View PDF

Only rarely does a piece of writing capture the imagination of both novice and professional alike. Even more infrequently does such a work begin as a Ph.D. dissertation or master’s thesis. Certainly the most renowned dissertation on a Mormon topic to reach booksellers is Leonard J. Arlington’s Great Basin Kingdom. An equally remarkable dissertation, a History Book Club selection in March of this year, is John D. Unruh, Jr.’s The Plains Across: The Overland Emigrants and the Trans-Mississippi West 1840-1860. Unruh’s dissertation, acclaimed by many as one of the finest pieces of Western history yet published, skillfully challenges all of the familiar stereotypes associated with the epic covered-wagon migration. 

Although Unruh readily concedes that the emigrants suffered grueling hardship, sickness, and death on the trail, and that they often demonstrated the “individ ualism, heroism, and bravado” seen in thousands of television and movie westerns, “at the base the overland movement was really a cooperative enterprise. The real explanation of the successful overland crossings,” Unruh feels, “can be found in the heretofore neglected interaction among overlanders themselves as well as with the flora and fauna of the West.” Unruh’s most dramatic contrast with earlier historians is in his portrayal of Indian-white relations as being characterized by frequent cooperative interaction. He supports this contention by showing that of the nearly 400,000 persons who crossed the plains between 1840 and 1860 (thousands of which were Mormons), only 400 of an estimated 10,000 who met their death on the plains were killed by Indians. Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of Unruh’s work focuses on the reality that private relief agencies, state supported relief trains and Federal personnel, ranging from troops to bureaucrats, made the overland journey far less perilous and lonely than has been believed in the past. 

The Plains Across is included in Ms. Thatcher’s accompanying dissertation selections because it asks fresh questions for Mormons about the old mythology of “crossing the plains” that will demand volumes of new interpretations. Other writings cited in her survey may in time, with additional work, also achieve the same level of excellence, but such judgments at this point are premature. 

Another of Gary Gillum’s monumental contributions to Dialogue, “A Bibliog raphy of Works Written By General Authorities/’ follows and, we hope, will prove not only a valuable source document but also an inspiration for other creative adventures in bibliography. 

Dissertations and Theses Relating to Mormons and Mormonism 

LINDA THATCHER 

Agriculture

Lamborn, John Edwin. “History of the Development of Dry-Farming in Utah and Southern Idaho.” M.A., Utah State University, 1978. 

Business and Economics

Adkins, Marlow Condie, Jr. “A History of John W. Young’s Utah Railroads, 1884-1894.” M.S., Utah State University, 1978. 

Thompson, Stephen J. Mormon Economics, 1830 to 1900: The Interaction of Ideas and Environment. Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana, 1973. 

Authority, Doctrine and Theology

Cook, Lyndon W. “George Q. Cannon’s Views on Church and State.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1978. 

Larche, Douglas Wayne. The Mantle of the Prophet: A Rhetorical Analysis of the Quest for Mormon Post-Martyrdom Leadership, 1844-1860. Ph.D., Indiana University, 1977. 

Pace, Donald Gene. “The LDS Presiding Bishopric, 1851-1888.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1978. 

Talbot, Wilburn Dunkley. The Duties and Responsibilities of the Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ph.D., Brigham Young University, 1978. 

Wagner, Gordon Eric. Consecration and Stewardship: A Socially Efficient System of Justice. Ph.D., Cornell University, 1977. 

Wetzel, Joy Lynn Wood. The Patriotic Priesthood: Mormonism and the Progressive Paradigm. Ph.D., University of Minnesota, 1977. 

Biography

Barney, Ronald Owen. “The Life and Times of Lewis Barney.” M.S., Utah State University, 1978. 

Christensen, Michael Elvin. The Making of a Leader: A Biography of Charles W. Nibley to 1890. Ph.D., University of Utah, 1978. 

Hefner, Loretta Lea. “The Apostasy of Amasa Mason Lyman.” M.A., University of Utah, 1977. 

Hutchins, Robert Duane. “Joseph Smith III: Moderate Mormon.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1978. 

Leunes, Barbara Laverne Blythe. The Conservation Philosophy of Stewart L. Udall, 1961-1968. Ph.D., Texas A & M University, 1977.

Perkins, Keith W. Andrew Jenson: Zealous Chronologist. Ph.D., Brigham Young University, 1976.

Courtship, Marriage and Families

Hill, John Thomas, Jr. “Romanticism and Friendship Levels of Engaged BYU Couples: Related to Similarity, Perception and Understanding of Partners’ Values.” M.S., Brigham Young University, 1978.

Hogenson, Marvyn William. “The Relationship of Mormon Parental Religiosity and Family Size on Children’s Educational, Occupational and Income Success.” M.S., Brigham Young University, 1977.

Turnbow, Roland Clifford. “Impact of the Family Home Evening Program Upon the Lives of the Latter-day Saint Youth.” M.S., Brigham Young University, 1977. 

Culture, Drama, Literature, Music, and Speech

Armstrong, Richard N. An Ideas Centered Approach to a Critical Analysis of the Public Speaking of David O. McKay: Ninth President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ph.D., Bowling Green State University, 1978. 

Bennett, Debra Sue. “Dress of the Mormons Who Traveled Through Scotts Bluff, Nebraska Between 1840 and 1860.” M.S., Iowa State University, 1976. 

