During the 20th century, an organized objective to rewrite Latter-day Saint history from within, unbeknownst to the general Church membership, went head to head behind the scenes with traditional leaders of the Church. Meet the main players of this conflict: Leonard Arrington—progressive “Father of New Mormon History,” Ezra Taft Benson—traditionalist defender, and many other advocates of traditionalist and progressive Latter-day Saint history.
As traditionalists and progressives sparred during the 1970s-1980s, a covert cold war commenced in Salt Lake City, Utah, with the progressives spying on the traditionalists, and the traditionalists spying on the progressives. Secret informants, leaked documents, falsified reports, and even employed pseudonyms—all were part of this struggle to dominate Latter-day Saint history. But how did, and does, this secret conflict affect you? Progressives, working in the Church History Department and at Brigham Young University, claimed 40 years ago that it would take a generation to re-educate the Church. Where are we now in that re-education?
2 thoughts to “New book! Faith Crisis 2: Behind Closed Doors”
I’ve just read 3 of your books and really enjoyed them…thank you. I believe the ‘traditional’ history.
One thing though that wasn’t covered in your book was; did Joseph use a seer stone for any other use? If not, why is the stone preserved and kept by the church. (I’ve seen a picture of it). I would value your thoughts.
Thanks.
Jain Spong, I am only now studying the topic of the “seer stone” with the quotes about its use. My preliminary belief is that Joseph Smith never had or used one. Never once do you see him state he used one. On the contrary, any mention he makes about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon through translation is always “by the Power of God” and “through the Urum and Thummum” with no other tools. Why does the church have that stone? I am not sure. The providence of it (i.e. where it actually came from) is sketchy at best. His early revelations always come from the Urum and Thummum, and they are the only ones he is requested by others to inquire about questions. I still have more source reading to do, but his use of any other tool than the Urum and Thummum is starting to look like a fabrication built on lies and rumor.