Political Science Commons^™

A Study Of Nephite, Lamanite, And Jaredite Governmental Institutions And Policies As Portrayed In The Book Of Mormon, Donald Arthur Cazier

Theses and Dissertations

Nephite government was essentially theocratic, with both the monarchy and reign of the judges paralleling the similar institutions of the ancient Israelites. Ultimate political authority resided in the prophet. The laws were given by the Lord, and the principle of popular consent was recognized. The role of government was primarily national defense and the punishment of crime, not social reform.

Lamanite government was monarchal and despotic, with notable exceptions when the nation was converted to the gospel. The Jaredites theoretically lived under a theocratic monarchy, but intrigue, tyranny, and oppression were the rule rather than the exception.

In all three …

The Development Of Municipal Government In The Territory Of Utah, Alvin Charles Koritz

Theses and Dissertations

In 1846 the Mormons were expelled westward from Nauvoo, Illinois. Beyond the borders of the United States, the Mormon Church absorbed the civil functions of municipal government, a pattern which continued in the Great Basin and received the sanction of state authority in 1849 under Deseret.

As the political arm of the "Kingdom of God," the Council of Fifty influenced local political development as its members simultaneously occupied elective offices in both the territorial legislature and municipal government.

During the first decade as a territory, Utah's city charters generally followed the pattern established by Nauvoo in 1840. However, in the …

History Of The South African Mission Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, 1853-1970, Farrell Ray Monson

Theses and Dissertations

The history of the South African Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1853-1970) describes the progress of the Church in South Africa from its inception until the present time. Missionary proselyting activities in the land are traced, and the major historical developments of the mission are discussed.

In 1853 three missionaries began Mormon proselyting activities in the Cape Province and within six months they had baptized forty-five persons, established two branches, and organized the first conference of the Church.

Despite mob violence and opposition from the clergy, civil authorities, and the press, the Church continued to …

A Political Biography Of George Henry Dern, Robert W. Wells Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis will review the political life of George H. Dern emphasizing the utah period. The last chapter will briefly describe Dern's activities after the completion of his second term as governor of Utah in 1932.

George Romney In 1968, From Front-Runner To Drop-Out, An Analysis Of Cause, Richard M. Eyre

Theses and Dissertations

The meteoric political decline of George Romney is unparalleled in political history and in the history of presidential campaigning. In the space of one year, the man evolved from the overwhelming presidential favorite of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike to a presidential drop out, criticized severely and even mocked by press and public alike.

There are many opinions as to why this phenomenon occurred. The press has opinions, the public has opinions, and the people closest to George Romney have opinions.

A step by step analysis of Romney's campaign casts light on these opinions and completely discredits some while validating …

The 1966 Republican Campaign In North Dakota, Joseph Charles Crawford

Theses and Dissertations

The 1966 Republican Campaign in North Dakota discusses the efforts of the Party from May, 1965 through November, 1966. The pre-convention period illustrates the effort of the North Dakota Republicans to rebuild their organization after the 1964 defeat. Analysis of this effort is made with regard to finances, organization, and research.

The study then discusses the 1966 state convention, the rise of youth in the Party organization, background and insight into all the races, and a complete tabulation of all ballots. Special emphasis is placed on the problem of the John Birch Society and on how that problem was resolved …

The Elections Of 1900 In Utah, R. Gary Penrod

Theses and Dissertations

The 1900 elections have been little touched in historical studies of Utah. However 1900 was a year of special interest and deserves an examination. In that year a Special Election was held, all state offices were up for renewal and a Presidential Election took place.

The special election was necessary because B. H. Roberts had been denied his seat in the United States Congress. Roberts was excluded because he was a polygamist. The Roberts case threatened to revive gentile versus Mormon antipathies in Utah. However, the most puzzling aspect of the 1900 elections is connected with the presidential vote. In …

Methods Of Support Used In The Senate Debate On The Seating Of Reed Smoot: A Content Analysis, Beverly Alice Berry

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine how methods of support functioned in the senate debate on the seating of Reed Smoot. In order to clarify the directions of the study, answers to the following questions were sought:
1. How extensively were methods of support used by each side?
2. What was the frequency of supports per assertion by each side?
3. How was the use of support materials distributed among the speakers?
4. How many different methods of support were used by each side?
5. What were the most frequently used methods of support by each side?
6. …

Constitutional Rights And The Mormon Appeals For National Redress Of The Missouri Grievances, Lynn D. Stewart

Theses and Dissertations

This study attempts to trace the efforts of the Mormon people to obtain redress from the national government for the losses of life and property which they had suffered and the hardships which they had endured while residing in the state of Missouri during the 1830's. The Mormon appeals to Congress and the President are considered and an evaluation is made of the Mormon view of the national government's responsibility for the protection of individual rights.

