Hi everyone!
I wanted to ask what is everyone’s favorite history topic and why? Personally, I enjoy the controversial stuff, Mountain Meadows Massacre, polygamy, Haun’s Mill Massacre, etc. In preparation for Black History Month, I’ve recently completed interviews with Margaret Young and Paul Reeve concerning the race ban on black LDS church members, and I will be posting more information soon, but I’m curious what interests you. Who would you like to hear from? On what topics? What’s your biggest question concerning Mormon history?
Here is a poll with some topics I’m interested in. If I missed something you’re interested in, please add it to the text box and feel free to add comments below to tell me more! I tried to embed the poll, but couldn’t figure it out. Here is a link to the poll.
Wheat & Tares 
I’m most interested in historical accounts of divine manifestation/intervention. I do find people and their choices in their circumstances interesting, but I’m mostly interested in the acts of God. I’m very interested in first-hand accounts of people who claim to have experienced the miraculous.
correlation and doctrinal development
Herald House Publishing (RLDS) did a book in 1955 titled “They Sang of the Restoration”; containing short histories of hymns and their authors. I would like to see that updated through the LDS Church.
Influential Mormon women (for example Eliza R. Snow). The history of things we take for granted: WoW, Deacons serving the Sacrament, Tithing, Relationship with Boy Scouts, etc. The early years of correlation: 1900 – 1920ish?
It’s my understanding that Correlation dates to David O. McKay/Harold B. Lee of the late 1960s to present. I’m not sure what was going on 1900-20s. Is there something you’re thinking of differently?
I’m interested in the evolution of the Aaronic Priesthood from adult men to teenage boys.
Stories of the travels of European Saints and their travel over the ocean (some of their ships were more deadly than the worst of the handcart companies, etc.)
Stories about people close to Joseph Smith who are now mostly forgotten (including some of his wives and some of the individuals he called to leadership positions).
Anything about discontinued practices such as: baptism for health, rebaptism, women giving blessings, and speaking in tongues really fascinates me. I also love learning about different Mormon sects like the Strangites.
I like Temple history and Church practice/change-i.e. the Church had 18 month missions and now they don’t, the how and why did all that develop
Correlation was probably the wrong word. How about the changes, creating of structures, programs etc. that occurred in the early part of the 20th century.
I like statistics and analysis of vocabulary, teachings, word choice, etc., in conference talks and curriculum.
I know fMh did The Year of Polygamy, but I think there needs to be more polygamy stories told.. They won’t all be horrible, but I think it’s important to push back as hard as possible against the cherry-picked ones the church wants to tell with museum displays and Kens Burns-esque videos.
Do you like Ken burns videos?
Yes!
Sorry I can’t find the video I’m thinking of. A recent production using journals, photos, music, narration, etc. (high quality ala Ken Burns is what I was referring to) – all to illustrate a polygamy “success story.” I think many more stories were ones of failure or at least horrible private heartbreak, and the church isn’t very willing, from what I see, to admit to and explore those.
I never learnt a lot about the time between Joseph smiths death and the sustaining of Brigham Young. It would be good to know what the issues were, who the players were and why the long duration between prophets. Looking forward to your treatment of the above issues. Well done Rick.
I’m seconding polygamy stories, both from wives and children, and actually on reflection, husbands of polygamous marriages, and not only horror stories. Clearly there are women for whom polygamy worked, since they were prepared to support it.
It’s such an extraordinary human experience, how did sex work, what were the advantages for women, how did it affect the children, and grandchildren? What kinds of assumptions did the children have about family life, how did they deal with boundaries? How did people manage co-sanguinuity? What were the genetic effects? Just not enough information out there, you’d think several departments at BYU could be kept busy on PhD papers specialising in this- the only title I know is the ‘ Three Zinas’. And how did dating work-was every marriage arranged?
I’m more interested in historical accounts than RLDS contemporary accounts, I’d like to know what attitudes prevailed during historical polygamy.
Handlewithcare, Rick can definitely work on these, but a lot of stories are already publicly available. Many as family histories, not necessarily in professional publications. Polygamy is a touchy subject, but most family histories I’ve seen tend to try to present it in a positive light (as a sign of devotion to the church). One time talking with my grandma she let slip her great-grandma was anti-polygamy, and almost immediately countered, “But we aren’t supposed to talk about those things.” For me, it was the exception to hear of polygamy as a negative experience among my ancestors, not the rule.
How might I access some of these stories Mary Ann? I’m aware of the FMH coverage which was wonderful, and a great place to start.
I know people have uploaded a bunch of family histories to Family Tree – you’d just need to go to the applicable individual. The Daughters of Utah Pioneers have compiled (and published) many histories of pioneers and towns, and their recording of polygamy is almost always favorable (historical accuracy is another matter). Older members (with pioneer ancestry) might have some of these books if you ask around. If you’re in Utah, you likely aren’t too far away from a DUP museum, so they’d have some. Libraries would be hit or miss, I suspect. I think you’d need to talk to a real historian about who might have more specific details – families don’t tend to pass down details of the marital intimacy stuff. You’d likely need to hit diaries for that.
Here’s part of a story titled “THE FIELDING SISTERS – RACHEL, ELLEN AND SARAH ANN Wives of William Walton Burton” I accessed via FamilySearch:
“When William Walton Burton came to their home, Rachel and Ellen met and admired him. Later when he asked Rachel to be his wife, she agreed on condition that he would also marry Ellen. William and Rachel were married on 28 March 1856. For some years they struggled in poverty. Everything seemed to go wrong. Rachel dreamed that if he would go and take Ellen for his wife they would do better and God would prosper them. This proved to be true. William Walton Burton married Ellen Fielding on 2 November 1861.
Joseph Fielding had been pleased with the marriage of his two daughters, and in a conversation with William shortly before his death he expressed his approval in case William should also marry Sarah Ann.
After the death of Joseph Fielding and his two sons Heber and Joseph, Sarah Ann and her mother Hannah Fielding, were moved to Ogden to live with William, Rachel and Ellen. Sometime after this both William and Sarah Ann had dreams, which they each related to Hannah Fielding. The significance of the dreams made them feel that it was right to marry. Sarah Ann Fielding became William’s third wife, 23 May 1870.
The three sisters shared this close relationship in harmony and love assisting each other in times of stress and hardship, and rejoicing together in many pleasures and joys.”
Hey Rick. I actually came across some information that listed some of the old temple covenants that are no longer in the current ceremony. Any thoughts on this aspect of the temple.
Do you have a link? Feel free to post here, or send me info at rick at gospel tangents dot com.
Handle With Care,
Laurel Thatchuer Ulrich’s new book “a House Full of Females” is an historical account of the real lives of women and men living in polygamy: the good, the bad, and the messy.
Thankyou so much those of you who have shared info, really looking forward to exploring this.