proves abilities and strength. And in the process of people involved in the March of Dimes were asked what creating that disciplined identity, we build a hard core they were collecting money for. Some still said to elimi- within us rather than a marshmallow center which gives nate polio. Others said it was for heart research; others way to the pressures and forces of a random or contrived cancer--all good purposes. What the March of Dimes environment. This hard core becomes the nucleus was actually collecting money for was research on birth around which we can orbit. And, when that nucleus is defects. But, all of the people collecting the money didn’t firm and the power is great, we can spin out a long way know that. So the goals were "situational" in terms of and still be held in orbit. A similar disciplined identity continuing the organizational activities. The organiza- comes from running, from practice of a piano, from the tional members had developed a myth of organizational academic rigor of reading, writing, analyzing, mastering; goals which seemed to have a life of its own. it allows us to rise above, not stay within, a set of criteria. Sometimes the goal becomes merely a way for people If staying within a discipline is our final goal, we become to justify their involvement or their actions. An interest- an enslaved student. If rising above it is our goal, we be- ing example of this is found in Kafka’s novel The Trial. come a scholar. Chaim Potok, in the novel My Name is Guards making the arrest used a defense which presup- Asher Lev, chronicles the young aspiring artist as he is posed that organizational decisions are based on worth- struggling, confronting his Judaism and his aesthetic while goals when K questioned them about the legiti- drives. The young man goes to his father, who chastizes macy of their action: and condemns him. His mother is afraid and cries. The We are humble subordinates who can scarcely find our way rabbi tells him he may lose his soul to the goyim if he through a legal document and have nothing to do with your case ex- continuesmhe may surrender his salvation to the Chris- cept to stand guard over you for ten hours a day and draw our pay tian god if he doesn’t give up his driving force. But, the rabbi also puts him in touch with the best artist as a teacher. The artist also tells him he will surrender his While I do not feel we can make faith, will lose his soul, he may no longer be a good Jew. organizations safe for people, I do think we But then he disciplines the young man to become a mas- can help people protect themselves from ter artist. The rabbi warns him at every turn about the organizational abuse. danger of losing his soul but pushes him to become great. I think that is one of the important functions organiza- tions perform. And it is hard to do without organizations, I believe. It is also hard to do without the university. The for it. That’s all we are, but we’re quite capable of grasping the fact that the high authorities we serve, before they would order such an same force in the classroom that can destroy the student arrest as this, must be quite well informed about the reasons for the can also free him. arrest and the person of the prisoner. There can be no mistake about Back to Hesse’s Beneath the Wheel. The schoolmaster that. says he prefers to have a couple of dumbheads in his class rather than a genius. In one sense, he reflects all of our Thus, the assumption that goals exist helps to enforce fears. There is nothing so threatening to a professor as compliance. having a student who may be smarter than the professor. And compliance or discipline remains one of the basic The teacher’s task, after all, is not to produce extravagant underlying purposes of all organizations. In Herman intellects, but rather decent, conforming folk. Two such Hesse’s novel Beneath the Wheel the teacher explains his geniuses are described in the story. Their personalities teaching role: develop partly because of, and partly in spite of, the sometimes arbitrary and useless discipline of the school. It is his duty and responsibility to control the raw energies and desires of his charges and replace them with calmer, more moderate Ironically, once the students are dead and remote, their ideals. What would many happy citizens and trustworthy officials memories are paraded before other generations of stu- have become but unruly, stormy innovators and dreamers of useless dents as show pieces and noble examples. Thus, the dreams, if not for the effort of their schools? In young beings there is struggle between rule and spirit repeats itself for each something wild, ungovernable, uncultured which first has to be tamed. It is like a dangerous flame that has to be controlled or it will generation. Teachers go to great pains to nip the truly destroy. Natural man is unpredictable, opaque, dangerous, like a profound or valuable intellects in the bud, but they often torrent cascading out of uncharted mountains. At the start, his soul fail. And, then they reward the runaways, those they ex- is a jungle without paths or order. And, like a jungle, it must first be pelled. But some, and who knows how many, don’t rise cleared and its growth thwarted. Thus it is the school’s task to sub- above. Rather they waste away and finally go under. Or- due and control man with force and make him a useful member of society, to kindle those qualities in him whose development will ganizations do destroy. Is the price of one person’s ex- bring him to triumphant completion. cellence someone else’s destruction? Is the price of great- ness the pain and discipline inflicted on the conforming One way to conceptualize the role of the church or of masses out of which a few arise? Mormon society, of course, is as creator or reinforcer of I recall a quote attributed by someone to Joseph Smith,

34 Sunstone which I haven’t verified, but which I like: "By contrarity that flips the organization chart upside down, that turns is truth made manifest." By confronting the contradic- the pyramid with the leader at the top upside down and tory constraints of a system and pushing them to the puts the leader at the bottom. Then the leader no longer limit, we develop the discipline and strength to function simply pulls the strings in a puppet show but rather sup- for ourselves. By confronting the process, by learning, by ports the organization by holding it up. Christ did not put mastering, we rise above. By mastering the scales we can himself at the pinnacle of the temple; he put himself at play the sonata, but we don’t start there. By converging the cornerstone (or Paul put him there, Ephesians 2:20). to the discipline of medical school, we can rise out to the The pinnacle is a trivial adornment at the top of a build- freedom of diagnosis and care, but we don’t start as a ing. The leader really should be at the bottom helping to medical researcher. We start with discipline and the sys- hold up the whole structure. The leader must support, tem. We must converge before we can diverge. We must train, generate resources, and help others gain freedom converge to the disdpline before we can diverge to the to perform useful functions. discretionary skill. And the organization, the church, is Others in the organization can nudge the leader into the means to do that. Unfortunately, many of us end up this role. The dynamic tension of the system puts hon- converged with the discipline as the end. esty constraints on the leader. Member involvement and Our next challenge is to remain positive even after a responsibility can help to free the leader from the poten- long series of bureaucratic encounters. Picture a U- tial destructive forces in an organization. shaped curve. We begin at the top naive, trusting, pris- It should be clear at this point that I feel there is no tine. Bureaucratic entanglements may disenchant, frus- such thing as a perfect organization. The Church is a trate, aggravate, and lead us to believe that there is a means for the development of people. One of the most in- malevolent force operating in this organization which dicting comments I have heard about the Church is that wants to destroy us, to get us; we become paranoid. Or, the two best organizations on earth are the Prussian army we have a little learning, a little knowledge, a little and the Mormon church. As a kid I used to cringe at that, truth---enough to want control but not enough to under- but I didn’t know why. Now I know why. Organizations stand the dangers of control, enough to victimize but not can be strong and not good. Efficiency is a limited and enough to liberate. We are then sloshing at the bottom of the curve. And that is the worst place to be. It takes tre- mendous self-discipline to kick out of the trough of the curve and to rise beyond. To help people get out of the God’s children and God’s church--the trough and up the other side of the curve is the challenge fundamental tension between the exercise of of my field, and a difficult one. We have a complex, cyni- free agency and the demands of institutional cal organizational society with a lot of people sloshing conformity. about in the bottom of the trough of bureaucratic encoun- ters. We can no longer remain naive. We are all involved with organizations to such an extent that it is critical that often bankrupt criterion. The Church was not made to be we understand them. But, to rise above the trough takes efficient; it was made to be a service vehicle. The two are study, patience, understanding, struggle, fighting, not always compatible. Organizations are, therefore, learning, praying, thinking, reading, talking, acting. only means, never ends. They must always be under- As previously discussed, the organizational process is stood and adjusted to in the context of the people in- by nature conservative. In fact, I would argue that a lib- volved. Organizations are only mechanisms to enable eral organization is a contradiction in terms. Organiza- people to facilitate growth, love, and service, to test, tions, including the Church, must have liberal people to make mistakes, and rise above. What is a perfect organi- survive, but the organizational force is a conserving one. zation? A system that allows opportunity for people to be This seeming dilemma was discussed by Clark Kerr, free? That’s not a perfect organization. That’s people President of the University of California. Responding to a committed to the dignity of the individual, people creat- critic who said we must eliminate all "evil" forces in the ing organizational devices to facilitate the objective. university, he stated that we can never make the univer- Structures cannot be perfect. People can, ultimately, I sity safe for students, we can only make the student safe hope. But in the meantime, the organization is a vehicle for the university. You can not make any organization driven by imperfect people making mistakes. safe, you can only prepare people so they can safely func- I hope that we can find in organizations a positive tion in the organization. force to teach, to experiment, to love, to serve, to grow, to An important part of this issue is that a person must develop, to enjoy, to laugh, to cry. May we prevent abuse learn to deal with the power system of institutions. of organizations. May we permit ourselves and others iPower corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. My with whom we work over, under, and alongside to make friend Carl Hawkins recently identified a scripture I had institutions servants of the individual, to make sanctions not been aware of which illuminates this point. testing grounds to rise above rather than be imprisoned Ecclesiastes 8:9: "And this have I seen, and applied my by. In this difficult and exciting world, institutions can be iheart unto every work that is done under the sun: there is instruments of good. But we must make this so. a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt." We must learn how to view ourselves or others performing the leader-role in a way which will minimize *"Behavioral Science, Religion, and Mental Health," Journal of Religion ,this potential problem. I like the concept of organization and Health, 1963, Vol. 2.

Mayqune 35 FROM THE PEN OF A COHAB Dale Z. Kirby

HEN I first put my As the efforts of federal Stripes or Striped marshals to arrest Mormons W clothing on," living in plural marriage in- wrote Thomas Wright Kirby creased (under the provisions from the Utah Territorial of the Edmunds Act), Kirby Penitentiary in 1887, "I felt realized his mail job was not proud that I was counted .... ~ without its risks. With the worthy to be imprisoned and "unholy raid" in process, scoffed at for the gospel’s many men went into hiding sake." Kirby was only one of many Mormons imprisoned to avoid being arrested. "But many were not in cir- under the provisions of the anti-polygamy Edmunds Act cumstances to be able to leave their family, and although of 188Z. But Kirby’s experiences have been preserved in we knew full well the danger we were in, we could not unique detail because he kept a journal during his six- help ourselves but had to stand our grounds and take month stayma journal which was hidden in a load of hay what might come," remembered Kirby. and smuggled from the prison shortly before his release. Riding alone to the mail drop made Kirby especially The story from the pen of this one "cohab" can perhaps vulnerable. The train whistled and then stopped only provide a window into the experiences of many others. when passengers got on or off; otherwise Kirby just Kirby joined the Church in England in 1852, served a threw the mail into the open side door. Whenever he mission there, and eventually followed his fiancee Ann heard the whistle, he wondered if the arriving traveler Stokes to Utah where they were married in 1863. Within would be a federal marshal, though he never confessed five years he had also married Ann’s two half sisters, these concerns to his family. So when he heard tl~e whis- Amelia and Elizabeth Irons. By 1880 the Kirbys and their tle on October 8, 1886, he exclaimed aloud,. "I am seventeen children were living in Cache Valley, where catched." The mail sack was thrown from the train as Thomas had accepted the job of carrying the U.S. Mail usual, but as he loaded it onto his mare, a marshal the mile and a half from Hyde Park to the railroad. Kirby jumped ,out and presented him the long-feared arrest considered the job, which paid one hundred dollars a warrant. year, a "blessing from Providence." Riding on to Hyde Park to deliver the mail to the Post DALE Z. KIRBY, director of the Klamath Falls Oregon Institute of Religion, received his MA in Christian History from BYU.

36 Sunstone Office, the officer chatted pleasantly. His was "an IRBY soon learned that correspondence was unpleasant job at best," he confided, though he had to closely supervised. A prisoner could only write a admit that "they pay well for it." He also told Kirby that K single-page letter each Saturday and could not "a spotter, a bitter apostate" had helped him. Against the talk about religion nor could he write to a plural wife. marshal’s wishes, Kirby shouted to several children they Most got around this rule by addressing a "Loving ipassed.that he had been arrested. The children scattered Daughter." At one point Kirby refused to sign an agree- to warn others. The two then continued into Logan and a ment to let the prison warden open and read his mail. hearing date was set six weeks hence. Regardless, the guards often read the prisoners’ letters to Certain he would be convicted, Kirby prepared to make sure they followed the rules. leave his "dear wives and innocent children to go to Even given these restrictions, letters were the central prison for having obeyed the law [he] knew God had re- joy of prison life. "Received a letter from Ann, with a nice vealed." The family plowed frantically until snow and little sprig of Burgamont," wrote Kirby on one occasion, frost stopped them and they hauled wood out of the "and oh how nice and sweet it smells. God bless those mountains. His wives made warm quilts, assembled his kind hands that sent it. No one can appreciate such belongings, and packed them into two boxes with locks. favors as can a poor prisoner." Another time he de- On January 7, 1887, Thomas Kirby rode one more time scribed two little picture cards and a piece of her new to the train. This time he kissed his family good-bye and dress that his daughter had sent him for fun. "But poor climbed aboard himself, knowing that he would be gone little girl, she little think how long and with what interest for at least six months and perhaps eighteen since there Father sit and look upon such little trifles or how many were three counts charged against him. When he arrived times your letter is read and with interest every word is in Ogden, he went to Church lawyer C.C. Richards who weighed." handled all plural marriage cases in Weber County. Fol- Such letters reassured the men that all was well at lowing his advice, Kirby pleaded guilty, presenting the home. "A most beautiful day," enthused Kirby after re- following statement to the judge: ceiving a letter from his wife Ann describing a picnic at Your honor, I married my second wife very near twenty years ago. her home with the bishop, eighteen members of the Re- She have had Children by me and I have Worked hard to support lief Society, and sister wife Lizza. "They had a good time them. I married her with an honest heart knowing it to be the law of talking and encouraging my family," he observed. God to do so and I cannot now turn my back on her and her chil- dren .... I cannot turn traytor to my own flesh and blood, they are "Tears of sympathy were dropped by all for me." He also mine and I feel that I should be a villain indeed to now turn my back noted that the Brethren put up his crops, brought mate- on them. I know what is before me and I will not forsake them. rial for dresses for each of his wives, and provided wood for the stoves in three Kirby households. In his journal he The Judge replied that Kirby was not being punished for wrote detailed descriptions of the home he missed-- marrying his wives but rather for continuing to live with family, farm animals, crops, and fruit on the trees. One them. Stop that and he would not be punished. Kirby night he dreamed that he and his families were moved to would not make such a promise and was fined $100 and an ideal society. sentenced to six months in the Utah Penitentiary. Such visions of home life were especially prized be- He and several others convicted of the same charges cause, though prison life was not cruel, it was uncom- were then loaded onto the Railway and sent to Salt Lake fortable and monotonous. Nearly two hundred men City. They reached the prison which was located in the slept in three twenty by twenty foot bunkhouses, where Sugarhouse area by midnight the same day. "When we beds were placed "one above another like shelves to a entered! What a sight presented itself," he wrote, cupboard or as on the shipboard." Later a third tier of All were in bed and no one was supposed to speak to us but bunks was added. Kirby slept on the floor for several the man--a prisoner--called the housekeeper, who was to weeks until a prisoner was released. Even then he, like show us where to sleep. But many of the men would speak in the others, shared his four-foot-six-inch-wide bunk with a whisper, and joke us, saying that they were glad to see us another man--and with the bedbugs. And poor Kirby’s and that we had come among a hard lot, but when we re- "bunky" was a snorer: turned the complement, they laughed and.., guessed we were welcome to stay, it was a strange sight indeed to see so Oh My Goodness for a Snorer. I would back him against any many men.., all close shaven, and their Stripped Cloths two others I had ever heard. But a fellow can get used to hanging around from under their heads, serving as pillows, I allmost anything .... I got so that if I could wake him up and soon found some brethren I knew. get to sleep before he got started again I could sleep through almost any amount of noise. Kirby slept little that night. But he soon felt more relaxed as he learned the rules LAMP burned all night in each cell and a guard governing prison life. He had with him a combination passed by every fifteen minutes. One of these knife and fork and five dollars. The prison accountant let A guards told Kirby that despite such surveillance, him keep the knife, which had only one good blade, but he believed that there were at least a hundred men in the took the money. As part of initiation, prisoners could prison whom he would not be afraid to send to New "sing a song, dance a jig or make a speech"; Kirby sang York, for "if they told him they would be back on a certain "The Old, Old Home." The prison barber shaved the day he knew they would be as good as their word." Kirby beards, mustaches, and hair of the new prisoners, a prac- was especially fond of two guards who "are gentlemen in tice repeated weekly thereafter. They were issued their every sense of the word; very kind and Considerate to all, regulation Striped clothing and locked in their assigned and there is not a man would see them come to any harm, bunk houses by nine at night. Each prisoner could bathe and all try to do the best they can to show them respect." once every two weeks. Because of such friendly relationships, some prison-

May~une 37 ers we:re allowed to work on the prison farm, at times sugar) Bread and meat---always forequarters of the with no supervision. Work in general helped prisoners to beef~and potatoes for dinner. And b:read and tea for pass the time. Each week they took all bedding and per-- supper." The menu never varied. With so much bread, it sonal boxes outside and scrubbed the bunkhouses with is not surprising that the prisoners protested vociferously soap and water. In addition, seven men were chosen to when it tasted bad. The angry baker walked out, and the sweep and clean the yard weekly. Actually this was prisoners took over the baking themselves--soon af- sought-after duty: firming by unanimous voice that they wished he had left I am on duty as yard police which mean sweeping the yard sooner. and carreying the dirt outside. I and Br. John Penman took A prisoner with the required dollar per pirtt could the two wheel barrows and wheeled the dirt. It was quite a purchase, milk to go with the standard fare. Though Kirby pleasure to see outside the walls. I saw horses and stock a could rarely afford such a luxury, he noted that he "did short distance away .... The sight outside made me think of not take any harm for [want of] food." Prison rules did home. Still we were not allowed to put our wheel barrows allow friends to supplement the menu. Butter,. sugar, down to take views but did so as we walked along .... fresh fruiit, and candy were allowed; molasses and fresh Prisoners also worked in the kitchen and dining hall,. vegetables were not. Kirby’s good friends, the Binders, served the food, and washed the tin plates, cups, anc~ brought ihim extras almost weekly. Each prisoner stored spoons. his personal food in a little cupboard in the dining room. Unfortunately the food, though adequate, was as Such food could be profitably bartered. Once Kirby noted monotonous as the work schedule. The breakfast bell that he had paid one pound of sugar, .one orange, and rang at seven each morning. The men then had one hour one lemon to have a tooth extracted by at fellow prisoner, to wash and form two rows in the yard before they Dr. Rogers. marched into the dining room. "Our food was bread anal The Binder family also picked up Kirby’s laundry each meat, Potatoes," wrote Kirby. "A coffee for breakfast (no week since the prisoners’ clothing had to be sent outside

