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Claremont Studies j newsletteri

spring 2013 t Issue no. 8

Thoughts from the in this issue

Hunter Chair Perfecting & at by Patrick Q. Mason Claremont Howard W. Hunter Chair of Mormon Studies ipage 2

k he Mormon moment may be University is fond of saying, the Student Contributions over, but Mormon studies is research university is one of T page 3 alive and well. With the election humankind’s greatest inventions— k past us, media and popular attention and graduate school is, at its about Latter-day will wane best, the most refined version of Oral Histories Archived at considerably, but that incomparable Honnold-Mudd page 7 there has never been “When we get it right, invention. a more auspicious When we get k time for the graduate education it right, graduate “ and Villains” scholarly study of has been and remains education has been page 8 . a tremendous force for and remains a k We live in an era the advancement of tremendous force for Reminiscence at of mass media and the advancement of human knowledge.” the Culmination of social technologies human knowledge. Coursework that allow us to Mormon Studies at page 8 “connect” with thousands, even CGU is just one slice of that grand millions, of people at the click of a endeavor; Steve Bradford’s insightful few buttons. We are witnessing a column that follows reminds us revolution in the way that higher of some of the reasons why the education is being delivered, and it endeavor is worthy of not only will be fascinating to see what will our enthusiasm but our support as happen with developments such well. t as MOOC’s (massive open online courses). Blogs have their place, and books and articles will remain our intellectual currency. Subscribe to this newsletter But even with all those other k intellectual outlets—as valuable Get the Claremont Mormon Studies Newsletter in your email inbox by subscribing as they are—nothing replaces online. Visit the intense, focused, sustained, claremontmormonstudies.org mentored learning that occurs in and provide your name and email address on the home page to be entered into our the graduate school seminar. As news and events system. You will receive the newsletter as a PDF file each semester. the provost of Claremont Graduate Please direct any questions to [email protected].

Page 1 http://religion.cgu.edU t Http://www.claremontmormonstudies.org Claremont Mormon Studies Newsletter t spring 2013 The Sometimes Messy Process of Perfecting Mormons and Mormon Studies at Claremont by Steve Bradford Chairman, Claremont Mormon Studies Council Of course, there were a few hard things said about Mormonism here as well, particularly as we learned about the fits and starts involved in translating our The Art of Enduring Imperfect Critiques of Mormonism unique American brand of Christianity abroad. For A few months ago I attended a session of a Claremont example, some said that Mormonism would remain an Graduate University religious studies conference—not American religion with international branches, rather sponsored or organized by the Howard W. Hunter than a truly international religion, as long as it continues Foundation or the Mormon Studies Council, but with to gravitate to conservative U.S. political causes and a remarkable number of presentations on Mormonism produce -promoting media with American actors. by both Mormon and non-Mormon religious studies It was particularly hard for some faithful Mormons in scholars working on PhDs and MAs. I was accompanied attendance, who had sacrificed much time and treasure by another member of our Claremont Mormon Studies to legally maintain the traditional definition of marriage Council. in California (while enduring significant persecution), to The first presenter in our session was a non-Mormon listen to a faithful foreign LDS church leader and scholar scholar who appeared to fundamentally misunderstand diminish the importance of those efforts and argue that the mechanics of how Mormons wear and utilize the legal definition of marriage is of minor religious garments in their every-day lives and devotions. During concern to many Mormons in other parts of the world. the Q&A, my Council colleague systematically corrected So, after attending these disconcerting and invigorating her misconceptions, as did others in the mostly non- conferences, I realize more than ever that Mormon Mormon audience. Afterwards, he and I wondered why scholarship (like my local Mormon congregation) can this fledgling scholar’s colleagues couldn’t have corrected be a messy thing. Sometimes scholars don’t gather or her misconceptions before she presented them in a comprehend all the facts (especially students who are public setting. While I was mostly pleased by the high still learning their craft). Sometimes they inadvertently degree of interest in Mormon subjects at the conference or even purposefully skew the facts to fit within a (even though some still seemed to misunderstand us), preconceived hypothesis. Like they study, my colleague on the Mormon Studies Council was less scholars are imperfect people who make human mistakes enthusiastic after witnessing that misunderstanding first- but usually, if not always, try to do their best in life and in hand. their chosen fields of endeavor.