Christiansen, Lyn May. “The Songs of Arthur Shepherd.” M.M., University of Utah, 1978.

Douglas, Colin B. “A Survey of Mormon Literary Criticism.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1978. 

Haun, Diane. Three Plays: The Infidels in Spain, Spiraling, and Brigham’s Daughters. Ph.D., Univeristy of Utah, 1978. 

O’Connor, James Francis. “An Analysis of the Speaking Style of Heber C. Kimball.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1978. 

Education

Gibbs, Walter Sherman. Course Completion by Students in LDS Institutes of Religion. Ed.D., Brigham Young University, 1976. 

Orten, Frank Wesley. Recording Classroom Attendance in LDS Seminaries: An Evaluation of a New Procedure as Perceived by Teachers and Administrators in Salt Lake Valley During the 1976-77 School Year. Ph.D., Brigham Young University, 1978. 

Peck, Granger Cannon. “The Religiosity of Mormon Academicians.” M.S., University of Utah, 1978. 

Riley, William L. Feasibility of Four Models of LDS Religious Education: Nevada, 1976. Ed.D., Brigham Young University, 1978. 

Smart, James Lee. An Evaluation of Teaching Improvement Techniques in LDS Seminaries. Ed.D., Brigham Young University, 1978. 

Wilde, Barbara Alison. The Graduate Education Process at Brigham Young University. Ed.D., Brigham Young University, 1977. 

Emigration and Migration

Kharbas, Sitaram S. Estimates by Some Selected Indirect Methods of Intercensal Net Migration for the States in Mountain Division: 1960-1970. Ph.D., Utah State University, 1976. 

Unruh, John David, Jr. The Plains Across: The Overland Emigrants and the Transmississippi West, 1840-1860. Ph.D., University of Kansas, 1975. 

Health and Medicine

Hsaiao, Candace Shelia Gutzman. “Factors Influencing the Use of Health Services: By Four Wards in the Taipei Taiwan Stake Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” M.S., Brigham Young University, 1977. 

Indians

Christy, Howard Allan. “Mormon-Indian Relations in Utah (1847-1952).” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1978.

Local History

Hansen, Ken Cregg. ‘”UP THE DITCH:’ The History of Elsinore, Utah, 1874-1977.” M.A., Utah State University, 1978.

Parkin, Max H. A History of the Latter-day Saints in Clay County, Missouri, From 1833-1837. Ph.D., Brigham Young University, 1976.

Sturgis, Cynthia Jane. “The Mormon Village in Transition: Richfield, Utah, as a Case Study 1910- 1930.” M.A., University of Utah, 1978. 

Military Affairs

Christensen, Rex LeRoy. “The Life and Contributions of Captain Dan Jones.” M.A., Utah State University, 1978. 

Yurtinus, John Frank George. A Ram in the Thicket: The Mormon Battalion in the Mexican War (Volumes I and II). Ph.D., Brigham Young University, 1975. 

Missionary Work

Coleman, Gary Jerome. Member Missionary Involvement in the LDS Church. Ed.D., Brigham Young University, 1978. 

Gray, Joseph Partick. Ecclesiastical Conversion as a Social Process: A Case Study From the PhilippinesPh.D., University of Colorado, 1976.

Madsen, John Max. Church Activity of LDS Returned Missionaries. Ed.D., Brigham Young University, 1978. 

Suksabjarern, Manoth. “Roman Catholics, Protestants, and Latter-day Saint Missions in Thailand: An Historical Survey.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1978. 

Politics

Miles, Afton Olson. Mormon Voting Behavior and Political Attitudes. Ph.D., New York University, 1978. 

Polygamy

Foster, William Lawrence. Between Two Worlds: The Origins of Shaker Celibacy, Onedia Community Complex Marriage, and Mormon Polygamy. Ph.D., University of Chicago, 1976. 

Reorganized LDS

Serig, Joe Allen. An Analysis of the Relationship Between Selected Variables and Continuing Education Activities of Full-time Professional Leaders in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Ph.D., University of Missouri-Kansas City, 1977. 

Social Geography

Craig, Clifford Bean. Interpersonal Interaction in Urban Space: A Geographic Analysis Within the Mormon Culture Region. Ph.D., Clark University, 1977. 

Social Work

Chappell, Aldus DeVon. The Family Home Evening Program at the Utah State Prison: Its History and Relationship to Recidivism. Ed.D., Brigham Young University, 1978. 

Matison, Sonja C. Mental Health Needs and Services in the Aftermath of the Teton Dam Disaster: Implications for Social Work Education. D.S.W., University of Utah, 1977. 

Utopia

Collette, D. Brent. “In Search of Zion: A Description of Early Mormon Millennial Utopianism as Revealed Through the Life of Edward Partridge.” M.A., Brigham Young University, 1977.

Kern, Louis J. Love, Labor, and Self-Control: Sex Roles and Sexuality in Nineteenth-Century American Utopian Communities. Ph.D., Rutgers University, 1977. 

Thrift, Ronald Edwin. Two Paths to Utopia: An Investigation of Robert Owen in New Landark and Brigham Young in Salt Lake City. Ph.D., University of Nevada, 1976. 

Women

Humphrey, Patricia Ellen. “Discussions of Man and the Environment for ^{LDS Women.” M.S., Brigham} Young University, 1978.