38 Sunstone It was very hard to see my plural families go one way and me another, hardly daring to speak to each other. the prison to be washed. Sometimes they tucked such Hoping to be "conspicuous" in the long line of prisoners, items as newly knit socks or a special hat for yard wear in Kirby took off his prison hat in one pose and, in a later with the returning bundle. shot in the dining hall, was the only one who left on his Others from outside the prison also visited. Members white apron. of the Salt Lake Choir came to entertain. They often Realizing that he would soon be released, Kirby hid brought flowers to decorate the dining hall where they his journal and autobiography in a load of hay he had gave concerts. Sometimes children came with them. helped harvest. When he delivered the hay to a nearby "How I did want to take the little soul and others about ranch, he asked the Crisman family to keep it until he was the same age as my own and hug and kiss them," wrote released. That day finally came on July 8, 1887. He the homesick Kirby, "but as prisoners we were not al- packed up his bedding, boxes, and rocking chair and, for lowed to notice or speak to them." the first time in six months, dressed in his own clothes. HE cohabs organized several cultural and educa- His boxes were opened and searched. "Have [you] any tional groups of their own. These prison groups writing in there?" he was asked. "Not a scratch of the Tsponsored such lectures as "The Great Pyramids pen, sir," he could truthfully reply. of Egypt" by John Stoddard. Inmates also organized a Before he left, he was taken before the Prosecuting At- Penitentiary Glee Club and an orchestra. Music, march- torney since his fine was still unpaid. Although he ing, and dancing helped pass the evening hours. One couldn’t pay the fine, he was released anyway; he sig- prisoner, whom Kirby described as a "chinaman," flew a naled this happy information to his fellow inmates, many strange-looking kite for amusement. of whom were facing similar fines. At first, the Mormons were not allowed to hold religi- RIENDS and relatives met him as he drove a horse ous services. All their "prayers had to be strictly silent," and buggy into Hyde Park the next afternoon. The Kirby noted, "but swearing could be indulged in to any Freunion was bittersweet, however, because his extent and one could not move anywhere.., but he wives and family were not there. If they met publicly, he could hear the name of God and the Savior blasphemed could be arrested again. Luckily it was Sunday, and his horribly." Other churches were allowed to hold services, wives and children, as well as most others from the vil- however, and the Mission Association sponsored lec- lage, were in church. Kirby slipped into his place in the tures in an attempt to reform the Latter-day Saints. choir, and his wife Amelia asked the leader to sing his But most Mormon cohabs preferred to read their scrip- favorite song. He addressed the meeting. After the clos- tures in private. Kirby spent many solitary hours in a ing prayer, he knew that many were watching to see how sunny corner of the yard, book in hand, rocking in a chair he would greet his plural wives. "I kissed them heartily brought from home. Shortly before Kirby’s release, not caring for what anybody thought," he wrote. Mormon elders were finally allowed to preach in the But he found that many things had changed. Amelia prison. The Prison Choir often sang as many as ten num- and Elizabeth had each rented separate houses. Bishop bers during these services. Daines and others from the branch had gone to Canada Two events stood out for Kirby against the recurring with Charles Card in order to avoid arrest. Saddened, he pattern of prison life. Elder Lorenzo Snow, a member of went home with Ann. "It was very hard to see my plural the Council of the Twelve Apostles, was imprisoned with families go one way and me another. And hardly daring Kirby. "I met Lorenzo Snow in the yard today and told to speak to Each other." Though forced to visit his wives him I did not feel at all disgraced," wrote Kirby one in secret, this proud man concluded his journal with the evening. "He said, ’Why Brother Kirby you are highly following declaration of conscience--one shared by honor’d and you will live to see that more than you can many men who lived in fear but remained committed: "I today, be of good cheer, all is well if we do our duty in the did not feel to desert my families for Anything that might church and Kingdom of God.’ " A few days later, the follow, nor did I. I felt I would live half my life in the Supreme Court reversed its previous decision, and the Penetentary and the other with my family rather than Apostle was released: leave them. As I felt they had been sealed to me and I had I shall never forget seeing him leave the prison. There were promised to be Husband to them and God being my help many brethren on the wall who had come to meet him. I intended to try and carry out that contract to the best of "Lorenzo Snow" was shouted by the guard on the wall and my ability and risk whatever might follow." when I saw Bro. Snow walk toward the big gate I said to my- self, God bless you Bro. Snow, May you never come here again. Many had gathered in groups to say good-bye, but I Note could see his heart was too full to say much .... When he All the material in this article comes from the handwritten Journal of passed me as I stood alone he said "God bless you Brethrenif Thomas Wright Kirby and from his handwritten Autobiography. Both I do not come back." of these documents, written during his imprisonment in the Utah Ter- ritorial Penitentiary, are in possession of The Church of Jesus Christ of Later, Kirby’s prison visage was immortalized when Latter-day Saints Historical Department, Salt Lake City, Utah. Original photographer C.R. Savage visited the penitentiary. spelling is maintained in the quoted material.

May/June 39 AUL excused himself before dessert. "We’ll wait for you," his wife said. Dave leaned back in his p chair. He and Paul had just finished a thorough discussion of the election. "All the better," Dave said. "I’ve eaten enough that I won’t be ready for dessert for a A Story by while anyway." "You won’t be long, will you honey?" Lois asked. Linda Sillitoe "I hope not." Paul tried to quench his secret pleasure that their old friends from the student ward were seeing this evidence of his position as bishop’s counselor. Still, Dave and Alison had driven out from the city and Paul did regret missing part of their evening. "Is it a meeting?" Dave asked. Dave still taught the el- ders’ quorum. Paul paused, his chair pushed back a few inches. "No, not exactly. We’ve been having trouble with evil "How old are the children?" asked Alison. spirits in the ward. Different people have had problems." "Oh, small." Dave looked at him. "Is that right?" he said. He "Four-and-a-hal:f, three, and eighteen mont]hs,"’ Lois drained the ice water in his goblet. put in. "Not quite as close together as ours." Alison was staring, Paul noticed. He could see her Lois had hired a babysitter to feed the children a picnic back reflected in the picture window, a blur against the supper downstairs and then put them to bed. No one had twinkling lights of the suburb. Her shoulders looked heard a :sound from them during dinner. The Blackmun’s tense and she tilted her head to one side. "Evil spirits?" baby slept beside them in her carrier. she asked as if Paul had just led a dinosaur into the dining "But the evil spirits," Alison said. "What do you room. mean? ]Lights swinging, chair rocking, all that sort of Paul nodded briefly. She caught his look and was si- thing?" lent. "No, no." Paul shook his head. He ipaused. "She just "So this is a house call then," Dave said. Dave under- had dark, evil feelings. She seemed angry, even ,at us. We stood that there were things a man couldn’t talk about in gave her a blessing." this position, especially in a mixed group. Of course Paul He siighed and refolded his napkin, carefully match- told Lois some things. But ~f word spread in the ward ing the edges. "But now there’s another one. A stake about a confidential situation., everyone knew that some- missionary who lives in our ward called me at work today one had talked too much to his wife. The bedroom leak, and asked me to come over tonight. His wife’s the same they called it. Well, he could tell them something. way, w,~ry depressed. And I think the bishop visited "First we had a sister whose husband deserted he~:. another sister night before last." He ran off with his dental assistant." "Kurt is usually out teaching families on Friday A slight gasp from Alison. Dave shook his head. night," Lois said softly. "He must be worried." "Well, he just couldn’t take it anymore," Paul said "He’s gone a lot?" Alison asked. They all looked at easily. "I guess the kids were always crying, you know. her. And his wife isn’t the best ]~ousekeeper. I’ve seen that "You know," Dave said, "we had a :fellow in our ward myself." who skipped out on his family. I can’t understand how a man can do that." LINDA SILLITOE has published poems, investigative articles, reviews, "This is the third one in our stake," said Paul,, "but the and short stories. She is presently a reporter for the Deseret News. This short story received honorable mention in the 1981 Sunstone Fiction Con- first one in the ward. It’s awful. Still you know there is test. always a reason for everything."

40 Sunstone He glanced at Alison but she was quiet, leaning back yellow doll’s dress lay crumpled on the carpet. He i~n her chair. watched it for a moment. It moved again. "Well, we’ll see you soon, honey," Lois said. She Paul looked at the bishop and then at Lynette. Neither began to stack the plates. noticed. The bishop was waiting for Lynette to answer a But Paul wasn’t quite ready to leave the table. He question and she was looking past him at her middle thought that Lois looked perfect tonight in her beige child who sat on the floor unlacing his shoes. sweater and dark brown slacks. She had used a beige The doll dress moved another inch toward Paul. He tablecloth and a small, low centerpiece made of weeds rubbed his eyes a little, very discreetly. Then the little boy sprayed gold and dark brown pine cones. As she bent noticed. over the table to collect the plates, Paul thought she "Samuel!" he yelled and bounded across the room. looked like a photograph in a magazine. He would re- He threw the fabric into the air and scooped up a small member to tell her privately that he liked the colors and green turtle. the centerpiece. The truth was, he hated to leave. "It’s mine!" screamed the little girl. "I was hunting for "Well," he said, standing up. "See you all later." He it." put on his suit coat as he walked out the door. "Here, catch," her brother shouted and threw the tur- HE night was crisp and the blue afternoon sky tle. Paul strained forward with his hand outstretched. darkened to indigo without losing any of its clar- The little girl lifted one hand and deflected the turtle into Tity. Leaves skittered gently along the sidewalk. her lap. Lynette did not look at her. ’It~e streetlights drooped over the walks like the reading "It’s not a good idea to throw turtles," Paul said as lamp by his chair in the den. He walked from one pool of conversationally as possible, setting back on the couch. light to the next, turning right at the corner. The Jacksons The children giggled into their hands. Their eyes rolled. lived two blocks away. Lynette ignored Paul’s hand when they stood to say Paul was glad for the dinner and the peaceful night good-bye. He turned and read the flamed mottos on the walk. He hoped that this experience wouldn’t be as de- wall to cover the awkwardness. One said "Families are ipressing as the last one of its kind. He wanted to share his Forever" and the other said "Lengthen Your Stride." He own well-being without absorbing gloom to take back began to nod approvingly, then winced. He felt Lynette’s with him. He knew he should stop talking about it. Con- eyes on the back of his neck. fidentiality was part of the job. The bishop took his arm and they closed the door When they visited Lynette Strauss last week, they gently behind them. Before they reached the steps, there found her huddled in an overstuffed chair, her feet pul- was a crash against the door behind them and noise like led under her. Her eyes looked out like a cat’s under a glass falling on tile. They glanced at each other and hur- porch. Paul was shocked. He knew Lynette as a cheerful, ried to the car. athletic woman who swept good-naturedly from one ac- Paul shivered a little. He hadn’t had time to run today. tivity to the next, her troop of children in tow. He would jog home as soon as he finished at the The bishop leaned over her and reached for her hand. Jacksons’, and maybe circle the block once or twice. The "’Sister Strauss," he began. bishop let him worry about physical fitness for the ward. She cried out and pulled her hand away from him. The bishop was overweight. She sat on it. She didn’t shake hands when they left, Paul had felt a touch of surprise when Mark Bradshaw either, Paul remembered. was chosen bishop because the Church put such em- It was late afternoon and the room was dimming but it phasis on health and fitness. He chided himself guiltily. was still too early to turn on a lamp. The television in the The bishop was a gentle spiritual giant, he told himself. next room blared cartoons but the kids stayed in the liv- Paul knew he had to work on humility. ing room with their mother. The bishop’s voice fell softly But maybe if these girls would get out and run every in the room. Paul talked too. Then suddenly a low day it would be good for them. He and Lois read the movement caught the corner of his eye. He looked. A scriptures first thing in the morning, and then she ran for

Mayqune 41 fifteen minutes while he showered. He would mention it was looking out the window again. to the Relief Society. "I don’t believe it," Kurt said. He walked into the The Jacksons’ yard looked a little unkempt. Kurt room, arms extended full length. One hand circled the painted the house trim in the spring, but the edges of the baby’s torso, the other hand gripped its thigh. The grass fringed the sidewalks. The children’s trikes lay on screaming baby dripped on his shoes. the lawn. Paul remembered that tomorrow he must "You left him in the tub! I thought you’d put him to prune the shrubs and check with Lois to see if she had bed, Pare." ordered the seed catalogs for next year’s gardens. Pam took a towel from the floor and wrapped tlhe baby URT opened the door as soon as Paul’s finger in it carefully. She began to rub his hair. He stuck a fist in touched the doorbell. "Thanks for coming. his mouth and the howl subsided to a whisper. She K Come on in." wrapped a second towel around him. "Glad to do it. How are you, Kurt?" "If you had asked me to get the baby out," Kurt said, "I’m fine." They walked into the living room. The "I would have been happy to do it. I didn’t know he was room was light and cheerful, though not very tidy. A still in there. You know I was finishing my report." couple of used towels lay on the floor at Pam’s feet and Paul tried to interject something as Kurt continuecL the newspapers were heaped untidily on the end table. but what could he say? He stared at Pare. She held the Pam sat in a window seat, her face toward the glass. A baby against her in his terrycloth cocoon and scooted baby cried monotonously in another room. back on the loveseat until her spine touclhed the window "Here, sit down," Kurt said. They both sat on the. as if she were taking her baby and backing into another couch opposite Pam. room. "Pam," Kurt said. She didn’t seem to hear him. "Pam, are you even listening?" Kurt demanded. He Paul noticed that their window faced the dark moun- paced into the dining room. tains and didn’t pick up the suburb lights the way theirs The sl~teer white curtains suddenly billowed out from did. the window and fluttered toward Paul. After a startled "Well, I hear that you have the Anderson family al- second, Paul realized that a heating v,ent was behind most ready for baptism," Paul said. them. The temperature outside must be dropping. "It looks good. We’ve set the tenth as the date. I think "Do you see it?" K~rt asked, striding back into the they’ll make it." room. "S!he isn’t even with it half the tirne." "Great," Paul said. "That’s terrific. You must really He turned on his heel and left again. In a minute Paul fee! good." heard water running in the kitchen. "We’re happy about it." Kurt’s already ruddy com- Paul cleared his throat. Pam didn’t look at him.. He plexion became a little more so. Then they looked at Pam. wasn’t sure she even remembered he was there. One arm One cheek rested on her hand. Her blond hair fell curled around the baby who was falling asleep with his along her shoulders. Her free hand stroked the knee of face against her breast. Lois had told him that Pam was her jeans absent-mindedly. pregnant again. Pam’s other arm lay across her lap with She gained weight with tl~e last baby, thought Paul. the hand turned up. Paul could see the narrow blue veins He remembered when Pam came to a Halloween party as beneath tlhe white skin. Her skin’s even fairer than Lois’s, a mummy. She was encased in elastic bandages and her he thought. figure was slim and taut. She was working as a registered "Pam," Paul said. She didn’t look up. He slid off the nurse then, Paul remembered. He and Lois were new in couch and squatted in front of her, his face just lower the ward. than hers. "Pam, what is it?" "Pam," Kurt said. "Honey?" She looked at him then. Her mouth pulled down and She startled and turned toward them. "Oh, hi," she her eyes flooded with tears. Behind the tears was some said. Her voice was faint. Her eyes were enormous. They darkness so pain-filled that Paul was astonished. What had always bothered Paul, they were so huge and brown. could be so wrong? Her face twisted as she tried to speak. Like a cow’s, he thought. He had the feeling that she was sparing l~tim some terrible "Hi, Paul." news that would ruin his life. He saw that it was unfor- "How are you, Pam?" givable to ask her to speak of it. Her mouth twitched as if it would smile but it didn’t. She’s like a wraith from the underworld, he thought, "Oh..." she said. She looked, past them. staring at her in horror. His brain raced, searching for "The kids," she said. Her voice was almost a whisper. words, any words that would lay to rest this silence. He "You put Jason and Jeremy to bed. Don’t you re- scooted backwards on to the edge of the couch. member?" "Don’t worry, Paul," she said then, her voice a steady "The baby," she said. "Did you...?" whisper. "Kurt will be right back." There was a pause. They all heard the baby’s steady "Sure," Paul said,, settling back on the couch. "Sure, wail. Pam." He was weak with relief and horror. He looked at "Pam!" Kurt exclaimed. He jumped up and ran out of his hands. The house creaked. the room. Paul could hear his voice shouting down the "Well,. Pam," Kurt said. His voice was calmer. He was hall but couldn’t understand the words. He wondered if in control again. "Paul came over tonight to help me give he should follow. But Pam seemed to have relaxed and you a blessing. You just aren’t yourself these days. We

