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Plural Marriage In St. George: A Summary And An Invitation, Kathryn M. Daynes, Lowel C. Bennion, Davis Bitton, Val Lambson

BYU Studies Quarterly

This is a short summary of three papers in this issue of BYU Studies Quarterly offering new insights into the importance of polygyny, or polygamy, in nineteenth-century Mormondom. The Bitton-Lambson article derives theoretical limits on the sustainability of polygyny, suggesting that, given the parameters observed in nineteenth-century Utah, a prevalence exceeding 15 to 20 percent of males and 25 to 30 percent of females is implausible. Bennion's paper provides detailed information on how prevalent polygyny was in St. George and in its wide hinterland. It also includes a number of personal stories to shed light on who the settlers were, …

Striving To Live The Principle In Utah's First Temple City: A Snapshot Of Polygamy In St. George, Utah, In June 1880, Kathryn M. Daynes

BYU Studies Quarterly

This article is one of a set on the practice of polygamy in the Mormon settlement of St. George, Utah, from 1861 to 1880. For years researchers have known that St. George had an unusually high percentage of its population living in polygamous households and have been grappling with the reason why and what those high percentages tell us about the practice of plural marriage in Utah generally.

The demographic work to understand the lives of those families in plural marriage is labor intensive, and this article provides only a snapshot of it in June 1880, when Daniel Handley McAllister …

Some Textual Changes For A Scholarly Study Of The Book Of Mormon, Royal Skousen

BYU Studies Quarterly

Royal Skousen has been working on the critical text project of the Book of Mormon since 1988. He has concluded that there are three important findings resulting from the critical text project of the Book of Mormon. The first is that Joseph Smith received an English-language text word for word, which he read off to his scribe. The second is that the original English-language text itself was very precisely constructed; where textual error has occurred in its transmission, the earliest reading is usually the superior reading. The third is the identification of 256 changes in the text that make a …

When Pages Collide: Dissecting The Words Of Mormon, Jack M. Lyon, Kent R. Minson

BYU Studies Quarterly

Careful readers of the Book of Mormon have probably found verses 12-18 of the Words of Mormon to be a bit of a puzzle. For stylistic and other reasons, they do not really fit with verses 1-11, so commentators have tried to explain their presence as a sort of "bridge" or "transition" that Mormon wrote to connect the record of the small plates with his abridgment from the large plates. This paper proposes a different explanation: Rather than being a bridge into the book of Mosiah, these verses were originally part of the book of Mosiah and should be included …

Trailing Clouds Of Zombies, Eric D'Evegnee

BYU Studies Quarterly

This personal essay draws parallels between zombie apocalypse movies and parenting. The author's deliberate decision to have a large family reminds him of George Romero's Night of the Living Dead, in which the terror comes from the characters' deliberate decisions about how to survive the sheer number of pervasive and persistent undead. His children are equally "pervasive and persistent, and they outnumber me significantly." But he finds a "zombie epiphany" in realizing that his panic over the challenges of raising children is calmed by the joy of special moments in which his children teach him to see beauty and joy.

Teinoscope, Marilyn N. Nielson

BYU Studies Quarterly

No abstract provided.

Lehi's Dream And Nephi's Vision: Apocalyptic Revelations In Narrative Context, Matthew S. Stenson

BYU Studies Quarterly

In Lehi's Dream and Nephi's Vision: Apocalyptic Revelation in Narrative Context, Matthew Scott Stenson explores the qualities of apocalyptic literature found in the first two books of Nephi. Stenson shows how new insights can be gained by reading Nephi's record from the perspective of this ancient literary genre.

Isaiah 49:23–26 expresses the following dramatic prophecy portraying the Lord as a divine warrior:

And thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me. Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captives delivered? But thus saith the LORD, Even …

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Hell On The Range: A Story Of Honor, Conscience, And The American West, Daniel J. Herman, Taunalyn F. Rutherford

BYU Studies Quarterly

In the introduction to Hell on the Range, Daniel Justin Herman informs readers that his account of Arizona's Rim Country War of the 1880s is more than revisionist critique; it is self-critique. Herman, an associate professor of history at Central Washington University, is an Arizonan who, like many growing up in the western United States, was "raised on its romance," and in his youth he viewed "Arizonans--especially cowboys--[as] made of sterner, stronger stuff than people who grew up elsewhere" (xxii). His view of Mormons and Mormonism--an important undercurrent animating much of this book--was informed by his experiences as a non-Mormon …

17 Miracles, Directed By T. C. Christensen, Allan Davis

BYU Studies Quarterly

The film 17 Miracles is a recent cinematic depiction of the faith and trials of the Martin and Willie handcart companies. Mormon culture's hallowed treatment of the trek has appeared in oral histories, pageant depictions, and trek reenactments, and writer and director T. C. Christensen's treatment of the subject material is an excellent addition to a robust tradition that remembers a significant moment in our cultural past. That said, the film is not without its flaws. Though the film evidences superb storytelling and adept skill in the narrative language of film, it sometimes meanders away from its own strengths in …

Tony, Elizabeth Thayer

BYU Studies Quarterly

In 2012, artist Elizabeth Thayer entered her painting Tony in the BP Portrait Award contest. The Portrait Award is in its thirty-third year at the National Portrait Gallery in London. In 2012, there were 2,187 entries from artists in 74 different countries. This painting was one of 55 paintings chosen to be exhibited this year. Thayer first learned about the competition when she moved to England in 2010 and was thrilled to be part of the show in 2012.