While Nobody’s Perfect, Most Mormons and Scholars of “Unbiased” Secular Scholars Can Sometimes Explain Mormonism Try Really Hard Mormonism Better than Mormons Can A few weeks later, Claremont Mormon Studies Shortly after attending these conferences, I read celebrated a momentous Mormon Studies conference in a series of “field studies” forwarded to the Mormon honor of the faith and scholarship of . Studies Council by the Howard W. Hunter Chair of The list of renowned Mormon scholars who came to Mormon Studies, Patrick Mason, prepared by members pay homage to this good man and his ground-breaking of Dr. Mason’s “Introduction to Mormonism” class. thinking was amazing—Richard and Claudia Bushman, These non-Mormon student scholars were required to , Matthew Bowman, Levi Peterson, Patrick attend an entire three-hour block of Sunday meetings Mason and many others (including Dr. Mauss himself). at a local Mormon congregation and report on their And they did not disappoint. Although this was an findings. The reports they filed were completely opposite academic conference, some of the scholarship was truly in understanding to the ill-informed presentation on inspiring, including respectful, appreciative comments on the Mormon garment that my Mormon Studies Council the revelatory nature of oft-maligned Church correlation. colleague and I had endured a few weeks earlier.

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Here are just a few excerpts from these non-Mormon his resurrection is a prime example for Mormons to graduate student-scholars’ remarkable field reports: follow. The religion isn’t over; the canon is open, or rather, 1. “When [the visiting stake president] spoke, he asked reopened by and his .” the congregation to pray for him, which demonstrated 5. And finally, this excerpt from one student scholar’s both his level of humility in an authoritative position and “scriptural account” of his visit to a Mormon chapel: “And that his title did not inherently place him on a pedestal [the missionaries] did reveal unto me that there would be above and detached from the congregation. Further, many little children…, and that it might happen that they he addressed the congregation as brothers and sisters. would wail and gnash their teeth.… But I suffered the This terminology promotes equality of status among little children, and I was not wroth with them. For, some the community.… [In my faith tradition], priests … weeks ago, …[such a] wretched cacophony [of wailing greet their “children”; they become their fathers and are children] did strike me as an abomination among the therefore ideologically separated from their flock.… If ritual and pomp [of my church’s] liturgy. But in this place [they] cried during a prayer, there would be a church it was not so. Yea, the children here were loud, even unto full of astonished parishioners.… [But in this Mormon screaming bloody murder. But here the children seemed congregation the stake president] cried during a prayer.… part of the purpose, not a hindrance thereof.” [T]his president was part of a community in which emotions are permitted.” Claremont Mormon Studies is Better Positioned than 2. “At every turn, the Mormon community was Mormon-Owned Institutions to Credibly Disseminate inviting, engaging, and welcoming, and I would venture Respectful Mormon Scholarship to the Media and Non- to say that it is this fellowship that appeals most to those Mormon Scholars considering joining the church. As [Matthew] Bowman states…, ‘[the church’s] vision of heaven as a community Don’t these Claremont non-Mormon scholars’ of the like-minded reveals two characteristic features of treatments of Mormon congregations ring true to Mormonism: its understanding of salvation in terms of faithful Mormons like me? Shouldn’t we support the community and its optimism about humanity’s potential publication and dissemination of Claremont Mormon to gain it.’ The members of the LDS church that I met Studies’ unique secular brand of respectful (and often during my visit embody this to an extent that is unlike inspirational) Mormon scholarship to secular media and any other religious populace that I have encountered. academic outlets throughout the world, especially when It is not a distant tenet or impersonal dogma; it is lived we know these outlets won’t give as much credence to every day, and is the beginning and end of their religious similar material produced by our faith-based Church experience.” Headquarters or University? Isn’t the 3. “I was very excited that the first speaker was a young upside of the Gospel of Christ and this Claremont lady in middle school who was giving her first talk in Mormon Studies endeavor worthy of our support even front of the congregation. She was hardly nervous, and as we cringe at the negativity and duplicity occasionally was more enthusiastic about sharing her reflections on evident in both Mormon studies and our own Mormon being ‘the weird Mormon’ in school and how she had wards? found true friends in those who respected her faith as As a proud graduate of much as any other part of her. She focused on the need (gooo Cougars!), my recent experiences with Mormon to ‘act on the words that we hear,’ further proof that studies at Claremont Graduate University demonstrate Mormonism is a lived and practiced faith, rather than a the value of examining Mormonism from both faithful merely reflected one. I don’t think it would be possible and secular perspectives. On the one hand, while a for a Mormon to be an ‘Easter and Christmas’ sort of faithful environment (such as BYU) can endow a person practitioner—faith is inherent in every aspect of life, not with unmatched spiritual power and optimism, a secular just in Sunday worship.” environment (such as Claremont) can help a person 4. “In the Mormon church, I didn’t see a single cross or understand differences among religions, how some crucifix. This perhaps points to the optimism inherent in differences can be harmonized, and how other differences the community, the focus on resurrection and going out can be understood and even admired (as Dr. Mason’s and doing what is laid down in scripture. The fact that non-Mormon scholars have done with their field visits to Jesus appeared to the as another act following Mormon church services).