42 Sunstone want to help you. Okay?" him stonily. Pam didn’t answer. She was staring at her arm "What kind of job?" asked Paul, thinking maybe there again--no, at her wrist, Paul saw. Paul could see nothing was something she could do at home. unusual, but Pam’s chin shook as she looked at it. "I worked at a bank before we got married. I think I "Pam," Kurt said sharply. She didn’t look up. It was could go back. I dropped out of school my junior year to as if his voice was pitched in a range she simply didn’t help Jake get his degree." hear. "The Church will help you," the bishop said, "if you’ll Kurt shrugged and pulled a pen from his shirt pocket. just care for these children. It’s not charity. It’s the Lord’s "I have some oil right here," he said, opening a vial at the way of helping those who need temporary assistance. top of his pen. It was very quiet as he dropped a little into You’ve paid your tithing. In a few years you can think his palm. Then a humming began in the kitchen. A gust about a job." of wind threw a handful of grit and leaves against the There was an angry yowl. A small, cream-colored kit- window. ten shot from the little boy’s hands and streaked across "Okay," Kurt said. the room. It began to climb a rubber tree plant. They moved into position. As Paul prayed he tried to The late afternoon sun glared through the window force his own content through his hands, his fingertips, behind Paul, warming the back of his neck, but the room into Pam. He wanted to help whatever it was that was full of shadows. As the kitten peered around the haunted her, to infuse her with his own satisfaction. But trunk, its eyes blazed orange in the dim room. Paul as he listened to Kurt’s voice praying in turn, he felt stared. He knew it was a trick of the light but still he darkness creep up his hands and wrists like a stain and squirmed in his chair as that fiery gaze rested on him for a his blood run like ink. A chill trickled up his backbone. full minute. He tried to see it from another angle, but When he opened his eyes the light was harsh and alien. couldn’t. He started to exclaim, then to laugh, but he did Pam was motionless. In a minute Paul walked around neither. her and peered at her face. She was still staring at her Then the kitten leaped down and pranced across the wrist. He wondered if she had even closed her eyes dur- room. Paul waited. When it brushed his ankle, he bent ing the prayer. He touched.her hand a second. It was icy and snatched it up in one hand. Casually he turned it and and limp. "Goodnight, Pam." looked at its eyes. They were pale blue. The kitten’s heart He shook Kurt’s hand. It was warm and moist. "We’ll tapped against his palm. see you soon. Keep in touch." Suddenly Paul felt violence rise inside of him. He "Thanks for coming over. I’m sure she’ll snap out of it. wanted to hurl the kitten across the room. Even now he I’m going to hang around most of the day tomorrow and could feel the smack against the wall in the pit of his I’ll see to it that she gets to Relief Society on Sunday." stomach and along the soles of his feet. The blabbering "Good thinking," Paul approved. "Maybe you could television, the kids, the untidy room made his head go for a drive up the canyon tomorrow. Or take her out to pound. Under every toy, inside every tipsy paper lunch. You know." airplane lurked darkness like a shadow of his own in- "Sure," Kurt said. "Thanks again." adequacy, and he wanted only to be free, to smash, to ’AUL filled his lungs with the night air. It was col- rage, to blast things through windows. der but he was so happy to be out of the Jacksons’ Lynette had been deep in the shadows of the chair by p house that he broke into a jog from happiness as the time Paul and the bishop rose and prayed with their much as anything. He felt sorry for Kurt. The moon was a hands on her head. Paul felt the darkness recede a step or thin crescent in the sky. Paul could see the circle of the two as he prayed, but even then he sensed that once they moon’s surface, a shadow against the dark sky. The left the shadows would press in again. leaves rustled like mice in the gutters. As Paul jogged around the corner that led down a Well, Pam’s not as bad as Lynette Strauss was, Paul slight grade to his house, he looked at the blocks of thought, as his feet established a rhythm on the pave- houses. It seemed so futile. How could a few men hope to ment. Lynette’s kids were entirely out of control, shoot- hold back the darkness in so many houses? A sudden ing each other with cap guns and falling dead right on the gust blew a newspaper page toward him like a huge, bishop’s shoes. Lynette didn’t notice or didn’t care. Usu- flapping bird and he ducked, breaking his stride. ally she monitored her children’s every move. He spurted into a run. His guests were waiting, his Only for a few minutes had Paul recognized her as wife and his children were there, and he could see the someone he knew. She had leaned forward at one point yellow windows of his house now as square and clean as and looked straight at the bishop. "I want to get a job." heaven. The bishop smiled, encouraged. "I can understand Still, he somehow felt that he brought defeat home that," he said, "of course you do. But your children aren’t with him, that even in his own shining house a rustle even in school yet." would follow him. Or sometimes from the corner of his "I can make arrangements," Lynette said. "I may eye, he would catch a furtive motion. He would have to never hear from Jake again." be on guard, armored against the shadows. At night as "No woman has a more important job than being with Lois slumbered sweetly beside him, he would hear the her kiddies every day. Besides, by the time you pay a sly shifting of shoulders in the dark rooms, and the steal- babysitter, you won’t make much." Lynette looked at thy scouting that never sounded an audible footstep.

Mayqune 43 AN OVERVIEW OF THE ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST VIEW OF THE HEBREWS AS A POSSIBLE SOURCE FOR THE BOOK OF MORMON.

THE COMPARATIVE METHOD REEXAMINED

MADISON U. SOWELL

N NOVEMBER 28, that a most effective way to attack Mormonism always advocated a 1841, Joseph Smith Mormonism was to attack the Book of human, rather than a divine or super- recorded in his jour- Mormon’s validity as an ancient re- natural, origin of the book. In 1834, for nal that the Book of cord. By chipping away at Mor- instance, E. D. Howe published Mor- Mormon is "the key- monism’s central stone, to continue monism Unvailed [sic] in which it was stone of our reli- the analogy, various factions and hos- proposed that the original authors of gion.’’1 Joseph’s analogy, thoughtile groups hoped to affect the the Book of Mormon were Solomon brief, aptly illustrates an important Prophet’s downfall and to encompass Spaulding, author of Manuscript. point to keep in mind as we discuss a the destruction of his religion. Story, and Sidney Rigdon, one of Wide-ranging theories surfaced, Joseph’s earliest and most notable reputed Book of Mormon source. We 3 may infer from the analogy that just as therefore, in attempts to uncover the converts. The Spaulding-Rigdon a keystone locks together the other "true" origin of the Book of Mormon. theory, while popular for several de- stones of an arch, so the Book of Needless to report, those opposed to cades, has long since been discre- Mormon supports and gives validity dited. As Thomas O’Dea concludes, to the doctrines of Mormonism. "Few, if any, scholars take it seriously Without a keystone no arch could today.’’4 Other theories ascribed the stand; without the Book of Mormon BOOK OF MORMON: Book of Mormon’s authorship either the religion Joseph Smith founded to Oliver Cowdery or to an epileptic would lose its chief reason for being. ACCOUNT WRITTEN B’f TIlE HAND OF MOR- and, consequently, visionary Joseph MON, UPON PLATES TAKEN FROM Smith. s It is not our intent, however, Everying in Mormonism ultimatey Till:; PLATES OP NEPIH. : hinges on the authenticity of our un- to delve into these particular conjec- iquely Mormon scripture.2 Today, tures, which are largely out of vogue after one hundred and fifty years, the in today’s scholarly world. Our atten- Book of Mormon still remains the acid tion will focus instead on another test of Joseph Smith’s claims to theory, one which widely circulates in prophetic election. Mormon apostates current anti-Mormon literature but is and other anti-Mormons had already hardly known to the Mormon mem- understood this simple fact years be- bership at large. Like the topic of fore the Prophet made the keystone Mormonism and Masonry, the sub- comparison, and they had concluded ject of Joseph’s possible reliance on Ethan Smith’s View of the Hebrews for This paper was first presented at SUNSTONE’$ 1980 PALM\R.\ : parts of the Book of Mormon has sel- Mormon Theological Symposium 1<30. dom been discussed publicly in Mor- MADISON SOWELL teaches Italian at BYU. _ (Con tinued on page 50)

44 Sunstone TEXTUAL PROBLEMS WHICH MAY CHALLENGE THE BOOK’S ORIGIN AND AUTHORSHIP WERE EXAMINED BY B. H. ROBERTS.

BOOK OF MORMON DIFFICULTIES

GEORGE D. SMITH, JR.

N AUGUST 1921 a Mr. Couch to us from the outside World." 1 the integrity of the whole Mormon of Washington, D.C., wrote to Believing that "our faith is not only movement," wrote Roberts in another his friend in Logan, Utah, unshaken but unshakable,’’2 Roberts letter to President Grant about the asking several pointed ques- therefore felt it was possible to face same matter, "for it is inconceivable tions about certain details of these challenges directly. Joseph that the Book of Mormon should be the Book of Mormon. These Smith himself had declared the book untrue in its origin and character and questions were forwarded to Apostle "the keystone" of the restored gospel. the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- James B. Talmage, who in turn gave "Maintenance of the truth of the Book day Saints to be a true church."3 This them to B.H. Roberts of the First of Mormon is absolutely essential to proposition is no less true today and Quorum of the Seventy. In response, the continuing need to examine the Roberts wrote two manuscripts, book no less critical. Two arguments "Book of Mormon Difficulties" and often used against the Book of Mor- "A Book of Mormon Study," detailing mon, both addressed by Roberts potential problems which might be during his lifetime, are therefore wor- used to discredit the Book of Mormon. thy of careful attention. The first paper was presented to the The first "difficulty" was detailed Council of the Twelve. In a cover letter at length in Roberts’ second manus- to President Heber J. Grant which ac- cript, "A Book of Mormon Study." In companied the manuscript, Roberts 1823, seven years before the Book of explained his motives for cataloguing Mormon was published, Ethan Smith what some might feel best forgotten. had written View of the Hebrews,4 a "I am thoroughly convinced," he compilation of popular opinions wrote, "of the necessity of all the about the origins of the American In- brethren herein addressed becoming dians, who supposedly descended familiar with these Book of Mormon from the Hebrew tribes. Some have problems, and finding the answer for claimed that this book was a source for them, as it is a matter that will concern the Book of Mormon. The book was the faith of the Youth of the Church circulated in the area where Joseph now as also in the future, as well as lived. Ethan Smith was a Congrega- such casual inquirers that may come tional minister living in Poultney, This paper was first presented at SUNSTONE’S 1979 Vermont, Oliver Cowdery’s home Mormon Theological Symposium until 1825 when he moved west and GEORGE SMITH is a freelance historian living met Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith’s in San Francisco. own birthplace, Sharon, Vermont,

Mayqune 45 was only 40 miles from Poultney. But Ethan Smiith, like Joseph Smith, ment .... Something like this may View of the Hebrews, which was ex- believed that the American In- possibly have occurred to favour of panded in the 1825 edition, was also dians descended frorn the an- our Indians being of Israel" (pp. 217- read widely in New York, where the cient Hebrews. But Ethan Smith con- 218).~2 Similar ideas are found in Joseph Smith family moved. Several cluded "from various authors and Mormon’s description of bu~ying sac- endorsements of the book from travelers among the Indians., the fact red "records which had been handed people living in New York were in- that the American Indians are the ten clown by our father," buryiing them cluded in the second edition of the tribes of Israel" (p. 85). The Book of up "in the Hill Cumorah" (Mormon book, one from Eden, New York, a Mormon describes a people de- 6:6). town as far west as Buffalo. s scended from only three tribes-- Ethan Smith had collected reports Lehi’s descendants from the. tribes of about the Hebrew origin of the In- Ephraim and Manasseh, two of the dians from missionaries and traders lost tribes, and Mulek’s descendants who had lived among them. This idea from the tribe of Judah. ~o The opening ACRED RECORDS, was also held by such well-known chapters of both books deal with the American religious leaders as Roger destruction of Jerusalem and the scat- HAND ED D 0 WN Williams, William Penn, Cotton tering of Israel. Both books then de- FROM G ENERA TION Mather, and Jonathan Edwards, as scribe the gathering and restoration of well as authors James Adair, Charles Israel to its own land. Ethan Smith TO GENERATION, Crawford, Elias Boudinot, and Josiah quotes the eleventh chapter of Isaiah, WERE BURIED IN A Priest. Priest had published two which the Angel Moroni also recited HILL IN BOTH books supporting the thesis.6 In The to Joseph Smith on September 12, Wonders of Nature and Providence Dis- 1828 (History of the Church, Vol. I, p. ,4 C C O UNTS . played (editions printed in 1825 and 12). The migrations of Ethan Smith’s Both the View of the Hebrews and 1826) he concluded, after quoting "lost tribes" are not unlike those of the Book of Mormon identify the some forty writers, that most minis- the Book of Mormon Jaredites. Both American Indians as the "stick ters of New England and the Middle groups journeyed north into a of Joseph or Ephraim," the tribe of States believed the Indians were de- valley~the valley of the Euphrates for 7 Joseph, which will be reunited with scendants of the Hebrews. Between the "lost tribes" and the valley of the stick of Judah, the Jews, as 1833 and 1838 he published eight edi- Nimrod for the Jaredites. Both finally prophesied by Ezekiel (chapter 37). tions of the second book, American crossed the sea--the lost tribes in a Ten tribes of Israel (the stick of Joseph) Antiquities. year and a half, the Jaredites in 344 were carried into captivity by the As- Although there is no direct evi- days~to an uninhabited land "where syrians in 722 B.C.; the Jews in the dence that Joseph Smith ever read man never dwelt" (tribes) or "into Southern Kingdom (the stick of View of the Hebrews before the Book of that quarter where there never had Judah) were exiled by the Babylonians Mormon was translated, in an 1842 ar- man been (Jaredites, Ether 2:!5). in 587 B.C. Ezekiel[ 37 described the ticle in the Times and Seasons~ he did In both books savage tribes de- reunion of these two houses of Ab- use a quote from American Antiquities raham (Smith, pp. 52-54; D&C 2.7:5). ~3 and an allusion to Ethan Smith as stroyed their civilized brethren support for the validity of his own in a final great battle. ~ The sav- Both books inform Americans age group had been judged or cursed that they should convert the In- by God and become "idle hunters" in dians to their Hebraic ..scriptural the "wilderness.." Other parallels are heritage. The Book of Mormon quotes mentioned (see sidebar). Isaiah and prophesies that "God will raise up a mighty nation among the THE MIGRATIONS OF In both accounts, sacred re- Gentiles" (1 Nephi 22:7), which shall E THAN S MI TH’S cords, ha~tded down from gen- carry a message "unto the remnant of eration to generation, were our seed.., wherefore they shall be LOST TRIBES ARE NOT buried in a hill .and then found years gathered together to the lands of their UNLIKE THOSE OF later. Ethan Smith related an Indian inheritance" (2 Nephi 30:3, 5; 1 Nephi tradition "that the book which the ,’).2:12). View of the Hebrews states that it THE BOOK OF white people have was once theirs" is "probable that the Christian people MORMON (p. 115), that "having lost the know- of the United States of America are the ledge of reading it... they buried it subjects of that address" (Of Isaiah 18; JAREDITES. with an Indian Chief" (p. 223). He Smith p. 228). Ethan Smith work. Certainly then, these ideas tells of some Hebrew parchments exhorts: "Look at the origins of those about the origin of the Indians were "dug up... on Indian Hill .... proba- degraded natives of your conti- widely circulated during the time and bly from an Indian grave" (pp. 217- nent .... teach thern their ancient his- at the place Joseph was translating the 218) and speculates that some ancient tory; their former blessings; their Book of Mormon. ~ Hebrew writing, once possessed by being cast away; and the promises of There are at least five themes "a leading character in Israel," could their return .... Go thou nation found in View of the Hebrews (1.825 edi- have been buried with him when he highly distinguished in the last days; tion) which have parallels in the Book died. "Some people afterward re- save the remnant of my people" (pp. of Mormon. moving that earth, discover this frag- :).49-250).

46 Sunstone After detailing such parallels in his "A Book of Mormon Study," B.H. THE FINAL GREAT BATTLE Roberts posed the following rhetorical question: Did Ethan Smith’s View of the Hebrews fur- nish structural material for Joseph Smith’s BOOK OF MORMON VIEW OF THE HEBREWS Book of Mormon? It has been pointed out in "And I did teach my people to these pages that there are many things in the "But that the people who first mi- former book that might well have suggested build buildings, and to work in all grated to this western world did pos- many major things in the other. Not a few manner of wood, and of iron, and of sess some knowledge of the mechanic things merely, one or two, or a half dozen, copper, and of brass, and of steel, arts (as much, doubtless, as was pos- but many; and it is this fact of many things of and of gold, and of silver, and of sessed by Israel when they disappeared similarity and the cumulative forces of precious ores, which were in great in the east), appears from incontest- them, that makes them so serious a menace abundance." (2 Nephi 5:15) able facts.., such as the finding of to Joseph Smith’s story of the Book of Mor- brick, earthen ware, sculptures, some mon’s origin. implements of iron.., which furnish an A second group of questions is argument in favor of the Indians hav- often raised regarding the number of ing descended from the ten tribes." passages from the King James transla- (pp. 171-172) tion of the Bible that are found in the "And I bear record that the peo- "...it took place under a vindictive Book of Mormon. In 1903 Mr. H. ple of Nephi did seek diligently to Providence, as has been noted, to ac- Chamberlain, an investigator from restore the Lamanites unto the true complish divine judgmen ts denounced Spencer, Iowa, addressed a question faith of God. But our labors were against the idolatrous ten tribes of about the matter to President Joseph in vain;" (Enos 20) Israel." (p. 174) "Inasmuch as they will not F. Smith. His wife had joined the hearken unto thy words they shall Church, but he had not been able to be cut off from the presence of the reconcile apparent conflicts concern- Lord... And he had caused a curs- ing the Book of Mormon. "Christ is ing to come upon them..." (2 Nephi quoting to the people on this side of 5:20-21) the water," he observed, "the third "...they did become an idle "finding themselves in a vast and fourth chapters of Malachi, people.., and did seek in the wilder- wilderness filled with the best of quoted, according to the Book of ness for beasts of prey." (2 Nephi game .... most of them fell into a Mormon, in the identical text of the 5:24) wandering idle hunting life" (p. 172) King James’ version, not missing a "And now I finish my record con- "...but the more savage tribes pre- word.., not even omitting the words concerning the destruction of my peo- vailed; and in the process of time supplied by the translators." ple, the Nephites. And it came to their savage and jealous rage annihi- Recognizing that no two trans- pass that we did march forth before lated their more civilized brethren... lators are likely to produce identical the Lamanites." (Mormon 6:1) this accounts for their loss of the knowledge of letters, of the art of navigation, and the use of iron." (p. 172) "’swords, the hilts thereof "a smallsword.., the blade thereof THE B OOK OF were cankered with rust" (Mosiah was gone by rust." (p. 194) 8:11) MORMON HAS "a land which was covered with "a great quantity of bones.., the CHRIST QUOTING the bones of men" (Mosiah 8:8) remains of men slain in some great battle" (p. 195) THE WORDS OF "a people who were as numerous "a population as numerous as that PETER, BEFORE as the hosts of Israel" (Mosiah which once animated the borders of PETER SPOKE THEM. 8:8) the Nile..." (p. 199) "With the records was found a Thummim, the American Archimagus translations, even if working from the curious instrument, which the an- wears a breast plate made of a white same text, he expressed doubt that cients called Urim and Thummim conch shell with two holds.., and such similarities could occur in two which consisted of two transpar- fastens a buck horn white button to the translations unless one were copied entstones set in the rim of a outside of each, as if in imitation of the from the other. "And then it takes the bow fastened to a breast plate." precious stones of the Urim." (p. 150) utmost care," he added, "to get them (History of the Church, Vol. V, "On the breast lay a piece of copper; exactly alike, word for word, and let- p. 537) also a curious stone five inches in ter for letter as this one." He then length... The whole appeared to have asked this question: "How do you as been designed to wear upon the neck a church account for these as a kind of breastplate." (p. 195) things?... Did Joseph copy it from the Bible, or did the Lord adopt this identical language in revealing to Joseph?’’is

