This thesis is a study of textual variations in the two manuscripts and the first three editions of the Book of Mormon. Successive collations of each of these were made against the text of the first edition. From these collations some 427 specific textual variations were selected for inclusion in the thesis.The research disclosed that some genuine corrections as well as editorial revisions were made by Joseph Smith in 1837 and 1840. However, it was also concluded that some alterations of the text arose from accidental causes.The most significant contribution of this study was that both the Original Manuscript and the Printer's Manuscript contain valuable new manuscript readings which were unfortunately corrupted by scribal or printer's errors. These readings from the manuscripts eliminate inconsistencies, clarify meanings, correct errors, restore lost words, or otherwise present a super text. Because these genuine readings went unnoticed in 1837 and 1840, the process of restoring them to the text has not been completed.

The purpose of this study is to discuss the origin and development of the Southern States Mission of the Mormon Church as it relates to the Catawba Indians of York County. The primary purpose of this relationship was to teach the Indian people the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It is also the purpose of this study to show the significance of the change in the Catawba society resulting from this mission. From the time the first Mormon missionaries came into contact with the Catawbas, their lives have been deeply influenced by the teachings of the LDS Church. Every aspect of the Catawbas' lives was changed as a direct result of Mormonism.It was found that an enormous amount of courage, time, and effort was expended on the part of the Catawbas, as well as the Mormons, in developing this relationship. As a result, the Catawba Indians are atypical as compared with other Indian tribes in that they have much lower rates of alcoholism, drug addiction, crime, suicide, and illiteracy.

The purpose of this thesis has been to demonstrate as clearly as possible the full extent of Mormon Land in Missouri during the years 1831-1841. An identification has been made of the names of several thousand of these early Mormons and will further show the scope of Mormonism during this period. This study will add detail to what previous writers have stated about this trying period for Mormonism.As accurately as possible, the author has identified where the Mormon settlements were, through graphs and charts. It has been demonstrated that the Mormon population extended beyond the traditional areas they have historically "confined" to such as Jackson, Clay, Caldwell, Daviess and Carroll Counties. It is the desire of the writer to have the study used to further study of the Mormon decade in Missouri.

The first eight temple sites in Utah were studied to determine important geographical characteristics of each, and to test the hypothesis that Mormon temple sites conform to definitions of sacred space. President Brigham Young of the Church greatly influenced the selection of the first four temple sites, and the construction of each until his death in 1877. Claimed revelation from God to Young and other leaders and members of the Church, was evident concerning the temple sites. The later four temple sites of the twentieth century were approved by the First Presidency of the Church, but local Church leaders and members were involved more in the site selection and construction process than nineteenth century temple sites.The hypothesis was proven correct, by comparing sacred space definitions of various authors, with teachings and practices of the Church concerning its temple sites. In all comparisons, Mormon temple sites met the stated criteria of sacred space.

This thesis traces the origin, development, and decline, from 1852 to 1904, of Salt Lake County's judicial precincts. A precinct functioned as the basic subdivision of county government. Its boundaries were generally coterminous with those of local communities. It was established to allow for a degree of local control by the people.Chapter two reveals that precinct justices experienced over time a marked decline in socio-political prominence. This is largely due to legislative statutes that decreased their jurisdictional powers. Chapter three examines the evolution of precinct boundaries. It is demonstrated that geographic distribution of individuals played a major role in the growth and eventual consolidation of community precincts. The relative availability of government services also fostered the development of county districts. Chapter four studies the role of the minor precinct officials in local government--constables, estray poundkeepers, and fenceviewers. The last chapter devotes attention to the factors that influenced the institution. The appendix lists the county's justices of the peace from 1852 to 1904.

Religion is a major institution in society and for many, affiliation with a religious group shapes the way they view the world and the way they interact with other formal and informal institutions within society. In addition, particular behaviors are present during the processes an individual goes through when deciding to leave or switch their religious affiliation.There are a variety of new affiliations that these disaffiliated individuals can make. One alternative religious group that disaffected members of the LDS Church (Mormons) can form a new affiliation with is Evangelical Christianity, often referred to as the "Born Again Movement". This pattern of switching from one sect to another is the most dramatic form of switching as both the LDS Church and Evangelical Christianity are exclusive in nature.By focusing on this unique and exclusive form of switching, from Mormonism to Evangelical Christianity, the various reasons for disaffiliation and subsequent conversion, and the processes involved in switching can be understood.

The first objective of this thesis was to examine the Old Testament chronology carefully to see how it is computed. The second objective was to examine the modern scriptures to see what contributions they make in establishing a more accurate, reliable chronology. The third objective was to examine certain hypotheses in archaeology, carbon dating processes, and geology that seem to conflict with the Old Testament chronology with the purpose in mind of learning how accurate their findings are and what possibilities exist for a closer harmony between these sciences and the Old Testament scriptural chronology.

This thesis is a study of the degree of relationship that marriage role expectations of adolescents of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has to sex, church activity, parent's education, employment of mother, and ordinal position.The major objectives were: (a) to determine if male adolescents would have a higher traditional score than female adolescents on the marriage role expectation inventory; and (b) to determine if marriage role expectations of adolescents are related to sex, church activity, parent's education, employment of mother, and ordinal position.

After making a study of the pre-railroad Utah mail service, I have found it appropriate to categorize certain broad elements. This thesis is divided into eight parts, each part following in chronological order except for the one dealing with the Pony Express and the telegraph. Which covers approximately the same period of time as the chapter entitled "Resumption of the Mail." Though there was a most definite overlapping of time for these two historical phases, it would seem that there was adequate justification for making two chapters.The initial chapter in this thesis pertains to the unofficial mail, beginning in 1847. There was certain communication through and within the area of Utah before this, however; but there was no significant purpose to me in making a study of it at this time. My main objective deals with Utah from the beginning of its permanent settlements.The study deals with the following categories: (1) the unofficial mail between 1847 and 1850; (2) the beginning of the official mail in 1850; (3) the mail service during the middle of the 1850's; (4) the transition period between the early mail years and a more reliable service; (5) the resumption of the mail after certain significant difficulties; (6) the Pony Express and telegraph service; (7) the improvement in the transcontinental mail service through Utah as the routes from East to West were consolidated; (8) and finally, the concluding years up to the driving of the last spike of the first transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869.The chief sources of information were government documents, contemporary newspapers, and miscellaneous materials from the archives of the Historian's Office of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah. Much general and specific information was also obtained from reliable historians, past and present.There are maps, charts, tables, and portraits included in this thesis for added informaiton and interest.

For most of the period since his death in 1844, at the hands of a maniacal mob in Carthage, Illinois, there has been doubt about which portrait of Joseph Smith, first president and founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, best represented his physical features. This work has attempted to accumulate as much information about his features as was available for the purpose of establishing the true image of the man. The discoveries made by this study are listed in the following discussion.