Encyclopedia of Mormonism
Encyclopedia
The Encyclopedia of Mormonism is a semi-official encyclopedia
for topics relevant to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the LDS Church; see also "Mormon
"). It is now available free on-line.
including several short un-attributed entries (the equivalent of Wikipedia stubs) in four volumes. The text is approximately one million words, and over 1850 pages including pictures, maps, charts, index, and appendices. The title for the Encyclopedia of Mormonism was chosen by Macmillan
, the secular publisher that initiated the project.
There were over 730 contributors from a wide variety of fields, most of whom had LDS and academic backgrounds. A large number were professors at Brigham Young University
, the flagship LDS Church-owned university. Most individuals contributed only one article and few submitted more than three or four. Notable contributors include Mormon historians Leonard J. Arrington
, and Thomas G. Alexander
, former Salt Lake City mayor Ted Wilson, noted non-Mormon LDS historian Jan Shipps
, authors Steven R. Covey
, Gerald N. Lund
, and Richard Eyre
, respected scholar and apologist Hugh Nibley
, and a few members of LDS hierarchy like Paul Evans, H. David Burton
, and Jeffery R. Holland.
The editor of the Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Daniel H. Ludlow
, states that he strove to make the volume as professional as possible. Most of the articles are written by Ph.D.
s in their respective fields. LDS General Authorities
(the spiritual leaders of the church) wrote little of the Encyclopedia; indeed, most contributors from church hierarchy were only tapped to write articles on the publications or institutions they directly administered or led. For impartiality and perspective, several non-Mormons were asked to write important articles. For example, Jan Shipps
wrote on the outsider's interpretation of Mormonism, and Richard P. Howard
, historian of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now the Community of Christ
), wrote on his branch of the Latter Day Saint movement
.
and doctrine
, but the work also includes many topics that are only generally related to Mormonism. For example, articles on Constitutional law
, Sport
s, Science
, and Freedom
discuss LDS perspectives and contributions to various fields.
Ludlow also sought to make the encyclopedia accessible to non-Mormons. To this end an optional fifth volume was printed containing the "Standard Works
," LDS scriptures that are heavily cited in the encyclopedia.
(BYU) resources, the Encyclopedia was meant to be independent and unofficial in the church. Ludlow highlights this in his concluding preface remarks:
The official web-site of the LDS church also noted this position.
In spite of these comments and the non-Mormon publisher, the Encyclopedia is referred to as an official or at least semi-official publication by many outsiders of the Church. This view has credence because LDS Church-owned BYU
was contractual author of the work. Furthermore, six general authorities, though not credited editors, worked on the project including Dallin H. Oaks
, Neal A. Maxwell
, and Jeffrey R. Holland
(president of BYU when the project began).
like Hugh Nibley
, many other LDS apologists contributed including John Gee
, William Hamblin, Louis C. Midgley
, Daniel C. Peterson
, Noel B. Reynolds
, Stephen D. Ricks
, John L. Sorenson
, Melvin J. Thorne, and John W. Welch
.
Critics had mixed reviews. Sterling M. McMurrin
said that "the articles on social issues and church structure and the biographies are the most useful" but he also felt that "the work is a carefully sanitized partisan affair that, while having many strengths, is quite uneven in quality and, though it appears to face many difficult issues head on, clearly omits, distorts, and compromises wherever necessary to advance and protect a positive image of Mormons, Mormonism, and the church." George D. Smith concluded his review of the Encyclopedia by saying, "As a 'religious encyclopedia' that addresses a goal of preserving a body of belief, the Encyclopedia of Mormonism impressively fulfills its mission. At the same time, the encyclopedia, like an iceberg, presents only a portion of important background and issues concerning the Book of Mormon. It is a brief for orthodoxy that lacks the scope and diversity necessary to qualify it as truly encyclopedic." The introduction to Sunstone
's review of the Encyclopedia mentioned that Lavina Fielding Anderson
"pointed out 'pitfalls in the treatment of women's issues, but revealed a few surprisingly positive moments that otherwise might have been overlooked-and probably were by some editors.'"
No article of so-called Mormon historical revisionism
is found in the Encyclopedia. It has been noted that after the Encyclopedia's publication, several LDS scholars were excommunicated, including some members of the 1993 "September Six
." George D. Smith criticized the Encyclopedia because it is not the promised comprehensive treatment of Book of Mormon scholarship; "it is a statement of LDS orthodoxy."
