Hearken O Ye People: The Historical Setting for Joseph Smith's Ohio Revelations

After several months of editing and numerous delays, Mark Staker's Hearken O Ye People:  The Historical Setting for Joseph Smith's Ohio Revelations is almost finished. I've had the privilege of typesetting this book, and though I haven't been able to do any in depth reading of it yet, I can assure you that it is a worthwhile project that will set the standard of and make us rethink the way we see and understand the Kirtland era of early Mormonism.




Here are a few early reviews of Staker's book:

I am not aware of a more deeply researched and richly contextualized study of any period of Mormon church history than Mark Staker’s study of Mormons in Ohio. We learn about everything from the details of Alexander Campbell’s views on priesthood authority to the road conditions and weather on the four Lamanite missionaries’ journey from New York to Ohio. All the Ohio revelations and even the First Vision are made to pulse with new meaning. This book sets a new standard of in-depth research in Latter-day Saint history.

Richard Bushman
Howard W. Hunter Visiting Professor of Mormon Studies, Claremont Graduate University
Author, Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling
General Editor, Joseph Smith Papers


An uncommonly thorough and illuminating look at one of the most overlooked periods in Latter Day Saint history. One closes the book with a deepened understanding of not only the Saints and their struggles, but also the contextual and colorful world they encountered everyday. Staker's bold and refreshing new approach to our shared history breathes life into the courage and conflict of Kirtland's past.


Barbara B. Walden
President John Whitmer Historical Association (2007-2008)
Author with Lachlan Mackay, House of the Lord: the Story of the Kirtland Temple

I am impressed by the scope, detail and quality of Mark Staker’s work on the Mormon period in Ohio. I am confident that it will set the standard and be the definitive work on this fascinating and complicated period in Mormon history for many years to come. His knowledge of and access to important but scarcely used documents can only be admired and envied by any of us who have worked in that period. Just when we begin to wonder how much more there is to say about the Kirtland Safety Society (Bank), Mark gives us not just facts, but important detail on participants, relationships, sequence of events and consequences that go beyond anything that has been done before.

Larry T. Wimmer
Professor (Emeritus) Brigham Young University
Author, The Kirtland Economy Revisited: A Market Critique of Sectarian Economics


Mark Staker has set up a short blog about the book here. I'll post more about it when we finally have a release date set.

From the pages of Twilight

Okay. This is actually from the third volume Eclipse, which Angela is having me read with her. God-willing, more similar posts will follow.

"Making the most of my last seconds, I crushed myself closer, molding myself to the shape of him. The tip of my tongue traced the curve of his ________; it was flawlessly smooth as if it had been polished, and the taste --
"He pulled my face away, . . . breaking my hold with ease -- he probably didn't realize that I was using all of my strength." (p. 44)

Sean Hannity admits that his show misrepresents reality

After Jon Stewart pointed out Hannity's blatant misuse of protest footage to falsify the size of the recent DC protest and make it appear that the protest was more significant that it really was, Hannity issued an apology of sorts on his program:

Inadvertent mistake???? How does a mistake like that happen. Even if Hannity was unaware that this was done, which I doubt, it should be abundantly clear that his producers were involved in falsifying the footage to give a false sense of the size of the protest--the very thing that Hannity and Bachman were gloating about.

Of course, Jon Stewart had yet another brilliant response to Hannity's 'apology.'

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Perhaps the LDS Church ought to find new allies

From the Provo Daily Herald:

At the same time, the church's position has angered some of its conservative allies on social issues, has prompted questions about whether public relations is its real motivation, and put the church on the spot over how far it will go on similar legislation on the state and federal level.

. . .

Some of the church's conservative allies in the gay marriage battles, however, call it a setback. The two new ordinances make it illegal to fire or evict someone for being gay, bisexual or transgender.

Such legislation robs employers and landlords of their rights and gives legal ammunition to judges sympathetic to gay marriage, said Peter Sprigg, senior fellow for policy studies at the conservative Family Research Council.

"It's disappointing, and I'm fearful that it reflects in part a reaction to the attacks they came under after Proposition 8 -- an effort to bend over backwards to exhibit tolerance toward homosexuals in some way," Sprigg said.

And from the Salt Lake Tribune:

Still, conservative stalwarts the Sutherland Institute and the Eagle Forum have vowed to fight any statewide anti-discrimination measures.

On Wednesday, Gayle Ruzicka, leader of the Eagle Forum, said Salt Lake City's new ordinances are "very discriminatory."

"We expected the church not to have a problem because they've been carved out of it. The rest of us have not been carved out of it," she said. The ordinances "discriminate against people who have personal religious beliefs."

Fox and Sean Hannity blatantly used footage from a previous protest to lie about the recent tea-bagging protest in DC

Fox and Sean Hannity blatantly used footage from a previous protest to lie about the recent tea-bagging protest in DC. And Jon Stewart is there to show them for what they are.


And people wonder why Fox News is criticized for not being a legitimate news source?

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LDS Church Supports Nondiscrimination Ordinances

I just found the following release from the LDS Newsroom on my google reader, though the actually link is missing from the Church's website:

Church Supports Nondiscrimination Ordinances

SALT LAKE CITY | 10 Nov 2009 | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has declared its support of nondiscrimination regulations that would extend protection in matters of housing and employment in Salt Lake City to those with same-sex attraction.

I'm guessing it will reappear tomorrow. Interesting nonetheless.

**UPDATE**

It looks like I am well behind everyone else. Here is a DesNews article about it. And here is a larger SLTrib article about it.

And here is the full text of the Church's statement:

Good evening.

My name is Michael Otterson, and I am here tonight officially representing The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The non-discrimination ordinance being reviewed by the City Council concerns important questions for the thoughtful people of this community.

Like most of America, our community in Salt Lake City is comprised of citizens of different faiths and values, different races and cultures, different political views and divergent demographics. Across America and around the world, diverse communities such as ours are wrestling with complex social and moral questions. People often feel strongly about such issues. Sometimes they feel so strongly that the ways in which they relate to one another seem to strain the fabric of our society, especially where the interests of one group seem to collide with the interests of another.

The issue before you tonight is the right of people to have a roof over their heads and the right to work without being discriminated against. But, importantly, the ordinance also attempts to balance vital issues of religious freedom. In essence, the Church agrees with the approach which Mayor Becker is taking on this matter.

In drafting this ordinance, the city has granted common-sense rights that should be available to everyone, while safeguarding the crucial rights of religious organizations, for example, in their hiring of people whose lives are in harmony with their tenets, or when providing housing for their university students and others that preserve religious requirements.

The Church supports this ordinance because it is fair and reasonable and does not do violence to the institution of marriage. It is also entirely consistent with the Church's prior position on these matters. The Church remains unequivocally committed to defending the bedrock foundation of marriage between a man and a woman.

I represent a church that believes in human dignity, in treating others with respect even when we disagree – in fact, especially when we disagree. The Church's past statements are on the public record for all to see. In these comments and in our actions, we try to follow what Jesus Christ taught. Our language will always be respectful and acknowledge those who differ, but will also be clear on matters that we feel are of great consequence to our society.

Thank you.

Jon Stewart's 11/3 Project

Pure brilliance.

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