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Both faithful and secular scholarship are useful and an overwhelming abundance of these qualities within even necessary. Both are worthy of the appreciation each institution to know they are both worthy of my and support of a faithful Mormon like me. While one admiration and support. Thus, as the faithful Mormons perspective seeks to gradually influence worldwide that many of us are, and after meeting our financial opinions of Mormonism through optimistic and covenants to the Church and its related faith-promoting comforting spiritual messaging and wise public relations, humanitarian and academic institutions that we all love, the other perspective can sometimes more readily I would urge a visit to claremontmormonstudies.org/ promote a worldwide understanding of certain important donate.html to donate to the ancillary and complementary aspects of Mormonism (its doctrines, its humanitarian noble cause of Mormon studies. outreach, its lived experience) merely by being recognized In this regard, we continue to marvel at the remarkable as scholarly and “unbiased.” support of those preceding us in this effort. Certainly, the most notable examples are Roy and Carol Christensen. Building on their lion’s share donations to the $3 million President Howard W. Hunter and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Howard W. Hunter Chair of Mormon Have Recognized the Need to Talk About Mormonism from Studies occupied by Dr. Mason, last September Roy and Both Faithful and Scholarly Perspectives Carol came back with a $500,000 initial endowment of I think Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Claremont’s Robert L. Millet Fellowship, dedicated to Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- training scholars pursuing careers in religious education day Saints best articulated the twin needs for faithful at BYU and other LDS Church institutes of religion. In and scholarly examinations of Mormonism in his 2007 furtherance of the Christensens’ visionary generosity, we message endorsing the creation of the Howard W. Hunter are now seeking to double that endowment to $1 million, Chair of Mormon Studies at Claremont. Elder Holland while we also initiate a campaign to endow a $3 million recalled that as President Hunter considered ways in unrestricted fellowship to attract secular scholars like which the Church could be better understood, he “always the ones taking Dr. Mason’s Introduction to Mormonism wanted us to talk with those beyond our own circle. To class. communicate first and foremost in our language of faith, but wherever possible, to add the language of scholarship, Church First, Mormon Studies Second which would expand our circle of influence even farther.” Elder Holland punctuated his remarks with the Naturally, as a faithful Mormon, my first allegiance declaration that, if the Church’s first California prophet will always be to the Church that I love. But as a faithful “were alive today, he would be expressing his deepest Mormon who cares deeply about how my Church is gratitude for the vision that is linking his name, and scrutinized by non-Mormon scholars and portrayed that of the Church he loved, with such a distinguished by secular media to the world, I also gratefully support institution as Claremont.” the messy, sometimes unpleasant, often inspiring, and No doubt Elder Holland, as a modern-day prophet and nearly always respectful and thought-provoking Mormon scholar, understands better than anyone the primary need scholarship coming out of Claremont. to disseminate the truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ As Elder Holland declared in his 2007 Claremont as well as the ancillary value of propagating responsible Mormon Studies endorsement, I would like to think Mormon scholarship. that President Hunter feels the same as we do about this one and only graduate-level center of Mormon studies. Indeed, here at Claremont, Howard W. Hunter Mormon A Faithful Mormon Covenants to Support the Church and Studies Chair Patrick Mason, Howard W. Hunter Recognizes the Value of Supporting Mormon Studies Foundation Chair R. Randall Huff, and I are doing our The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has “imperfect best” to assure that President Hunter and never asserted a monopoly on Christian teaching and his associates will always be proud of the language of practice. Neither does Claremont claim to have a lock on scholarship spoken at the only secular Mormon studies responsible Mormon scholarship. Yet I’ve witnessed such program bearing the name of a latter-day prophet. t

