Michael Sanders Posted January 15, 2015 Posted January 15, 2015 (edited) On the heels of our just concluded Smithmas observance (ahem) comes the Smithsonian magazine Spring 2015 Collector's Edition presenting the 100 most significant Americans of all time. In the "Religious Figures" category, the Prophet Joseph Smith heads the list, and President Brigham Young is in third place. I wrote about it here.No Fanny Crosby or Levi Coffin - wow! BTW - I read where Fanny's path's crossed with LDS circles, just imagine what the hymn book would have been had she been converted. Michael SandersBook of Mormon BelieverIndependence, MO Edited January 15, 2015 by Michael Sanders
stemelbow Posted January 15, 2015 Posted January 15, 2015 So, we got a lot of calls and emails about this story -- far more than most for what I do -- all with one common complaint. I'll award a rep point to the first person who can identify it via a post in this thread. I'm feeling pretty stumped, but even so I'll add some more guesses here. I've re-read three or four times trying to figure out what people would take issue with. maybe questioning the methodology of the survey itself? Your comments about Brigham making a "bid for Mormon autonomy (including polygamy"? or was this the perceived problem "sometimes referred to as the Utah Expedition or Utah War, Mormon settlers resisted the entrance of the army into the Salt Lake Valley. But it was peacefully resolved, largely due to the mediation efforts of Thomas L. Kane, a non-Mormon friend of President Young and a man of influence among government officials"?
thesometimesaint Posted January 15, 2015 Posted January 15, 2015 Yep. Lewis and Clark had little to do with it. You need to go back and do some more thinking. All due deference to Lewis and Clark, but no they didn't have much to do with the settling of the west. Exploring yes, Settling no.
cinepro Posted January 15, 2015 Posted January 15, 2015 (edited) Seems to me that Brgham Young is responsible for the settlement of the entire west in large part. Doesn't sound like a real recognition of that, though us history textbooks pretty commonly mention that as his enduring legacy. I'm not sure how the numbers break out exactly, but it seems that total westward migration from 1843 - 1869 is estimated at ~500,000. Total Mormon migration is estimated at 60- 70,000. So there were a lot of people heading west even without Brigham Young. Edited January 15, 2015 by cinepro
Scott Lloyd Posted January 15, 2015 Author Posted January 15, 2015 The use of the word "lynching" to describe the death of Joseph Smith.Cinepro gets the rep point. I developed a stock response: "Please check a dictionary definition. Lynching means illegal killing by mob violence but not necessarily by hanging." One email suggested "assassination." I agree that would have been a better word choice. It preserves the appearance of objectivity, which "martyrdom" might not, but it's not as confusing as "lynching."
Thinking Posted January 15, 2015 Posted January 15, 2015 You need to go back and do some more thinking. All due deference to Lewis and Clark, but no they didn't have much to do with the settling of the west. Exploring yes, Settling no. You're right. The first accurate maps of the area (about 140 total maps), the documentation of natural resources, or successful contact with Native Americans really don't have much to do with settling the west. I'll think better next time. Lewis & Clark
cinepro Posted January 15, 2015 Posted January 15, 2015 (edited) Cinepro gets the rep point. Edited January 15, 2015 by cinepro
Jim Stiles Posted January 16, 2015 Posted January 16, 2015 You're right. The first accurate maps of the area (about 140 total maps), the documentation of natural resources, or successful contact with Native Americans really don't have much to do with settling the west. I'll think better next time. Lewis & Clark By the time Lewis and Clark published their notes, the west was being explored by private interests.
Thinking Posted January 16, 2015 Posted January 16, 2015 By the time Lewis and Clark published their notes, the west was being explored by private interests. Please understand that I am not claiming that Lewis & Clark were solely responsible for settling the west. I initially responded to rpn's claim.Seems to me that Brgham Young is responsible for the settlement of the entire west in large part. thenYou need to go back and do some more thinking. All due deference to Lewis and Clark, but no they didn't have much to do with the settling of the west. Exploring yes, Settling no.
thesometimesaint Posted January 17, 2015 Posted January 17, 2015 Please understand that I am not claiming that Lewis & Clark were solely responsible for settling the west. I initially responded to rpn's claim. then rpn didn't claim BY was solely responsible for settling the west, and neither did I. Lewis and Clark were great explorers, but settlers they weren't.
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