The History of the History: Re-discovering Joseph Smith’s First Vision

Authors

Samuel Alonzo Dodge, Brigham Young University
Dr. Steven Harper, Brigham Young University

Keywords

history, Joseph Smith's First Vision, Mormon studies

College

Religious Education

Department

Church History and Doctrine

Abstract

The ways in which Mormon historians approach history has changed greatly over time. For years the historical discussion of Mormonism‟s early periods tended to one of two camps, critics who sought to defame Joseph Smith and discredit the religious movement he launched, or Mormon supporters whose efforts to exonerate the Prophet often resulted in excessive glossing of the blemishes found in the Church‟s origins. However, towards the middle of the twentieth century the historical method began to change the way in historians approached the past. Rather than disregard the work done by opposing scholarship, both groups began using the works from differing scholars as catalysts to propel their own historical work forward. This had profound implications in the realm of Mormon history as critics and supporters began to weigh their own theories against opposing evidence and try to ascertain the truth.

Recommended Citation

Dodge, Samuel Alonzo and Harper, Dr. Steven (2013) "The History of the History: Re-discovering Joseph Smith’s First Vision," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2013: Iss. 1, Article 1738.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2013/iss1/1738