The information for this study was obtained from the Church Historian's Office, the Brigham Young University Library, the University of Utah Library, the Utah …

An Analysis Of The 1964 Idaho Second Congressional District Election Campaign, Dean Maurice Hansen

Theses and Dissertations

After having been elected to Congress from Idaho's Second Congressional District in 1960 by a record vote, and re-elected in 1962, Democrat Ralph Harding was defeated in 1964 by Republican George Hansen in the face of a national Democratic landslide. The objective of this thesis was to analyze the Harding-Hanson contest and attempt to identify the factors which produced the Hansen victory. The methodology employed in this analysis included library research, a comprehensive survey of newspapers serving the Second District which covered the congressional race, correspondence and interviews with candidates, campaign managers and other involved individuals and groups, a grass-roots …

A Study Of The Political Involvements In The Career Of Joseph Smith, Edward G. Thompson

Theses and Dissertations

It is the purpose of this study to examine the political elements and issues in the United States from the latter part of 1838 to June 27, 1844, to determine their relationship to the death of Joseph Smith. This study includes an analysis of national, state and local issues and sentiment during that time, as they have a bearing upon the subject.
The primary period of study is the Illinois era of Latter-day Saint history which includes the events that transpired from the winter of 1838-39 to June 27, 1844. A less intensive study includes events after June 1844, to …

George Romney And The Michigan Gubernatorial Compaign - 1962, Richard C. Fuller

Theses and Dissertations

Politics in Michigan had been on a low plane for a number of years. The troubles were many and their roots could be found deep in the structure of the state's government.

In April of 1959, the sagging governmental structure gave way to the extent that the state was unable to meet its payroll. The result was the much publicized "Payless Pay Day" which attracted national and international interest.

Seeing that their elected officials were seemingly powerless to correct even the basic flaws in Michigan's government, many of the state's leading business and industrial leaders decided to apply their considerable …

The Campaign And Election Of Quentin Burdick, 1958, Herbert A. Thorson

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

The 1912 Presidential Election In Utah, C. Austin Wahlquist

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine why, in the light of local conditions and problems, Utah chose to support President Taft. Why Did Utah prefer the conservative policies of this nationally unpopular figure, while the rest of the nation favored the progressivism of Wilson or the progressivism of Roosevelt? What were the national issues which affected Utah? Who exercised political control in the state? What was the party alignment? How important was newspaper opinion? To what extent was personal friendship for Taft, on the part of local Republican leaders, a factor? Did a recent outbreak of Mormon-non-Mormon friction …

A Study Of Forces And Events Leading To The Repeal Of Prohibition And The Adoption Of A Liquor Control System, George Harmon Skyles

Theses and Dissertations

During the Nineteenth Century, a reform agitation known as the prohibition movement began to gather momentum in the United States. Led chiefly by the Women's Christian Temperance Union and pushed also by the Prohibition Party, this movement grew only slowly until a general spirit of reform began to sweep the country at the end of the century. With the W.C.T.U. and the American Anti-Saloon League leading the fight during the Progressive Era, the tide of public opinion finally took form in the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, an amendment which forbade "the manufacture, sale or transportation …

Some Political Concepts Of J. Reuben Clark, Jr, F. Melvin Hammond

Theses and Dissertations

The political views of J. Reuben Clark, Jr. have been of interest to the membership of the Mormon Church since the year 1933, when Clark was appointed second counselor to Heber. J. Grant, then President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This interest was generated In part by the various political positions of importance which Clark held since 1906, and by the numerous politically-oriented speeches which he gave from time to time throughout the Church and the nation.

According to Clark, the nature of man's relationship to the state was determined by a pre-earth existence. Clark believed …

Fred T. Dubois, Foe Of The Mormons: A Study Of The Role Of Fred T. Dubois In The Senate Investigation Of The Hon. Reed Smoot And The Mormon Church, 1903-1907, Jay R. Lowe

Theses and Dissertations

In the year of 1903, the right of Reed Smoot to take his seat in the United States Senate was challenged in a protest signed by nineteen prominent citizens from Utah. The protest was submitted to the Senate Committee of Privileges and Elections, a member of which was Fred T. Dubois, Senator from Idaho. The protest charged that the Mormon Church was still practicing polygamy and exercising political domination of its members and that therefore Reed Smoot, an Apostle and leader of this church, was unfit for senatorial obligations. Dubois, believing the worst concerning these charges, took it upon himself …

The Theory And Practice Of The Political Kingdom Of God In Mormon History, 1829-1890, Klaus J. Hansen

Theses and Dissertations

The history of Mormonism reveals that almost from its beginning, the new church was to be not only a basis for an ecclesiastical Kingdom of God but for a temporal Kingdom as well. This temporal Kingdom, never fully realized, was to develop into a political state preparatory to the inauguration of the Apocalyptic Kingdom. Ultimately, this Kingdom was to rule the whole world.

Theory and practice did not always merge in the organization and administration of this Kingdom. When Joseph Smith organized the nucleus of a political government for the Kingdom of God in 1844 it became rather obvious that …

John Moses And The New Deal In North Dakota, Adam J. Schweitzer

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

World Government As Envisioned In The Latter-Day Saint "City Of Zion.", Hyrum Leslie Andrus

Theses and Dissertations

The Latter-day Saints look forward to an era of righteous peace under a world government having its central seats of authority in the City of Zion which is to be built upon the American continent and in Jerusalem upon the eastern hemisphere. (The probelm of this thesis is limited more specifically to the development of Zion's branch of this world order.) The earliest accounts of their history give information relating to basic principles and doctrines which have consistently developed to form a relatively complete concept of principles inherent within this proposed organization. This movement, designated as the "cause of Zion" …

A History Of Federal Legislation Against Mormon Polygamy And Certain United States Supreme Court Decisions Supporting Such Legislation, Joseph Robert Meservy

Theses and Dissertations

As indicated by the title, this study presents a history of Federal Legislation against Mormon polygamy prior to 1890 and of certain United States Supreme Court decisions supporting such legislation. Of necessity, the subject had to be limited, emphasis being placed upon three legislative acts and upon a few leading court decisions.