May~une 47 There are many examples of nearly identical constructions and meta- phors which appear in both tlhe Book PARALLEL VERSES of Mormon and the King James ver- sion of the Bible (see sidebar). Some BOOK OF MORMON NEW TESTAMENT quoted passages are particularly problematic because the Book of the ax is laid at the root of the the ax is laid unto the :root of the Mormon includes statements which tree, therefore every tree which trees: therefore every tree which would not yet have been written-- bringeth not forth good fruit shall bringeth not forth good fruit is New Testament passages, for exam- be hewn down and cast into the fire hewn down and cast into the fire ple, before the time of Christ. There (Alma 5:52, B.C. 83) (Matthew 3:10) are also time sequence conflicts in- the dog to his vomit, or like the the dog is turned to his own vomit volving the Old Testament. sow to her wallowing in the mire again; and the sow that was washed For example, Nephi, who wrote (3 Nephi 7:8, A.D. 29-30) to her wallowing in the mire approximately 550 years before (2 Peter 2:22) Christ, quotes Malachi, wh~o lived it shall be all .fulfilled, every jot one jot or one tittle shall in no nearly 1.50 years later. Malach!i: and tittle, and none shall have wise pass from the law, till all be For, behold, the day cometh that shall burn as passed away (Alma 34:13, B.C. 74) fulfilled (Matthew 5:18) an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that shall be cast into outer darkness; shall be cast into outer darkness: do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that there shall be weeping, and wailing, there shall be weeping and gnashing cometh shall burn them up (Malachi 4:1). and gnashing to teeth (Alma 40:13, of teeth (Matthew 8:12) shall the Son of righteousness arise with he- B.C. 73) alings in his wings (Malachi 4:2) stand fast in ~hat liberty wherewith Stand fl~st therefore in the liberty! Similar passages from Nephi: God has made them free (Alma 58:40, wherewith Christ hath made us fi’ee For behold, saith the prophet .... the day B.C. 63) (Galatians 5:1) soon cometh that all the proud and they who the last shall be first, and the many that are first shall be last; do wickedly shall be as stubble; and the day com- first shall be last (I Nephi 13:42, and the last shall be first eth that they must be burned (1 Nephi 22:15). B.C. 690-592) (Matthew 19:30) Wherefore, all those who are proud, and that do wickedly, the day that colneth shall and there shall be one fold and one and there shall be one fold, and one burn them up .... for they shall be as stubble (2 shepherd (I Nephi 22:25, B.C. shepherd (John 10:16) Nephi 26:41). 588-570) He shall rise from the dead with healing in his wings ,’,2 Nephi 25:13). the Lamb of God, who should take the Lamb of God, which taketh away But the Son of righteousness shall appear unto away the sins of the world the sins of the world (John 1:29) them; and he shall heal them (2 Nephi 26:9). (I Nephi 10:10, B.C. 600-592) by the law no flesh is justified by the works of the law shall no Another problematic section in the (2 Nephi 2:4, B.C. 588-570’.) flesh be justified (Galatians 2:16’,1 Book of Mormon has Christ quoting God will giw~ liberally to him that If any of you lack wisdom, let ihim the words of Peter, before Peter spoke asketh (2 Nephi 4:35, B.C. 588-570) ask of God, thatgiveth to all men them. Actually, Christ is supposed to liberally (James 1:5) be quoting Moses, but instead of cit- And whoso knocketh, to him he will and to him that knocketh it shall be ing Deuteronomy 18:1_5-19, he quotes opened (Matthew 7:8’,t Peter’s paraphrase found in Acts open (2 Nephi 9:42, B.C. 559-545) 3:22-26. Then Christ, speakin:g about Whatsoever t,hing ye shall ask in whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, himself, uses the same words Peter faith, believing.., ye shall re- believing, ye shall receive used in this passage. Peter: ceive it (Enos 15, B.C. 544-421) (Matthew 21:22) Unto you first God having raised up his Son they who are righteous shall be he which is filthy, let him be Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away righteous still, and they who are filthy still: and he that is every one of you from his iniquiities (Acts filthy shall be filthy still righteous, let him be righteous 3:26). (2 Nephi 9:16, B.C. 559-54,5) still (Revelation 22:11) Christ describing his own mission: endured the crosses of the world endured the cross, despising the The Father having raised me up unto you and despised the shame (2 Nephi shame (Hebrews 12:2) first, and sent me to bless you in turning 9:18, B.C. 559-545) away every one of you from his iniquities (3 Nephi 20:26). where there is no law given there where no law is, there is no trans-. is no punishment (2 Nephi 9:25 gression (Romans 4:15) B.H. Roberts wrote a response to B.C. 559-54!5) the letter which Chamberl,ain had But woe unh~. the rich (2 Nephi 9:30) But woe unto you that are rich written regarding such quoting and (Luke 6:24) paraphrasing; the response, dated November 1903, was printe,d in the to be carnally-minded is death, and to be carnally minded is death, but Improvement Era. Again Roberts to be spiritually-minded is life to be spiritually minded is life acknowledged the real difficulty (2 Nephi 9:39, B.C. 559-545) (Romans 8:6) posed and noted that such parallels have "been recognized by believers in

48 Sunstone the Book of Mormon, but I do not pear under the characters, that Joseph The fact that Joseph could have know that I can say that the Church as would simply read off the English written the Book of Mormon doesn’t yet has settled upon any explana- translation to his scribe. 18 Thus the mean that he did nor does the exis- tion." He explained that Mormons question of translation methods be- tence of problems regarding the book generally believe that Joseph Smith comes an important part of dealing mean that its authenticity is automati- translated the words of Isaiah, with challenges such as these leveled cally discredited. Nonetheless, if the Malachi, and Christ which appear in against the Book of Mormon. Book of Mormon is to maintain its the Book of Mormon from manus- Given the complexity of the issues, cripts other than those used by the members of the Church must aban- translators of the King James don facile defenses of Joseph Smith Bible--in fact, Joseph’s manuscripts and his work if they intend to confront were written in different languages. questions regarding the authenticity So the question of why some passages of the Book of Mormon. The issue of ROBERTS appear to be identical to ones found in translation is only one example. B.H. SUGGESTED THAT the Bible "constitutes a real difficulty, Roberts also led the way in confront- and one, too, in which we have no ing other difficult issues. For example, ALTHOUGH JOSEPH word from the Prophet, Joseph Mormons have often claimed that OBTAINED THE S1Ttith.’’16 In this letter, Roberts then "conjec- Joseph’s limited education and FACTS AND IDEAS background precluded his writing the tured" about possible explanations Book of Mormon on his own. "Was FROM THE NEPHITE for these similarities: "When Joseph Joseph Smith possessed of a suffi- Smith saw that the Nephite record CHARACTERS, HE ciently vivid and creative imagination was quoting the prophecies of Isaiah, as to produce such a work as the Book EXPRESSED THEM IN of Malachi, or of the Savior, he too of Mormon from such common HIS OWN LANG UA G E. used the English Bible and compared knowledge as was extant in the com- those passages as far as they paral- munities where he lived in his boy- central position, there are many ques- leled each other; finding that in sub- hood and young manhood; from the tions yet to examine. As Roberts in- stance, in thought, they were alike, he Bible, and more especially from the sisted, not until we adopt "the view- adopted our English translation .... " View of the Hebrews by Ethan Smith?" point of an open mind, investigating He also suggested that although queried Roberts in his "A Book of the facts of the Book of Mormon origin Joseph Smith obtained the facts and and authorship.., can [we] look ideas from the Nephite characters, he Mormon Study." He then cited examples of Joseph’s facility with lan- without fear on all that can be said expressed them in his own language. against it.-22 If the passage closely resembled the guage. He first referred to the passage Bible, he used biblical language. from Lucy Mack Smith’s biography of Notes In 1906, in another article in the Im- her son, wherein Joseph, at the age of 1. On January 4, 5, and 26, 1922, B.H. Roberts pre- seventeen, reportedly recited stories sented his 141-page paper, "Book of Mormon Difficul- provement Era, Roberts discussed this of ancient American Indian civiliza- ties," to the General Authorities. This paper detailed translation process at some length linguistic problems in the Book of Mormon. For exam- and again concluded that Joseph tions, describing "their dress, mode ple, how could so many languages have evolved from of travelling, and the animals upon one language in only 1000 years? Also, Roberts was concerned about the lack of archeological evidence for which they rode; their cities, their the Nephite peoples’ use of domestic animals (in- buildings, with every particular; their duding the horse), iron and steel, wheat and barley, mode of warfare; and also their religi- and wheel vehicles. ous worship.., with as much ease, The second paper, "A Book of Mormon Study," dis- cussed parallels with the View of the Hebrews and cer- MAINTENANCE OF seemingly, as if he had spent his tain internal inconsistencies in the Book of Mormon. A whole life among them.’’19 He nextcover letter dated March 15, 1923, addressed to Presi- THE TRUTH OF THE dent Heber J. Grant has been saved with the manus- quoted Joseph Smith, somewhat cript. There is no evidence that Roberts ever presented BOOK OF MORMON older, writing to the Saints from Lib- it to President Grant. In a letter to Elder Richard R. erty Jail--first an eloquent prayer, Lyman, dated October 24, 1927, Roberts explained IS ABSOLUTELY that his investigations concerning the Book of Mor- then a characterization of Missouri mon had been interrupted in 1922 by a call to serve as ESSENTIAL TO THE Governor Boggs as "wimbling wil- Eastern States Mission President; Truman Madsen lows upon the shore to catch the quotes a 1932 letter from Roberts to Elizabeth Skolfield INTEGRITY OF THE which indicated that he had not yet presented the sec- floodwood."2o ond paper (BYU Studies 19:441). Roberts died in 1933. WHOLE MORMON He then concluded that there could In a December 26, 1967, letter, Grant Ivins, former BYU professor of comparative religion and son of MOVEMENT. be no doubt that Joseph Smith pos- apostle Anthony Ivins, wrote about a B.H. Roberts sessed a vivid and creative imagina- manuscript "pointing out the similarity between View Smith must have supplied the English tion, which, "given the suggestions of the Hebrews and the Book of Mormon": "He wanted words after the Lord introduced the to publish this comparison, but the Church authorities that are to be found in the ’common would not sanction its publication" (Letter to Heber ideas. 17 Roberts reached these con- knowledge’ of accepted American an- Holt; copy preserved in Special Collections, Univer- clusions despite statements by Book tiquities of the times, supplemented sity of Utah). of Mormon witnesses David Whitmer by such a work as Ethan Smith’s View In December 1979, Adele W. Parkinson, widow of and Martin Harris that Joseph would B.H. Roberts’ grandson, presented copies of "Book of of the Hebrews, could make it possible Mormon Difficulties" and "A Book of Mormon look into a hat at the seer stones and for him to create a book such as the Study," along with related correspondence, to the that actual English words would ap- ’’2~ Special Collections Library at the University of Utah; Book of Mormon is. copies of this material went to BYU.

May~une 49 2. Letter to President Grant, March 15, 1’923. "View of the Hebrews," Juvenile Instructor (Oct. 1, persal of the Ten Tribes in 722 B.C. These two tribal remnants, plus Mulek (from the tribe of Judah) left 3. Ibid. 1902); William L. Riley, "A Comparison of Passages from Isaiah and Other Old Testament Prophets in Jerusalem before the Babylonian captivi~y in 587 B.C. 4. Ethan Smith, View of the Hebrews; or the Tribes of Is- Ethan Smith’s View Of the Hebrews and the Book of and became the three tribes described in the Book of rael in America, Smith & Shute: Poultney, Vermont, Mormon," Brigham Young University Thesis, May Mormon--stick of Ephraim. The earlier Jaredite 1823, 2 ed. 1825. In 1977, Arno Press, New York, a sub- 1971. peoples had become extinct in Book of Mormon his- sidiary of the New York Times, reprinted the 1823 edi- tory. tion; Modern Microfilm, Salt Lake City, has photo- 10. Beginning with Joseph Smith, Church leaders mechanically reproduced the 1825 edition (1964). have identified American Indians as descendants of 14. "A Book of Mormon Study," Part ![, Chap. XIII, Book of Mormon peoples. (See DHC h12, CHC I:167, pp. 19-24 and Chap. XIV, p. 1. 5. Letter dated February 4, 1825, from Rev. Jabez B. JD 17:299-501, JD 14:10, and Doctrines of Salvation, 15. Letter from H. Chamberlain to President Joseph F. Hyde of Eden, Erie County, New York. published I:151.) More recently, the doctrine of Indian origin Smith, dated October 22, 1903, quoted in the Improve- under "Recommendations" in the 1825 edition, pp. seems to have been modified to include the widely ment Era 7 (1904):180-182. vi-vii, comments on the 1823 edition. recognized migrations across the Bering Strait, thousands of years before Book of Mormon chronol- 16. Letter from B.H. Roberts to H. Chamberlain, 6. View of the Hebrews, pp. 67-225 (Second Ed.). dated November 7, 1903, quoted in the Improvement Smith quotes extensively James Adair, The History of ogy. (See McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2 ed. pp. 32-33; Era 7:182-192. the American Indians, London, 1775; and Elias Arrington and Bitton, Mormon Experience, p. 14.) Boudinot, A Star in the West; or, a Humble Attempt to Dis- In attributing the origin of the American Indians to 17. For further discussion of Bible quotations in the cover the Long Lost Ten Tribes of Israel, Trenton, N.J., three tribes instead of the "Ten Lost Tribes," a well Book of Mormon see Sidney B. Spert3,, Our Book of 1816. Smith refers to forty-six "authors and au- understood classification, the Book of Mormon differs Mormon, Bookcraft, Salt Lake, 1950, Chap. 16; Answers thorities." from View of the Hebrews. Roberts considers this a varia- ~o Book of Mormon Question:;, Bookcraft, 1967; Paul R. tion of slight importance, "since the main idea ,Chessman, The Keystone of Mormonism, Salt Lake, De- 7. Josiah Priest, The Wonders of Nature and Providence is... that the American Indians are descendants of the seret 1973, chap. 3; Hugh Nibley, An Approach to the Displayed, Albany, 1825, 1826. Israelites" ("A Book of Mormon Study," Part I, Chap. Book of Mormon, Salt Lake, Deseret 1964, p. 139; Saints" 8. Times and Seasons, June 1, 1842, Vol. III, pp. 813- II, pp. 11-12). Herald, 108; The Instructor (March 1956): 72. 814. 11. Roberts, observing that the Indians lived in a 18. Martin Harris describes the "chocolate-colored, 9. Hugh Nibley asserted that "to establish any con- Stone Age culture, queried whether Ethan Smith "was somewhat egg-shaped stone which the prophet found nection at all between the books of the two Smiths it is innocently followed into this error [of presuming the while digging a well .... " which he used. to receive di- absolutely imperative to find something perfectly un- use of iron and steel] by the author of the Book of vine messages (CHC, Vol. I, p. 129). This seer stone re- ique and peculiar in both of them." He was not able to Mormon" ("A Book of Mormon Study," Part I, Chap. sembles the dark-colored stone Joseph Smith looked find "any single thing in common between them that VIII, p. 6). .at in his hat to locate buried silver in 1825, when Josiah is not also found in the Bible" ("The Comparative Stowel hired him for his reputation as a seer. (DHC, 12. The Hebrew parchment was deposited with Dr. Vol. I, p. 17; CHC, Vol. I, pp. 81-82; Oliver Cowdery’s Method," Improvement Era 62 [Oct./Nov. 1.959]: 848). Isaiah Thomas, president of the (now American) An- Other LDS references on View of the Hebrews in- report in L.D.S Messenger and Advocate, 2[October dude: Bruce D. Blumell, "I Have a Question," The En- tiquarian Society of Worcester, Massachusetts, on the 1835]: 200-201; Lucy Smith’s Biographical Sketches of sign (September 1976): 84-87: Paul R. Cheesman, condition that the Society mention it in its bulletin. Joseph Smith and the Prophet, Liverpool, England, 1853, This was not done, and the parchment was returned in pp. 91-92; a discussion of Joseph Smith’s employment "View of the Hebrews," unpublished paper, 1963 1818 to the contributor, Sylvester Larned, who then (Cheesman notes differences between the two to locate hidden treasures is also found in Frazers presented it to Elias Boudinot, author of A Star in the .Magazine 3 [Feb. 1873]:229-230.) books: time of peoples’ arrival - 2800 B.C. and 650 B.C. West. The parchment is not found among Dr. vs. 722 B.C.; way of travel - boats v. "Bee~ring Straits"; Boudinot’s papers, which are deposited at the Histori- Description by David Whitmer, An Address to all Believ- reason for coming to America - blessing vs. curse); cal Society of Pennsylvania. (See the publications of ers in Christ, p. 12, quoted iin Improvement Era 9 (April Donna Hill, Joseph Smith, the First Mormon, Doubleday, the American Jewish Historical Society, #25, 1917, pp. 1906):427; Martin Harris, Millennial Star 24:86-87, Garden City, 1977, p. 104; Marvin S. Hill, "The His- 81-85; and September, 1948, p. 49.) quoted in same Improvemen~t Era article. torigraphy of Mormonism," Church History, Dec. 1959, 19. History of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Salt Lake pp. 418-426; Truman G. Madsen, "B.H. Roberts and 13. The Book of Mormon interprets "stick" as written the Book of Mormon," BYU Studies 19 (Summer 1959) record; View of the Hebrews applies "stick" as a family City: Deseret Book, 1901, p. 83. Hugh W. Nibley, "New Approaches to Book of Mor- branch. Ethan Smith includes the "Ten Lost Tribes" 20. Joseph Smith, History of the Church, Vol. III, pp. mon Study," Improvement Era (March, 1954): 148-150, under the stick of Ephraim; the Book of Mormon de- 280-305. 170; Spencer J. Palmer and William L. Knecht, "View scribes Lehi and Ishmael as two descendants of those 21."A Book of Mormon Study," Part I, Chap. XW, p. 13. of the Hebrews: Substitute for Inspiration?" BYU of the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim which re- Studies (Winter 1964): 105-113; George Reynolds, mained south and escaped Assyrian captivity and dis- 22. Letter to President Grant, March 15. 1923.

