SAINTS 1846 – 1893
NO UNHALLOWED HAND
Numerous editors and writers
Intellectual Reserve, Inc., 2020, 833 pages
Reviewed by Michael Beach
This is the second volume of history published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints under the Saints name. It opens during the interregnum period after the martyrdom of the prophet Joseph Smith. In this opening period the church was led by the quorum of twelve apostles, and more specifically by Brigham Young as president of that quorum. The history continues through the exodus to the Rocky Mountains, post US Civil War efforts against the church surrounding the practice of polygamy, and the eventual dissolution of the practice. The review ends with the dedicatory events around the completion of the temple in Salt Lake City.
Professional historians meticulously researched and wrote the sections of this work. The approach they used combines traditional historical narration intertwined with personal stories of some of the specific people involved in key events. Stories of individuals help the reader better understand how thought trends were shaped both within the church and within political and journalistic circles. There are plenty of examples of abuse of power by civil authorities. One also finds tensions around the issue of polygamy both within subgroups of church members, families, and even individuals.
Another thread the historians follow includes relations between church members settling in the west, and native peoples who were already in situ. Some of those interactions were amicable, but often the contrasting culture led to conflict.
Major historical events become more understandable through personal stories. Actions by church leaders, civil authorities, and widely recognizable individual people are more understandable, if not always sympathetic to the reader.
NO UNHALLOWED HAND
Numerous editors and writers
Intellectual Reserve, Inc., 2020, 833 pages
Reviewed by Michael Beach
This is the second volume of history published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints under the Saints name. It opens during the interregnum period after the martyrdom of the prophet Joseph Smith. In this opening period the church was led by the quorum of twelve apostles, and more specifically by Brigham Young as president of that quorum. The history continues through the exodus to the Rocky Mountains, post US Civil War efforts against the church surrounding the practice of polygamy, and the eventual dissolution of the practice. The review ends with the dedicatory events around the completion of the temple in Salt Lake City.
Professional historians meticulously researched and wrote the sections of this work. The approach they used combines traditional historical narration intertwined with personal stories of some of the specific people involved in key events. Stories of individuals help the reader better understand how thought trends were shaped both within the church and within political and journalistic circles. There are plenty of examples of abuse of power by civil authorities. One also finds tensions around the issue of polygamy both within subgroups of church members, families, and even individuals.
Another thread the historians follow includes relations between church members settling in the west, and native peoples who were already in situ. Some of those interactions were amicable, but often the contrasting culture led to conflict.
Major historical events become more understandable through personal stories. Actions by church leaders, civil authorities, and widely recognizable individual people are more understandable, if not always sympathetic to the reader.
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