Contents

Articles/Essays

Religious Accommodation in the Land of Racial Democracy



Dialogue 17.3 (Fall 1984): 23–34
Brazil, with a high concentration of African heritage, was a difficult place for the Church (because of the Church’s racial policy) to make headway among native members. Due to the high risk of Brazilians potentially having African ancestry, the Church came to the point where they eventually discouraged missionaries in Brazil from baptizing anyone who is known to have African ancestry.



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Book of Mormon Usage in Early LDS Theology



Dialogue 17.3 (Fall 1984): 37–75
As one step in that direction, this article explores Book of Mormon usage in the pre-Utah period (1830—46), and seeks answers to the following questions: Which passages from the Book of Mormon were cited and with what frequency? How were they understood?



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Joseph Smith and Process Theology



Dialogue 17.3 (Fall 1984): 75–88
Utah Mormons have had over a hundred years in which to systematize and institutionalize their beliefs. Institutionalized religion tends to expend its energies in conserving and promulgating the truths once delivered to the saints.



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The Emma Smith Lore Reconsidered



Dialogue 16.3 (Fall 1984): 69-76
Emma spent her remaining years far removed from the associates who had helped shape the events of that first decade of the Nauvoo period. Like those around her, she did not always react rationally nor did she always make decisions in those trying years that others would have wished her to make.



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Fiction

Much of a River



I guess it wasn’t really much of a river, only thirty feet wide or so where it had enough fall to ripple over the rocks. Except during the spring runoff. Then it filled and sometimes…



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Aunt Betsy



She was my great-aunt on my father’s side and I hated her. She was fat. I She used two long crochet hooks to tie her shoes. Everybody knew it. Unless, of course, I was around.…



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Letters to the Editor

Personal Voices

Childlike, Not Childish



Three floors up, Frank and I sat on our apartment balcony one early morning, blowing bubbles—huge, soapy bubbles that rose and fell like floating balloons. We were trying out a new, round wire contraption Frank…



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Poetry

Oil upon Oil



Like the sound of laying the warp, whispered names 
resonate within the grained, muraled, marble 
and curtain walls of this holy place, and veil 
the light and air with your form, hands 



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Expatriate



The Hawaiians are surprised that we also had beaches. 
            In their minds we represent one vast igloo 
            Filled with people anxious to escape 
            To winter in Hawaii. 



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Response

Reviews

Sermon

Remarks at Chase’s Missionary Farewell



There is an apparent rule, honored in some wards as often in the breach I as in its observance, that talks given at missionary farewells are not to be devoted to eulogizing the departing missionary. I enjoy the sentimental per sonal sharing that attends eulogies and do not mind meetings that deal in personalities, but I will follow the rule and devote my remarks to gospel subjects. This is difficult to do because I am very proud of my son and have deep feelings of gratitude and joy relating to the mission experience that awaits him and his readiness for it. I hope he will sense this as I share some advice concerning missionary service. 



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