Comprehensive History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Encyclopedia
A Comprehensive History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Century I is a six-volume history published in 1930 by B.H. Roberts, a general authority
and Assistant Church Historian of the LDS Church. It should not be confused with the seven-volume History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
(nicknamed Documentary History of the Church), which was also edited by Roberts in the early 20th-century but focuses on the history of Joseph Smith, Jr.
, Roberts requested the magazine also allow him to publish a rebuttal. After his four-part response, the editor was so pleased that he invited Roberts to next write a detailed history of the LDS Church. The magazine was willing to change its frequency and format to accommodate the size of this task. From July 1909 to July 1915 Roberts wrote "The History of the Mormon Church" in forty-two-page installments for each issue of the newly named Americana magazine (sometimes called Americana Illustrated).
After the final article appeared, the First Presidency
wanted to publish the work in six volumes, but this was dropped due to the cost, despite Roberts willingness. He even considered condensing the material into a single volume after Joseph Fielding Smith
's one-volume Essentials in Church History was authorized for publication. In 1928 Apostle George Albert Smith
asked Roberts to revisit and update his work for publication in commemoration of the church's 1930 centennial.
For this reference work used by members of the church, a separate index volume was published in 1959 by the Brigham Young University
Library.
and was "far superior to any history of Mormonism which had yet appeared." It was the first to publish some major portions of recent history and to chronicle so wide a period of the Mormon past in one work. It referenced copious primary and secondary sources and sought to reject historical myths, "the untruth, the spectacular, the bizarre" that was "based on worthless testimony". However, the work has been criticized for manifesting a strong Mormon bias and using Romantic, "rhapsodic prose that sometimes overshoots the mark."
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...
and Assistant Church Historian of the LDS Church. It should not be confused with the seven-volume History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
History of the Church
History of the Church is a semi-official history of the early Latter Day Saint movement during the lifetime of founder Joseph...
(nicknamed Documentary History of the Church), which was also edited by Roberts in the early 20th-century but focuses on the history of Joseph Smith, Jr.
Background
After the American Historical Magazine, owned by the American Historical Society, published articles on the Spalding–Rigdon theory of Book of Mormon authorshipSpalding–Rigdon theory of Book of Mormon authorship
The Spalding–Rigdon theory of Book of Mormon authorship is the theory that the Book of Mormon was plagiarized in part from an unpublished manuscript written by Solomon Spalding. This theory first appeared in print in the book Mormonism Unvailed, published in 1834 by E.D. Howe...
, Roberts requested the magazine also allow him to publish a rebuttal. After his four-part response, the editor was so pleased that he invited Roberts to next write a detailed history of the LDS Church. The magazine was willing to change its frequency and format to accommodate the size of this task. From July 1909 to July 1915 Roberts wrote "The History of the Mormon Church" in forty-two-page installments for each issue of the newly named Americana magazine (sometimes called Americana Illustrated).
After the final article appeared, the First Presidency
First Presidency
In the Latter Day Saint movement, the First Presidency was the highest governing body in the Latter Day Saint church established by Joseph Smith, Jr. in 1832, and is the highest governing body of several modern Latter Day Saint denominations...
wanted to publish the work in six volumes, but this was dropped due to the cost, despite Roberts willingness. He even considered condensing the material into a single volume after Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith
Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr. was the tenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1970 until his death. He was the son of Joseph F. Smith, who was the sixth president of the LDS Church...
's one-volume Essentials in Church History was authorized for publication. In 1928 Apostle George Albert Smith
George Albert Smith
George Albert Smith, Sr. was the eighth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .-Early life:...
asked Roberts to revisit and update his work for publication in commemoration of the church's 1930 centennial.
For this reference work used by members of the church, a separate index volume was published in 1959 by the 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...
Library.
Reception
The Comprehensive History has been called "Roberts's most important historical labor" and "his magnum opus." It is seen as the "high-water mark" of historical studies before the academics of the New Mormon HistoryNew 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...
and was "far superior to any history of Mormonism which had yet appeared." It was the first to publish some major portions of recent history and to chronicle so wide a period of the Mormon past in one work. It referenced copious primary and secondary sources and sought to reject historical myths, "the untruth, the spectacular, the bizarre" that was "based on worthless testimony". However, the work has been criticized for manifesting a strong Mormon bias and using Romantic, "rhapsodic prose that sometimes overshoots the mark."
Volumes summary
- Volume I
- Joseph Smith's early history until the church's experience in MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
- Volume II
- Settlement in IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
up unto the exodus from Illinois
- Volume III
- The pioneer trek up until federal intervention in Salt Lake City
- Volume IV
- Various events in UtahUtah TerritoryThe Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
in the 1850s
- Volume V
- Volume VI
- Events leading up to the Manifesto1890 ManifestoThe "1890 Manifesto", sometimes simply called "The Manifesto", is a statement which officially disavowed the continuing practice of plural marriage in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
and other events to 1930