I drew heavily on Peterson’s dissertation for a project fifteen years ago. Now that the executor of a certain estate has given me access to a vital, unpublished primary source, I’ve resumed work on the project and was happy to see that Peterson’s dissertation has been expanded into this excellent work (published 1998).

(Did I say “excellent” two times? Well, I mean it. And for any Arizona history buffs, J A Peterson is the son of Charles Peterson [Take Up Your Mission].)

For my four, I cannot choose books that I wasn’t really enthralled by, but would make good methodical introductions to the field. Instead, I have to pick books that really had a big impact on me, but which might serve an introductory function also.

1. D. Michael Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy, vols. 1 and 2
Many histories of the church, even those written by people I admire a lot, sometimes smooth over problem areas, if they bring them up at all. This is the history of the church, with all the interesting stuff included front and center. It’s a work of great courage, and I was fascinated by every word in it. By my definition of faith (as all-inclusive), this is more faithful than histories that ignore problem areas. It has flaws, but what book isn’t flawed in some way? Some Mormon historians are theoreticians or rhetoricians or both, and have built up substantial reputations; but I love historians who have obviously pored over primary documents in an obsessive way for decades of their lives.

2. E. Carmon Hardy, Solemn Covenant: the Mormon Polygamous Passage
This is my book covering a crucial transition period in Mormon history. Alexander’s book is great, but I love the tragic sweep of this book. It’s a remarkable piece of detective work, as it puzzles out the real history of a mysterious, painful period in our history. Its analysis of “public truth conflicts” in this period, in an appendix, is thoughtful and surprisingly sympathetic to Mormons practicing “theocratic ethics” in order to perpetuate plural marriage in secret. For polygamy in general, if I were going with books that “covered the territory” methodically, I might go with Hardy’s recent Doing The Works of Abraham: Mormon Polygamy : Its Origin, Practice, and Demise, which is also magnificent.

3. Donna Smart, ed., Mormon Midwife: The 1846-1888 Diaries of Patty Bartlett Sessions
This represents women in the church, and diaries. Donna Smart edits this classic diary with loving care. People who don’t read diaries don’t know what they’re missing. Granted, the storytelling is not linear and nicely packaged for you; sometimes the full story is only hinted at; but that is why diaries are so wonderful. A diary like this is like a jewel – for me it’s like scripture. We call ourselves saints, but Patty the midwife, mother, plural wife, was a real saint. There are unforgettable moments everywhere in this diary. One example is Patty acting as midwife for the new younger wife of her husband who has neglected her. Another is those blessing meetings with Eliza R. Snow while crossing the plains. Or something as simple as meeting her daughter Sylvia after years of separation from her.

4. John Alton Peterson, Utah’s Black Hawk War.
This is for Mormonism and Native Americans. I’m researching Jacob Hamblin’s life now, and so Mormonism’s dealings with Indians may loom larger for me than for others. This is a magnificently researched and superbly written book, and amazingly the author teaches for CES. (I think.) In my view, good Mormon history must be very balanced, and Peterson does a great job of sympathizing with both the Utes and the Mormons in this tragic conflict. He captures the complexity of intertribal relations among the Indians and the sometimes seemingly contradictory Indian policy of Brigham Young and the Mormons.

I’ve left out Juanita Brooks’ Mountain Meadows Massacre and Arrington’s Great Basin Kingdom and a lot of the great books. And my list will be totally different in a month’s time.

On #35 above. Thank you, Jonathan, for understanding ISL. It isn’t a book about Nauvoo polygamy, though Nauvoo polygamy is there; it’s a book about women who were married to Joseph Smith for a brief moment in their lives. Most of ISL is about the rest of their lives.

On # 25 above. Thanks, Randy, for being one of the literally dozens of people who have visited by website.

My recommendations would change to:
1. Book of Mormon – It’s what Mormons read, quote, and believe. Jacob 2 and Mosiah 15 could mislead, but the Book of Mormon is full of doctrine really important to Mormonism, like prophetic leadership, open access to God, ordinances, and agency.
2. the most recent General Conference Report – The definitive primary source on current doctrine and practice also doubles as something influential to Mormons.
3. Talmage’s Articles of Faith or Vitality of Mormonism – Two similar doctrinal explanations: AoF has been more influential; VoM is addressed to outside, academic audiences. Either explains beliefs that have endured for the majority of Church history.
4. a one volume history – see almost any comment above; I really like Arrington’s writing style, though.

The brethren have been increasingly focusing on new converts and the global church. It ends up being an excellent compendium of current Mormonism straight from the horse’s mouth.

I’d be interested into what you thought the good was.

The Encyclopedia of Mormonism, available free online.