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Student Contributions

We asked students to provide some details about their recent academic work. Included here are some of their contributions to the field.

Shawn Bennion Nick Frederick and Catherine of Siena,” The Sixth Annual Religions in Conversation Conference, • “Current Conflicts in the Middle East: • Hired to position of Assistant Visiting “Sacred Bodies: Gender, Marriage, and Islamic Infrastructure, Jewish Justifications, Professor, Department of Ancient Sexuality in Text and Tradition,” Claremont, and Polemical Performances of Imagined Scripture, Brigham Young University. February 22, 2013. Pasts,” Guest Lecture, University of • Passed dissertation defense, March 27th, LaVerne, April 22, 2013. 2013; Graduated May 18th, 2013. Lincoln Hale Alan Clark • “Joseph Smith and the Gospel of • Hugh W. Nibley Fellowship, Neal A. John,” BYU Church History Symposium, for Religious Scholarship, • “The April 14, 1890 Day of Destruction.” “Approaching Antiquity: Joseph Smith’s 2013. The California American Studies Study of the Ancient World.” Association 2013 Annual Meeting. San • “Omission of the : A Diego State University, CA, April 27, 2013. Mormon Response to Political Turmoil in David Golding the Early Twentieth Century,” American Academy of Religion Pacific North West Bryan Cottle • Adjunct Professor, Department of Church History and Doctrine, Brigham Young Conference, Seattle University, Seattle, WA • “The Long and Winding Road: A Right to University, 2011–2013. May 3, 2013. Religious .” The Sixth Annual Religions in Conversation Conference, • “The Revelations Magi Madsen-Hernandez “Sacred Bodies: Gender, Marriage, and as a Textual Holy of Holies,” Faith Sexuality in Text and Tradition,” Claremont, and Knowledge Conference, Wesley • “She Returns the Gaze: A Survey of February 22, 2013. Theological Seminary, February 2013. the Female Figure in Neo-Coptic Iconography.” The Sixth Annual Religions • “Heavenly Mother,” in Mormon Women in Conversation Conference, “Sacred Have Their Say: Essays from the Claremont Thomas Evans Bodies: Gender, Marriage, and Sexuality in Oral History Collection, : Greg Text and Tradition,” Claremont, February • “Migrants as Martyrs: Santo Toribio and the Kofford Books, March 2013. Catholicization of the Border.” American 22, 2013. Academy of Religion Western Region • “The Amherst Conference Missions: A New Annual Conference, “Religion in Public System,” Mormon History Association Caroline Kline Life,” Statue University, March 10, Annual Conference, June 2013. 2013. • Margo L. Goldsmith Memorial Fellowship, CGU, April 2013. • “Mainstreaming Polygamy: Two Alexandra Griffin • Co-editor, Mormon Women Have Their Approaches to the Legitimization of Plural • “’The Son of Man Cometh Not in the Form Say: Essays from the Claremont Oral History Marriage.” The Sixth Annual Religions in of a Woman’: Ann Lee and Joseph Smith Collection, Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Conversation Conference, “Sacred Bodies: in Comparison,” American Academy of Books, March 2013. Gender, Marriage, and Sexuality in Text Religion Pacific North West Conference, and Tradition,” Claremont, February 22, Seattle University, Seattle, WA May 3, 2013. • “Self and Other,” in Mormon Women Have 2013. Their Say: Essays from the Claremont Oral • “’She No Longer Had Need of Food and No History Collection, Salt Lake City: Greg Longer Could Digest’: , the Body,

