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Several years ago when I first heard that someone was doing research on the life of Brigham Young I was most elated, and somewhat envious. Of all the nineteenth-century Mormon leaders, he seemed to me the one of whom the best biography could be written. Possibilities for biographies of earlier leaders of the Mormon movement were limited by a lack of source material, and of the leaders of the Utah period, Brigham was certainly the most colorful. Moreover there was a wealth of source material on him. Regretfully, it is clear in Lion of the Lord that Stanley P. Hirshson does not understand the nineteenth-century Mormon movement or Brigham Young. 

Lion of the Lord has a massive bibliography, but primary source material is notably absent from it. In his preface Mr. Hirshson states that he received no encouragement from the L.D.S. Church Historian’s Office, and after consulting several Mormon scholars—who he does not name—he de termined that there was nothing in the Historian’s Office which couldn’t be found elsewhere. I am aware of a few facts that have a bearing on this statement. Although Mr. Hirshson came to the Church Historian’s Office without attempting to correspond with officials there, he was admitted as a reader, as the mention of the Journal History of the Church in his bibliography attests. Mr. Hirshson may have felt no encouragement from the Historians’s Office but at least four other non-Mormon scholars were doing research there at the time, two of whom were working on Brigham Young manuscripts. Mr. Hirshson spent half of one day in the Church Historian’s Archives. 

The massive collection of documents in the Library-Archives of the Church Historian’s Office includes Brigham Young’s manuscript history, his letter-press book, and his personal diaries, as well as manuscripts of other Mormon leaders, which would enrich any book on the Brigham Young period. Mr. Hirshson’s short stay precluded even a thorough investigation of the Journal History, which, as I have mentioned, he includes in his bibliography. One non-Mormon scholar who has been using the Brigham Young material, informs me that he has been working in these materials for two years and feels that it would take another eight years to do them justice. From my own observations, this is not an exaggeration. I strongly suspect that Mr. Hirsh son came west only to enhance his bibliography, never intending to go through this voluminous amount of source material. 

Mr. Hirshson also ignored some other vital collections. The Henry E. Huntington Library in San Marino, California, which is probably the best library on Utah history outside the state, was never visited by Mr. Hirshson. Nor was the library at the University of Utah, which has many vital manuscripts, including those of George A. Smith, Brigham Young’s confidant in later years. The library at Brigham Young University, which has a large diary collection and which now has the Brigham Young account books was also overlooked. The account books were not in the library when Mr. Hirsh son made his visit to Utah, but certainly he would have been apprised of them had he done any work at that institution. 

The author made another serious mistake in his seemingly unqualified acceptance of the newspaper articles from the New York Public Library. These articles are important, but they are important more for their distortion than for their accuracy. They show what was written in the East concerning Mormonism. Mr. Hirshson’s statement that the authors of these articles were qualified journalists, is intriguing. The journalists were generally anonymous, and Mr. Hirshson makes little attempt to identify them. Had he done so he would have found that they were such men as Jesse Gove, using the pseudonym “Argus,” and Randolph Marchy, a trooper in the Dragoons, men who both wrote for the anti-Mormon New York Herald. The articles are a curious mixture of truths, half-truths, and fantasy. To cite only one example: had Hirshson bothered to check at the Church Historian’s Office, instead of re lying on the anonymous correspondent for the New York Times, he would have found that Heber C. Kimball was quite literate, as an examination of his journal would attest. 

I cannot close without commenting on Chapter Ten, entitled, “The Wives of Brigham Young.” On examination, one finds that most names on the list come from the late Stanley Ivins and the rest from “reliable” Eastern newspaper correspondents. Mr. Ivins didn’t write for publication, he was not interested in verification, and he collected his information—a word here, a sentence there — from many sources. Mr. Hirshson accepts Ivins’ list of the wives of Brigham Young without substantiating it. 

The misfortune of Lion of the Lord is not only its mediocrity but its appearance of legitimacy. The uninformed reader may consider it to be definitive, but such a consideration would be outlandish. It reminds one rather of M.H.A. Van Der Valk’s De Profeet der Mormonism, Joseph Smith, Jr. which, though it has almost 1,000 bibliographic notations, adds nothing to the literature of the field. 

