Keith W. Perkins
Encyclopedia
Keith W. Perkins was a professor of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University
(BYU). He has written widely on the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the period when it was headquartered at Kirtland, Ohio
and has also written articles on figures in the recording of the history of the Church, such as Andrew Jenson
, whose work as a historian was the subject of Perkins' masters' thesis. This thesis was prominent enough to be cited in Charles T. Morrissey's article We Call it Oral History which moved the accepted time of the origin of the term back from the late-1940s to the mid-1860s.
Perkins was born in Phoenix, Arizona
. He has a BA in History Education from Arizona State University
and an MA and PhD from BYU in Church History and Doctrine. He was seminary principal at the LDS Seminary adjacent to Granite High School in Salt Lake County, Utah
and then instructor at the Tempe Institute of Religion
(adjacent to the campus of Arizona State University
) before joining the BYU faculty in 1975. During the mid-1980s as chair of the department of Church History and Doctrine Perkins developed the idea for special symposium to be held in various locations related to Church History. This was the beginning of the various publications in the LDS Church History in place x" series, with New England, New York and Pennsylvania, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, the Pacific and the United Kingdom having been some of the places featured over the years in the series. He has also written articles on subjects such as the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible.
Among other works Perkins compiled with Milton V. Backman, Jr. Journals, Diaries, Biographies, Autobiographies and Letters of Some Early Mormons and Others Who Knew Joseph Smith, Jr. and/or His Contemporaries. He edited with LaMar C. Barrett and Donald Q. Cannon
the book Sacred Places: Ohio and Illinois published by Deseret Book
in 2001. Perkins was also a co-author with Brace A. Van Orden, David J. Whittaker
, Truman G. Madsen
, John W. Welch
and James P. Bell of the book Book of Mormon Scholars. Perkins also compiled a book entitled Marriage is Ordained of God which was a collection of talks on the subject by LDS General Authorities.
Perkins and his wife, the former Vella Crowther, are the parents of four children. Perkins is a Latter-day Saint, and has worked with Ezra Taft Benson
, Gordon B. Hinckley
and Thomas S. Monson
among others on developing the church's Visitors Center and other properties and programs in Kirtland. Among other callings in the LDS Church Perkins has served as a bishop and a stake president.
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...
(BYU). He has written widely on the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the period when it was headquartered at Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland, Ohio
Kirtland is a city in Lake County, Ohio, USA. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census. Kirtland is famous for being the early headquarters of the Latter Day Saint movement.-Origins of Kirtland:...
and has also written articles on figures in the recording of the history of the Church, such as Andrew Jenson
Andrew Jenson
Andrew Jenson, born Anders Jensen, was a Danish immigrant to the United States who acted as an Assistant Church Historian of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for much of the early-twentieth century...
, whose work as a historian was the subject of Perkins' masters' thesis. This thesis was prominent enough to be cited in Charles T. Morrissey's article We Call it Oral History which moved the accepted time of the origin of the term back from the late-1940s to the mid-1860s.
Perkins was born in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. He has a BA in History Education from Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
and an MA and PhD from BYU in Church History and Doctrine. He was seminary principal at the LDS Seminary adjacent to Granite High School in Salt Lake County, Utah
Salt Lake County, Utah
Salt Lake County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. It had a population of 1,029,655 at the 2010 census. Its county seat and largest city is Salt Lake City, the state capital. It occupies Salt Lake Valley, as well as parts of the surrounding mountains, the Oquirrh Mountains to the west...
and then instructor at the Tempe Institute of Religion
Institute of Religion
Institutes of Religion provide religious educational classes for young single adult and university students who belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
(adjacent to the campus of Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
) before joining the BYU faculty in 1975. During the mid-1980s as chair of the department of Church History and Doctrine Perkins developed the idea for special symposium to be held in various locations related to Church History. This was the beginning of the various publications in the LDS Church History in place x" series, with New England, New York and Pennsylvania, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois, the Pacific and the United Kingdom having been some of the places featured over the years in the series. He has also written articles on subjects such as the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible.
Among other works Perkins compiled with Milton V. Backman, Jr. Journals, Diaries, Biographies, Autobiographies and Letters of Some Early Mormons and Others Who Knew Joseph Smith, Jr. and/or His Contemporaries. He edited with LaMar C. Barrett and Donald Q. Cannon
Donald Q. Cannon
Donald Quayle Cannon is a retired professor at Brigham Young University who specializes in Mormon history, particularly early Mormon history and international Mormon history....
the book Sacred Places: Ohio and Illinois published by Deseret Book
Deseret Book
Deseret Book is the largest Latter-day Saint book publisher and also owns a chain of LDS bookstores in the western United States. Over 150 people work in its Salt Lake City headquarters...
in 2001. Perkins was also a co-author with Brace A. Van Orden, David J. Whittaker
David J. Whittaker
David Jay Whittaker is a Mormon historian and bibliographer. He has authored or co-authored seven books and about fifty scholarly articles. He was the curator of Western and Mormon history manuscripts for the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Library of the Harold B. Lee Library. He was also a...
, Truman G. Madsen
Truman G. Madsen
Truman Grant Madsen was an emeritus professor of religion and philosophy at Brigham Young University and director of the Brigham Young University Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies. He was a prolific author, a recognized authority on Joseph Smith, and a popular lecturer among Latter-day...
, 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 :...
and James P. Bell of the book Book of Mormon Scholars. Perkins also compiled a book entitled Marriage is Ordained of God which was a collection of talks on the subject by LDS General Authorities.
Perkins and his wife, the former Vella Crowther, are the parents of four children. Perkins is a Latter-day Saint, and has worked with Ezra Taft Benson
Ezra Taft Benson
Ezra Taft Benson was the thirteenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1985 until his death and was United States Secretary of Agriculture for both terms of the presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower.-Biography:Born on a farm in Whitney, Idaho, Benson was the oldest of...
, Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon B. Hinckley
Gordon Bitner Hinckley was an American religious leader and author who served as the 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from March 12, 1995 until his death...
and Thomas S. Monson
Thomas S. Monson
Thomas Spencer Monson is an American religious leader and author, and the 16th and current President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . As president, Monson is considered by adherents of the religion to be a "prophet, seer, and revelator" of God's will on earth...
among others on developing the church's Visitors Center and other properties and programs in Kirtland. Among other callings in the LDS Church Perkins has served as a bishop and a stake president.
Sources
- Intro bio to chapter by Perkins in Donald Q. CannonDonald Q. CannonDonald Quayle Cannon is a retired professor at Brigham Young University who specializes in Mormon history, particularly early Mormon history and international Mormon history....
and David J. WhittakerDavid J. WhittakerDavid Jay Whittaker is a Mormon historian and bibliographer. He has authored or co-authored seven books and about fifty scholarly articles. He was the curator of Western and Mormon history manuscripts for the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Library of the Harold B. Lee Library. He was also a...
, ed., Supporting Saints: Life Stories of 19th Century Mormons. (Provo: BYU Religious Studies Center, 1985) p. 83. - Deseret Book bio
- Perkins testimony of the gospel
- Ensign, July 1984, p. 53
- listing of books by Perkins