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Kofford Books, March 2013. History Collection, Salt Lake City: Greg Conference, “Sacred Bodies: Gender, Kofford Books, March 2013. Marriage, and Sexuality in Text and • “Patriarchy,” in Mormon Women Have Their Tradition,” Claremont, February 22, 2013. Say: Essays from the Claremont Oral History • “Exemplification of Islam in the New York Collection, Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford Times and after • “Mamluk Jerusalem: Architecturally Books, March 2013. 9/11: Anti-American Muslims Abroad and Challenging Narratives.” Fourteenth Patriotic Muslim-Americans at Home.” Annual CGU Student Research Conference, • “Saying Goodbye to the Final Say: The American Academy of Religion Western “I Am in the World to Change the World,” Softening and Reimagining of Mormon Region Annual Conference, Santa Clara Claremont, January 25, 2013. Male Headship Ideologies.” Sixth Annual University, Santa Clara, CA, March 24–26 Religions in Conversation Conference, 2012. “Sacred Bodies: Gender, Marriage, and Rachel Hunt Steenblik Sexuality in Text and Tradition,” Claremont, • CGU Religion Student Council 2013 Essay February 22, 2013. Elisa Pulido Contest Winner, “A Mother There: The • “Missions,” in Mormon Women Have Their Need for Heavenly Mother in Latter-day Richard Livingston Say: Essays from the Claremont Oral History Saint Theology.” Collection, Salt Lake City: Greg Kofford • Dissertation Grant, Claremont Graduate • “Levinas, Derrida, the Philosophy of Books, March 2013. University, 2013–2014. Hospitality, and Sister Missionaries.” American Academy of Religion Pacific • “The Fallibility of Memory,” a response Taunalyn Rutherford North West Conference, at Seattle to Pamela Anderson, “Confidence University, Seattle, WA May 4, 2013. in the Power of Memory: Ricoeur’s • “The ,” in Mormon Women Hermeneutics of Life,” The Thirty-fourth Have Their Say: Essays from the Claremont • “A Mother There: The Need for Heavenly Annual Philosophy of Religion Conference, Oral History Collection, Salt Lake City: Greg Mother in Latter-day Saint Theology.” “The Legacy of Paul Ricoeur,” Claremont Kofford Books, March 2013. Sixth Annual Religions in Conversation February 8–9, 2013. Conference, “Sacred Bodies: Gender, • “Excavating Eve: Uncovering the Narrative Marriage, and Sexuality in Text and • Religious Education Dissertation Grant, of the Mormon Mother of All Living.” Tradition,” Claremont, February 22, 2013. Brigham Young University, 2012–2013 American Academy of Religion Western Region Annual Conference, “Religion in • “An Awareness of What is Missing: Jürgen • Adjunct Instructor, “Religion and Science,” Public Life,” Arizona Statue University, Habermas on the Consequences of California State University, Fullerton, Spring March 9–11, 2013. Secularism.” Fourteenth Annual CGU 2013 and Fall 2012. Student Research Conference, “I Am in the • Adjunct Instructor, “Mormonism,” Andrew Smith World to Change the World,” Claremont, California State University, Fullerton, Fall CA January 25, 2013. 2012. • Hugh W. Nibley Fellowship, Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship, 2013. Elizabeth Mott • “Gender-Bending Hajj: Masculinity and • “Singlehood,” in Mormon Women Have Femininity on Display and in Interplay.” Their Say: Essays from the Claremont Oral Sixth Annual Religions in Conversation