"…After our fourth child was born in 2010, Tony told us that our son was the first baby he had ever …

On Mormon Laughter, Shawn R. Tucker

BYU Studies Quarterly

Shawn Tucker, an associate professor of fine arts, offers an interpretation on the scriptural injunctions against excessive and loud laughter found in Latter-day Saint scripture. Having grown up in a home with lots of joyous, good-natured laughter, the author recalls his confusion at such commands. His research explores the teachings of leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sociologists, and great thinkers such as C. S. Lewis.

The article shows that laughter that is cold, cynical, and belittling is a perversion of a God-given faculty that should delightfully lift and edify. A good sense of humor can …

This Beginning Of Miracles, Marilyn N. Nielson

BYU Studies Quarterly

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, Byu Studies

BYU Studies Quarterly

No abstract provided.

Mapping The Extent Of Plural Marriage In St. George, 1861–1880, Lowell C. Bennion

BYU Studies Quarterly

This article is one of a set on the practice of polygamy in St. George, Utah, from 1861 to 1880. It asks why polygamy rates in that Mormon settlement exceed the demographic limits produced by Bitton and Lambson in their article "Demographic Limits of Nineteenth-Century Mormon Polygyny." Bitton and Lambson suggest that "those willing to accept an assignment to settle in St. George were very committed Mormons, and those who remained in St. George after having observed conditions firsthand were more committed still. Very committed Mormons were much more likely to practice polygamy than were others."

Using case studies of …

The Persistence Of Polygamy, Scattering Of The Saints, And Modern Polygamy In The United States, Lara Burton, John C. Hamer, Cardell K. Jacobson, Craig L. Foster, Eric A. Eliason, Newell G. Bringhurst

BYU Studies Quarterly

NEWELL G. BRINGHURST, CRAIG L. FOSTER, editors. The Persistence of Polygamy: Joseph Smith and the Origins of Mormon Polygamy. Independence, Missouri: John Whitmer Books, 2010.

NEWELL G. BRINGHURST, JOHN C. HAMER. Scattering of the Saints: Schism within Mormonism. Independence, Missouri: John Whitmer Books, 2007.

CARDELL K. JACOBSON, LARA BURTON. Modern Polygamy in the United States: Historical, Cultural, and Legal Issues.New York: Oxford University Press, 2011.

Each of these three anthologies collects a variety of scholarly articles on the interrelated topics of Mormon schismatic groups, contemporary polygamy, and the history of plural marriage. Each book is geared not only to …

Marie Von Ebner-Eschenbach's Ohne Liebe: A Translation And Commentary, Steven L. Peris

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis explores a short drama of Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach, Without Love. It provides not only a complete English translation of the work, but also an interpretative introduction. By first examining the life of Ebner-Eschenbach, I am able to provide insight to the origins of the play. Because Ebner-Eschenbach faced so much opposition in her drama writing career this one act play becomes more relevant. It contains similar themes to her other works such as: gender roles, the role of the aristocracy, and love in marriage. Without Love examines the role of love in marriage by providing the reader …

Building The New Rome: Charles Cameron As The Architect Of Catherine The Great's New Eternal City, Inna A. Bell

Theses and Dissertations

Catherine the Great, The Empress of Russia, considered herself to be an enlightened ruler. Like many enlightened minds of the eighteenth century, she was fascinated with classical antiquity, especially with ancient Rome. In 1779, she invited a Scottish architect named Charles Cameron to complete a series of building projects for her that would create a "second Rome" in Tsarskoye Selo and in Pavlovsk, Russia. Cameron, an expert on classical antiquity because of his studies of the Roman ruins and the publication of his book, The Baths of the Romans, had a special interest in and a dedication to classical …

Haunting The Imagination: The Haunted House As A Figure Of Dark Space In American Culture, Amanda Bingham Solomon

Theses and Dissertations

In contemporary America the haunted house appears regularly as a figure in literature, film, and tourism. The increasing popularity of the haunted house is in direct correlation with the disintegration of the home as a refuge from the harsh elements of the world. The mass media populates society with dark images and subjects, portraying America as a dark place to live. Americans create fictional narratives of terror and violence as a means of coping with their own modern horrors. Their horrors are psychologically displaced within these narratives. The haunted house is therefore a manifestation of contemporary anxieties surrounding the dissolution …

Mormon Media Studies Symposium - 2012, Sherry Baker

Faculty Publications

Website for the Mormon Media Studies Symposium year 2012.

