Mormonism: A Historical Encyclopedia (2010) is an encyclopedia designed for a general readership about topics relating to the History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The book was edited by W. Paul Reeve and Ardis E. Parshall. Reeve is a professor of history at the University of Utah and Parshall is an independent historian, newspaper columnist, and freelance researcher.

Most of the Encyclopedia's articles were written by historical researchers expert in the specific area covered, while the tone employed is one of objectiveness, yet respect for the beliefs of Mormonism and its culture. It is published by ABC-CLIO, a Santa Barbara, California-based publisher of reference works, as well as of the history journal, Journal of the West.

Topics covered and contributors

Mormonism in Historical Context – James B. Allen

Eras

Foundation: 1820–1830 – James B. Allen Development: 1831–1844 – Stephen C. Taysom Exodus and Settlement: 1845–1869 – Ardis E. Parshall Conflict: 1869–1890 – W. Paul Reeve Transition: 1890–1941 – Thomas G. Alexander Expansion: 1941–Present – Jessie L. Embry

Events

Black Hawk War – W. Paul Reeve Book of Mormon – Stanley J. Thayne and David J. Howlett Colonization – W. Paul Reeve Correlation – Blair Dee Hodges Exodus from Nauvoo – W. Paul Reeve First Vision – W. Paul Reeve Handcart Migration – W. Paul Reeve Haun's Mill Massacre – W. Paul Reeve Immigration – Edward H. Jeter Kirtland Pentecost – Jonathan A. Stapley Manifesto – W. Paul Reeve Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith – Debra J. Marsh Missouri War – David W. Grua Mormon Battalion – Bruce A. Crow Mountain Meadows Massacre – Richard E. Turley Jr. Nauvoo Legion – Ardis E. Parshall Organization of the Church – W. Paul Reeve Pioneering – Bruce A. Crow Priesthood Revelation of 1978 – Jared Tamez Reformation – Ardis E. Parshall Relief Society – Amy Tanner Thiriot Seagulls and Crickets – Edward H. Jeter Smoot Hearings – Jonathan H. Moyer Temple Work by Proxy – W. Paul Reeve Temples – W. Paul Reeve Ungathered – Christopher C. Jones United States v. Reynolds – Nathan B. Oman Utah War – William P. MacKinnon Word of Wisdom – W. Paul Reeve Youth Programs – Brett D. Dowdle Zion's Camp – Ardis E. Parshall

People

Leonard James Arrington – Gary James Bergera Lowell L. Bennion – Mary Lythgoe Bradford Ezra Taft Benson – J.B. Haws Juanita Brooks – Levi S. Peterson George Q. Cannon – Gary James Bergera Martha Hughes Cannon – W. Paul Reeve J. Reuben Clark, Jr. – Gary James Bergera Heber J. Grant – W. Paul Reeve Gordon B. Hinckley – Gary James Bergera Howard W. Hunter – W. Paul Reeve Spencer W. Kimball – Jacob W. Olmstead Harold B. Lee – J.B. Haws Amy Brown Lyman – David R. Hall Bruce R. McConkie – Ardis E. Parshall David O. McKay – Gregory A. Prince Thomas S. Monson – Gary James Bergera Hugh Nibley – Boyd Jay Petersen LaVern Watts Parmley – Ardis E. Parshall Orson Pratt and Parley P. Pratt – Matthew J. Grow Sidney Rigdon – Ardis E. Parshall B.H. Roberts – Gary James Bergera Aurelia Spencer Rogers – Ardis E. Parshall Patty Bartlett Sessions – Jonathan A. Stapley Barbara Bradshaw Smith – Gary James Bergera Emma Hale Smith – Janiece Lyn Johnson George Albert Smith – Gary James Bergera Hyrum Smith– Gary James Bergera Joseph F. Smith – Christopher C. Jones Joseph Fielding Smith – Matthew Bowman Joseph Smith, Jr. – Jed Woodworth Smith Family – Lavina Fielding Anderson Eliza R. Snow – Jennifer Reeder Lorenzo Snow – Alan L. Morrell Belle Smith Spafford – Michele A. Welch James E. Talmage – Matthew Bowman Elmina Shepard Taylor – Gary James Bergera John Taylor – Ardis E. Parshall Emmeline B. Wells – Michele A. Welch Witnesses to the Book of Mormon – Benjamin E. Park Wilford Woodruff – Thomas G. Alexander Brigham Young – John G. Turner

Issues

Church Organization and Government – Gary James Bergera Divergent Churches – Jason Smith Genealogy and Family History – Ardis E. Parshall Local Worship – Bradley H. Kramer Mormon Missiology – Jonathan A. Stapley Mormon Scripture – Julie Marie Smith Mormonism and Blacks – Margaret Blair Young and Darius Aidan Gray Mormonism and Economics – Alan L. Morrell Mormonism and Education – Jed Woodworth Mormonism and Men – Jeffery O. Johnson and W. Paul Reeve Mormonism and Native Americans – Sondra Jones Mormonism and Other Faiths – J.B. Haws Mormonism and Race – Armand L. Mauss Mormonism and Science – Ardis E. Parshall Mormonism and Secular Government – Nathan B. Oman Mormonism and the Family – W. Paul Reeve Mormonism and Violence – Robert H. Briggs Mormonism and Women – Andrea G. Radke-Moss Mormonism as a World Religion – David Clark Knowlton Mormonism as Restoration – Samuel Brown Mormonism's Contested Identity – J.B. Haws Non-Mormon Views of Mormonism – Jan Shipps Polygamy – Kathryn M. Daynes and Lowell C. "Ben" Bennion

Sidebars

Chronology Articles of Faith Beehive Brigham Young University Church Publications City of Zion "Come, Come Ye Saints" Deseret Alphabet Emigration Agents Extermination Order Richard L. Evans Family History Library Gathering Granite Mountain Records Vault Thomas L. Kane * Mormon Money Mormon Tabernacle Choir "O, My Father" Perpetual Emigrating Fund Orrin Porter Rockwell Sam Brannan and the Brooklyn Silk Culture Reed Smoot State of Deseret Temple Square Whistling and Whittling Brigade White Salamander Letter ** ZCMI

* By Matthew J. Grow ** By Blair Dee Hodges Unless asterisked, the above sidebars were written by Ardis E. Parshall

Reviews Booklists Wade Osburn said the work is "tailor-made for those wanting information on the most prominent figures, the most influential moments, and the hottest topics". School Library Journal contributor Donna Cardon wrote, "Controversial issues, such as polygamy, are handled objectively and explored more extensively than other topics. 'Non-Mormon Views of Mormonism' and 'Mormonism and Other Faiths' are also considered. Occasional use of church-specific jargon occurs without explanation."

See also

Encyclopedia of Mormonism Mormon studies

References