New Student Joins the Program

Lincoln Hale Lincoln earned a Master of Theological Studies in Ancient Biblical Studies at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, CO. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D in the program at Claremont Graduate University. His interests include ancient languages (Coptic, Greek, Hebrew, et al.), Coptic studies, and Mormon studies. Lincoln served an LDS in Romania from 1999–2001. He and his wife, Anna, have a son and two daughters.

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Claremont Mormon Women Oral History Project Archived in Honnold- Mudd by Lisa Clayton Director, Claremont Mormon Women Oral History Project

n 2009 Claudia Bushman had a and if needed, translated by the Mormon women’s lives and religious Ibrainchild that today has grown interviewers, requiring hundreds experience in a way unlike other into a significant contribution to of hours of volunteer labor. Dr. historical research. A brief sample the study of contemporary religion. Bushman and current and former from oral history #007 illustrates She saw the need to document CGU students continue to be how a woman felt about prayer, her the experiences and thoughts of involved. Lisa Clayton became mother, and the : Mormon women of the 20th and director of the project in 2011, and Some of the most powerful 21st centuries and so created the David Golding is the technical prayers that changed my life were Claremont Mormon Women Oral advisor. Patrick Mason serves as the when my mother would kneel down History Project. The Mormon faculty advisor. with us, especially when we were Studies Council at Claremont Good things have grown out traveling or going back to school. Graduate University provided initial of this project: (1) a successful She’d say, “Marie, let’s have a little and continuing support for the conference sponsored by The prayer before you go,” and we’d project. The results to date: over 150 Mormon Studies Council, “Women’s kneel around our old couch. And interviews with LDS women that Lives, Women’s Voices: Agency she’d pour out her heart to the generated more than 2,700 pages In the Lives of LDS Women,” Lord, asking that I be protected and of original transcripts. In May, ten held at CGU in 2010 (more than guided, and though we didn’t have volumes of histories were archived 160 attended the conference that the priesthood in the family, I never in Honnold-Mudd Library Special featured papers using the oral doubted for a moment that I was well Collections at Claremont Graduate histories as primary documents); and truly blessed. University where they are now (2) a book of essays based on the The oral histories take the available to researchers. Another histories published in 2013, titled historian into these women’s volume is planned for later this year. Mormon Women Have Their experience in a way most research Funded by The Howard W. Say: Essays from the Oral History cannot. The histories give us a Hunter Foundation and fostered by Collection, edited by Claudia snapshot of women’s lives unlikely its relationship with the Mormon Bushman and Caroline Kline; to be captured in any other way. We Studies Council, the oral history (3) and to date many conference hear not only the choices they make, project started with the participation papers, readers’ theaters, and theses but also how they come to make of students in Dr. Bushman’s classes using the oral histories as primary them. at CGU and non-student women resources. The project anticipates in southern California. Soon an The histories include the women’s continuing to receive histories informal network of interviewers answers to questions about their into the foreseeable future. If you spread to other states and countries. family background, education, are interested in participating, The project includes histories from religious education, callings, please email Lisa Clayton, the across the , parts patriarchy and Priesthood, answers current director of the project, at of Europe, and Australia. The to prayer, life crises, etc. They [email protected] for more histories are recorded, transcribed, reveal the diversity and depth of information. t