However, the Encyclopedia was designed to serve as a general reference, not as a primer of LDS polemic
s. Thus, the Encyclopedia of Mormonism remains a useful resource.
Encyclopedia
An encyclopedia is a type of reference work, a compendium holding a summary of information from either all branches of knowledge or a particular branch of knowledge....
for topics relevant to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the LDS Church; see also "Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
"). It is now available free on-line.
Background
Published in 1992, the Encyclopedia contains nearly 1500 articlesEssay
An essay is a piece of writing which is often written from an author's personal point of view. Essays can consist of a number of elements, including: literary criticism, political manifestos, learned arguments, observations of daily life, recollections, and reflections of the author. The definition...
including several short un-attributed entries (the equivalent of Wikipedia stubs) in four volumes. The text is approximately one million words, and over 1850 pages including pictures, maps, charts, index, and appendices. The title for the Encyclopedia of Mormonism was chosen by Macmillan
Macmillan Publishers (United States)
Macmillan Publishers USA, also known as Macmillan Publishing, is a privately held American publishing company owned by the Georg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group. It has offices in 41 countries worldwide and operates in more than 30 others....
, the secular publisher that initiated the project.
There were over 730 contributors from a wide variety of fields, most of whom had LDS and academic backgrounds. A large number were professors at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
, the flagship LDS Church-owned university. Most individuals contributed only one article and few submitted more than three or four. Notable contributors include Mormon historians Leonard J. Arrington
Leonard J. Arrington
Leonard James Arrington was an author, academic and the founder of the Mormon History Association. He is known as the "Dean of Mormon History" and "the Father of Mormon History" because of his many influential contributions to the field.-Biographical background:Arrington was born in Twin Falls,...
, and Thomas G. Alexander
Thomas G. Alexander
Thomas Glen Alexander is an American historian and academic who is professor emeritus from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, where he was also Lemuel Hardison Redd, Jr. Professor of Western History and director of the Charles Redd Center for Western Studies.-Biography:Alexander was born in...
, former Salt Lake City mayor Ted Wilson, noted non-Mormon LDS historian Jan Shipps
Jan Shipps
Jo Ann Barnett "Jan" Shipps is an American historian specializing in Mormon History, particularly in the latter half of the 20th century to the present. Shipps is generally regarded as the foremost non-Mormon scholar of the Latter Day Saint movement, having given particular attention to The...
, authors Steven R. Covey
Stephen Covey
Stephen Richards Covey is the author of the best-selling book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Other books he has written include First Things First, Principle-Centered Leadership, and The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families. In 2004, Covey released The 8th Habit...
, Gerald N. Lund
Gerald Lund
Gerald Niels Lund was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 2002 to 2008. During his tenure, he lived in Solihull, England for 3 years. He currently lives in Bountiful, Utah and serves in Salt Lake City...
, and Richard Eyre
Richard Eyre (author)
Richard M. Eyre is a consultant, speaker, and author of many books. He was also a candidate for the Republican nomination for Utah Governor in 1992....
, respected scholar and apologist Hugh Nibley
Hugh Nibley
Hugh Winder Nibley was an American author, Mormon apologist, and professor at Brigham Young University...
, and a few members of LDS hierarchy like Paul Evans, H. David Burton
H. David Burton
Harold David Burton has been the thirteenth Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since 27 December 1995. He has been a general authority of the LDS Church since October 1992....
, and Jeffery R. Holland.
The editor of the Encyclopedia of Mormonism, Daniel H. Ludlow
Daniel H. Ludlow
Daniel Hansen Ludlow was a professor of religion at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He was also the chief editor of the Encyclopedia of Mormonism, published in 1992 by Macmillan.- Biography :...
, states that he strove to make the volume as professional as possible. Most of the articles are written by Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
s in their respective fields. LDS General Authorities
General authority
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a general authority is a member of certain leadership organizations who are given administrative and ecclesiastical authority over the church...