(Continued from page 44) Ethan share th,e same last name, ac- topic of great interest in early mondom. However, given the cent- tual family ties have never been de- nineteenth-century New England. rality of the Book of Mormon to Mor- monstrated. Ethan’s life span in- That topic was the Israelite origin of monism, the present topic undoub- cluded that of Joseph Smith: Ethan the American Indians. The first edi- tedly merits a careful review. was born in 1762, and he died in 1849, tion as soon exhausted, and an "im- proved and enlarged" edition ap- The allegation that Joseph Smith 8 wrote the Book of Mormon by bor- peared in 1825. Both the first and rowing ideas from Ethan Smith’s second editions precede the Book of works has circulated for many years. Mormon by seven and five years re- But it was not until the close of World PEOPLE HAVE spectively. The 1825 edition is divided War Ill that the question first received into the following four chapters: "The wide publicity and scholarly accep- WRONGLY Destruction of Jerusalem," "The Cer- tance. This came with the printing of CONCLUDED THAT tain Restoration of Judah and Israel," Fawn Brodie’s life of Joseph Smith, No "The Present State of the Jews, and of Man Knows My History. 6 Before we ROBERTS SERIOUSLY Israel," and "An Address of the turn to Brodie’s controversial book, DOUBTED THE BOOK Prophet Isaiah, Relative to -the Resto-. however, it may be helpful to estab- ration of His People." Chapter lish Ethan Smith’s identity and pin- OF MORMON’S gives "promiscuous testimonies" on page 1_14 to 225 as evidence that the point his geographic location. For A UTHENTICITY. Indians are of the House of Israel. Fur.- many years he was the pastor of a church in Poultney, Rutlancl County, five years after Joseph’s martyrdom. thermore, the book speaks of an an.- Vermont. This county adjoins In 1823 Ethan ]published the first edi- cient record hidden in th,e earth; it Windsor County, where Joseph tion of View of the Hebrews; or the Tribes quotes long passages from the ~ prophecies of Isaiah; it describes an Smith’s family resided at the time of of Israel in America. The work proved Joseph’s birth. Although Joseph and immediately popular, as it treated a Indian artifact resembling the Urirn

50 Sunstone and Thummim; and it theorizes about Brodie also speculates that Joseph on to the next objection to the Book of two distinct classes of Indians, one transformed a reference to the Urim Mormon. barbarous and one civilized, that and Thummim in Ethan Smith’s book In 1956, in response perhaps to originally populated America until "into the famous magic spectacles such naive treatments of the issue, the savage race destroyed the more with which he translated the golden Mervin Hogan, a Utah Mason, pub- civilized. plates." lished B.H. Roberts’ list of parallels Brodie makes much of all these Perhaps the most curious of between the Book of Mormon and facts. In "Red Sons of Israel," the Brodie’s statements concerning View of the Hebrews. The list is the one third chapter of her Joseph Smith parallelisms appears in a footnote to referred to by Brodie in the previously biography, she asserts that "Joseph’s the above page in which she observes quoted footnote. Hogan prefaces the familiarity with the theory of the He- the following: parallels with a bibliography designed braic origin of the Indians The scholarly Mormon historian B.H. to show "that a speculative relation- seems.., to have come chiefly Roberts once made a careful and impressive ship of the American Indian to a Heb- from... View of the Hebrews. ,,9 She list of parallels between View of the Hebrews raic origin is a most time worn thesis goes on to hypothesize, on the same and the Book of Mormon, but for obvious which must have sprung from the im- reasons it was never published. After his page, that death copies were made which circulated agination of some of the theologically It may, in fact, have been View of the He- among a limited circle in Utah. inclined soon after 1492.’’14 Hogan’s brews that gave Joseph Smith the idea of well-founded conclusion is that writing an Indian history in the first place. ’If This observation, as we shall see, has "Joseph Smith was no isolated figure the Indians are of the tribes of Israel,’ Ethan been at the heart of more controversy dealing with a unique, unusual, or Smith said pointedly, ’some decisive evi- than almost any other statement ’’is dence of the fact will ere long be exhibited.’ new subject. To argue otherwise is Brodie makes regarding the subject of to ignore much of the pre-1830 litera- Brodie believes, in other words, that our inquiry. For other writers have ture treating the origin of the Ameri- Joseph was guilty of fabricating evi- elaborated on Brodie’s remarks to can Indians. dence in order to help establish the conclude that B.H. Roberts lost his Of the eighteen parallels on Hebraic origin of the American In- faith in the Book of Mormon after Roberts’ list many of the most studying View of the Hebrews. Roberts’ noteworthy have already been men- family denies such accusations, and tioned, such as the proximity and existing evidence supports their de- sequence of publication of Ethan’s nial. 10 and Joseph’s books, the shared belief Mormon reaction to Brodie’s book in the Israelite origin of the American BY CHIPPING AWAY was immediate and damning. A De- Indians, the references to hidden or A T M ORMONISM ’S seret News reviewer accused her of "in- lost books and to the Urim and tense atheism" and "sensationalism" Thummim, the accounting for two CENTRAL STONE, and of being anything but a histo- classes of people in ancient America HOSTILE GROUPS rian. 11 Regarding the View of the Heb- and the fate of the more civilized, the HOPE TO AFFECT THE rews problem in particular, the re- prominence of Jerusalem at the be- viewer felt that Brodie completely in- ginning of each work, the Isaiah quo- PROPHET’S validated all her assertions when she tations, and the desire to convert the conceded that no one may ever prove DOWNFALL AND THE that Joseph saw Ethan’s book prior to DESTRUCTION OF HIS the 1830 publication of the Book of Mormon. In 1946 High Nibley, in No, RELIGION. Ma’am, That’s Not History, dismissed dians. The author significantly qual- Brodie’s speculations by following a MORMON AUTHORS ifies her assertions, however, by ad- line of reasoning similar to that in the mitting that "It may never be proved Deseret News review. 12 Nibley would that Joseph saw View of the Hebrews be- argue that as long as we lack irrefuta- fore writing the Book of Mormon" (p. ble proof that Joseph Smith knew 47). Even without positive proof she View of the Hebrews before 1830, the ]os p nevertheless feels that "striking question remains moot. Until Nibley COULD HAVE parallelisms" between the two works addressed the problem again and at "hardly leave a case for mere coinci- greater length in 1959, most sub- GLEANED NOTHING dence," and she summarizes those sequent Mormon respondents treated FROM parallels as follows: the question of parallelisms superfi- cially. J.N. Washburn, in his 1954 de- CONTEMPORARY Both books opened with frequent refer- ences to the destruction of Jerusalem; both fense of the Book of Mormon, brushes PUBLICATIONS ON told of inspired prophets among the ancient the issue aside with a typical one- Americans; both quoted copiously and al- sentence declaration: "With respect THE INDIANS. most exclusively from Isaiah; and both de- to The View of the Hebrews, it seems to lineated the ancient Americans as a highly Indians to Christianity. Other sig- civilized people. Both held that it was the me that all one need do to drop it from nificant parallels which Roberts out- mission of the American nation in the last serious consideration in connection lines treat references to Egyptian lan- days to gather these remnants of the house with the Book of Mormon is just to read guage among the Indians, descrip- of Israel and bring them to Christianity. it.’’13 That said, Mr. Washburn passes tions of an advanced civilization in

May/June early America, and the story of a Mes- moner?" After such quips, our your Council." He concludes by re- siah in the Western Hemisphere. Re- apologist affirms that although many porting that "the Parallel... is not garding the last parallel, iRoberts parallels are attributed to Joseph’s one fourth part of what can be pre- raises this query: "Did the character stealing from the View of the Hebrews, sented in this forrn, and the unpre- [Quetzacoatl] spoken of in the View of "he could more easily have found the sented part is quite as striking as this the Hebrews, published seven years be- same material in the Bible" (p. 746). that I submit." Finally, we have an fore the Book of Mormon, furnish the The Isaiah quotations, the destruction important point clarified: Roberts suggestion of the Christ on the west- of Jerusalem, and the Urim and drew up the parallels in 1927 for the ern continent?" The inclusion of such Thummim are cited as obvious illust- same reason he had compiled six queries has often led people ’wrongly rations of this point. Nibley concludes years earlier a volume, never pub- to conclude that Roberts seriously his article by taking final shots at some iished, on "Book of Mormon Difficul- doubted the Book of Mormon’s au- of the "false" parallels: The two ties." To quote Eh:ler Roberts’ 1921 thenticity. The queries actually had a Smiths are talking about different de- cover letter to "Pres. Heber J. Grant chiefly didactic function, which structions of Jerusalem; Et]~an sees and Counsellors, the Quorum of should become apparent once it is Quetzacoatl as a figure of Moses Twelve Apostles, and the First Coun- understood to whom they were ad- rather than of Christ; the Book of cil of the Seventy" regarding the dressed. Mormon does not teach that the In- t-reatise on "Book of Mormon Difficul- dians are descendants of the Lost Ten ties": Tribes but, more precisely, of the tribe I trust I am not manifesting an over anxi- of Joseph. The basic thesis behind all ety to presenting to you so extensive an in- these arguments is this: quiry as this paper proposes.., but I assure you that I am most tl~toroughly convinced of To establish any connection at all between the necessity of all the brethre~t herein ad- WE MUST the books of the two Smiths it is absolutely dressed becoming familiar with these Book REMEMBER THAT A imperative to find something perfectly un- of Mormon problems, and finding the ans- ique and peculiar to both of these. Yet there wer for them, as it is a matter that will con- SUCCESSFUL A TTACK is not one simple thing in common between cern the faith of the Youth of the Church View of the Hebrews and the Book of Mormon ~ now as also in the future, as well as such AGAINST POORLY that is not also found in the Bible. casual inquirers that may come to us from the outside world.~° INFORMED A UTHORS Granted that Nibley is a persua- DOES NOT sive, though at times flippant, iRoberts’ concern was ever tlhat of de- apologist for Joseph Smith, his fending, not destroying, the faith, as REPRESENT A BLOW analysis of the parallels is not totally ’Truman Madsen’s :recent BYU Studies AGAINST JOSEPH satisfying. The point of Roberts’ article and book also testify. parallels is not to prove that Joseph Nibley’s rarely noticed article has, SMITH. openly plagiarized Ethan Smith’s quite predictably, done nothing to Nibley responded to Brodie and work, but that he could have used it as deter anti-Mormons from continuing Hogan and, I suppose, to Roberts in a rich source book of ideas for some to cite View of the Hebrews as -the "most two issues of the 1959 Improvement structural and ~arrative aspects of the obvious source" of the Book of Mor- Era. His two-part article, entitled Book of Mormon. That position, I be- mon. Three notable anti-Mormon "The Comparative Method," consti- lieve, is still tenable. The motive Nib- tuted the final segment of a series on ley gives for Roberts’ failure to publish Book of Mormon criticism.16 The the parallels~tlhe list does not prove essay begins by correctly pointing out or disprove anything--is somewhat that different degrees of significance misleading. The true reason for exist in parallels. Then, referring to Roberts’ not publishing his findings is .IT IS A MA TTER THAT the list of parallels in question, Nibley that they were intended for a re- WILL CONCERN THE claims Roberts never published it be- stricted audience. In a cover letter to cause it must have been obvious to the parallels, dated October 24, 1927, FAITH OF THE YOUTH Roberts that the list was "quite and addressed to Elder Richard R. OF THE CHURCH worthless either to prove or disprove Lyman, then of the Quorum of the the Book of Mormon.’’~ Nibley ar- Twelve, Roberts expresses his desire NOW AS ALSO IN THE gues that precisely because "the ideas to share the parallels with the Twelve FUTURE. shared by Ethan and Joseph Smith Apostles so as to prepare the brethren were not original to either of them"-- against future problems that might books in this regarcl are Larry Jonas’s that is, they were "common knowl- arise. He notes that if someone raises Mormon Claims Examined (1961), Hal edge"~why would Joseph Smith the questions of Joseph Smith’s de- Hougey’s "A Parallel"-The Basis of the have to steal anything from Ethan pendence on Ethan Smith’s work, "it Book of Mormon (1963), and Wesley Jones’s A Critical Study of Mormon Smith? While Roberts points out that would be greatly to the advantage of ~ both works claim a Hebraic origin to our future Defenders of the Faith, if Sources (1964). Also, circa 1965, the Indians, Nibley responds, "But so they had in hand a thorough digest of Jerald Tanner published a photo-. did everybody else" (p. 745). To the the subject ma.tter.’’~9 Roberts, con- mechanical reproduction of the 1825 claim that "the idea of a lost or buried tinuing his remarks to Elder Lyman, edition of View of the Hebrews, wrote book is found in both documents," states that "if you are sufficiently in- his own introduction to it, and in-. Nibley asks, "what could be corn- terested you may submit it to others of cluded a copy of Roberts’ "Parallel."~

52 Sunstone A more recent study than all these is Problems of The Book of Mormon. 28 Smith’s book can be found a treatment of the Robert Hullinger’s article "the Lost Crowley discusses twelve points of doctrine of an opposition in all things and the meaning of the fall such as in 2 Nephi Tribes of Israel and the Book of Mor- similarity and difference between 2:11-25? How could Joseph Smith possibly mon" (1970), in which the author ar- View of the Hebrews and the Book of extract the ideas pertaining to Lehi’s dream gues that Joseph Smith had good in- Mormon and then vaguely concludes of the tree, the river, and the rod of iron (1 tentions but was nevertheless a that Ethan Smith’s volume "bears no Nephi 8) from View of the Hebrews? Or where fraud. 24 relation to the Book of Mormon.’’29 in this book could he possibly get the ideas found in Alma 32 pertaining to faith? Cer- Of the books cited above, Jonas’s Crowley’s summary of structural dif- tainly Joseph Smith could not have found study is perhaps the most convincing. ferences between the two works, ideas in View of the Hebrews to compose what In his examination of Mormon claims however, is enlightening: is said about the state of the soul between Jonas is especially adept in attacking death and the resurrection in Alma 40:11-14. 1. The View of the Hebrews is an argu- And is there anything comparable in Ethan ment, with citation of authority, except in Smith’s book to the dramatic three-day the parts where it is hortatory, whereas the ministry of Jesus in 3 Nephi 11-26?31 Book of Mormon is narrative and historical. 2. The View of the Hebrews relates to bibli- cal texts and secular and religious investiga- tions into evidences supporting a particular WE MUS T BE interpretation of those texts, whereas the SUSPICIOUS OF ANY Book of Mormon is scripture, complete in it- self. THE MOST CLAIMS THAT 3. The View of the Hebrews relates primar- ily to a people lost in about the year 725 B. C., IMPORTANT POINT JOSEPH PRODUCED whereas the Book of Mormon relates to people never lost, but who migrated from OF ALL IS THAT AN ISOLATED AND Jerusalem a century and a quarter after the UNPRECEDENTED "lost tribes" were expelled. NEITHER POSITION 4. The View of the Hebrews is intended as a CAN BE PROVEN TO ACCOUNT OF THE spur to induce Protestants to engage in pro- selyting Jews and Indians to Protestant EVERYONE’S ORIGIN AND EARLY Christianity by contributing to missionary organizations and welfare groups. The Book SATISFACTION. CIVILIZATION OF THE of Mormon has a purpose identical with the INDIANS. purpose of the Bible, i.e., attestation of the Thus we may conclude our over- divinity of Christ and the preservation of the view of the Ethan Smith con- what he calls "Mormon evidence records of affairs and teachings in a theocra- troversy.32 But what are we to make of books"--books by LDS writers who tic system. 3o the varied claims for and against View attempt to "prove" the Book of Mor- Sperry’s comments on the subect of the Hebrews as the source of Joseph mon by citing recent archeological refer to and sustain those of Crowley. Smith’s inspiration? First, we must discoveries. Unfortunately, some But Sperry also admonishes us to give openly concede that source materials Mormon authors have incorrectly as- attention to several differences be- did exist prior to 1830 which could serted that Joseph Smith could have have provided Joseph Smith or one of gleaned nothing from contemporary his scribes with ideas for a religious publications on the Indians because history of the American Indians. In such publcations were not available to addition we must be suspicious of any him in 1830. Jonas easily undermines IT IS CONCEIVABLE Mormon claims that would lead us to such claims by quoting Ethan Smith to believe that Joseph produced an iso- show that in the 1820s "South Ameri- THAT JOSEPH COULD lated and unprecedented account of can tribes were known for their cities, HAVE READ AND the origin and early civilization of the roads, pyramids, hieroglyphics, MADE USE OF VIEW Indians. Another point is that while founded metals, cut stone work, solar most of the material in View of the Heb- calendar, and advanced govern- OF THE HEBREWS, rews is not original even to Ethan ment.’’~-s One evidence book with BUT IT IS ALSO Smith, the book does constitute a syn- which Jonas deals rather harshly and, thesis, readily available to Joseph I fear, justifiably, is Hunter’s and Fer- POSSIBLE THAT HE Smith and his contemporaries, of guson" s Ancient America and The Book of COULD HAVE FOUND early nineteenth-century conjecture Mormon. 26 We must remember, how- about American Indian culture. At the ever, that a successful attack against AND TRANSLATED same time Mormons and anti- poorly informed LDS authors does THE GOLDEN Mormons alike must acknowledge not necessarily represent a coup de that no proof exists at present to show grace to Joseph Smith. PLATES. that Joseph Smith had a direct knowl- In the same years that Larry Jonas tween ideas in the Book of Mormon edge of Ethan Smith’s work. Fur- and Wesley Jones had their volumes andin View of the Hebrews. He does thermore, while obvious parallels be- printed, two Mormons published this in a series of thought-provoking tween the two works exist, none is so books with sections devoted to View of rhetorical questions: close as to justify the idea that Joseph the Hebrews. In 1961 Ariel Crowley Where in [Ethan] Smith’s book can be Smith was little more than a publishedAbout The Book of Mormon, 2~ found a discussion of the atonement as dis- plagiarist. In other words it is con- and in 1964 Sidney Sperry published tinctive as found in 2 Nephi 9:6-9? Where in ceivable that Joseph could have read

