Beginners Mormon History Suggestions

“Rough Stone Rolling” actually is an excellent suggestion. Richard Bushman obviously is not totally objective, but nobody is. There simply is no way to get a book that is only factual, unless you are willing to get a really, really, really boring book.

“Early Mormonism and the Magic World View” also is an excellent book – not “just factual” but very helpful in placing the Restoration into its time and culture.

Finally, I would recommend you check out the stuff written by Dr. Jan Shipps. She is Methodist, but her specialty is Mormonism – and she is doing a project now on Mormonism post-WWII that includes personally interviewing many of the GA’s and apostles in SLC. I am excited to read the book when she finishes it, largely because she is as fair and objective as anyone of whom I know.

Thank you for the suggestions. It sounds like “Rough Stone Rolling” is a good one to start with. Ray I think you are right when you talk about it being awfully hard finding something that is halfway readable without at least a little bit of the authors biases coming in. That was wishful thinking on my part. I’m looking forward to expanding my knowledge a bit.

Along with RSR, I’d recommend Oliver Cowdery: The Elusive Second Elder of the Restoration by Phillip R Legg. Here’s a little bit about it.

Here is a thread with some suggesitons of good books to read that are relatively “balanced”.

I agree with Brian that No Man Knows My History is an interesting and good read. I also think that it is definitely biased and that Brodie puts herself in Joseph’s head and presents her own opinions as fact.

If you want to add me as a Goodreads friend, I’m “Hawkgrrrl” there also, and I have my reviews from all the Mormon books I’ve read. Here are some that I mentioned above.

Insider’s View of Mormon Origins: An interesting literary criticism of the Book of Mormon and the Book of Abraham. There were many interesting points, some of which had more merit than others. Ultimately, it was interesting if not entirely convincing (kind of like a lot of the papers I wrote in college). More convincing: Book of Abraham connection to obscure 19th century astronomy book, connections between the BOM and 19th century preaching styles, Biblical connections to the BOM (and the lack of new doctrine), the gullible nature of the witnesses to the BOM, questions about the nature of translation. Less convincing: Smith family connection to the BOM (merely alluded to), the priesthood restoration as a fabrication (no attention was paid to OC’s role or impeccable character), no real attempt to fathom the character or present a cohesive picture of Joseph Smith was made, dismissing spiritual conversion. Utterly unconvincing: The Golden Pot connection. Old News: the rock in the hat as a means of translation, not using the plates directly, the Kinderhook plates, the nature of the BOM witnesses, the issues with the Book of Abraham and funerary texts, JS’s gullibility and money digging.

Mormon Enigma: It’s as exciting as reading the meeting notes from the first Relief Society. There’s plenty of interesting stuff going on here, but it’s presented in such a bland fashion that it’s slow going. Bushman’s RSR was eminently more readable if less controversial and interesting. Various perspectives on Joseph & Emma’s relationship (and disagreements/concessions over polygamy) are presented; unfortunately, one feels that there is no way to really get at the heart of it. Emma’s feelings are ambivalent and well, enigmatic. She’s a tough nut to crack.

Rough Stone Rolling: I loved it. Much better than Mormon Enigma which was deadly dull despite the fascinating subject. I use this book in my RS lesson prep. It’s a great supplement to materials provided for teaching that class. The style of writing is very readable. Chapters were digestible and comprehensible despite the heady topic. It was a respectful yet open-minded treatment of a very biased subject.

Mysteries of Godliness: This was intermittently interesting and at times deadly dull (recopied lists of things or multiple-page long quotes – ugh!). But it was chock full of fascinating temple facts you may not know. Even the most casual temple goer is probably aware of the Masonic symbolism in the temple and the link between temple work and the Book of Abraham. But this book provides far more interesting facts that those. For example, did you know that there have thus far been 86 million vicarious endowments performed, with an estimated 70 billion humans who have lived on the earth (only 69.14 billion to go!)? Did you know that part of the first temple film was from the movie Fantasia (courtesy of Disney Studios)? Did you know that there was no Word of Wisdom requirement specified for temple worthiness until 1921 (although swearing was specifically prohibited? Did you know that original “recommends” were literally a recommendation by a bishop, not at the request of the member (who was unaware until invited)? Did you know that there was no vicarious work performed until the 1890s? Were you aware of the ordinance of “second anointings” that were discontinued in the 1940s due to confusion over predestination vs. blessings being conditional on one’s continued worthiness? Did you know that the age for endowments was at one point 15 years but those exhibiting maturity could be endowed as early as age 12? Did you know that the first time the ceremony was written down was in 1877, after many changes had already taken place? Were you aware that at one point, men were asked to abstain from touching their wives for 10 days prior to receiving an endowment and that women were supposed to wait 7 days after their menstrual cycle? In addition to chronicling the changes in the temple ceremony throughout the ages, there are some cringe-worthy sexist statements by Brigham Young (they are really beyond the pale), and a thoughtful look at the future of temple worship from a sociological as well as theological perspective. What changes will occur in the future? Only time will tell.

David O. McKay & the Rise of Modern Mormonism: ** spoiler alert ** This was a fascinating read with insights into the inner workings of the apostles of the LDS church and the impacts David O. McKay had on things like: apostles writing inaccurate books without authorization under the name of the church (both Joseph Fielding Smith for Man, His Origin and Destiny and his son-in-law Bruce R. McConkie for the ubiquitous Mormon Doctrine), interfaith relations (the image of Bishop Hunt asking with tears in his eyes if David O. McKay really thought RC was church of the devil was poignant–FYI he didn’t agree with Bruce R. on this or many other things), the missionary program (issues with baseball baptisms and the ongoing tug between retention and baptism rates), racism (even DOM was oddly against civil rights, but for blacks having the priesthood), temples (DOM was not a fan when he first went), communism and the rise of the John Birch society (under DOM, the church was 45% democrat/55% republican – there seems to have been a subsequent shift, at least in the US), and some other fascinating topics. My favorite story is David O. McKay at a theater production in which the usher apologetically explained that all the cups had “Coca-Cola” printed on the outside, but they could offer him whatever type of soda he wanted. David O. McKay said, “I don’t care what’s on the outside of the cup, so long as there’s Coke IN the cup.” Cheers to you, David O. McKay! What I really found fascinating is how tolerance and love open the door for intolerance and bigotry to flourish. Is that really how it works on planet earth?