(the spiritual leaders of the church) wrote little of the Encyclopedia; indeed, most contributors from church hierarchy were only tapped to write articles on the publications or institutions they directly administered or led. For impartiality and perspective, several non-Mormons were asked to write important articles. For example, Jan Shipps
Jan Shipps
Jo Ann Barnett "Jan" Shipps is an American historian specializing in Mormon History, particularly in the latter half of the 20th century to the present. Shipps is generally regarded as the foremost non-Mormon scholar of the Latter Day Saint movement, having given particular attention to The...
wrote on the outsider's interpretation of Mormonism, and Richard P. Howard
Richard P. Howard
Richard P. Howard is historian emeritus of Community of Christ, having served as world church historian of that organization from 1966–1994. He was the first professionally trained scholar to occupy that position...
, historian of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now the Community of Christ
Community of Christ
The Community of Christ, known from 1872 to 2001 as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , is an American-based international Christian church established in April 1830 that claims as its mission "to proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace"...
), wrote on his branch of the Latter Day Saint movement
Latter Day Saint movement
The Latter Day Saint movement is a group of independent churches tracing their origin to a Christian primitivist movement founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the late 1820s. Collectively, these churches have over 14 million members...
.
Subjects addressed
The Encyclopedia of Mormonism includes lengthy articles on core LDS subjects like LDS Church historyHistory of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is typically divided into three broad time periods: the early history during the lifetime of Joseph Smith, Jr...
and doctrine
Beliefs and practices of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints focuses its doctrine and teaching on Jesus Christ; that he was the Son of God, born of the virgin Mary, lived a perfect life, performed miracles, bled from every pore in the Garden of Gethsemane, died on the cross, rose on the third day, appeared...
, but the work also includes many topics that are only generally related to Mormonism. For example, articles on Constitutional law
Constitutional law
Constitutional law is the body of law which defines the relationship of different entities within a state, namely, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary....
, Sport
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
s, Science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, and Freedom
Freedom (political)
Political freedom is a central philosophy in Western history and political thought, and one of the most important features of democratic societies...
discuss LDS perspectives and contributions to various fields.
Ludlow also sought to make the encyclopedia accessible to non-Mormons. To this end an optional fifth volume was printed containing the "Standard Works
Standard Works
The Standard Works of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the four books that currently constitute its open scriptural canon.* The Holy Bible * The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ...
," LDS scriptures that are heavily cited in the encyclopedia.
Role of the encyclopedia relative to the church
Although the LDS Church cooperated in the production of the book, particularly by setting aside Brigham Young UniversityBrigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
(BYU) resources, the Encyclopedia was meant to be independent and unofficial in the church. Ludlow highlights this in his concluding preface remarks:
- Lest the role of the Encyclopedia be given more weight than it deserves, the editors make it clear that those who have written and edited have only tried to explain their understanding of Church history, doctrines, and procedures; their statement and opinions remain their own. The Encyclopedia of Mormonism is a joint product of Brigham Young University and Macmillan Publishing Company, and its contents do not necessarily represent the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. – Encyclopedia of Mormonism, p. lxii.
The official web-site of the LDS church also noted this position.
In spite of these comments and the non-Mormon publisher, the Encyclopedia is referred to as an official or at least semi-official publication by many outsiders of the Church. This view has credence because LDS Church-owned BYU
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
was contractual author of the work. Furthermore, six general authorities, though not credited editors, worked on the project including Dallin H. Oaks
Dallin H. Oaks
Dallin Harris Oaks is an American attorney, jurist, author, professor, public speaker, and religious leader. Since 1984, he has been a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
, Neal A. Maxwell
Neal A. Maxwell
Neal Ash Maxwell was an apostle and a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1981 until his death.-Life:...
, and Jeffrey R. Holland
Jeffrey R. Holland
Jeffrey Roy Holland is an American educator and religious leader. He served as the ninth President of Brigham Young University and is a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve, Holland is accepted by...
(president of BYU when the project began).
Views of the encyclopedia's contents
Content in the Encyclopedia is thought to express a faith-promoting view of the church. In addition to established LDS apologistsMormon apologetics
Mormon apologetics is the systematic defense of Mormonism against its critics. Notable Latter-day Saint apologists include early church leaders such as John Taylor, B. H. Roberts, James E. Talmage and modern scholars such as Hugh Nibley, Orson Scott Card, and Jeff Lindsay...
like Hugh Nibley
Hugh Nibley
Hugh Winder Nibley was an American author, Mormon apologist, and professor at Brigham Young University...
, many other LDS apologists contributed including John Gee
John Gee
John Laurence Gee is a prominent Mormon apologist, and Egyptologist at Brigham Young University who is known for his writings in support of the Book of Abraham.-Background:...
