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This anthology offers rare access to key original documents illuminating Mormon history, theology, and culture in the United States from the nineteenth century to today. Brief introductions describe the theological significance of each text and its reflection of the practices, issues, and challenges that have defined and continue to define the Mormon community. These documents balance mainstream and peripheral thought and religious experience, institutional and personal perspective, and theoretical and practical interpretation, representing pivotal moments in LDS history and correcting decades of misinformation and stereotype.
The authors of these documents, male and female, not only celebrate but speak critically and question mainline LDS teachings on sexuality, politics, gender, race, polygamy, and other issues. Selections largely focus on the Salt Lake-based LDS tradition, with a section on the post-Joseph Smith splintering and its creation of a variety of similar yet different Mormon groups. The documents are arranged chronologically within specific categories to capture both the historical and doctrinal development of Mormonism in the United States.
Review Quotes
1.
"The Columbia Sourcebook of Mormonism in the United States" is the best thing we will have for the foreseeable future as a compact sourcebook for the historical study of American Mormonism from the inside. That is, it is the finest available harvest to provide wide-ranging, effective, and representative documents by Mormons themselves (as opposed to the also-valuable and revealing documents of outsiders' perceptions of the Saints across time). This is a judicious collection. I suspect it will affect how Mormonism gets taught in the nation's college classrooms. Precisely as the editors aspire to do, the assemblage expands the genres, subject matter, and historical scope of primary materials gathered in one place for the scrutiny of how diverse Mormons think and live.--Philip L. Barlow, author of the updated 2013 edition of "Mormons and the Bible"
2.
I can scarcely imagine a better collection. Teachers of Mormon studies will think of it as essential. I know of nothing that speaks to contemporary interests as well as this volume.--Richard Bushman, Columbia University
3.
"The Columbia Sourcebook of Mormons in the United States" is the best thing we have for the foreseeable future as a compact sourcebook for the historical study of American Mormonism from the inside. That is, it is the finest available harvest to provide wide-ranging, effective, and representative documents by Mormons themselves. This is a judicious collection. Precisely as the editors aspire to do, the assemblage expands the genres, subject matter, and historical scope of primary materials gathered in one place for the scrutiny of how diverse Mormons think and live.--Philip L. Barlow, author of "Mormons and the Bible"
4.
This is the most expansive and comprehensive collection of documents ever compiled about the LDS Church in the United States. Dealing with subjects varied and frequently controversial, from theology and polity to race and sexuality, Terryl L. Givens and Reid L. Neilson include glimpses of Mormonism as revealed, proscribed, and lived in many times and places. It will surely be an indispensable resource and starting point for anyone interesed in the history and ongoing story of the Mormon faith for years to come.--Laurie F. Maffly-Kipp, Distinguished Professor in the Humanities, Washington University in St. Louis
5.
No one could create a compilation of primary sources on Mormonism that would satisfy everyone--however, Givens and Neilson have crafted a very worthy anthology that will serve its ostensible primary purpose: a resource for university-level Mormon Studies... this is an excellent contribution to the field.--Bryan Buchanan"Association for Mormon Letters" (01/01/0001)
6.
No one could create a compilation of primary sources on Mormonism that would satisfy everyone--however, Givens and Neilson have crafted a very worthy anthology that will serve its ostensible primary purpose: a resource for university-level Mormon Studies... this is an excellent contribution to the field.
--Bryan Buchanan"Association for Mormon Letters" (01/01/0001)
7.
This collection of documents, edited by two of the ablest and most prolific of Mormon historians, provides the most comprehensive sourcebook available.... It's a treasure.
--Grant Wacker"The Christian Century" (01/01/0001)
