What do you think?
Rate this book
Essays on American Indian and Mormon History
Winner of the 2020 "Best Anthology Award" from the John Whitmer Historical Association.
American Indians have long played a central role in Mormon history and its narratives. Their roles, however, have often been cast in support of traditional Mormon beliefs and as a reaffirmation of colonial discourses.
This collection of essays, many the result of a seminar hosted by the Charles Redd Center for Western Studies at Brigham Young University, explores the historical and cultural complexities of this narrative from a decolonizing perspective. Essays cover the historical construction of the “Lamanite,” settler colonialism and the Book of Mormon, and connections between the Seneca leader Handsome Lake and Joseph Smith. Authors also address American Indian Mormon tribal identities, Navajo and Mormon participation at the dedication of Glen Canyon Dam, the impact of Mormon Polynesian missionaries in Diné Bikéyah, the ISPP, and other topics. Prominent American Indian Mormon voices lend their creative work and personal experiences to the book.
With the aim of avoiding familiar narrative patterns of settler colonialism, contributors seek to make American Indians the subjects rather than the objects of discussion in relation to Mormons, presenting new ways to explore and reframe these relationships.
American Indians have long played a central role in Mormon history and its narratives. Their roles, however, have often been cast in support of traditional Mormon beliefs and as a reaffirmation of colonial discourses.
This collection of essays, many the result of a seminar hosted by the Charles Redd Center for Western Studies at Brigham Young University, explores the historical and cultural complexities of this narrative from a decolonizing perspective. Essays cover the historical construction of the “Lamanite,” settler colonialism and the Book of Mormon, and connections between the Seneca leader Handsome Lake and Joseph Smith. Authors also address American Indian Mormon tribal identities, Navajo and Mormon participation at the dedication of Glen Canyon Dam, the impact of Mormon Polynesian missionaries in Diné Bikéyah, the ISPP, and other topics. Prominent American Indian Mormon voices lend their creative work and personal experiences to the book.
With the aim of avoiding familiar narrative patterns of settler colonialism, contributors seek to make American Indians the subjects rather than the objects of discussion in relation to Mormons, presenting new ways to explore and reframe these relationships.
440 pages, Hardcover
Published June 28, 2019
2 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 17, 2022
A very enlightening collection of essays. I’m a member of the Church and most of what was shared in this book was new to me — but how glad am I to have read it (and how much I think members of the Church need to read it!). My eyes were certainly opened “to a host of unexplored ideas” when it comes to the interweaving histories of LDS people and American Indians … and not often for the betterment of the Church. I’m very thankful for Indigenous voices providing their own words and histories to Church beliefs, and certainly want to stay engaged in this topic.
October 19, 2019
By Allemande Left
I chose to review this book because I knew the content would be new to me. I am a white middle-aged, middle class female who has lived my entire life in the eastern US. I do not have American Indian heritage and did not attend BYU. I am not a product of Mormon pioneers. My knowledge base, prior to reading this book was quite limited and in many cases biased, inaccurate and wrong. I now have a lot to think about.
Essays on American Indian & Mormon History is a scholarly work, an outgrowth of a seminar hosted by the Charles Redd Center for Western Studies at Brigham Young University in 2015. The book’s essay decolonize the relationship between American Indians and Mormon settlers and missionaries by examining the complex, inter-related history and culture.
Essays begins with a comprehensive introduction written by the editors followed by poetry and prose, effectively bringing personal stories to the forefront of the academic essays. The book’s essays are each written by a different author from a unique perspective. Part One consists of five essays under the collective grouping of Native Experience with the Early LDS Church, Interpretation of Mormon Scripture, and Literary Representations. Part Two includes six essays grouped under Native Mormon Experiences in the Twentieth Century.
The first essay, “The Book of Mormon as Mormon Settler Colonialism” by Elise Boxer slapped me right out of my naivety and indoctrination. Quoting, “The use of the Book of Mormon as a historical and religious text of Lamanite identity and history on this continent erases the way Indigenous Peoples view their own creation as a people, their connection to the land, and their identity as a people. Instead, Indigenous Peoples are made to fit into Mormon creation stories and religious belief system. The erasure of Indigenous Peoples and history by Mormon settlers is an extension of the larger American colonial project of removal and genocide of Indigenous Peoples” (page 4).