, William Hamblin, Louis C. Midgley
Louis C. Midgley
Louis C. Midgley is a retired professor of political science at Brigham Young University. Since his retirement he has been closely involved with the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, writing many book reviews, articles, and book chapters defending The Church of Jesus Christ of...
, Daniel C. Peterson
Daniel C. Peterson
Daniel C. Peterson is a professor of Islamic Studies and Arabic in the Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages at Brigham Young University and currently serves as editor-in-chief of BYU's Middle Eastern Texts Initiative. He is a member of the executive council of the Neal A...
, Noel B. Reynolds
Noel B. Reynolds
Noel Beldon Reynolds is a political science professor at Brigham Young University where he has also served as an associate academic vice president and as a director for the Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies .- Biography :Reynolds grew up in Cody, Wyoming and served as a missionary...
, Stephen D. Ricks
Stephen D. Ricks
Stephen David Ricks is a professor of Hebrew at Brigham Young University and an author and co-author of several books and articles defending The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its teachings.- Biography :...
, John L. Sorenson
John L. Sorenson
John L. Sorenson is an emeritus professor of anthropology at Brigham Young University and the author of An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon as well as many other books and articles on the Book of Mormon and archaeology.Sorenson first did archaeological work in Mesoamerica while...
, Melvin J. Thorne, and John W. Welch
John W. Welch
John Woodland "Jack" Welch is an LDS law and religion scholar who currently teaches at the J. Reuben Clark Law School at Brigham Young University .- Biography :...
.
Critics had mixed reviews. Sterling M. McMurrin
Sterling M. McMurrin
Sterling Moss McMurrin was an unconventional Mormon theologian and Philosophy professor at the University of Utah. He served as United States Commissioner of Education in the administration of President John F. Kennedy-External links:******]]** by Peggy Fletcher Stack, Salt Lake Tribune, February...
said that "the articles on social issues and church structure and the biographies are the most useful" but he also felt that "the work is a carefully sanitized partisan affair that, while having many strengths, is quite uneven in quality and, though it appears to face many difficult issues head on, clearly omits, distorts, and compromises wherever necessary to advance and protect a positive image of Mormons, Mormonism, and the church." George D. Smith concluded his review of the Encyclopedia by saying, "As a 'religious encyclopedia' that addresses a goal of preserving a body of belief, the Encyclopedia of Mormonism impressively fulfills its mission. At the same time, the encyclopedia, like an iceberg, presents only a portion of important background and issues concerning the Book of Mormon. It is a brief for orthodoxy that lacks the scope and diversity necessary to qualify it as truly encyclopedic." The introduction to Sunstone
Sunstone Magazine
Sunstone is a magazine published by the Sunstone Education Foundation, Inc., a 501 nonprofit corporation, that discusses Mormonism through scholarship, art, short fiction, and poetry. The foundation began the publication in 1974 and considers it a vehicle for free and frank exchange in The Church...
's review of the Encyclopedia mentioned that Lavina Fielding Anderson
Lavina Fielding Anderson
Lavina Fielding Anderson is a Latter Day Saint scholar, writer, editor, and feminist. Anderson holds a Ph.D. in English from the University of Washington...
"pointed out 'pitfalls in the treatment of women's issues, but revealed a few surprisingly positive moments that otherwise might have been overlooked-and probably were by some editors.'"
No article of so-called Mormon historical revisionism
New Mormon history
New Mormon history refers to a style of reporting the history of Mormonism by both Mormon and non-Mormon scholars which departs from earlier more polemical styles of history...
is found in the Encyclopedia. It has been noted that after the Encyclopedia
September Six
The September Six were six members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who were excommunicated or disfellowshipped by the LDS Church in September 1993 for speaking against Church doctrine and leadership. The term "September Six" was coined by The Salt Lake Tribune and the term was...
." George D. Smith criticized the Encyclopedia because it is not the promised comprehensive treatment of Book of Mormon scholarship; "it is a statement of LDS orthodoxy."
However, the Encyclopedia was designed to serve as a general reference, not as a primer of LDS polemic
Polemic
A polemic is a variety of arguments or controversies made against one opinion, doctrine, or person. Other variations of argument are debate and discussion...
s. Thus, the Encyclopedia of Mormonism remains a useful resource.