Ralph W. Hansen

 A Survey of Current Literature

Among the Mormons

Among the Mormons

Among the Mormons

Among the Mormons: A Survey of Current Literature

Many of our subscribers have asked to have a bibliographical column included as a regular feature of Dialogue. The first of such columns has been written by our assistant book review editor, who is the…

Among the Mormons: A Survey of Current Literature

Had Brigham Young adhered to Sam Brannan’s advice and settled in California, San Francisco might have become the Mecca of Mormonism. Young stopped in the Great Salt Lake Valley and San Francisco had to be content with lesser glories. However, California did produce a number of interesting Mormon-related books, pamphlets, and broadsides. A list of these works, as they appear in Clifford Merrill Drury’s California Imprints, 1846-1878 Pertaining to Social, Educational, and Religious Subjects (privately printed for the author, 1970, is printed below for the reader’s edification. Those interested in the location of the works should consult Drury’s volume. 

Among the Mormons: A Survey of Current Literature

Continuing our bibliographical coverage of Mormon material, we turn our attention in this issue to dissertations and theses written to fulfill requirements for graduate degrees.

Among the Mormons: A Survey of Current Literature

The historian, essentially, wants more documents than he can really use . . .  Henry James. The Aspern Papers  History is bunk.  Henry Ford The books, periodicals, and manuscripts listed in bibliographies are of little value…

A Survey of Current Literature

Politics is perhaps the only profession for which no preparation is thought necessary.  Robert Louis Stevenson  As is all too evident from the newspapers, we are again approaching that quadrennial time when nominations for the…

Among the Mormons: A Survey of Current Literature

The evil that men do lives after them, the good is oft interred with their bones.  Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, Act iii, sc. 2, 1. 78 [Antony]  As in the past years, the spring bibliographical survey is concerned…

Among the Mormons: A Survey of Current Literature

The difficulty in life is the choice.  George Moore, Bending of the Bough In this year’s survey of theses and dissertations on Mormon or Utah subjects the reader’s attention is called to the vastly expanded…

Among the Mormons: A Survey of Current Literature

I would the gift I offer hereMight graces fro thy favor take.  John Greenleaf Whittier, Songs of Labor  An article in the June 1, 1968, Church News entitled “BYU Gets Rare Books” described items of…

Among the Mormons: A Survey of Current Literature

Are Mormons Christians? The official name of the Church includes the words “Jesus Christ” within it, and we consider Him our Savior. Our scriptures include the Bible, and, as Anthony Hoekema suggests, “Many people have the impression that the Mormon teachings are not basically different from those of historic Christianity.” Yet Dr. Hoekema has decided that “The Christ of Mormonism is not the Christ of Scripture.” The good doctor came to this conclusion by asking—and himself answering—the following ten questions: …

Among the Mormons: A Survey of Current Literature

Write on your doors the saying wise and old, ‘Be bold! Be bold!” and everywhere, “Be bold; be not too bold!” Yet better the excess than the defect; better more than less . . . .  Longfellow, Morituri…

Among the Mormons: A Survey of Current Literature

In an effort to keep Dialogue’s readers abreast of current research on the subject “Mormons and Mormonism,” the second issue of each volume (Summer issue) is devoted to a listing of theses and dissertations accepted by Ameri can colleges and universities on the aforementioned subject. Our sources of information are primarily Mormon Americana, a bi-monthly bibliography prepared at Brigham Young University, Dissertation Abstracts, a publication of University Microfilms, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and commencement programs of the Utah universities.

A Survey of Current Literature

A sense of humor keen enough to show a man his own absurdities will keep him from the commission of all sins, or nearly all, save those that are worth committing.  Samuel Butler the Younger, Life and Habit Reader who…

Sources of Mormon Americana in Utah

This paper was written during the summer of 1968 for a course in special problems in the acquisition of materials at the UCLA Graduate School of Library Service. The original paper has been revised and condensed for the readers of Dialogue since much of it dealt with the historiographical problems inherent in the collecting of Mormon material, a subject which has been treated at length by Dialogue and other sources. 

This paper is not intended to be an exhaustive study, but is rather a brief survey of the collections of Mormon Americana in the Salt Lake City area, all of which I have visited with the exception of the Church Historian’s Office. The purpose, then, of this treatise is to introduce these libraries to those people unfamiliar with their resources and to discuss some of the idiosyncracies of each collection. Also included is a brief discussion of the new bibliography on Mormon Americana.

