Substantial comparative analyses of Puritanism and Mormonism are lacking in historical scholarship, despite noted similarities between the two religions. This study helps to fill that void by comparing the Puritan and Mormon proselytization efforts among the Indians that occurred at the respective sites of Massachusetts Bay Colony and the Southern Indian Mission. In my examination of the missionization attempts that took place at these two locations, I analyze a common motive and method of the two denominations for attempting to Christianize the Indians. The Puritan and Mormon missionaries proselytizing in Massachusetts Bay Colony and the Southern Indian Mission shared an identical motive for seeking to convert the Indians to Christianity. The missionaries' conviction that the regional natives were descendants of the House of Israel prompted them to proselytize among the Indians, as they understood that the conversion of the House of Israel constituted one of the important events to precede the prophesied return of Christ to the earth. The Puritans and Mormons engaged in and overseeing the missionary endeavors of the two locales under study likewise shared several parallel conversion methods. One such method consisted of utilizing one of the largest resources available to the two religions: their constituents. The Puritans and Mormons each implemented the association and example of their missionaries and congregational members as a primary method of conversion. Moreover, they applied that technique in a corresponding manner.

This thesis argues that in studying the missionary work of the followers of James J. Strang, one gains a better understanding of the expectations and complexities of first generation Mormons. The introduction provides a background of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) from 1844 through 1850. Chapter One discusses the reasons why former Mormons joined Strang, which included their dissatisfaction with Brigham Young and their attraction to the doctrines and positions of Strang. Chapters Two and Three analyze and discuss the successes and failures of Strang's actual missionary work. The work initially succeeded because of the converts' desire for a prophet, the use of the Latter-day Saint networks, and the effectiveness of the Strangite missionaries. The work ultimately failed, however, because of internal dissension, newly introduced and controversial doctrines, and the countering efforts of the LDS Church and other Mormon Restorationist groups. The fourth chapter provides a case study of the Strangite missionary work by discussing the church's activities in England. Chapter Five concludes the thesis by giving an account of an unsuccessful mission to the Native Americans, providing a brief history of the movement after 1850, and discussing the ultimate failure of Strangism. In essence, this thesis argues that a correlation generally existed between the Strangites' view of how Strang was following the perceived principles of Mormonism and their belief in Strang's prophetic mission. In other words, Strangites, like all early Mormons, had their individual ideals concerning Mormonism and what it represented. This thesis will use the Mormon-to-Strangite conversion to illustrate the complexities involved in finding their version of Mormonism.

This thesis is a study about the influence of the Book of Mormon message to the Lamanites upon the establishment of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mexico, primarily focusing upon the years 1875-1950. Several important events, people, and publications from the first seventy-five years of the Church's history in Mexico are evaluated as historical case studies in order to examine the extent to which the message to the Lamanites influenced the beginnings of the Latter-day Saints there. These case studies include the first mission to Mexico in 1875, early publications in Spanish, the dedication of Mexico by Apostle Moses Thatcher, the presidency of Rey L. Pratt, and the Third Convention. Though this thesis provides pertinent historical background and details, as well as analysis of key primary sources and documents, its main purpose and contribution is its focus on the theme of the Lamanites, within the context of early Latter-day Saint history in Mexico.

The purpose of this work is to chronicle the growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from its earliest beginnings in the late 1930s to the events surrounding the revelation on the priesthood in 1978. This thesis will show that as the Church in Rio became less American and more Brazilian, Church growth accelerated. When missionaries first began working in the city, its membership, leadership, culture, and even language was based on North American society and practices, and the Church struggled to establish itself. Only as these aspects of the Church became more Brazilian did it begin to have greater success in the area. This survey history of the Church in Rio de Janeiro will begin in 1935 with the influential work of Daniel Shupe—a North American Church member who lived and worked in Rio and translated the Book of Mormon into Portuguese. We will then examine the work of the missionaries both before and after World Warr II, the growth of Brazilian Church leadership in the city, and how the Church established itself as a center of strength for the Church. Finally, our study will conclude with the 1978 revelation extending the priesthood to all worthy male members regardless of race and the immediate influence of that shift on the Church in the city. The focus of this work will be on the major factors and most influential individuals that affect Church growth and stability in Rio, thereby providing an in-depth study of the effects of language, culture, leadership, and race on the Church in this intriguing and influential city.

Every foreign missionary is confronted with one basic task. Without its successful accomplishment his work as a missionary will fail. It is the task of learning the language of the people among whom he is working. However laudable his motives may be, however great his consecration, and however capable he may be in many tasks, if he fails to gain the ability to understand readily speech addressed to him or to communicate his own thoughts intelligibly and accurately to them, he is working behind a closed door — a door which he failed to unlock, It is the purpose of this study (1) to inquire into the objectives and methods of language study; (2) to determine what preparation can actually be given the student for the task of learning the language; (3) to outline the courses to be offered. As not all missionaries have the same work, it will also be necessary to determine what courses would be an advantage to every missionary, and what additional courses are to be expected of those who have a more specialized language, teaching or theological task.

Capturing Believers provides a history of the reception of American conservative evangelical missionary broadcasting from its inception in 1931 through the rise of the commercial era in 1970. The dissertation narrates accounts of two major Protestant stations, HCJB and ELWA, located in Ecuador and Liberia, respectively, as well as the U.S.-based project to build a custom transistor radio for the mission field. Employing a case-study approach, the thesis demonstrates the innovativeness of religious broadcasters who formulated a range of pragmatic responses to the drastic shortage of receiving sets in the southern hemisphere, including the use of social convention and the development of pretuned receiver technology. Missionary stations imported not only radios, but a constellation of American values into host countries through their reception activities. Overall, officials employed creative methods to construct a particular type of listener experience known as radio capture, characterized by regular listening in a domestic setting. By penetrating into the home or village and exposing listeners to proprietary broadcasts on a continual, even daily, basis, missionary receiver programs legitimized American conservative evangelicalism abroad and sowed seeds for a widespread revival of Protestantism in Latin America and Africa after 1970.

Thesis (D. Miss.)--Western Seminary, Portland, OR, 2008. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 250-255).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2006. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 145-148).

Thesis (D. Miss.)--Western Seminary, Portland, Or., 1997. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 196-200).

Thesis (D. Miss.)--Western Seminary, Portland, OR, 2008. / Abstract. Typescript. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 250-255).