Potpourri

It has come to our attention that Dr. Davis Bitton of the History Department at the University of Utah is compiling a checklist of Utah diaries—a most worthwhile project. The public can assist Dr. Bitton by reporting the whereabouts of such material. The Church Historian’s Office or the libraries of Utah universities are prepared to microfilm diaries of historical interest. Such diaries are, of course, welcomed as gifts. 

The Honor’s Program at B.Y.U. has recently published Tangents I. Ac cording to the preface, Tangents I was conceived to give honor students and University scholars a place to publish undergraduate work or independent study projects. Of the eight articles in this issue, two are of interest to students of Mormon Americana. They are Howard D. Palmer’s “Mormon Political Behavior in Alberta” and Terrell Hunt’s “The Economics of Theocracy: The Mormon Liquidity Crisis, 1847-1860.” 

The bibliographical listing which follows includes books and pamphlets, most of which were published in 1969. Current theses and dissertations will be listed in the next issue, and a list of articles from periodicals will follow in the last issue of the volume. The reader will note a substantial number of works printed by J. Grant Stevenson of Provo, Utah. Brother Stevenson

has published many family histories, genealogies, and ward histories, and a few community histories as well. Previously we have not included these works here because they are printed in such small lots that they are not generally available. However, this type of publication is relevant “Among the Mor mons” and does not need justification for inclusion. 

Selected Works of Mormon Interest

Allred, B. Harvey. A Leaf in Review of the Words and Arts of God and Man Relative to the Fullness of the Gospel. Second ed. Draper, Utah: N.p., n.d. $7.00. A reprint of the original, with additional notes, of a book which led to the author’s excommunication. Available from P.O. Box 368, Draper, Utah.

Andersen, Ariel A. The Fall and the Origin of Man. Provo, Utah: Press Publishing Company, 1967.

Andrus, Hyrum L. Foundations of the Millennial Kingdom of Christ. Vol. I. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft Co., 1968. $5.95.

Ashton, William F. Survival in the American Desert: The Mormon’s Contribution to Western History. Buena Park, California: the author, 1969.

Baker, Pearl. Trail on the Water. Boulder, Colorado: Pruett Publishing Co., 1969? $6.95. Biography of Bert Loper.

Barlow, Israel Family Association. Family Recordings of Nauvoo — 1845 and Before. Salt Lake City, Utah: Israel Barlow Family Association, 1965. $1.00. Shows descendants of Phineas Howe and Susanna Goddard.

———.The Israel Barlow Story and Mormon Mores. Salt Lake City, Utah: Israel Barlow Family Association, 1968. $10.00. Both Barlow books obtainable at 631 South 11th East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84102.

Bellamy, Jean. Mistress of Ghosthaven. New York: Lancer Books, 1969. $.75. A mystery story in a Mormon setting.

Benedict, R. Dean. Line upon Line: 1968. N.p.[1969] $1.50. A doctrinal tract probably available from Zion’s Bookstore, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Benson, Ezra Taft. An Enemy Hath Done This. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1969. $4.95.

Blum, Ida. Nauvoo, An American Heritage. Carthage, Illinois: the author, 1969.

Butterworth, Edward. The Sword of Laban. Independence, Mo.: Herald House, 1969? $2.75.

Calverton, Victor Francis. Where Angels Dared to Tread. Freeport, New York: Books for Libraries Press, 1941, 1969. $12.50. Concerning Salt Lake City, Brigham Young and the Mormons.

Cannon, George Q. Writings from “The Western Standard.” New York: Paladin Press, 1969. $25.00.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Lethbridge Stake Historical Committee. A History of the Mormon Church in Canada. Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada: Lethbridge Herald Company, 1968. $5.00. Order from Deseret-Book Craft, 907 3rd Ave. South, Lethbridge, Alberta.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Young Women’s Mutual Improvement Association. A Century of Sisterhood: Chronological Collage, 1869- 1969. Salt Lake City: 1969? 

Cohen, Irving H. Jews of Torah. Rev. ed. Scotia, New York: The Cumorah Book Co., 1967. $1.95. Chapter 7: “The Jews in Relation to the Book of Mormon.” 

Coleman, Arthur D. Esplin Pioneers of Utah. Provo, Utah: J. Grant Stevenson, 1968.

