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“Of making of books there is no end.” These words from Ecclesiastes could as well be applied to the more than thirty thousand doctoral dissertations and an even larger number of master’s theses completed in the United States in 1977. The tendency toward irrelevance and triviality some times evident in the “dissertation-mill” has been frequently commented upon in recent years. In the 16th Century, Erasmus made a similar observation: 

I must acquire the absurd title of ‘Doctor.’ It will not make me a hair the better, but as times go no man can be counted learned unless he is styled ‘Doctor.’ If the world is to believe in me, I must put on the lion’s skin. I have to fight with monsters and I must wear the dress of Hercules. 

Although the scholarship in this survey of Mormon-related works seeks to avoid these pitfalls, it is inevitable that not all of it will endure, that most of these titles will fade into footnotes. But, taken together, they denote the growing concern of American scholars with every aspect of Mormon life and doctrine, past and present, and they underscore the continuing vitality of Mormon studies. 

Dissertations and Theses Relating to Mormons and Mormonism

Apostates and Gentiles

Baer, Hans Albert. The Levites of Utah: The Development of and Conversion to a Small Millenarian Sect. Ph.D., University of Utah, 1976. 

Bird, Glenn Virgil. “The Industrial Workers of the World in Utah: Origins, Activities, and Reaction of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1976.

Duchateau, Andre Paul. Missouri Colossus: Alexander William Doniphan, 1808-1887. Ph.D., Oklahoma State University, 1973. 

Goodliffe, Wilford Leroy. American Frontier Religion: Mormons and Their Dissenters 1830-1900. Ph.D., University of Idaho, 1976. 

Shields, James Leroy, Jr. Alexander Campbell: A Synthesis of Faith and Reason, 1823-1860. Ph.D., Syracuse University, 1974. 

Walker, Ronald Warren. The Godbeite Protest in the Making of Modern Utah. Ph.D., University of Utah, 1977. 

Zachniser, Patricia A. “Violence in Missouri 1831-1839. The Case of the Mormon Persecution.” M.A., Florida Atlanta University, 1973. 

Authority, Doctrine, and Theology

Aubrey, Terry J. “A Study of Historical Evidences Relating to the LDS Church as Reflected in Volumes XIV through XXVI of the Journal of Discourses.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1975. 

Bachman, Daniel W. “A Study of the Mormon Practice of Plural Marriage Before the Death of Joseph Smith.” M.A., Purdue University, 1975. 

Beam, Christopher Merriman. Millennialism in American Thought, 1740-1840. Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1976. 

Bringhurst, Newell George. “A Servant of Servants. . . Cursed as Pertaining to the Priesthood”: Mormon Attitudes Toward Slavery and the Black Man, 1830-1880. Ph.D., University of California, Davis, 1975. 

Marriott, Robert Lorenzo. “History and Functions of the Aaronic Priesthood and the Offices of Priest, Teacher, and Deacon in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1829 to 1844.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1975. 

Paulsen, David Lamont. Comparative Coherency of Mormon (finitistic) and Classical Theism. Ph.D., University of Michigan, 1975. 

Quinn, Dennis Michael. The Mormon Hierarchy, 1832-1932: An American Elite. Ph.D., Yale University, 1976. 

Wilson, Jerry Allen. A Fault Tree Approach to Analysis of Counselor Training for Bishops in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ph.D., Brigham Young University, 1976. 

Auxiliaries

Harward, Conrad Afton. “History of the Growth and Development of the Primary Association of the LDS Church from 1878 to 1928.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1975.

Hedquist, Steven Allen. “The Teacher Training Program Administered by the Sunday School of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1975. 

Williams, John Kent. “A History of the Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association 1939 to 1974.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1975. 

Biography

Chambless, Timothy Mark. “Columnist Jack Anderson the Secular Evangelist: Five Speeches in Utah Between 1972-1975.” M.A., University of Utah, 1977. 

Lecheminant, Dale Campbell. John A. Widtsoe: Rational Apologist. Ph.D., University of Utah, 1977. 

Leishman, Courtney Maughan. Stanley Howard Watts—Man of Excellence. Ph.D., Brigham Young University, 1976. 

Savage, John Bruce. A Biography of Bernice R. Moss: Educator, Pioneer, Author. Ph.D., University of Utah, 1975. 

Sessions, Gene Allred. Prophesying Upon the Bones: J. Ruben Clark, the Foreign Bondholders, and the Great Depression. Ph.D., Florida State University, 1974. 

Sillito, John Raymond. “Parley P. Christensen: A Political Biography 1869-1954.” M.A., University of Utah, 1977. 

Business, Economics and Labor

Bird, Glenn Virgil. “The Industrial Workers of the World in Utah: Origins, Activities, and Reaction of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1976. 

Powell, Allan Kent. A History of Labor Union Activity in the Eastern Utah Coal Fields: 1900-1934. Ph.D., University of Utah, 1976. 

Sypolt, Charles Melroy. Keepers of the Rocky Mountain Flocks: A History of the Sheep Industry in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Ph.D., University of Wyoming, 1975.

