This seminar will explore the roots and development of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, both inside the U.S. and abroad. We will pay particular attention to beliefs, economic and social values, gender, and race as variables within the religious community.
The focus of this seminar is Mormonism, meaning, primarily, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is the largest Mormon body. Mormons in the United States have gone from being one of the most intensely persecuted religious groups in the country’s history to the fourth largest religious body in the U.S., with a reputation for patriotism and conservative family values. Because of its vigorous missionary program, the LDS Church now has more members outside the U.S. than inside. This seminar will introduce the basic practices and beliefs, and explore issues regarding economics, race, gender, and sexuality within the faith. These issues include: How did conflicts over Mormonism during the 19th century, especially the conflict over polygamy, help define the limits of religious tolerance in this country? How have LDS teachings about gender and race, or controversies about whether or not Mormons are Christian, positioned and repositioned Mormons within U.S. society? What does the LDS faith look like in other parts of the world, and how does its identification with U.S. prosperity and politics shape its growth in other places?
Course history:
Spring 2014: taught by Prof. Laurie Maffly-Kipp Spring 2017: taught by Prof. Laurie Maffly-Kipp Spring 2020: taught by Prof. Laurie Maffly-Kipp
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The in–class discussions allowed me to gain a deeper, more appreciative understanding of Mormonism.