———. comp. Pratt Pioneers of Utah. Provo, Utah: J. Grant Stevenson, 1967. Cooley, Everett L. Utah: A Student’s Guide to Localized History. New York: Teachers College Press, Columbia Univ., 1968. An excellent brief history.

Cottam, Charles Walter. Autobiography of Charles Walter Cottam: Lest I Forget to Remember. Provo, Utah: J. Grant Stevenson, 1968.

Cowan, Richard O. The Doctrine and Covenants; Our Modern Scripture. Second rev. ed. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University, 1969. $2.50.

Crocker, E. W. History of the 145th Field Artillery Regiment of World War I. Provo, Utah: J. Grant Stevenson, 1968. Concerning the Utah Militia.

Curtis, Lindsay R. And They Shall Be One Flesh; a Sensible Sex Guide for the LDS Bride and Groom. Salt Lake City: Publishers Press, 1968? $3.00.

Curtis, Luceal Rockwood, comp. Compiled and Assembled History of Albert Perry Rockwood. Salt Lake City, 1968. A. P. Rockwood’s journal and other material.

Dalton, Rose and Ida. Roy, Utah, Our Home Town. Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1969. $6.95.

Doxey, Roy W. Prophecies and Prophetic Promises from the Doctrine and Covenants. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Co., 1969. $4.95.

———. Zion in the Last Days. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1969. $1.50.

Dyer, Alvin R. The Challenge. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book, 1968. $3.50.

Eagar, Martha Cazier. The Life History of William Cazier. Provo, Utah: J. Grant Stevenson, 1968.

Edmunds, John K. The Son of God. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book, 1969? $1.00.

Edwards, F. Henry. Church History, Vol. V. Independence, Mo.: Herald House, 1969? $10.95.

Elgin, Kathleen. The Mormons — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. New York: David McKay Co. Inc., 1969? $3.95. Recommended for ages 8-12.

Evening and Morning Star West Germany: Republished by Eugene Wagner, Basel, Switzerland, 1969. $7.95. Photomechanical reprint of the original edition.

The Famous Mormon Way — Bill to the Gold Fields of California. Salt Lake City, Utah: Daughters of Utah Pioneers, 1969.

Fife, Austin E. and Alta S. Cowboy and Western Songs. New York: Clarkson N. Potter, Inc., 1969. $12.50. Eight pages relate to the Mormons.

———. Forms upon the Frontier. Logan, Utah: Utah State University, 1969. $3.00.

Fitzgerald, John D. More Adventures of the Great Basin. New York: Dail Press, 1969. $3.95. Mormon fiction for ages 9-13.

Flinders, Neil J. Leadership and Human Relations. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1969. $4.95.

Frakes, Lola Bernice. The Families of Williams, Kenoyer, New, Motley. Provo, Utah: J. Grant Stevenson, 1969.

Francl, Joseph. The Overland Journey of Joseph Francl . . . San Francisco: William P. Wreden, 1968. $22.50. Describes Francl’s visit to Salt Lake City in 1854.

Gibson, Margaret Wilson. Emma Smith: The Elect Lady. Independence, Mo.: Herald Publishing House, 1969. $3.50.

Goeldner, Paul. Utah Catalog: Historic American Building Survey. Salt Lake City, Utah: Utah Heritage Foundation, 1969.

Gottfredson, Peter. Indian Depredations in Utah. Salt Lake City, Utah: n.p., 1969. Order from Merlin G. Christensen, 837 Sherman Ave., Salt Lake City, Utah. Reprint of the 1919 edition.

Greenway, John. Folklore of the Great West. Palo Alto, California: Ameri- can West Publishing Company, 1969. $8.95. Includes Juanita Brooks, Wayland Hand, Austin E. Fife, and other Utahns.

Griffin, Glen C. About Marriage and More. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1968.

Grover, David H., ed. Landmarks in Western Oratory. N.p., 1969? $5.75. Has a section entitled “Persuasion in a Theocracy: Utah 1847 to 1869.” Order from: Robert W. Vogelsang, Exec. Sec, Western Speech Association, Department of Speech, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington.

Hafen, A. K. Devoted Empire Builders. St. George, Utah: the author, 1969. $10.00. Concerns the pioneers of St. George.