Culture, Drama, Literature and Music

Anderson, Grant Lester. “Some Educational Aspects of the Music Training Program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1935-1969.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1976. 

Bassett, Arthur Ray. Culture and the American Frontier in Mormon Utah, 1850- 1896. Ph.D., Syracuse University, 1975. 

Garrett, Anna Lee. “The University of Utah Press 1949-1976.” M.A., University of Utah, 1977. Madsen, Carol Cornwall. “Remember the Women of Zion: A Study of the Editorial Content of the Woman’s Exponent, A Mormon Woman’s Journal.” M.A., University of Utah, 1977. Roberts, Ruth Ann. “The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon—A Creative Project in Film Costume Design.” M.A., Brigham University, 1976. 

Education

Baird, Gareth Maughan. LD5 Church Educational System Needs When Establishing Released Time Seminary in California. Ph.D., Brigham Young University, 1976.

Copeland, Kenneth Wayne. A Fault Tree Analysis of the Graduate Division of the Department of Physical Education, College of Physical Education at Brigham Young University. Ph.D., Brigham Young University, 1976. 

Jensen, W. Craig. “A Description of the Perceived Purpose and Effectiveness of the Ward or Branch Fireside Among Selected Latter-day Saint Students and Their Leaders.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1975. 

Johnson, Clark V. Mormon Education in Mexico: The Rise of the Sociedad Educativa y Cultural. Ph.D., Brigham Young University, 1977. 

Johnson, Melvin Kay. A Study of the Social Education, and Occupational Concerns of 419 High School Seniors in the Greater Los Angeles Area. Ph.D., Brigham Young University, 1976. 

LeBaron, Elwin Dale. An Appraisal of Doctoral Programs Completed by Employees of the Department of Seminaries and Institutes of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ph.D., Brigham Young University, 1976. 

Louw, Ronald Charl. The Public Relations Practices of Directors of Institutes of Religion of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in California. Ph.D., Brigham Young University, 1976. 

Nielson, Carl. The Role Perception of the Area Director in the L.D.S. Church Education System. Ph.D., Brigham Young University, 1976. 

Payne, Allan Dean. The Mormon Response to Early Progressive Education, 1892- 1920. Ph.D., University of Utah, 1977. 

Perrett, Luel “]”. A Comprehensive Study of Instruction Techniques Developed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Their Seminary Program for Grades 9- 12. Ph.D., University of Montana, 1976. 

Robertson, Boyd Leslie. An Analysis of the Students’ Evaluation of Seminary Instrument for Use in the Early-Morning Seminaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ph.D., Brigham Young University, 1976. 

Roudy, Jerry Coy. Ricks College: A Struggle for Survival. Ph.D., Brigham Young University, 1975. 

Tabone, Paul Robert. “The History of the Emery State Academy.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1975. 

Thurston, Richard Jan. An Appraisal of the Brigham Young University Salt Lake Center as Perceived by its Students. Ph.D., University of Southern California, 1975.

Villar, Carlos. Supervisory Activities of Church School- Mexico and Their Effectiveness in the Implementation of the Goals of the LDS Church Educational System. Ph.D., Brigham Young University, 1974. 

Exploration, Migration, and Settlement

Christian, Lewis Clark. A Study of the Mormon Westward Migration Between February 1846 and July 1847 With Emphasis on and Evaluation of the Factors that Led to the Mormon’s Choice of Salt Lake Valley as the Site of Their Initial Colony. Ph.D., Brigham Young University, 1976. 

Duehlmeier, Fred Douglas. “The 1847 Mormon Migration.” M.A., University of Utah, 1977.

Hague, Harlan Hugh. Road to California: The Search for a Southern Overland Route to 1849. Ph.D., University of Nevada, 1974. 

Harmer, Ralph K. “A History of Mapleton, Utah to 1945.” M.S., Utah State University, 1976.

Thrift, Ronald Edwin. Two Paths to Utopia: An Investigation of Robert Owen in New Lanark and Brigham Young in Salt Lake City. Ph.D., University of New Mexico, 1976.

McCready, Harley Clinton II. “New Hope: A Mormon Colony in Central California.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1976. 

Parkin, Max H. A History of the Latter-day Saints in Clay County, Missouri from 1833 to 1837. Ph.D., Brigham Young University, 1976. 

Sypolt, Charles Melroy. Keepers of the Rocky Mountain Flocks: A History of the Sheep Industry in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Ph.D., University of Wyoming, 1975. 

Families

Hogenson, Marvyn William. “The Relation of Mormon Parental Religiosity and Family Size on Children’s Educational, Occupational and Income Success.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1977. 

Olson, Vicky Burgess. Family Structure and Dynamics in Early Utah Mormon Families—1847-1885. Ph.D., Northwestern University, 1975. 

Tanner, William Coats, III. Participation in Family-Related Activities and Family Affectional Relations as Perceived by Adolescent Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ph.D., Florida State University, 1975. 

Folklore

Milspaw, Yvonne J. “An Analysis of Folklore Theories as Applied to Great Basin Indian Oral Narratives.” Ph.D., Indiana University, 1975. 

