63: Top Ten Books on Mormon History – The Mormon Question

Did the wider world shape Mormonism or did Mormonism shape the wider world? In Gordon's The Mormon Question it is clearly shown the the answer is yes and yes, at least in the United States. As a late comer to studying American history I am finding that many assumptions I have held about current interpretations of the constitution, American religious liberty, and the separation of church and state being relatively constant and unchanged since 1776 are ... flat out wrong. The development of constitutional interpretation, freedom of religious practice and belief, as well as states rights has been a wild ride full of irony, and motivated reasoning by all parties. In this third installment of "Top Ten Books on Mormon History," Ben and I discuss one of the most respected academic books on Mormon history, The Mormon Question.   Our "Top Ten Books on Mormon History" list was composed for someone new to Mormon History. The criteria for inclusion are the books demonstration of the books: Use of a sophisticated academic approach and emphasis on analysis over merely regurgitating data and documents. Coverage an important person, event, or period in Mormon history Quality of writing. Length (not too long). The List Matthew Bowman, The Mormon People: The Making of an American Faith Release in March Richard Bushman, Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling Release in April Ronald Walker et. al., Massacre at Mountain Meadows Release in May Sarah Barringer Gordon, The Mormon Question Polygamy and Constitutional Conflict in Nineteenth-Century America Release in June Kathryn Daynes, More Wives Than One: Transformation of the Mormon Marriage System, 1840-1910 Release in July Paul Reeve, Religion of a Different Color: Race and the Mormon Struggle for Whiteness Release in August Kathleen Flake, The Politics of American Religious Identity: The Seating of Senator Reed Smoot, Mormon Apostle Release in September Armand Mauss, The Angel and the Beehive: THE MORMON STRUGGLE WITH ASSIMILATION Release in October Prince & Wright, David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism Release in November Martha Bradley, Pedestals and Podiums: Utah Women, Religious Authority, and Equal Rights Release in December