Hancock, Mosiah. The Mosiah Hancock Journal. N.p., n.d. $3.00. Probably a reprint of the typescript at Brigham Young University Library. Avail- able at Zion’s Bookstore.

Harmer, Mabel. The Boy Who Became a Prophet. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 1969. $2.25.

Hatch, William Whitridge. There is No Law. New York: Vintage, 1968. $4.50.

Hirshson, Stanley P. The Lion of the Lord. New York: Knopf, 1969. $8.95. Biography of Brigham Young.

Israelson, Orson W. Forty Years of Sound and Forty Years of Silence. Salt Lake City: Utah Printing Co., 1968. $4.95. Autobiography.

Jeppesen, Christian, Jr. History of Lakeview Ward, 1855-1951. Provo, Utah: J. Grant Stevenson, 1969.

Jonas, Frank H., ed. Politics in the American West. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press. 1969. $9.50. With chapters devoted to individual states. “Utah: The Different State” by Frank H. Jonas.

Kelly, Charles. Salt Desert Trails: A History of the Hastings Cutoff and Other Early Trails which Crossed the Great Salt Desert. Salt Lake City: Western Epics, 1969. $7.50. A revised reprinting of this scarce book published in 1930.

Kimball, Spencer W. Hidden Wedges. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Co., 1969.

Knowles, Eleanor, comp. Gospel Insights. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1969. $3.95. From sermons and stories of Wm. J. Critchlow Jr.

Knowlton, Ezra Clark. Autobiography of Ezra Clark Knowlton. Provo, Utah: J. Grant Stevenson, 1968. Part one: Progenitors. Part two: Personal History. 

Kraut, Ogden. Jesus was Married. Dugway, Utah: Kraut’s Pioneer Press, 1969.

———. Pioneer Journals. Dugway, Utah: Kraut’s Pioneer Press, 1970. $2.50.

———. Spirit World Experiences. Dugway, Utah: Kraut’s Pioneer Press, 1970? $1.00.

———. The Three Nephites. Dugway, Utah: Kraut’s Pioneer Press, 1969.

Landau, Elliot D. Just A Minute. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book, 1969. $5.50.

Larson, Clinton F. The Lord of Experience. Murray, Utah: Promised Land Publications, Inc., 1969. $5.95. Mormon Poetry.

Larson, Martin and Lowell, C. Stanley. Praise the Lord for Tax Exemption. Salt Lake City, Utah: n.p., 1969? $6.95. Available at Zion’s Bookstore.

Little, James A. Jacob Hamlin. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 1969.

Lloyd, D. Clyde. Is That In The Book of Mormon? Salt Lake City, Utah: the author. $2.50.

———. Life and Pursuit. . . . New York: Exposition Press, Inc., 1969? $2.50. Both Clyde books available from the author at 157 Coatsville Ave., Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Lundstrom, Joseph. Book of Mormon Personalities. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Co., 1969. $3.95.

Lythgoe, Dennis Leo. The Changing Image of Mormonism in Periodical Literature. Salt Lake City, Utah: the author, 1967. Printed from Univ. of Utah thesis? 

McFarland, Drucilla H. and Ruth M. White. “Mormon John” Martin; Utah Pioneer Family History. Bountiful, Utah: the authors, 1969.

Marsh, Don W., comp. “The Light of the Sun”: Japan and the Saints. N.p., 1969. History of L.D.S. missionary work in Japan.

Millet, Georgiana Angell. Historical Sketch of George Edward Angell &r Rebecca Ann Wilkinson. Salt Lake City, Utah: the author, 1967.

Monson, Leland H. Look to the Mount. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1969. $3.95.

Nelson, Dee Jay. A Translation fa Study of Facsimile No. 3 in the Book of Abraham. Salt Lake City, Utah: Modern Microfilm Company, 1969.

Packer, Lynn Kenneth. A Missionary Experience. New York: Carlton Press, Inc., 1969? $3.50.

Pardoe, T. Earl. Sons of Brigham. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University, 1969.

Parr, Lucy. Pioneer and Indian Stories. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1969. $2.50.

Peery, Paul D. Billy Casper: Winner. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1969. $5.95.

