Ryan Reeder
History 390R
Derr and Esplin
January 16, 2001
1. In a search for a potential replacement of the New Mormon History, as is suggested toward the end of Walker's article, why not consider a style based on Mormon's historiography in The Book of Mormon, viewing the secular in the context of the religious, and with the theological agenda of advancing the kingdom of God on earth running throughout?
2. Madsen quotes a saying that one cannot read a diary without feeling acquainted with the author. If by reading the writings of men, we can understand and come to know them, how much of this application extends to scripture then, in coming to know Jesus Christ in the same way through his words?
3. May makes an excellent point in speaking of failures guiding toward another, perhaps previously unthought of objective. We can see similar actions taking place within Mormon history as well as personal actions. The various movements of Joseph Smith Sr., apparently due to crop and/or business failures described in Chapter 1, eventually led him to Palmyra, near where the Prophet Joseph Smith obtained the plates. Reed Smoot, an apostle, elected senator from Utah, sponsored the Hartley-Smoot tarriff, which while it may not have been beneficial economically for the country, perhaps contributed to setting long-range consequences which may ultimately have proven benefical and progressive. My own life and performance in classes has led me to take more classes, including this one, which I might not have taken previously. As such, we see how success can be taken, in fact of necessity be derived from failure. The gospel itself, in a parallel, is predicated on the redemption from sin through the atonement of Jesus Christ.
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