Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith's Ohio Revelations Rating :
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful.
A singular achievement
By David A. Christensen
Mark Staker's book is a singular achievement. "Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith's Ohio Revelations" is not only packed with densely written new information on the Kirtland period of Latter-Day Saint history, but every chapter provides a whole new way of thinking about Mormonism's past. This is clearly the most significant book on Mormonism history to come out in years. He shows that the revelations Joseph Smith received were responses to real issues facing his small group of followers. They were not empty bottles waiting to be filled with new gospel wine but had old beliefs, old habits, and old religion that led to their raising questions and seeking answers from Joseph Smith. The book explores four major issues: the gifts of the Spirit and issues of speaking in tongues and religious enthusiasm as raised by Black Pete, one of their "revelators;" the principle of consecration as faced by another early member, Newel K. Whitney; the Plan of Salvation and afterlife as seen from the perspective of the Johnson family and their associates in Hiram, Ohio; and the concept of building Zion and economic cooperation as encompassed in the Kirtland Safety Society, a "financial company" or bank designed to help them become like the City of Enoch, a group of early believers who established economic equality. The book is a narrative that describes the physical setting for the reader and gives the reader a very readable story while tackling important issues of Mormon history buried in the context of the unfolding events. I found it a real page turner.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful.A seminal work of impressive scholarship
By Midwest Book Review
Joseph Smith was the prophetic founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, most commonly known to the public at large as 'The Mormon Church' and headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. Most of the prophetic revelations that Smith received were while he lived in the state of Ohio. In "Hearken, O Ye People: The Historical Setting of Joseph Smith's Ohio Revelations", a 694-page compendium of historical research and commentary by Mark Lyman Staker (Senior Researcher, LDS Church History Department) each one of those revelations (most of which are collected in the sacred volume of LDS texts called the "Doctrine & Covenants") is provided with a detailed historical background and context for each of these canonized revelations. Informed and informative, "Hearken, O Ye People" is a seminal work of impressive scholarship and strongly recommended reading for students of 19th Century Mormon History in general, and the prophetic revelations of Joseph Smith in particular.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful.Meticulous Research
By Michael Harris
I've only read about 100 pages so far...
From this reading it's easier to see and believe that Joseph Smith truly was a prophet. I better understand the world and difficulites he confronted.
This book is very thorough in its description of the culture surrounding Kirtland, Ohio in the 1830s. It specifically contains technical information surrounding the life of the Mormons (those that belonged to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and the revelations that Joseph Smith recieved while living there. If you plan on visiting the LDS/Mormon historical sites in Kirtland and enjoy historical or if you want to more fully appreciate some of the nuances surrounding the revelations given to Joseph Smith that are found in the Doctrine & Covenats than this book may be for you. It contains accurate, professional and the most up-to-date research.
One thing in particular I enjoyed reading was the surrounding Joseph Smith being attacked by the mob in March 1832. I learned that well-meaning Mormons have perpetuated some inncorrect or inconclusive information surrounding this tragic event.
The book's pages and binding are high quality.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #980580 in Books
- Published on: 2010-02-28
- Original language:English
- Dimensions: 10.75" h x7.52" w x.0" l,3.20 pounds
- Binding: Hardcover
- 694 pages
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