May/June 53 and made use of View of the Hebrews, Story (Salt Lake City: Deseret News Co., 1886). 22. Larry W. Jonas, Mormon Claims Examined (Grand but it is also possible that he could 4. Thomas O’Dea, The Mormons (Chicago: Univer- Rapids: Baker Book House, 1961). Hal Hougey, "A sity of Chicago Press, 1957), p. 24. Commenting on the Parallel"--The Basis of the ~ook of Mormon (Concord, have found and translated the golden theory, O’Dea also says it "is supported by a tenuous Calif.: Pacific Publishing Co., 1963). Wesley M. Jones, plates. The most important point of all arrangement of circumstantial evidence and an even A Critical Study of Book of Mormon Sources (De- is that neither position can be "pro- more questionable analysis of internal content." troit: Harlo Press, 1964). ven" to everyone’s satisfaction. ]For 5. O’Dea gives little credence to the idea that Joseph 23. Etha~ Smith, View of the Hebrews, Photomechani- Smith was an epileptic: "Such theories are, at best, cal Reprint of the 1825 Edition (Salt Lake City: Modem believers in the Book of Mormon, the learned conjectures, and, as one fashion succeeds Microfilm Co., [1965?11). The final sentence in the In- best test will always be a spiritual con- another in psychological theorizing, they take on a troduction states the following: "Although Ben E. firmation that the Book of Mormon is very dated appearance." Roberts claims that his father’s manuscript does not 6. Fawn M. Brodie, No Man Knows My History: The cast doubt upon the divine authenticity of the Book of Life of Joseph Smith the Mormon Prophet (New Mormon, a careful reading of it would seem to indicate York: Knopf, 1945). that B.H. Roberts had lost faith in the Book of Mor- inon." 7. Ethan Smith, View of the Hebrews; or the Tribes ofIs- rael in America (Poultney, Vt.: Smith & Shute, 1823). 24. Robert N. Hullinger, "The Lost Tribes of Israel and the Book of Mormon"’ in The Lutheran Quarterly 22 8. We know that the first edition was quickly sold be- (August 1970): 319-29. "Joseph Smith’s probable de- cause Smith states in the preface to the second that the pendence upon View of the Hebrews has all the MORMONISM’S "speedy sale" of the 1823 edition was a contributing strengths that others looked for in the Spaulding factor in the republication of the work after so short a manuscript theories but none of their weaknesses. In CAUSE IS NOT time. addition, it lets Smith be seen in his time as someone 9. Brodie, p. 46. Future page references to Brodie will sincerely i~’ying to produce additional proof for the bi- ADVANCED BY THE be included in parentheses in the lext. blical witness of revelation. Whatever element of fraud men might still find in the origin of this book, Smith REPETITION AND 10. See copy of letter by B.H. Roberts’ son, Ben E. simply utilized a different ~ethod in a time of ’new Roberts, denying rumors that his father had lost his measures~ to bring men to Christ. If he used question- PROLIFERATION OF faith over View of the Hebrews: Ariel L. Crowley, About able means to bring about a worthy end, his action dif- The Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City: Deseret News fered from that of many more orthodox churchmen Press, 1961), p. 132. See also references in notes 19 and only in degree and not in kind" (p. 329). UNFOUNDED CLAIMS 20 below. 25. Jonas~ pp. 30, 34. REGARDING THE 11. See F.M. Brodie’s Reliability as a Witness to the Character and Accomplishments of Joseph Smith (Four Re- 26. See Milton R. Hunter and Thomas Stuart Fergu- BOOK OF MORMON. views of "No Man Knows My History~ ’), ed. Hugh Nibley son, Ancient America and The Book of Morraon (Oakland, (n.p., n.d.). A copy is located in the Harold B. Lee Lib- Calif.: Kolob Book Co., 1950), esp. pp. 1-17. "The rary, Brigham Young University. Works oflxtlilxochitl [published in 1848 in England] still a divinely inspired ancient record. No constitute the only documentary source, exclusive of person should base his or her tes- 12. Hugh Nibley, No, Ma’am, That’s Not History (Salt The Book of Mormon, detailed enough and complete timony on so-called "Mormon evi- Lake City: Bookcraft, 1946), pp. 13-14. enough to have been of sul:~tantial assistance to any- 13. J.N. Washburn, The Contents, StructureandAuthor- one who ~night have attempted to write the history of dence books" but rather on a prayer- ship of the Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, the earliest cultured colonizers of the ancient New ful examination of the Book of Mor- 1954), p. XIII. Cf. also Francis W. Kirkham, A New Wit- World .... In fact, no reliable documentary sources ness for Christ in America: The Book of Mormon, Vol. 2 were available in New ’York in 1830" (p. 8). "When first mon itself. Likewise, every reflective (Salt Lake City: Utah Printing Co., 1959), pp. 391-400; published, both The Book of Mormon and the Works of LDS iperson will also seek to appldse for another example of superficial treatment of the Ixtlilxochitl were apparently far ahead of the times. him- or herself of the major issues sur- issue. They credited some of the ancients of certain parts of rounding the Book of Mormon and to 14. Mervin B. Hogan, " ’A Parallel’: A Matter of the New World with such things as sedentary agricul- Chance versus Coincidence," The Rocky Mountain ture, metallurgy, hieroglyphic writing, mathematics, avoid erroneous assertions regarding Mason 4 (January 1956): 17. The text of "A Parallel" is an astronomical calendar, and city-states under theo- the book’s uniqueness. Mormonism’s found on pp. 18-30. I have compared it with a photo- cratic governments. In 183~, to credit any of the pre- copy of the original on file in the Brigham Young Uni- European peoples of America with such a civilization cause is not advanced by the repeti- versity Archives and find it accurate on all important was unheard of in New York and England" (p. 11). tion and proliferation of unfounded points. 27. Crowley, pp. 111-33. claims regarding the Book of Mor- 15. Ibid., p. 18. Other pre-1830 works treating the his- 28. Sidney B. Sperry, Probi’ems of the Book of Mormon mon. On the other hand, tlhe com- tory of the Indians include James Adair, ’!’he History of (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1964), pp. 176-79. the American Indian (London: Edward and Charles 29. Crowley, pp. 130-31. parative method, as employed by Dilly, 1775); Elias Boudinot, A Star in the West (Tren- Roberts, is to be encouraged because ton: D. Fenton, 1816); and Josiah Priest, The Wonders of 30: Ibid., pp. 127-28. it forces us to ask questions and helps Nature and Providence, Displayed (Albany: Hosford, 31. Sperry, p. 178. us understand the historical context 1825). 32. The only work of possible significance to which we 16. The series on Book of Mormon criticism, entitled have not already alluded is a short, relatively un- preceding the Book of Mormon’s "Mixed Voices," began with an article in The Improve- known and unpublished Master’s thesis: William L. publication. ment Era (March 1959) and continued monthly until Riley, "A Comparison of Passages from Isaiah and November 1959, except for the September issue in Other Old Testament Prophets in Ethan Smith’s View Notes which no article appeared. of the Hebr,,~’ws and The Book of Mormon." M.A. Thesis, Brigham "Young University, May 1971, 61 pp. In his 1. Joseph Fielding Smith, comp., Teachings of the Pro- 17. Hugh Nibley, "The Comparative Method" in The summary statement Riley argues against Fawn phet Joseph Smith (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., Improvement Era 62 (October 1959): 744. Future page Brodie’s claim that Joseph Smith had made a mistake 1972), p. 194. The metaphor of the keystone for the references to this article are included in parentheses in in following too minutely Elhan Smith’s "copious and Book of Mormon is well known to Mormons. See Paul the text. exclusive use of Isaiah"’: "Although Joseph Smith was R. Cheesman, The Keystone of Our Religion: Little Known 18. Ibid., 62 (November 1959): 848. almost exclusive in his. use of Isaiah from the books of Truths about the Book of Mormon (Salt Lake City: Deseret the Old Testament, the 6 percent the Isaiah verses con- Book Co., 1973). 19. B.H. Roberts, Letter to Elder Richard R. Lyman, October 24, 1927. A photocopy of this letter is held by tributed to the Book of Mormon was by no means a 2. Cf. Teaches ofPJS, p. 71: "Take away the Book of the Brigham Young University Archives, and it is copious contribution. Even though Ethan Smith was Mormon and the revelations, and where is our relig- through their courtesy that I quote a section of Elder certainly copious in his quoting and referring to Old ion? We have none." Roberts’ letter here. Testament prophets, he was by no means exclusive in his use of the prophet Isaiah. The study of the Isaiah 3. E.D. Howe, Mormonism Unvailed (Painesville, 20. B.H. Roberts, Letter to Pres. Heber J. Grant, etc., Ohio, 1834). Although Howe published this attack on passages used in the Book of Mormon and View of the Mormonism, the actual author was Mormon apostate December 29, 1921. Courtesy of the Brigham Young Hebrews definitely showed that Joseph Smith did not Doctor Philastus Hulburt. For further details of the University Archives. use Ethan Smith as a reference for the Isaiah passages Spaulding-Rigdon theory from an LDS perspective, 21. See Truman G. Madsen, "B.H. Roberts and the found in the Book of Mormon" (p. 56). Riley also states see: George Reynolds, The Myth of the "Manuscript Book of Mormon" in Brigham Young University Studies the following: "With all the changes which were made Found," or the Absurdities of the "Spaulding Story" (Salt 17 (Summer 1979): 427-45; and Defender of the Faith- by both men from the Isaiah text, only in leaving out Lake City: Juvenile Instructor Office, 1883) and Sol- : The B.H. Roberts Story (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, the word ’their’ in Isaiah 3:18 were these changes omon Spaudling, The "Manuscript Found": Manuscript 1980). exactly the same" (p. 57).

54 Sunstone Committee for the S~nS~OnE Endowment Through SUNSTONE’S publications, the annual Mormon Theological Symposium, and a forthcoming inter-faith lecture series, the SUNSTONE From FOUNDATION hopes to encourage the study ditors of religious values and beliefs by bringing together nationally-recognized LDS and non-LDS scholars and interested others. To insure the usefulness and quality of these programs, a number of prominent Errata Rules individuals have lent their support to the SUNSTONE neglected to credit Alexis 1. The D.K. Brown Memorial Fiction establishment of an endowment for the Kelner and Utah Holiday for the Contest is open to all writers. Entries SUNSTONE FOUNDATION. YOU can help by photograph of the Trevor Southey must be delivered to the SUNSTONE giving a tax-deductible donation of any painting published :in Volume six, office or postmarked by I October Number two. We regret this omission. 1981. sum within your means. Beginning with the July-August issue of Papers must be typewritten, SUNSTONE, the list of endowment More on Historians, double-spaced, on one side of 81/2 by contributors, both individual and The last magazine (March-April, 1981, 11 inch paper (not onionskin). Since corporate, will be printed under the Vol. 6, No. 2) included an editorial about manuscripts will not be returned, following headings: Donors, $25; the recent discovery of the Joseph III contestants should keep a copy and Sponsors, $100; Patrons, $500; blessing. In that essay we thanked send in the original. The stories Benefactors, $1000 or more; Donations in several people who had answered should not exceed 6,000 words. One Kind. Of course, contributions may be questions we had about the historical author may submit no more than given anonymously. context of the document. Each had a three stories. The editors and Endowment Committee unique perspective on the succession Each entry must be accompanied by a members thank you for your aid in this story. We wove these viewpoints into signed statement from the author worthwhile endeavor. our own composite interpretation of the attesting that it is the contestant’s events. In the editorial we failed to original work, that it is not being Members of Committee for the S t~NS TONE include information about the particular ENDOWMENT expertise of each of these historians~an considered elsewhere for publication, Lucybeth Rampton, Chair, Committee for the that it has not won another contest, Sunstone Endowment oversight we wish to correct. Michael and that it will not be submitted Quinn, of course, wrote the article on Thomas Alexander, Director, Charles Redd elsewhere until the contest results Center for Western Studies succession which appeared in BYU have been announced. Studies in 1976. Ron Esplin, an expert on Marilyn Arnold, Chair, Center for Christian Brigham Young, provided information 4. Announcement of winning entries Values, Brigham Young University will be made in the January/February about Brigham and the extent to which C.arl Arrington, Associate Editor, People Joseph turned critical priesthood keys to 1982 issue of the magazine. SUNSTONE Magazine the Quorum of the Twelve. Linda reserves the right to publish at some Newell, who is co-authoring a biography time in the future all articles submitted H. Brent Beesley, Executive Director, Federal of Emma Smith, shared research on but is not obligated to do so; it reserves Savings and Loan Insurance Corp. Joseph III. Scott Kenney, a biographer of the right to make editorial changes as Senator & Mrs. Wallace F. Bennett, Joseph F. Smith, a~td Ron Walker, of needed in published entries. Republican, Utah Heber J. Grant, answered general 5. Prizes will be awarded as follows: Lowell Bennion, Chair, Community Services questions about the late nineteenth and First prize, $500 Council, Salt Lake City early twentieth century. Second prize, $250 Douglas C. Braithwaite, Director of Third prize, $100 Admissions, Harvard Business School 1982 D.K. Brown Memorial Fiction Three honorable mentions, $50 each Richard Cummings, Director of Honors Contest Program, University of Utah In honor of the sponsor of SUNSTONE’S Coming in the Next Issue Judith R. Dushku, President, Exponent II, fiction contest, next year’s competition Mary C. Segers, "Abortion Politics and Inc. will carry the name of D.K. Brown. Policy: Is There a Middle Ground?" Edna Clark Ericksen, Utah State Senate, 1933, Contest winners will receive cash prizes Primary General Board totalling $1000. The first place story will Richard Sherlock, "A Deafening be published in SUNSTONE. Silence: The Church and Abortion" Edwin Firmage, Professor of Law, University of Utah SUNSTONE encourages any interested Richard Van Wagoner and Steve Walker, David Forsyth, Vice President, McGraw-Hill writer to submit material. All entries "The Return of Thomas B. Marsh" Publication Co. should in some manner relate to the Alan Frank Keele, "Trailing Clouds of experience of the Latter-day Saints. All Robert E. Fowles, School of Medicine, Glory? Artistic Treatments (and Stanford University varieties of theme, tone, and attitude are Mistreatments) of the Pre-existence" encouraged. Both traditional and Senator Orrin Hatch, Republican, Utah experimental forms will be considered. Martin Marty, "Cheerios in Church" U. Carlisle Hunsaker, Instructor, LDS High literary quality is mandatory. Edwin B. Firmage and J.D. Williams, Institute, Salt Lake City Entries are judged by a board of five "The Institutional Church and the Edward L. Kimball, J. Reuben Clark Law independent judges. Individual: The Church in Politics?" School, Brigham Young University

May/June 55 Stanley Kimball, History, Southern Illinois Monsignor Jerome Stoffel, Catholic Diocese, applications are contemporary. A person University Salt Lake City unacquainted with the climate of Anne G. Osborne, Assistant Dean, Paul Swenson, Editor, Utah Holiday opinion and conditions of today would University of Utah Medical School, Relief not understand them. Prophets of old Sterling Van Wagonen, Executive Director, Society General Board Sundance Institute for Film and Television likewise were enmeshed in their times Representative Wayne Owens, Democrat, and cultures even as our leaders are Utah Congratulations! today. Chase Peterson, Vice President for Health SUNSTONE is especially pleased to The scriptures were not written in the Sciences, University of Utah announce that at the spring meeting of Salt Lake City or London or Frankfurt or the Mormon History Association in Sydney of today. They were written Marvin Rytting, Psychology, Indiana-Purdue centuries ago in other lands and cultures University Rexburg Thomas G. Alexander was presented MHA’s award for the and, for the most part, in different Jan Shipps, Past President, Mormon History languages. This adds to their interest Association outstanding article published by a senior scholar during 1980. His article., "The and value. But if we ~ould understand Rev. Jeffrey R. Silliman, Mt. Olympus Reconstruction of Mormon them, we must try to Fut ourselves in the Presbyterian Church Doctrine: From Joseph Smith to position of the writers and the people to John Sorenson, Anthropology and Progressive Theology," was published whom they wrote. Admittedly this is Archaeology, Brigham Young University in the July-August 1980 issue of SUNSTONE difficult, but any knowledge we gain of Trevor Southey, Artist the history, language, and culture of (Volume Five, Number Four). scriptural peoples will enhance our understanding and aF.preciation of their records. (pp. 4-5.) The Authors of Scripture The various writers of scripture are not alike. Some were prophets of God who spoke with authority and conviction and gave us great truths.. Others were unnamed and unknown. Still others were successors, sons of former writers, who wrote to continue the record. This is especially true of the Book of Mormon. In the Old Testament we do not know Understanding the Scriptures who was the final writer or editor of the first five books or .of Jcshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, I and 2 Kings, I and 2 The Sunday School Supplement is written by from Shakespeare: Chronicles, Jonah, Job, and many others. Ecclesiastes, although ascribed to several interested scholars. Because diverse In religion, and wide-ranging material is addressed, the Solomon, was written much later and by What damned error, but some sober another hand. The Psalms were written Supplement does not necessarily reflect the brow opinions of the editors or publisher. It is not only by David but also by Will bless it, and approve it with a text songwriters over centuries of Israelite meant to encourage discussion and further Hiding the grossness with fair study and is neither definitive nor history. Some were written while the ornament? Jews were in exile :in Babylon. Proverbs is authoritative. Questions or - Merchant of Venice, act 3, scene 2 recommendations from readers are a collection of writings based on much of encouraged. We now follow with a selection of Dr. Israelite history--a far richer work than Bennion’s insights--but suggest that the Solomon could have Froduced by In this issue of Sunday School entire volume is well worth reading. himself. No one knows who wrote Supplement we depart from the Daniel, ]Ezra, Nehemiah, or the Song of traditional practice of quoting from The Background & Makeup of Scripture Solomon. several sources in order to provide our The scriptures were written neither in What should we conclude from the readers a survey of a newly published heaven nor in a vacuum. They were nature of the authorship of the Bible? I book which is particularly relevant for created by prophets and other authors would suggest two things. First, the members of the Church’s Gospel who lived at specific times and places in writings of the great prophets of Israel Doctrine Classes. human history. The writers of scripture and of Paul, James, and John and other The new book is Lowell L. Bennion’s were addressing real men and women known men of the New Testament are Understanding The Scriptures (Salt Lake about problems and issues of deep likely to be more authoritative City, Utah: Deseret Book, 1981, 88 pp., concern .... expressions of doctrine and the will of $5.95). In this concise volume God and Christ than are works of Mormonism’s patriarch of human values When General Authorities speak to narration, of history, ~nd of practical shares with the reader numerous lessons the Saints today, they also speak at a wisdom by unknown authors. I much to be learned and felt prior to a successful definite place and at a definite time to prefer, for example, the book of Amos to study of the scriptures and in particular people they know. And they talk about that of the Song of Solomon. I read Job, the Old Testament. Perhaps the overall things that concern them today. They Ecclesiastes, and Proverbs for their concern of Dr. Bennion is expressed best speak in the light of age-old gospel wisdom and beauty oI language, but not by the following lines which he quotes principles and perspectives, but the as doctrinal treafi,;es. (pp. 9-10.)