A Survey of Current Literature

Over a year ago this column called attention to three new journals which in one way or another would be of interest to Mormons or bibliophiles of Mormonism. The journals noted were Mormon History, The Carpenter: Reflections on Mormon Life and The Western Historical Quarterly. Mormon History and The Carpenter are of unique Mormon interest and the latter journal has published a third issue, the contents of which are reported below. Mormon History (a journal of reprints) is now in its second volume.

Among the Mormons: A Survey of Current Literature

The bibliographical listing which follows includes books, pamphlets and reprints on Mormon topics, most of which were published in 1970. Because of the time lag between the last book bibliography printed in Volume 5, No. 1 and this issue the following bibliographical listing is longer than usual. We could have eliminated some of the ephemera but decided that this would detract from the value of our service. Rather than resort to paring the bibliography, the superfluous introduction has been minimized and concludes here. 

Among the Mormons: A Survey of Current Literature

The world of Mormon-directed periodicals continues to thrive as new journals appear and old (those that began within the last few years) journals struggle for continued existence

Among the Mormons: A Survey of Current Literature

“Among the Mormons” is Dialogue’s ongoing effort to keep its readers abreast of Mormon bibliography. Three times a year we present bibliographical listings containing, in separate columns, theses and dissertations, books and related publications, and periodical articles. This issue’s listing contains books, pamphlets and records that have come to our attention during 1971 and 1972. 

Among the Mormons: A Survey of Current Literature

Some for renown, on scraps of learning dote, And think they grow immortal as they quote. —Edward Young, Love of Fame  It has been this writer’s practice in the past to single out a sample of theses…

Among the Mormons: A Survey of Current Literature

The literature surveyed for this quarter’s bibliographical essay is from periodicals. Even the casual reader of this impressive list of recent works will notice that a high proportion of the reviewed literature concerns the “World Church.” From India to England, Tin Can Island to Finland, South Africa to Central America the Ensign and other journals report on the activities of the Church and present (albeit often superficially) introductions to the cultures of these lands. 

Among the Mormons: A Survey of Current Literature

Life, Look and now Courage are gone but presumably not forgotten. Courage, for those of you not familiar with this periodical, was the RLDS counterpart to Dialogue which ceased publication in 1973 after three hopeful volumes. I bring this fact to the reader’s attention only to emphasize the tenuous existence faced by periodicals in this inflationary era. The problems are simple to describe but difficult to overcome.

Among the Mormons: A Survey of Current Literature

Utah has achieved the dubious distinction of making the pages of the prestigious organ of America’s publication industry, Publishers’ Weekly. To some the publicity achieved in the article “Bookstore Perishes in Wake of Utah Obscenity Legislation” represents a disheartening step into further denial of free agency. To others it represents a heartening step in the direction of rooting out the devil all around us.

Among the Mormons: A Survey of Current Literature

If we accept the value Ms. Arbuthnot places upon books, the Mormon community is indeed rich. The editor of this column never ceases to be amazed by the quantity (and increasingly the quality) of books and periodicals directed at the Mormon audience. Among the new entrants, of which most of Dialogue’s subscribers should have received a sample issue, is Exponent II, published by Mormon Sister, Inc. of Arlington, Massachusetts. Exponent II is “A quarterly newspaper concerning Mormon women, published by Mormon Women, and of interest to Mormon women and others.”

Among the Mormons: A Survey of Current Literature

The materials reviewed in this bibliography are books—new and reprint—published since the last book list appeared in the Autumn/Winter 1973 issue of Dialogue. This is a selected listing excluding some of the publications well advertised in Church publications or available through ward “bookstores.” The selection is made solely upon the editor’s discretion and subject to his foibles. 

Among the Mormons: A Survey of Current Literature

Progress implies change and for this writer the call to explore new opportunities has become more insistent in recent years. It will soon be ten years since this column appeared in the first issue of Dialogue. Ten years seems sufficient to insure a sound beginning. If there are any among our readers who wish to take up the challenge of editing this column now is the time to step forward. 

Among the Mormons: A Survey of Current Literature

Just over ten years ago I was approached by four young Mormons who were affiliated with Stanford University in one capacity or another. They wanted to know if there was a library market for a…

Among the Mormons: A Survey of Current Literature

If we are to believe what we see before us, we must conclude that authors interested in writing and selling books about Mormonism have boundless opportunities. Although most of the newly released volumes are modest…