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Reflections on “Martyrs and Villains” by Chase Kirkham PhD Student, History of Christianity and Religions of North America

r. was the could be raised. Detractors, on the Mormons were not invited. When Dfinal Claremont Mormon other hand, viewed polygamy as a the church pressed the Parliament Studies lecturer for the 2012-2013 plot by Mormon men to lure women to allow a Mormon delegate into school year. His engaging lecture, into their desert harem through their proceedings, the Parliament entitled “Martyrs and Villains in their mesmeric powers. Throughout capitulated only to retract their the American Saga,” was given on the lecture, Givens accented the invitation later. Meanwhile at the April 11, 2013 and examined the underlying tension that has existed concurrent Columbian Exposition, various portrayals of Mormons and among apologists and enemies of the the Mormon took Mormonism made by both friends LDS Church as they have attempted second place in the choral contest. and foes of the LDS Church from to understand how Mormonism Considering these facts, Givens its formation in 1830 to the present. fits within the broader American concluded that America would let One example that Givens shared culture. the Mormons sing for them but of these polarizing portrayals was One of the most striking would not respect their beliefs. Such the way that nineteenth-century conclusions of Givens’s lecture is an attitude continues today. apologists for and detractors illustrated by the events of the 1893 Indeed, the most “famous” of Mormonism characterized Parliament of World Religions Mormons today are entertainers. polygamy. Members of the church held in Chicago. While invitations Mormons are showcased as singers, cast plural marriage as a means to delegates were sent to religious dancers, and contestants on reality whereby a super race of children groups all over the world, the TV shows but their identifying [see Reflections, 9]

Reminiscence at the Culmination had agreed to let me sit in on his Mormon Scriptures of Coursework class. I can still remember the lively discussion about how Mormon by Taunalyn Rutherford scriptures should be studied at PhD Student, History of Christianity and Religions of North America an institution like CGU. I had dreamed of an opportunity like very May during my past four tent experiencing the culmination this years earlier, after finishing Eyears at Claremont Graduate of what has been one of the best my Master’s degree: A program University I have watched as the educational experiences of my life. where I could pursue a PhD in graduation tent is erected on the As I look back on all I have learned religious studies with an emphasis quad in front of the library. I am over the past four years and look on Mormonism with renowned usually trying to finish writing a ahead to teaching religion classes at scholar Richard Bushman and term paper as I look out the windows BYU this summer my feelings are along side top students in the field. of the Honnald Library at the bitter sweet. I look forward to what As I experienced my first day in preparations for the commencement is ahead but in some ways I wish I Bushman’s seminar I felt like I was ceremony. My mind will inevitably could always be a student at CGU. dreaming. By the end of the day wander to the hope of my future Fortunately there is much that I I was taking the course for credit graduation day. I recently finished take with me from this incredible and starting my application for my last semester of coursework and opportunity. admission to the PhD program. soon I will be under the graduation I remember my first day at CGU. Richard Bushman exemplified how [see Reminiscence, 10]

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Reflections, continued from page 8 religious beliefs have yet to be taken existence, the potential for earthly If Mormonism wants to be seriously. Givens expressed his relationships to endure beyond recognized beyond singing and frustration with the fact that the two death, and a God who not only has dancing, it needs to find a way to most common questions he received power to save his children but who make its core beliefs recognizable during the 2012 presidential election grieves with and shares in their pain. and accessible to the inquiring were about “Kolob” and “magic Scholars of Mormonism—those public. In other words, the “Mormon underwear.” seasoned as well as those new to bookshelf” needs to be much Will ever be the craft—are in an influential bigger. Such is the challenge for taken seriously? Or are attempts to position to trigger such a change. the scholars of Mormonism, not to identify the doctrines of the LDS For they have the ability both to speak to a Mormon audience alone, church beyond “Kolob” and “magic shape the image of the LDS Church but to place the religion—both as underwear” doomed to a Sisyphus- for church members as well as those it appeared in the past and as it like fate—continually struggling to encountering Mormonism for the manifests itself in the present—in its reach the peak but first time. About proper social, political, economic, finding resistance “Givens concluded that Richard Bushman’s religious, and historical contexts. from the crushing book Joseph Smith: The results of well-balanced and weight of the boulder, America would let the Rough Stone Rolling, honest scholarship are twofold: which in this case is Mormons sing for them The New York one, believing members of the public caricature? Is but would not respect Times Book Review church can gain insight into how the LDS Church to their beliefs. Such an wrote: “Bushman the teachings of their leaders, for remain forever in its earns a place for example, Joseph Smith and Brigham jester-like role in the attitude continues today.” his biography on Young, responded to the challenges American religious the very short shelf of their day. And two, academics court where it is allowed to entertain reserved for books on Mormonism and lay persons who do not affiliate but never to hold council with the with appeal to initiates and with the church can see that indeed, “nobles”? If so, a change would need outsiders, too.” While the review is the church is a part of the fabric of to happen for the inquiring public high praise for Rough Stone Rolling, American culture and that to ignore to associate Mormonism with its it is also regrettably revealing, for it or to warp its image is in fact, identifying beliefs rather than as it measures the scholarship about distorting a piece of the American a religion of singers and dancers. Mormonism that can “appeal to identity. t Some of these ignored beliefs that initiates and outsiders” as “very Givens mentioned are pre-mortal short.”