56 Sunstone Prophets of God are not puppets; period of time (Abraham 4), and an setting of a passage, (2) its place in the they are more than tape recorders. They indefinite period of time (Genesis 2:4-5; book of which the passage is a part, such speak for themselves as well as for God. Alma 40:8; Moses 1:41). (pp. 16-17.) as Amos, Job, or Galatians, and (3) its Under divine influence they rise to relationship to the gospel as a whole, Scriptures should be read and especially the fundamentals. unusual heights, but they are not interpreted in the same spirit and with infallible, nor do they cease to be human the same emphasis with which they In the Context of the Passage beings. Joseph Smith wrote that he was were written. Anyone who does not visited by "a brother and sister from It is perfectly proper to quote a single recognize the essential religious verse or two of scripture, but in doing so Michigan who thought that ’a prophet is character of scripture will miss the mark always a prophet;’ but [he] told them one should have read what precedes it and misjudge these rich and unusual and what follows it. Otherwise he may that a prophet was a prophet only when writings. Anyone who will look for he was acting as such" (History of the misrepresent the author’s idea. The religious teachings and inspiration in the following story illustrates this. (p. 27.) Church 5:265). (p. 11.) scriptures will find them in great abundance. (p. 20.) In Ezekiel 37, a vision of this prophet Correctness of Translation is recorded wherein he saw a valley full To gain full and accurate Inspired of God but in Man’s Languageof dry bones and then saw flesh and understanding of scripture, then, we Revelation is of God and it is sinews come upon them, "Breath came authoritative for the believer, but it is into them, and they lived." (Ezekiel would need to know the original 37:10.) Verses 1-14 of this passage have languages--Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, given in man’s language and weakness, in his own thinking and understanding. been used to prove the resurrection. It is Reformed Egyptian, and English. Since probably not Ezekiel’s purpose in this this is beyond the capacity and ambition Much of it is correction of sin and error or of most of us, what should we do? What affirmation of correct thinking--but passage to establish the doctrine of is the next best? always in words man understands. Men individual resurrection. It is quite Next best is to review the work of do violence to scripture if they ascribe obvious, if one reads the entire book of scholars who have been or are every word of it to God. (p. 23.) Ezekiel, that the prophet is talking about acquainted with the original languages. Other passages of scripture reflect the the restoration of Israel as a nation, as a This includes contemporary researchers, author’s viewpoint or are conditioned people, with dry bones as a symbol of because our knowledge of ancient markedly by the circumstances and their captivity. The resurrection can be languages and cultures increases over comprehension of his audience. This is established much more clearly and time. Even learned men can be biased true particularly of some of the narrative abundantly in the New Testament or and in error. To guard against this, I and historical portions of the Old Book of Mormon. (Note Alma 40, Luke suggest we compare the work of a Testament, which are not always on the 24, and I Corinthians 15.) number of reputable scholars. (p. 12.) same high plane that characterizes the Latter-day Saints should also read the writings of the prophets. For example, 2 rest of chapter 37 with Ezekiel’s purpose Kings 2:23-24 tells the story of Elisha as in mind. Verses 15-28 tell the The Religious Intent he was mocked by little children who oft-repeated account of the prophet In the very beginning of the Genesis said to him, "Go up, thou bald head." It being commanded to write upon two story, two great religious concepts are says that when he cursed them in the sticks~ one for Judah and one for Joseph, stressed: first, "God created the heaven name of the Lord, two "she bears" came Judah being interpreted as the Bible and and the earth," which leaves no doubt out of the woods and attacked forty-two Joseph as the Book of Mormon. If we that the creation is the work of God; and children, supposedly killing them. This read the entire passage in the context of second, after each act of creation, the implies divine retribution for their lack of the total book of Ezekiel, we will find that scripture states that "God saw that it was respect for a prophet. I, however, am the prophet is predicting not only the good," noting finally that "it was very unable to imagine Jehovah, Jesus Christ co~ning forth of two books or records, good." Here are two great ideas: God is in the meridian of time, the same Jesus but also the restoration and reunion of the author of creation, and it is Christ who loved little children, turning the two nations~Israel and Judah. The meaningful and good because it is his bears upon them in their innocent folly. Bible and Book of Mormon are records of handiwork. Blessed is the person of faith In my judgment the author meant to Judah and Joseph, respectively, and the who can believe these two things and show respect of the prophet Elisha, but coming forth of these two records live life consistent with the will of God lacked understanding of the character of heralds the eventual reunion of the two that emerges in the rest of the Bible. It is God in ascribing such action to him. (pp. nations and should some day even my belief that the author of Genesis had 23-24.) contribute to Israel’s unification. The no intention of presenting a scientific coming forth of the Book of Mormon fits analysis of the how of creation. He lived Reading in Context into this larger hope and faith of the in a prescientific age without a scientific prophet Ezekiel. Latter-day Saints often vocabulary or interest. But he gloried in Over the centuries men in various churches and sects have quoted single ignore Ezekiel’s great interest in unifying God and wanted him to be the Israel and Judah. (pp. 29-30.) foundation and fountain of life. The verses or passages of the Bible to prove usage of the word day in scripture their particular beliefs. Sometimes these Standards of Evaluation ilustrates the fact that biblical language is texts are used correctly; at other times An interpretation of scripture can be not used with scientific intent. In science they do violence to the author’s trusted when it (1) is consistent with we give a definite and fixed meaning to a meaning. Using a passage of scripture gospel fundamentals and with the word. It is always used with the same isolated from its larger setting is called teachings and spirit of Christ, (2) is meaning. Authors of scripture have at text-proof method. It is often unfair. (p. confirmed by the promptings of the least four meanings for the word 26.) Spirit, (3) appeals to our ethical day: twenty-four hours (Genesis 1), "as a Context means with the text. There are judgment, and (4) has won agreement thousand years" (2 Peter 3:8), a definite three kinds of context: (1) the immediate among persons of good will. (p. 39.)

May~une 57 Understanding the Old Testament The Old Testament tells the :story of a small sister in death. Others think highly A most appreciated characteristic of great nation and people established by a of her. The exotic Lottie in "Jeptha’s the Old Testament’s portrayal of covenant betweer~ God and Abraham, Daughter" realizes she will never be characters is its honesty and candor. that heroic, generous man of faiith. The made May Queen:: Some writers cover up the humanity of covenant continued through Isaac and their religious leaders. Not so with Old Jacob and was renewed again with The bare truth was simply that she Testament authors. They tell of Jacob’s Moses. What a giant was was ~ot admired the way Amy was deception toward Esau, Isaac, and Moses--prophet, leader, and lawgiver! and now that Amy was old enough to Laban, as well as his strength of He has provided a legacy of strength and be queen, folks would show their character. Moses, revered as the greatest direction to Israel for over three approval of her by giving her that among the prophets and as the spiritual millennia. honor. Besides, the serious, founder of his nation, takes honors unto The Old Testament was the first industrious girl whose figure carried himself that belonged to God. (See scripture to put a personal God in the the vague suggestion of a dumpling Numbers 20:10-13 and Deuteronomy heart of history--guiding, blessing, was plenty goocl-looking enough.. 32:48-52.) And David, Israel’s idyllic~ chastising, and trying to fulfill his Amy’s fla.-st suitor Bryce Huntington s~es king who defeated the whole of Canaan purposes through a chosen people. As a her as "clew bread and honeycomb; she in battle, is portrayed as a murderer and nation, ancient Israel failed was morning." an adulterer--and in the end, as a Jehovah---but Israel left us, through her pathetic old man. Saul, Israel’s first king, Amy has a sense of values. In choosing prophets and writers, a clear picture of between an awkward sheepherder and ends his career in madness, while what God demands of any people Solomon ends his in utter folly. In fact, an eloquent, more dashing young re.an, worthy of his name, and the hope that she knows that tiny springs which make most of the kings of Israel and Judah are mankind may one day learn to walk poplars grow in the desert are more described as having done "evil in the more uprightly before him. (pp. 52-53.) important than protestations of love. As sight of the Lord." a shy, young pregnant wife, Amy puts aside her’ personal feelings of embarrassment and leads the music in sacrament meeting. Contrasted with her husband Israel, she exl-dbits warmth and tenderness to her chil&-en; she is a singer of nursery rhymes. iews Our last glimpse of Amy is as a widow "waiting to die in a turmoil of ecstasy and disappointment"--ecstasy at the thought of rejoining Israel and escaping more pain, and disappointment that Bread and Milk and Other Stories Kump has chosen eight short stories there is no more time to harvest Eileen Gibbons Kump which, although based on each stage of vegetables or a few mo::e Brigham Young University Press, 1979 Amy Gibbon’s life, are structurally great-grandchildren. S~e is trying to 91. pages, $6.95 independent of each other. (They have, write her recollections, some revealing in fact, been written at different times; her sense of humor and some her The controversy rages on: can there determination to make things right. be such a thing as "good Mormon four more were added to the original literature," literature which deals ~our to make this collection.) Written for Eileen Kump’s style is both the book’s with the struggles of the heart as well non-Mormon understanding, they deal strength and its weakness. She writes as with the superficial skimming of more with the development of Amy’s simply and with understanding which historical facts? William Mulder wrote than with an explanation of shows Mormons as human beings. She in 1954 that "what is needed, perhaps, Mormon culture. It is there to be never preaches in dramatizing the is a smaller canvas, a surer recognized, however, by a Mormon events of ordinary experience. By perspective, stories that provide audience. The closest she comes to writing so clearly, she does indeed not so much the movement of history as criticizing that culture occurs in "Sayso accomplish her objective of "reflecting the feeling of living experience, the or Sense." Here Amy clashes with the the lack of modern complexity in most of experience of living things, of very Priesthood, personified by her Amy’s life." Still, something seems to be particular situations." father-in-law who has the final "sayso" missing in this miscellaneous collection. in the design of her house even though Realizing that the short story form :is This Eileen Kump has attempted to do in "sense" would dictate otherwise. For the entirely respectable, the reader, Bread and Milk. As a third-generation most part, however, Amy leads a nevertheless, expects something more Mormon writer, she builds on her fulfilled, if hardly questioned, life as a from this ,cycle. Although The Giant grandmother’s supposedly member of the Church. Joshua is a flawed book, in some respects commonplace existence to show that What type of heroine then is Amy it is a more satisfying one--it does no.t generation’s "practicality and resilie~tce" Gordon? We see her first in "The leave so much to the imagination. We and their humanity. The title itself is a Willows," an obedient older daughter want to know how Israel proposed to symbol of the everyday, ordinary who nonetheless disobeys, to face, with Amy, how their marriage grew and commodities which are taken for courage, a U.S. marshall searching for developed, how Israel’s relationship granted, yet staples which give strength her polygamous father. In "China Doll" with his first son progressed. Was he and provide life. her generous, sensitive nature reveals more understanding with the sons who Instead of writing a full-fledged novel itself when she allows her most followed? The novel format would have such as Maureen Whipple’s GiantJosh ua, expensive possession to accompany her allowed answers for the se questions.

58 Sunstone I do not mean to suggest that Bread and in a suddenly-encyclopedia-sounding Milk is not a worthwhile book, because it paragraph. 40,000 ADVERTISING is. Mrs. Kump has a talent of deftly Mormonism is represented only in the capturing a moment in time and making most tangential ways. Travis’s hired SPACES LIKE THIS it vivid. But cameo iportrayals do not man Joe has to go home on Sundays and COULD BE YOURS FOR provide enough substance to answer Monday evenings, "the night set aside questions about the nature of mortality by his Mormon faith to be with his AN AMAZINGLY LOW with which a truly i~eat novel struggles family." (Joe is nineteen; why isn’t he on RATE IN THE NEW The book does, however, admirably a mission?) Travis purchased his horse qualify as "good Mormon literature"; it from a Mormon rancher. But his living SUNSTONE P~EVIEW-- will be interesting to read further works room is furnished with "Salvation Army by this author. rejects." No Deseret Industries in Delta? THE LARGEST Lissa Thompson LaRaine first describes Utah as a "raw, NATIONAL L.D.S. LISSA THOMPSON iis an instructor of harsh, grimy, empty, choking PUBLICATION WHICH English for the Davis U. of U. Division of wasteland," a "desolate, godforsaken Continuing Education. hole of the world," and wonders, none CARRIES too originally, why "somebody hasn’t given Utah back to the Indians." When ADVERTISIN~ A Land Called Deseret she is fired from the movie set and forced Direct, economical Janet Dailey to cook and clean for Travis in order to Harlequin Books, 1979 earn plane fare to California, she and effective, word of (naturally) falls in love with Travis and Janet Dailey’s ambitious goal is to write a Utah simultaneously and finds herself your product or novel set in every state in the Union. A thinking, as she contemplates a sunset service can reach over Land Called Deseret is Utah’s own with him (preparatory to another redhot Harlequin. smoochie-touchie session), that Utah 40,000 people for as A Harlequin it is. Handsome, older has "a subtle beauty all its own." little as $60. In well-to-do rancher (Travis McCrea) Now I know there’s a market for these encounters the young, indecisive, things. My evening class English addition, beautiful starlet (LaRaine Evans), and students, who brought this book to my RE3rfEW’s they move toward their goal of True attention in the first place, refer to the SUNSTONE Love despite such obstacles as their own other Dailey books by number. They also Classified section offers personalities, the threat of another tell me that LaRaine appears in a subplot woman, a possible other suitor, and an of the Alabama novel (providing her a highly visible place incompetent relative. Other Harlequin with the heartbroken "past" that Travis to find a job or fill one, features: torrid embraces and total lack heals) and as the dangerous Other of communication between the two for a Woman in the Arizona one, while Travis offer your services, hundred pages. carries his stunning profile through the inform the Mormon A Utah novel, however, it is not. A note Texas plot (which is presumably what on the back cover reveals that Janet’s turned his temples gray). Does so community of your husband Bill does the research for these faithful a following deserve parsimony products, or post novels--few ornamental swatches of in the use of character as well as miserly local color draped over the basic plot, not and unintegrated research? special notices. always accurately and not often On the other hand, maybe the felicitously. inexhaustible supply has simply met the Classified ads are 25¢ The action takes place in Delta, but we insatiable demand. per word, paid in see absolutely nothing of the town Pamela Gillie Carson advance, with a ten except for a motel and a fabric store. It is movie-making that brings LaRaine (now PAMELA GILLIE CARSON is in the English word minimum. For a that could be a Utah name but she’s from department of Murray Community Alabama) to Delta, but Delta hardly Education. schedule of regular ad seems hospitable country for movies. rates and further Was Janet thinking of Moab? To Utah Edward L. Hart information, write to: At another point, Travis and LaRaine Brigham Young University Press, 1980 pose dramatically on a ranch hilltop pages; $5.95 while he explains that Deseret comes THZ SUNSTONE "from the Book of Mormon or the Old To Utah, the title of Edward Hart’s book, Testament. It means ’land of the is a dedication. And so are the poems honeybees’ "and points out Topaz within, each in its own way a dedication Box 2272 Mountain (an igneous formation) which to the multi moods, facets, and Salt Lake City, Utah is "covered with topaz, amber [found profundities of life. The volume is richly only in sedimentary strata], and other varied in tone and theme, from the soft 84110 gemstones." He takes her to see a herd of music and dignity of "The wild mustangs (near Delta?) and Gathering": "(They) or call (801) 355-5926 describes the geology of the Great Basin dragged/handcarts over stoney and