Health and Medicine

Savage, John Bruce. A Biography of Bernice R. Moss: Educator, Pioneer, Author. Ph.D., University of Utah, 1975. 

Soper, Edward Lewis. “Socioeconomic and Medicare Status Differences Between Elderly Church Service and LDS Private Pay Hospital Patients.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1976. 

Waters, Christine. “Pioneering Physicians in Utah, 1847-1900.” M.A:, University of Utah, 1977.

Joseph Smith

Norton, Walter Allen. “Joseph Smith as a Jacksonian Man of Letters: His Literary Development as Evidenced in His Newspaper Writings.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1976.

Winward, Brent L. “Joseph Smith the Colonizer.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1975.

Military Affairs

Griffeth, Noel VerNon. “Functional Problems and Informational Needs of Latter-day Saint Chaplains Serving in the United States Armed Forces.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1975. 

McCarthy, Max Reynolds. “Patrick Edward Connor and the Military District of Utah: Civil War Military Operations in Utah and Nevada.” M.S., Utah State University, 1976. 

Missionary Work

Anderson, Ted Stephen. “The Southern States Mission and the Administration of Ben E. Rich, 1898-1908, Including a Statistical Study of Church Growth in the Southeastern United States During the Twentieth Century.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1975. 

Curtis, Von Alan. “Missionary Activities and Church Organization in Pennsylvania, 1830-1840.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1975. 

Heinz, Lyle S. “Origin and Development of the San Juan Mission in Southeastern Utah in Its Work With Indian People.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1975. 

Kunz, Calvin Seymour. “A History of Female Missionary Activity in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1830-1898.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1975.

Lee, Jerry Dedge. “A Study of the Influence of the Mormon Church on the Catawba Indians of South Carolina 1882-1975.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1976. 

Maxfield, Melvin Richard. The Book of Mormon and the Conversion Process to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: A Study of Recent Converts. Ph.D., Brigham Young University, 1977. 

Pace, George W. The Effectiveness of Mission Presidents of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as Measured by Six Selected Criteria. Ph.D., Brigham Young University, 1977. 

Shields, Leland Grant. Language Challenges Facing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Preaching the Gospel to Every Nation. Ph.D., Brigham Young University, 1977.

Taylor, Mary Gay. “Birth Order as Related to Missionary Service in the Mormon Church.” M.S., Utah State University, 1976. 

Records

Smith, Dennis H. “Formal Reporting Systems of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830-1875.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1975. 

Scripture

Brandt, Edward Jeffs. The History, Content, and Latter-day Saint Use of the Book of Jasher. Ph.D., Brigham Young University, 1976. 

Gileadi, Avraham. “A Translation of Part of the Book of Isaiah: Comprising Chapters 1-29 From the Massorectic Text.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1977. 

Maxfield, Melvin Richard. The Book of Mormon and the Conversion Process to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: A Study of Recent Converts. Ph.D., Brigham Young University, 1977. 

Shipp, Richard C. “Conceptual Patterns of Repetition in the Doctrine and Covenants and Their Implications.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1975. 

Numano, Jiro. “The Japanese Translation of the Book of Mormon: A Study in the Theory and Practice of Translation.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1976. 

Sociology and Psychology

Atkinson, Eugene Ward; Robert Edward Eckels, Jr.; and Gordon Jack Gunn. “Family Home Evening Program Utah State Prison.” M.A., University of Utah, 1977. 

Bradshaw, Charles Ira. A Comparative Study of Deliquent and Nondeliquent Latter-day Saint Boys in Clark County, Nevada. Ph.D., University of Utah, 1976. 

Roach, Laurel Hornak. “Attitudes Toward Death and Dying Among The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) Children.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1977.

Shepherd, A. Gary. Moral Conformity in Open and Closed Groups: A Comparative Study of Moral Decision-Making Among Mormon, Catholic and Public School Children. Ph.D., Michigan State University, 1976. 

Waasdorp, Gordon Trimble. A Theory of Guilt Formation and Resolution in the Personalities of the Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Some Implications for LDS Counselors. Ph.D., Florida State University, 1975. 

Women

Adix, Shauna McLatchy. Differential Treatment of Women at the University of Utah From 1850 to 1915. Ph.D., University of Utah, 1977. 

Beeton, Beverly. Woman Suffrage in the American West, 1869-1896. Ph.D., University of Utah, 1976. 

Call, Wynn Warren. The Psychological Needs and Personality Traits of Mormon Women Involved in Formal Continuing Education and LDS Relief Society Education. Ph.D., Arizona State University, 1975. 

Kunz, Calvin Seymour. A History of Female Missionary Activity in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 1830-1898.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1975. Lucas, Gloria Trulli. “Widowhood in the Latter-day Saint Church: For Social Work Practice.” M.A., University of Utah, 1976. 

Madsen, Carol Cornwall. “Remember the Women of Zion: A Study of the Editorial Content of the Women’s Exponent, A Mormon Woman’s Journal.” M.A., University of Utah, 1977.