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and demanding and yet he has Claremont Mormon , continued Reminiscence become a favorite of students in Studies Newsletter from page 8 the Religion department, both LDS to unite faith and scholarship. He and non. Patrick has taught me A joint publication of the taught me to always “tell the truth how to articulate Mormon history Howard W. Hunter Chair of in love,” when approaching difficult doctrine and praxis more effectively Mormon Studies questions in Mormon Studies. in the language of academe. In Mostly, Richard helped me to believe his Gendering Mormonism and Claremont Mormon Studies in myself as a scholar and welcomed Introduction to Mormonism classes Council me into the Claremont Mormon that were geared to include non-LDS Studies community. students, Patrick built bridges of Claremont Mormon Studies When I was officially admitted to understanding and inspired students Student Association the program I began taking classes from diverse backgrounds to use from both Richard and Claudia the lens of Mormonism in order k Bushman. I became involved in the to understand religion in general. Howard W. Hunter Chair Mormon Women’s Oral History He has accomplished this while of Mormon Studies project that Claudia had begun and never compromising his integrity Patrick Mason discovered the power in Mormon as a scholar or as an LDS Church women’s narratives both 19th and member and his work has allowed k 20th century ones. Claudia and the LDS Church be viewed in a more Richard were and continue to be positive light. Claremont Mormon Studies Council incredible mentors for students at My experience with Mormon Chairman CGU. The first term paper that I Studies at Claremont has had an Steve Bradford wrote for Claudia’s class became impact on me not only academically my first published chapter that was but also personally. I am a better k included in Volume 1 of Women of wife and mother today because Faith in the . The Oral of what I have experienced and Claremont Mormon Studies History project continues to be an learned at Claremont and what my Student Association integral part of my research not family has learned in supporting President only with the recent publication of my efforts. In my interpersonal Bryan Cottle Mormon Women Have Their Say but relationships with people of other also as I formulate my dissertation I feel I have a greater capacity Vice-President that will draw heavily from the to understand and communicate. Rachel Hunt Steenblik Mormon Women’s Oral histories in My contributions in church service k conversation with Oral histories of have been magnified. My Claremont Sikh women. experience has given me a great During the past two years reservoir of knowledge from which Patrick Mason has accomplished to draw that will inform my teaching the impossible in filling the shoes and leadership in the future. Finally, of Richard Bushman as the Howard I have new friends and colleagues W. Hunter Chair of Mormon from CMSSA, CST and CGU that I Studies and I am so grateful to hope to continue to associate with Howard W. Hunter Chair of have had him as a teacher and socially and professionally. My Mormon Studies mentor. I have watched as students, connection to the Mormon Studies 831 N. Dartmouth Ave. myself included, have gained community at CGU will provide Claremont, CA 91711 tremendous respect for Patrick as continued education even after my a teacher. His classes are some of graduation ceremony under that big the most academically rigorous tent in a coming May. t

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