May~une 59 II frozen ground,/Often opened and volume reads true to his statement. It is shoveled in a mound/Upon women and like a visit through the fragmented, children or the man who lagged/In his groping., ultimately crystallizing shafts only on the day he sagged/In thoughts of one man’s mind as he strives death on the crosspiece: Zion to make sense of our confusingly bound. "--to the rollicking "Ethan Allen beautiful and horrifying world. Captures Fort Ticonderoga": "All the Clark’s poetry is highly introspective, wine from British cellars went to dampen dealing oftentimes wiih death and their thirst./Not a drop of blood was suffering--as he tries to come to terms splattered, but their bellies near burst." with his mother’s prolonged agony from The book is laced with tribute to human arthritis or the irony o1: his childhood beings, to earth and her seasons, to the Bishop’s death beneath the grain of a complexities--humorous and sad--that burst silo. Throughout, he struggles to living presents us. And Hart, carefully, reconcih: the most galling of religious subtly, has constructed his art to make us paradoxes: the existence of human feel the significance of those tributes. A anguish and the reali~ of God’s love. fine craftsman, he injects ease into the The resolutions and peace that he arrives tension of rhythmic, rhymed verse while at, and offers to his re¢~ders, are neither remaining tensed for the control of free saccharine nor bitter b"at carry the taste verse, moving within each forrn with and texture of one person’s honestly skill and grace. Sound echoing sense, examined experience. the poems stir botlh emotion and intelligence. I most enjoy them when As I readL Moods of Late, however, I reading aloud; listen to the simple wondered if Clark might have made his opening stanza of the book from "I. private tlhought more powerfully Arrival": "Nobody wanted this accessible to others by devoting greater place:/Spaniards saw it and turned attention to "the tight play of words." I back:/Trappers endured the taste/Of would have liked more economy in word salt in the wind for the fur pack/Or love usage and that careful (:rafting of sounds of space." and rhythms that distinguishes (at least in my mind) poetry frem prose--the Readers of To Utah must be as flexible as force to be found in the coupling of the poet, for where one poem may leap language and music. His few sonnets with musical simplicity from the page, work well, especially "Sonnet: To others, such as "Oceangoing", require Peace" and the delightful "Astronomy." serious study and a mind able to Clark and his daughter listen to a penetrate the philosophic and emotive scientist .describe atom:~c creation and the currents. It is a book with unexpected mind-blowing immensity of the turns. The opening collections "To universe: Utah" and "Seventeen Seventy-five" on the pioneers and patriot fathers do not Ten million years, four gasses free, and prepare us for the bite of "When all has energy: been given" or the calm pathos of Amino acids, replicating, come alive! "Conclusions." Three things remain The what, the how, he tried to tell; the consistent throughout: the tightness of why? the language usage, the music of the He left to us. My daughter, still not five, Restive. in her hour, her foot of space, word-sounds as they are braide.d and Stretched up and planied kisses on my intertwined round one another .on the face. page, and the resonant humanity that informs nearly every poem. It is an The theological significance of unpretentious book made for parenthood is given immediacy with SUNSTONE ¯ Box 2272 re-reading, one of the finest volumes to subtlety and ease. In other, usually flee Salt Lake City, Utah 84110 be produced by a local poet. verse, poems he takes a more frontal approach, spelling out clearly the Please send me a subscription to SUNSTONE Dian Saderup conclusions he has reached, as in Magazine, the unique Mormon bimonthly. "Benign Tumor," which describes the []1Year at $12-- a savings of $3 [] 2 Years at $21-- a savings of $9 Moods: of Late ordeal of a son’s brain surgery: "(The [] 3 Years at $30-- a savings of $15 Marden Clark tumor was) Benign enough to lead us all Enclosed is my check or money order for Brigham Young University Press, 1980 to fast and pray/Benign enough to draw 81 pages; $5.95 great waves of energy/sustaining MAIL MY ISSUES TO: energy fr.om prayers through "I have tried to respect fully my verbal faith/Benign enough to give us faitht to medium. But I have often been more give us miracle/to give us you/Benign ADDRESS interested in the catching through enough to show us God." I generally language of an experience or a prefer that the sense and mood created CITY STATE ZIP CODE relationship than in the tight play of by a poem suggest rather than state words," says Marden Clark in the meaning, but other readers may find this preface to Moods: of Late. The meditative collection, refreshing in its directness.

60 Sunstone Whatever the preference, Moods: of Late also be a humbling one, as you see the is an interesting--at times poignant, at author’s deft presentation and realize times funny, at all times deeply the depth of his research. After his death, I inherited a number of personal--journey through the thought his books. When his daughter, Marjorie and life of one man. And that’s a rare I knew Nicholas G. Morgan, whose Gray, suggested that I write his thing to find. house was next door to that of my biography, I had to decline because of prior commitments; luckily for her, my Dian Saderup sister-in-law on Olympus Drive in Salt Lake City. They were on friend from BYU days took over. Jean DIAN SADERUP has published poetry, short borrow-a-cup-of-sugar terms, and on Paulson is a professional stories and essays in Sunstone, Dialogue, BYU meeting Nick and Ethel, I was pleased to newspaperman, author, and currently a Studies and other publiications. Currently she accept his invitation to accompany him BYU faculty member and assistant is a student at BYU. to priesthood meeting. It’s a bit executive editor of the Daily Universe. He uncomfortable walking into a strange did a superior job with the Nicholas Groesbeck Morgan: The Man ward alone and introducing yourself as a biography--and did it without my Utahn who has been visiting California well-known caustic asides. In short, I Who Moved City Hall like. Jean R. Paulson since 1932 but is glad to be home again. Provo: Press Publis]~ing Limited, 1979 On Sunday morning Nick Morgan drove I admire professional work--pace, style, 194 pages; $6.95 his Cadillac from next door, I got in, and taste, imagery, emotion, dramatic he took me to the local meeting house, progression, the intangibles of literary It is a curious experience, reading a book which was just around the corner. This craftsmanship. You will find it here. Jean which you might have written. It can was the Morgan style, first cabin all the Paulson never tells about things; you are

A high quality reproduction of the original Hebrew grammar manual written by J. Seixas and used by Joseph Smith in the School of the Prophets will soon be available at a surprisingly reasonable price. An importa~t addition to any well-rounded LDS reference library, the nineteenth-century text is being reproduced by Michael Walton for the Sunstone Foundation. If you order now, this fine reproduction with an informative introduction by Professor Louis C. Zucker can be purchased for $12 plus postage. Please send orders and inquiries to: THE SEIXAS GRAMHAR c/o SUNSTONE Box 2272 Salt Lake City, UT 84110

May~une 61 there; you are into the scene in the first income $25 a month in tithing orders. their wedding trip, where Swift & Co. paragraph of each chapter. Young Nick was the man of the family slaughtered 100 pigs and 60 beef a And he has done his homework. There is and early showed his business acumen. minute. From that time on, Nick never research behind every line. So many The Salt Lake Temple was under really enjoyed meat. Utah biographies are simply "mug’" construction, a great tourist attraction. In a book crammed with anecdotes, we books--glorifying the image, or mug, of Nick bagged samples of granite chips see Nick Morgan become wealthy, while the subject--that I once contrived a and hawked them. He went int~o the using his means and influence to foster standard biography to fit all mugs simply produce business, paying the younger the arts and prese~ce Utah’s pioneer by filling in a few blanks left for vital siblings 10 cents a day to help cultivate heritage. He sponsored books such as statistics. Nick Morgan, however, vacant lots and selling his vegetables on Albert L. Zobell’s Sentinel in the East:’ a emerges as an individual and an Market Row. Biography of Thomas L. Kane, and individualist. With this sort of initiative, Nick: Morgan biographies of Eliza R. Snow, Florence His life is a rags-to-riches saga, the kept the family afloat, worked his way Jepperson Madsen, and of his father, Horatio Alger story come true. When his through University of Utah, and, John Morgan. He endowed the Utah father, John Morgan, died, leaving three deciding to be a lawyer, received his State Historical Society with oil, gas, and young widows, Nick was eleven years degree at Georgetown University. As a mineral leases and royalties, and, in the old,. with five younger siblings in his clerk in the War Department, salary $900 name of his father,, donated most of its mother’s family. From a fifteen-room a year, he sent for the girl he left behind excellent library. house they went to a two-room shack, and married the beautiful Ethel Tate in But most noteworthy of all was saving sleeping on the floor, the mother’s Chicago. They visited the stockyards on the historic City Hall. Morgan had been

¯ that more than fifty books and articles by or about Mormons are readily put the expanding Mormon published each month? ~~@,~~~ communi~ at collectinyour 9fi,~gertips and condensing a~icles by ¯ that Latter-day Saints are ~ 0 0 and features from hundreds of making important contributions in art, laW, literature, sports, government, medicine national and local publications and reviewing and business? dozens of LDS-relat~ books and cultural events. For slightly more than your SUNSTONE ¯ that there are hundreds of products, services and magazine subscription, you get more UPDATE, cultural activities especially for Mormons? more ONE FOLD, more SUNDAY SCHOOL SUPPLE- ¯ that there are professional organizations for LDS MENT, PEOPLE and MORON ASSOCIATIONS, plus historians, media artists, doctors, sociologists, o bimonthly LDS A~s Calendar and e~)onded psychologists, poets and writers? book reviews and book notices. ¯ that all of this information and more is available A mere $ 4/year ($6 for non-SUNSTONE magazine in one, highly readable bimonthly review? subscribers) brings THE SUNSTONE REVIEW to your THE SUNSTONE REVIEW offers an invaluable doorstep. Don’t miss our special inaugural issue. service to those who want to stay on top of LDS Subscribe now. news and publications, but. haw.~ limited time to Special institutional rates available on request. Announcing... TH E SU N STON E REVIEW SUNSTONE ¯ Box 2272 ¯ Salt Lake City, Utah 84t 10 ¯ (80t)355-5926 ¯

Sunstone devastated by the ruthless destruction of pioneer architecture.. In the name of progress, the wrecker’s ball had demolished the old Salt Lake Theater (and for years a grotesque service station shaped like an airplane occupied the site). The Gardo House, residence of Church presidents and a classic example and of pioneer elegance when built for Brigham Young’s favorite wife and known as Amelia’s Palace, was demolished the same year. The historic With the May 5 statement by the First Social Hall, site of pioneer festivities, fell statement on national politics and to the march of progress. And now the Presidency opposing the deployment of internal Mormon struggles is impossible original City Hall, dedicated in 1866, was the MX missile in the Great Basin, the to ascertain at this point in time. But I do scheduled for demolition as a site for a Church was again center stage in the feel that critics have been short-sighted new Federal building. arena of national politics. It became clear and have missed important immediate that the Church intends to continue ramifications which I find--both implicit The City Hall had housed the governor’s speaking out on contemporary problems and explicit--in the First Presidency and mayor’s offices and was that face society--as is its right and message. headquarters for the police, recorder, responsibility. But the battle lines drawn treasurer, territorial library, city during skirmishes over the Equal Rights The May 5 statement is evidence, I am attorney, and the adjutant general of the Amendment were suddenly blurred. convinced, of the growing apprehension Nauvoo Legion. The structure was of Some of those who had applauded the on the part of the leaders of the LDS sandstone, with a severe and classic Church’s public opposition to ERA felt Church with the worldwide threat of beauty of line that withstood the that this time the hierarchy was exerting nuclear holocaust implicit in the vagaries of building fashion. It was unwarranted and unwanted influence spiraling arms race. The Church’s most square, 60 by 60 feet, two stories high, on political questions. Conversely, some recent message of concern with the with a white picket balcony around the who criticized the Church position on "terrifying arms race" and the top and a domed octagon tower rising ERA found themselves comfortably construction of "vast arsenals of nuclear from the center of the roof. Restored, it hailing the message as a statesmanlike weaponry" with power to destroy could be a priceless pioneer relic. critique of a fundamentally moral issue. civilization and produce "suffering and Morgan, representing Sons of Utah misery of incalculable extent" builds Pioneers, vainly sought to save it. The national press had similar upon and enhances positions taken by difficulties in pinning down the meaning the First Presidency at Christmas and Then came the inspiration to move it, of the Mormon pronouncement. Though Easter. Moreover, such views are stone by stone, and restore it at a site the views expressed in the statement consistent with earlier Church near the State Capitol. A great idea, but unquestionably pushed the Church pronouncements. A different First who would raise the money? And so as toward the mainstream of American Presidency--George Albert Smith, J. the wrecking balls and bulldozers Christianity rather than its periphery, Reuben Clark, and David O. prepared to demolish the early home of most coverage of the statement was not laudatory. Predictably, the military McKay--professed similar sentiments in the legislative, executive, and judicial a 1946 statement about Universal branches of territorial government, criticized the statement. But others, such as Carl Rowan and the editors of The New Compulsory Military Training. At that Morgan sent a poem to President David time, the First Presidency not only O. McKay: "Skilled workmen’s hands York Times, maintained that the attacked the concept of a peacetime draft will soon be tearing down strong stately Mormons had produced a self-serving document which criticized the missile but also spoke out against the walls./The famous dome of City Hall concomitant evils of exposing soon will be of the dust./The most only because it would be built in the "impressionable" young people to the historic civic landmark of our western Church’s back yard. dangers of military life and military land/Will soon be gone~for that our Certainly, the final impact of the thinking by placing them in an countenances with shame should blush .... " Perhaps not great poetry, but its four stanzas had feeling. Morgan’s phone rang. "I like your poem," McKay said. "Let’s save Old City Hall--but don’t have it cost more than a quarter million." Perhaps the book’s title should be The Man Who Licked the City Hall. Samuel W. Taylor

SAMUEL W. TAYLOR. is one of the most well known Mormon writers. He has authored 15 books including Nightfall At Nauvoo, Family Kingdom, Heaven Know:; Why, The Kingdom or Nothing and Rocky Mountain Empire: The Latter-day Saints Today.

May/June 63 environment where they will "not only Statement of The First Presidency (learn) the way to kill, but also in too many cases, the desire to kill," and on Basing of the MX Missile where they will be taught to "believe in the ways of war." This earlier statement, much like the We have received many incluiries concerning our feelings; on the proposed contemporary MX position, raised the basing of the MX missile system in Utah and Nevada. After assessing in great detail larger issue of the dangers inherent in information recently available, and after the most careful and prayerful building a great war machine in the consideration we make the following statement, aware of the response our words name of national defense and security: are likely to evoke from both proponents and opponents of the system. By tho creation of a great war machine, we First, by way of general observation we repeat our warnings against the shall invite and tempt the waging of war terrifying arms race in which the nations of the earth are presentlIy engaged. We against foreign countries, upon little or no deplore in particular the building of vast arsenals of nuclear weaponry. We are provocation; for the possession of great advised that there is already enough such weaponry to destroy in large measure our military power always breeds threat for civilization, with consequent suffering and misery of incalculable extent. domination, for empire, and for a rule by Secondly, with reference to the presently proposed MX basing in Utah and[ might and not right. Nevada, we are told that if this goes forward as planned, it will involve the By building a huge armed establishment, we construction of thousands of miles of heavy’ duty roads, with the building of some shall believe our protestations of peace, and 4600 shelters in which will be hidden some 200 missiles, each areaed with ten peaceful intent and force other nations to a warheads. Each one of these ten nuclear warheads will have far greater destructive like course of militarism, by placing upon the people of the earth crushing burdens of potential than did the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. taxation that with their present tax load will We understand that this concept is based on the provisions of a treaty which has hardily be and that will gravely threaten our never been ratified, and that absent such a treaty, the proposed installation could be social, economic, and governmental systems. expanded indefinitely. Its planners state that the system is strictly defensive in We shall make of the whole earth one great concept, and that the chances are extremely remote that it will ever be actually military camp whose separate armies, headed employed. However, history indicates that men have seldom cr¢.ated armaments by war-minded officers, will never rest till that eventually were not put to use. they are at one another’s throats in what will We are most gravely concerned over the proposed concentral.-ion in a relatively be the most terrible contest the world has ever restricted area of the West. Our feelings would be the same about concentration in seen. any part of the nation, just as "we assume those in any other area so selected would have similar feelings. With such concentration, one segment: of the population In summarizing their views, Presidents would bear a highly disproportionate share of the burden, in lives, lost and property Smith, Clark, and MCKay noted: "What destroyed, in case of an attack, particularly if such were to be a saturation attack. this country needs, is a will for peace, not Such concentration, we are informed, may evelq~ invite attack under a first-strike war. God will help our efforts to bring strategy on the part of an aggressor. If such occurred the result would be near this about." Such an expression is in annihilation of most of what we have striven to build since our pioneer forebears harmony with the words of the May 5 first came to these western valleys. statement which proclaims: "With the Furthermore,. we are told that in the event of a first-strike attack, deadly fallout most serious concern over the pressing would be carried, by prevailing winds .across much of the nation, maiming and moral question of possible nuclear destroying wherever its pervasive cloud touched. conflict, we plead with our national Inevitably so large a construction project would have an adw.rse impact Ol~t leaders to marshal the genius of the water resources, as well as sociological and ecological factors in the area. Water has nation to find viable alternatives which always been woefully short in this part of the West:. We might expect that in will secure at an earlier date and with meeting this additional demand for water there could be serious long term fewer hazards the protection from consequences. possible enemy aggression which is our We are not adverse to consSistent and stable pop,ulation growth, but the influx of common concern." tens of thousandg of temporary workers and their families, together with those It wouldbe too smug to say that since the involved in support services, would create grave sociological problems, particularly Prophet has spoken the MX debate is when coupled with an influx incident to the anticipated emphas:is on energy over. It is not. There are powerful forces development. in this state, and across the nation, that Published studies indicate that the fragile ecology of the area would likewise by are urging deployment of MX. In terms adversely affected. of the First Presidency’s statement on We may predict that with so many billions of dollars at stake ~’e will hear much MX, one should be careful not to read talk designed to minimize the problems that might be expected and to maximize the more into it than is there; or to read, less economic benefits that might accrue. The reasons :for such portrayals will be into it than is there. Personally, I would obvious. have preferred a total rejection of NiX Our fathers came to this western area to establish a base from ,which to carry the anywhere, at any time, under any gospel of peace to the peoples, of the earth. It is ironic, and a denial of the very. circumstances. Still, the First essence of that gospel, that in this same general area there should be constructed a Presidency’s views should be applauded mammoth weapons system potentially capable of destroying much of civilization. not only for their opposition--albeit With the most serious concern over the pressing moral question of possible limited--to MX, but because they have nuclear conflict, we plead with our national leaders to marshal the genius of Lhe established a precedent whiclh leaves nation to find viable alternatives which will secure at an earlier date and with fewer open the possibility of future opposition hazards the protection from possible enemy aggression which is. our common to the arms race and nuclear holocaust. concern. John Sillito

64 Sunstone