To continue reading: https://www.the-exponent.com/book-rev...
I chose to review this book because I knew the content would be new to me. I am a white middle-aged, middle class female who has lived my entire life in the eastern US. I do not have American Indian heritage and did not attend BYU. I am not a product of Mormon pioneers. My knowledge base, prior to reading this book was quite limited and in many cases biased, inaccurate and wrong. I now have a lot to think about.
Essays on American Indian & Mormon History is a scholarly work, an outgrowth of a seminar hosted by the Charles Redd Center for Western Studies at Brigham Young University in 2015. The book’s essay decolonize the relationship between American Indians and Mormon settlers and missionaries by examining the complex, inter-related history and culture.
Essays begins with a comprehensive introduction written by the editors followed by poetry and prose, effectively bringing personal stories to the forefront of the academic essays. The book’s essays are each written by a different author from a unique perspective. Part One consists of five essays under the collective grouping of Native Experience with the Early LDS Church, Interpretation of Mormon Scripture, and Literary Representations. Part Two includes six essays grouped under Native Mormon Experiences in the Twentieth Century.
The first essay, “The Book of Mormon as Mormon Settler Colonialism” by Elise Boxer slapped me right out of my naivety and indoctrination. Quoting, “The use of the Book of Mormon as a historical and religious text of Lamanite identity and history on this continent erases the way Indigenous Peoples view their own creation as a people, their connection to the land, and their identity as a people. Instead, Indigenous Peoples are made to fit into Mormon creation stories and religious belief system. The erasure of Indigenous Peoples and history by Mormon settlers is an extension of the larger American colonial project of removal and genocide of Indigenous Peoples” (page 4).
To continue reading: https://www.the-exponent.com/book-rev...
September 7, 2019
This is an academic book that is a collection of essays, each written by a different author. I knew very little about the complicated history of the relationship between the American Indian peoples and the Mormon church. The essays shared the perspective of the Native people rather than the viewpoint of a typical history written about Native people by non-Natives.
It is well referenced book that will be used in graduate studies most likely.
It was not easy reading to take to the beach. It was deep and thoughtful. It made me think about preconceived ideas. I read it slowly over the course of a few months, reading novels between essays to change the channel for a week here and there.
Some essays were general and other were specific to Indian nations.
One essay was about the Indian Placement Program. I knew about this, but only superficially. This heavily affected the Navajo People. The program existed from an informal start in 1947 until 2000 and had approximately 70,000 Native students placed in Mormon households to attend school. The goal was to improve the educational opportunities for the children, while also extending missionary opportunities. Instead of presenting the program as totally bad (in retrospect), it presented a nuanced view of a complex situation that began because a young girl asked to live in the backyard of a Mormon family so she could go to the school in that neighborhood.
That is just one example of the intricate web of relationships between Native Peoples and Mormon settlers beginning as the West was colonized and extending to the present day.
It's not the type of book I would ordinarily read but I'm glad I had the opportunity.
Well done! Well researched! Well represented!
It is well referenced book that will be used in graduate studies most likely.
It was not easy reading to take to the beach. It was deep and thoughtful. It made me think about preconceived ideas. I read it slowly over the course of a few months, reading novels between essays to change the channel for a week here and there.
Some essays were general and other were specific to Indian nations.
One essay was about the Indian Placement Program. I knew about this, but only superficially. This heavily affected the Navajo People. The program existed from an informal start in 1947 until 2000 and had approximately 70,000 Native students placed in Mormon households to attend school. The goal was to improve the educational opportunities for the children, while also extending missionary opportunities. Instead of presenting the program as totally bad (in retrospect), it presented a nuanced view of a complex situation that began because a young girl asked to live in the backyard of a Mormon family so she could go to the school in that neighborhood.
That is just one example of the intricate web of relationships between Native Peoples and Mormon settlers beginning as the West was colonized and extending to the present day.
It's not the type of book I would ordinarily read but I'm glad I had the opportunity.
Well done! Well researched! Well represented!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews