BYU Studies
Alphabetical by Title

A teacher at the Salt Lake Institute of Religion for three decades, T. Edgar Lyon regularly drew more students than could squeeze into his classroom. Lyon’s gift as a vivid storyteller made Church history “come alive.” Dr. Lyon, eyes twinkling, would ask: “Why did Brigham Young choose oxen over horses or mules to move wagons westward?” “Better gas mileage,” Lyon beamed: “They could survive on poor grass without supplemental grain, and they ate less in comparison to the weight they pulled.” Lyon always affirmed, “The testimony is in the details.” Lyon’s rich biography, revealed through an engaging narrative, explores his mission and mission presidency in the Netherlands, University of Chicago study under renowned biblical scholars, contributions to seminary and institute programs during the Church Educational System’s formative years, and work with the Nauvoo Restoration project.

The first Latter-day Saint missionaries to Japan encountered formidable language, religious, and cultural barriers. After considerable efforts, Church officials closed the mission in 1924. Later, the gospel was reintroduced in mid-century, when it took root. Since that time, Mormon missionaries have baptized many believers, several missions have opened, auxiliary organizations such as the Relief Society have been instituted, and two temples have been constructed. This volume celebrates the Church’s first hundred years among the Japanese. The articles explore such issues as the Japanese presses’ portrayal of Mormonism and answer questions such as what the historical and cultural challenges are to successful missionary work in Japan; why the Book of Mormon needed to be translated three times in one century; and whether Latter-day Saint converts hail from specific areas based on the region’s religious traditions. The essays in the book let readers witness the expansion and growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints among the Japanese.

Interwoven throughout the Book of Mormon are images of eating and drinking that serve as symbols and metaphors inspiring readers to flee degradation and partake of eternal life. In significant ways, the Book of Mormon employs images of eating and drinking or the absence of them to develop implications of survival, social relations, and covenants. Its metaphorical use of these images is especially rich. It calls to those who approach it, “Taste and feast.”

In March 2002, the Smith Institute hosted top Latter-day Saint historians at the Telling the Story of Mormon History symposium. This symposium was designed to explore the ways in which Mormon history is presented and the range of purposes it serves. Elder Bruce C. Hafen opened the conference with a keynote address explaining some of the challenges he faced when writing his biography of Elder Neal A. Maxwell, The Story of a Disciple’s Life.

This compilation of articles on the temple doctrines and ordinances is selected from over fifty years of LDS scholarship published by BYU Studies and from the Encyclopedia of Mormonism. This volume features articles on Nauvoo temple doctrines, the law of adoption, the 1877 commencement of endowments and sealings for the dead, prayer circles, and temple elements in ancient religious communities. Contents “Doctrine and the Temple in Nauvoo” by Larry C. Porter and Milton V. Backman Jr. “The Practice of Rebaptism at Nauvoo” by D. Michael Quinn “The Law of Adoption: One Phase of the Development of the Mormon Concept of Salvation, 1830–1900” by Gordon Irving “Believing Adoption” by Samuel M. Brown “‘Line upon Line, Precept upon Precept’: Reflections on the 1877 Commencement of the Performance of Endowments and Sealings of the Dead” by Richard E. Bennett “‘Which Is the Wisest Course?’: The Transformation in Mormon Temple Consciousness, 1870–1898” by Richard E. Bennett “Latter-day Saint Prayer Circles” by D. Michael Quinn “Temple Worship and a Possible Reference to a Prayer Circle in Psalm 24” by Donald W. Parry “Clothed Upon: A Unique Aspect of Christian Antiquity” by Blake T. Ostler “Temple Elements in Ancient Religious Communities” by Brent J. Schmidt “Meanings and Functions of Temples” by Hugh W. Nibley “Latter-Day Saint Temple Worship and Activity” by Immo Luschin “Temple Recommend” by Robert A. Tucker “Temple President and Matron” by David H. Yarn Jr. and Marilyn S. Yarn “Administration of Temples” by Robert L. Simpson “Salvation of the Dead” by Elma Fugal “Family History, Genealogy” by David H. Pratt “Temple Ordinances” by Allen Claire Rozsa “Baptism for the Dead: LDS Practice” by H. David Burton “Baptism for the Dead: Ancient Sources” by Krister Stendahl “Washings and Anointings” by Donald W. Parry “Endowment” by Alma P. Burton “Prayer Circle” by George S. Tate “Garments” by Evelyn T. Marshall “Sealing Power” by David H. Yarn Jr. “Temple Sealings” by Paul V. Hyer “Eternal Marriage” by James T. Duke “Patriarchal Order of the Priesthood” by Lynn A. McKinlay “Born in the Covenant” by Ralph L. Cottrell Jr. “Holy of Holies” by Lyle Cahoon “Altar” by Bruce H. Porter “LDS Temple Dedications” by D. Arthur Haycock “Hosanna Shout” by Lael J. Woodbury “Temples through the Ages” by Stephen D. Ricks “History of LDS Temples from 1831 to 1990” by Richard O. Cowan “Kirtland Temple” by Keith W. Perkins “Nauvoo Temple” by Don F. Colvin “Salt Lake Temple” by Marion Duff Hanks “Endowment Houses” by Lamar C. Berrett “Freemasonry and the Temple” by Kenneth W. Godfrey

What does the Book of Enoch say or not say about the temple, and to which Book of Enoch do I refer? Is it the text called 1 Enoch, or the one known as 2 Enoch, or the so-called 3 Enoch? And all of them discuss or, better, visualize the temple. I restrict myself here to 1 Enoch.

Historians have used a variety of touchstones to describe the Mormon experience—polygamy, communal associations, and corporatization among others—but none has provided a long-term, large-scale interpretation of Mormon leisure and recreation. Focusing on the period from 1890 to 1940, Richard Ian Kimball describes the most significant changes that occurred in Latter-day Saint recreation practices and ideology. Following the contours of recreation thought in progressive America between 1890 and 1940, leaders and member of the Church employed recreation as a tool to socialize adolescents into the faith. Concerned with the problems posed by rapid urbanization and industrialization, Mormons attempted to ameliorate the problems of the city by inculcating morals and values through sports and recreation programs. The effects of these programs are still visible in the Church today. This dissertation represents a pioneering work in early twentieth–century Mormon social history.

The purpose of this paper is not only to review the FARMS Book of Mormon Critical Text, but also to discuss some of the general problems that arise when trying to establish a critical text of the Book of Mormon. In this review article I will discuss the need for a critical edition of the Book of Mormon, consider the issue of Joseph Smith’s“bad grammar,” review the FARMS Book of Mormon Critical Text, and propose an alternative critical edition for the Book of Mormon.

Even considering the fine books and articles on the history of Latter-day Saint women that have been written in the last fifty years, there are still innumerable questions about early Utah women to be explored. For example, how did the votes of women in territorial Utah from 1870 on affect local and territorial elections? Who were the first female politicians in Utah, and what did they accomplish? In what ways were Latter-day Saint women involved in the national suffrage movement in the United States? How did Kanab, Utah, come to have an entire slate of female city officials, and what did they achieve during their service? In addition, there are questions specifically related to the Relief Society: What did the sisters achieve in their work of saving wheat, raising silkworms and spinning silk, and training midwives? Furthermore, beyond a purely academic or historical interest, individuals yearn to know more about the lives and experiences of their own foremothers, actual and spiritual. There are many resources that can provide insights into these and other questions about historical Latter-day Saint women. Some materials are focused on Mormon studies, but others are much broader. All the resources described in this article are open access, which means they can be searched for free anytime from anywhere. Some resources provide just references, while others include the full text of various documents. This article will be a journey through the world of libraries, archives, and publications of all types.

“Iron we need and iron we must have”—so said Brigham Young in 1855. Utah’s pioneers depended on it for survival. Necessities, such as nails, stoves, plows and sawmill bearings, required iron, which had to be shipped from St. Louis at great expense. Brigham Young envisioned a regional iron works that would fill the territory’s need for iron and help make it economically self-sufficient. In April 1850, Church leaders established an Iron Mission in southern Utah, where iron ore, coal and timber were plentiful. Among these first Iron County settlers were experienced iron workers from the British Isles. Between 1851 and 1858, this colony of hard-working Saints tried many smelting techniques, yielding objects such as pots, crank shafts and bells. Despite sustained, even heroic, efforts, the iron missionaries did not succeed. Nature itself worked against them. Droughts, floods and inferior raw materials challenged them at every turn. When the iron works closed its books in 1858, some of the colonists moved away. Yet the pioneers’ legacy is still visible in Parowan and Cedar City—Iron Mission townships that have survived for over 150 years. A Trial Furnace chronicles the lives of people who transcended the practical, finding in their wilderness crucible an inner strength and resilience more durable than the iron they came south to find.

An increasing number of psychotherapists reject traditional psychology’s marginalization of religion. As in the original Turning Freud Upside Down, this second volume looks to Christ’s gospel for direction. With a gospel perspective, the authors have questioned some of psychotherapy’s standard assumptions and have proposed features that should be found in gospel-compatible psychotherapy. “As I read these chapters, I was grateful for the thoughtful contributions of each of the authors. There was a genuine respect for the complexity inherent in trying to view therapy through a gospel lens. If you, like me, find yourself feeling inspired, uplifted, strengthened, and more committed to being true to gospel truths in the context of the relationships we engage in as therapists, then you have experienced the invitation to dialogue about significant issues in helping the clients that come to us. I offer deep appreciation for this opportunity to recalibrate my thinking and actions as a therapist. I wholeheartedly endorse this book in the spirit living the gospel and practicing it with others.” Vaughn E. Worthen, PhD Clinical Professor of Counseling Psychology at Brigham Young University Turning Freud Upside Down is not child’s play. However, I recommend any serious believer who is trained to heal troubled minds to examine this volume. It ably strives to seal clinical psychological thoughts with principles available to us as Saints of the latter days. Unchanging eternal gospel principles fit very nicely into this new examination of old theories. Turning Freud Upside Down really is Turning Truth Right Side Up.” Joseph Cramer, MD Pediatrician for over thirty-five years, past president of the Utah Medical Association

Latter-day Saints often worry about psychotherapy negatively affecting their souls-for good reason. Even religious therapists may promote anti-gospel principles. This hazard is particularly extreme when therapists are unaware of their practicing assumptions. Now counselors-and their clients-can go to Turning Freud Upside Down for a gospel corrective to that problem. No mere Freud basher; this book indicts basic concepts riddling much of traditional psychotherapy. If you want to think about psychotherapy in dramatically new ways, read Turning Freud Upside Down. As its title suggests, this book upends traditional psychological dogma. Far more important it also advances alternative, gospel-based views of human behavior and personality. Latter-day Saint and other Christian clinicians who feel lost in the trenches will find this book an indispensable map for moving further away from secular assumptions and techniques to a more spiritual base. I eagerly await the forthcoming volumes in this series. —Godfrey J. Ellis, PhD Director of the Master’s Program in Counseling Psychology St. martin’s University