Mention the name Leonard Arrington and, if you are a reader of Mormon history, you will likely smile. What a wonderful scholar he was. His research, writing and passion have inspired so many of his friends and readers. He was truly a giant in the field of Mormon scholarship.

When Arrington bequeathed his personal library and papers to Utah State University, he requested that they inaugurate an annual lecture series focusing on Mormon life and history. This request became a reality when, in 1995, the first lecture was given in the Leonard J. Arrington Mormon History Lecture Series.

This volume collects the addresses given in the first ten years of the series. Individually, the lectures provide a fascinating view into some aspect of Mormonism; collectively, they reflect not just fine scholarship and evident passion, but a real affection on the part of the writers for the man whose legacy provided the framework for this series.

The first lecture is given by Arrington himself. Titled "Faith and Intellect as Partners in Mormon History," Arrington ponders the relationship between faith and reason, and the role each plays in the development of religious thought. He focuses on five leaders who he believes personified these ideas: Joseph Smith, Jr., Eliza R. Snow, Brigham Young, George Q. Cannon, and Emmaline B. Wells. The essays are brightly written and nicely reflective of the impact each had in the intellectual development of Mormonism.

Next is Richard Lyman Bushman's "Making Space for the Mormons." As is typical of Bushman's writing (in my opinion, of course), the prose tends toward the dry and clinical. It is, however, a helpful study of the Mormon concepts of space and place. He reviews the logical and economical way in which Mormon towns were laid out, focusing on the atypical method used -- eschewing the then-accepted centrality of commerce for the greater importance of spiritual growth. The presence of so many "temples" in the plans signified this emphasis.

Richard E. Bennett contributes "'My Idea is to Go Right Through Right Side Up with Care':The Exodus as Reformation." His thesis is nicely summed up thusly:

...I maintain that in their [the immigrants'] eyes the *sine qua non* of their ultimate success was neither brawn nor brain but covenant and obedience. In the simplest of terms, they came to believe -- and it was a gradual process of belief -- that they would find their place if they would follow their God. (p. 57)

Focusing on the perceived parallels between Zion's Camp and Zion's March, Bennett makes the case that the march to the Salt Lake basin covered spiritual terrain as much as it did the earthly plane. It is a fascinating study, one of the best in the volume.

Howard R. Lamarr follows with "The Theater in Mormon Life and Culture." Lamarr surveys the role the theater played in early Salt Lake City, both as entertainment and as relief from the burdens of the trek and the building of the city.

Claudia L. Bushman's "Mormon Domestic Life in the 1870s: Pandemonium or Arcadia?" opens a window into the story of the relationship between Thomas L. Kane and the Mormon pioneers. His wife Elizabeth was less than enthusiastic about visiting Salt Lake City. Her view, in particular, of polygamous marriage, was informed by the eastern press, and thus unfavorable. But after spending time with them, her opinions gradually shifted and softened her toward the Mormons.

Kenneth W. Godfrey's excellent "The Importance of the Temple in Understanding the Latter-day Saint Nauvoo Experience: Now and Then" explores the role of temple building and planning in the larger development of Mormon polity. He sees the origin of wards, and the emphasis on tithing, as temple-based. It's an interesting and informative read.

Jan Shipps offers "Signifying Sainthood, 1830-2001." The distinguished non-Mormon historian describes how Mormon life and belief are lived out in how the Saints eat, drink, dress and live. It's a wonderful journey across the historical landscape of Mormon life and practices.

Next is "Encountering Mormon Country: John Wesley Powell, John Muir, and the Nature of Utah" by Donald Worster. The author chronicles the travels of Powell and Muir, their general disaffection with the Mormon ecclesiastical system, and their favorable impression of Mormon views of conservation and ecology.

"Rachel's Death: How Memory Challenges History" by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich is a highly personal and deeply affecting memoir of stories told by her grandfather, stories of family and heritage. And as the author discovers documents dealing with that period, the past comes alive. It's a wonderful read.

The volume concludes with F. Ross Peterson's "'I Didn't Want to Leave the House, but He Compelled Me To' -- A Personal Examination of a Mormon Family." Another personal memoir, Peterson explores his own polygamous ancestors and their place not just in their society but in his own religious memory.

This collection is a valuable addition to the extant literature concerning Mormon history and life. Its essays are concise and well-written, a fitting tribute to the man for whom the series is named, Leonard J. Arrington.

I gladly recommend the book, and commend Utah State University for making these lectures available to the rest of us.

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Jeff Needle
January 3, 2005