Migliazzo, Arlin C. To Make This Land Our Own: Community, Identity, And Cultural Adaptation In Purrysburg Township, South Carolina, 1732-1865, Michael Dondzila

Swiss American Historical Society Review

To Make This Land Our Own sets out to expand upon a growing historiography of community studies that diverge from the more traditional Puritan, New England model. Purrysburg, South Carolina looked a good deal different than many other communities in early America. One of its peculiarities was the ethnic diversity of the first generation. Many from Switzerland (with ethnic affinities leaning toward either the French or German) and a smattering of Italians, English and Germans, these early pioneers adhered to different Christian tenants, spoke different languages, and held different cultural norms. Such ethnic diversity highlights a theme Migliazzo teases throughout …

Werner Rothweiler, Magdener Familien 1600-1875 Und Ihre Stammbaume, Leo Schelbert Professor Emeritus

Swiss American Historical Society Review

This large-size and attractively crafted book is the result of impressive and expert genealogical research undertaken by Werner Rothweiler, a retired chemist. The work deals with the agricultural village Magden located in the Fricktal that had been part of Upper Austria until 1803 when it became part of the Swiss Canton Aargau. On 24 January 2004, 1200 years to the day when the first known document concerning Magden was dated, the author presented to the people of Magden a history of their village. His new book complements that work and is in the form of a "microhistorical demography" a study …

The Ideas Of Jean Piaget: Using Theory To Better Understand Theory And Improve Learning, William E. Herman

Swiss American Historical Society Review

M ost readers will note the irony embedded in the title of this paper and the Einstein quote. There is an obvious and important thread of truth derived from such premises. Is it prudent and scholarly to employ Jean Piaget's theory in order to more deeply explore the meaning of Piaget's theory? Biblical scholars have long been known to use the writings of the Apostles and other Biblical voices as tools to understand sacred text. In this way, the Bible is used to understand the Bible. As the Swiss theologian Karl Barth once stated regarding the daring element of Christian …

William Jennings Bryan: One Of The Last Republican Secretaries Of State, Bradford Sample

Swiss American Historical Society Review

No abstract provided.

Marc H. Lerner. A Laboratory Of Liberty: The Transformation Of Political Culture In Republican Switzerland, 1750-1848., Martin Kalb

Swiss American Historical Society Review

Few nation states embody ideals of freedom and liberty like Switzerland. Embedded within a complex European context while maintaining internal diversity, this Alpine nation with an intricate history remains a powerful case study for historians interested in revolutionary Europe , republicanism, and political modernity. Marc H. Lerner now adds the newest analysis to this broader field. In his view, "the Swiss case is important to the overall project of examining the origins of modern political liberty precisely because of the mixed and blended discourses that resulted from the pragmatic discussions found in republican Switzerland" (8). Rightfully describing Switzerland between 1750 …

Henry Hotze. Three Months In The Confederate Army, Jonathan D. Neu

Swiss American Historical Society Review

As scholars commemorate the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War, it remains vital to consider the words of that era's contemporaries. Zurich-born Henry Hotze's Three Months in the Confederate Army is a particularly noteworthy example of valuable primary source material, though one with an unusual dual purpose. On the surface, it is the chronicle of a soldier's experiences during the heady early days of the war. Digging deeper, Hotze's work represents a piece of Confederate propaganda designed to glorify southern esprit de corps and endear a foreign public to the South's bid for independence. Indeed, readers will find the work …

Full Issue

Swiss American Historical Society Review

No abstract provided.

Front Matter

Swiss American Historical Society Review

No abstract provided.

Albert Einstein In Switzerland: The Education Of The Most Famous Swiss American, Kurt Winkler

Swiss American Historical Society Review

The most famous Swiss American, by far, was Albert Einstein. It is well known that Einstein worked in Germany starting in 1914, but he was forced to leave in 1933 as someone the Nazis had "not yet hanged," and he came to the United States where he taught at Princeton University for many years. However, Einstein had earlier lived in Switzerland for many years. Even though he became an American citizen in 1940, the great physicist retained ties to Switzerland, and he kept his Swiss passport all his life . Einstein spent his most productive years in Switzerland where he …

The Swiss Confederation In The Eyes Of America's Founders, Stephen P. Halbrook

Swiss American Historical Society Review

The Swiss experience had a positive influence on the American Revolution, figured in the debates on adoption of the United States Constitution, and was a matter of commentary in the political struggles of the early Republic. The American model influenced the Swiss Constitution of 1848,t but before that the Swiss Confederation-then 500 years oldhelped inspire the birth of the American Republic, particularly regarding the interrelated concepts of resistance to oppression, independence from foreign states, neutrality, a people's militia, and federalism.

Jill Fehleison. Boundaries Of Faith: Catholics And Protestants In The Diocese Of Geneva., Hannah Schultz

Swiss American Historical Society Review

In Boundaries of Faith: Catholics and Protestants on the Diocese of Geneva, Jill Fehleison structures the discussion of Reformation Catholicism around national, Confessional, denominational, and geographic lines. The primary focus of the work is the internal politics of the Catholic Church in the aftermath of the Council of Trent as the church attempted to adjust to, and respond to, a strong Protestant presence at Geneva. The discussion is couched in terms of the new political boundaries around France, Savoy, Geneva, and the Pays de Gex, the Catholic response to the Reformed presence in the area, and to the reform of …