Petersen, Mark E. Drugs, Drinks, and Morals. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book, 1969? $1.95, softbound $.35. 

———. The Way to Peace. Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1969. $3.95.

Phillips, Emma. 33 Women of the Restoration. Independence, Mo.: Herald Publishing House, 1969. $3.25.

Reay, Don. The Gospel of Jesus Christ According to My Understanding. Jericho, New York: Exposition Press, Inc., 1969. $4.00. Discusses apostasy, restoration, and some of basic principles of the gospel.

Redd, Mabel H. As I Remember. Provo, Utah: J. Grant Stevenson, 1969.

Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Committee on Basic Beliefs. Exploring the Faith. Independence, Mo.: Herald House, 1969. $4.95. A series of twenty-three articles on basic beliefs.

Rey, Luise King and Ora Pate Stewart. The Singing Kings. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book, 1969? $2.95.

Riggs, Mary West. The Five Branches of Love. Salt Lake City, Utah: n.p., 1967.

Roberts, B. H. The Mormon Doctrine of Deity. Reprint of the 1903? edition. Available from Zion’s Bookstore, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Rogers, Emma Lou Luke and Isabelle Rust. The William Haydock Luke Family History. Provo, Utah: J. Grant Stevenson, 1968.

Sarre, Winifred Turner. If with All Your Heart. Independence, Mo.: Herald House, 1969. $4.95. A novel.

Scowcroft, Richard. The Ordeal of Dudley Dean. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott, 1969. $5.95. Mormon fiction.

Sekaquaptewa, Helen. Me and Mine; the Life Story of Helen Sekaquaptewa as told to Louise Udall. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona Press, 1969. $4.95. Includes her conversion to the Mormon Church.

Sill, Sterling W. The Three Infinities. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 1969? $3.95.

Skousen, W. Cleon. Hidden Treasures from the Book of Mormon. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 1969. 

Smith, Gibbs M. Joe Hill. Salt Lake City: University of Utah, 1969? $7.00

Smith, John L. Brigham Smith. Clearfield, Utah: The Utah Evangel Press, 1969. $5.00. Anti-Mormon novel.

Smith, Joseph. The Prophet Joseph Smith’s Views on the Powers and Policy of the Government of the United States. Salt Lake City: Jos. Hyrum Parry & Co., 1969? $.85. Reprint of the 1886 edition. Available from Harry C. Russell, P.O. Box 17472, Salt Lake City, Utah 84117.

Smith, Lucy Mack. Joseph Smith and his Progenitors. Independence, Mo.: Herald House, 1969.

Snell, Jim, ed. An Open Book. Kansas City, Kansas: Snell’s Print Shop, 1970. Concerning the Book of Mormon.

Stegner, Wallace. Joe Hill; a Biographical Novel. Garden City, New York: Doubleday and Co., 1969. $6.95. First published as The Preacher and the Slave (1950).

Taylor, John. Items on Priesthood Presented to the Latter-day Saints by President John Taylor. Taggart & Company, Inc., 1969. $3.00.

Tippetts, Delia Ludlow. A Town is Born. Spanish Fork, Utah: J. Mart Publishing Company, 1969. History of Benjamin, Utah County, Utah.

Unopulos, James J., Jr. From Athens to Zion. Placentia, California: n.p., 1969. Available from James J. Unopulos Jr., 2002 Gillilan Street, Placentia, California 92670.

Vetterli, Richard, Comp. The Challenge and the Choice. Salt Lake City, Utah: Bookcraft, 1969? $3.95. Twisselmann, Hans-Jiirgen. Die Mormonen im Schatten ihrer Geschichte. Witten: Bundes-Verlag, 1967? 

Weldon, Roy E. The Bible Points to the Book of Mormon and the New World. Independence, Mo.: Herald House, [1969] $.75. Concerning the unity of witness in the Bible and the Book of Mormon. 

Young, Brigham. Manuscript History of Brigham Young, 1801-1844. Salt Lake City: Elden J. Watson, 1969. $10.00. Available from Elden J. Watson, 2510 Simpson Ave., Salt Lake City, Utah. Copy of oft reproduced MS. in the Bancroft Library. Young, Bob and Jan. Empire Builder Sam Brannan. New York: Julian Messner, [1968?] $3.50.