The Story of the Mormons

The Story of the Mormons, published in 1902, traces the history of the Mormon church from its beginnings through the early 20th century. Author William Alexander Linn conducted research using original sources and contemporary accounts to document the rise of this American religious movement. The book covers the life of Joseph Smith, the development of the Book of Mormon, and the early years of the Mormon church in New York, Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois. Linn details the migration west to Utah and examines the growth of the church under Brigham Young's leadership. The narrative includes examination of Mormon theology, religious practices, and interactions between Mormon settlers and non-Mormon neighbors. The text incorporates historical documents, newspaper articles, and firsthand accounts from both Mormon adherents and critics. This historical work provides perspective on religious movements in 19th century America and explores themes of frontier expansion, religious freedom, and the intersection of faith and politics in the developing nation.

Readers note this 1902 historical account takes a critical stance toward Mormonism, with many citing its anti-Mormon bias. Non-Mormon readers appreciate its detailed research and primary sources, while Mormon readers point out factual errors and the author's negative slant. Likes: - Comprehensive documentation of early Mormon history - Inclusion of newspaper accounts and original documents - Clear chronological organization - Coverage of economic and political context Dislikes: - Hostile tone toward Mormon beliefs - Outdated Victorian-era prejudices - Some inaccuracies about Mormon theology - Lack of Mormon perspectives Ratings: Goodreads: 3.5/5 (21 ratings) Amazon: 3.7/5 (12 ratings) Internet Archive: 4/5 (8 ratings) Sample review: "While biased against the LDS church, it provides valuable contemporary sources about early Mormonism that are hard to find elsewhere." - Goodreads reviewer Note: Limited recent reviews available since this is a historical text from 1902.

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🔹 Published in 1902, this was one of the first comprehensive non-Mormon histories of the LDS Church and remains influential in Mormon historiography. 🔹 Author William Alexander Linn worked as a journalist for the New York Tribune and New York Evening Post before writing this historical work. 🔹 The book caused controversy by challenging the official Mormon narrative about the discovery of the golden plates, suggesting Joseph Smith was influenced by earlier treasure-hunting activities. 🔹 Linn conducted extensive interviews with former Mormons and gathered primary sources from both supporters and critics of the movement, including rare early newspapers and pamphlets. 🔹 Despite being criticized by Mormon scholars for its negative bias, the book helped establish several research methods that became standard practice in Mormon studies, including the use of newspaper archives and personal testimonies.