The several versions and revisions of the Bible in existence precipitate questions concerning the reliability of many Biblical texts. Each of these versions has an amount of variation from the others, yet all were done my men of accepted scholarship.Joseph Smith also made a Bible revision, or as he termed it, a "translation," using a King James Version printed in 1828 as the basis. This amended King James Version, although not fully completed, has been published under the title of the Inspired Version of the Holy Scriptures, by the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.This thesis is the result of a study to determine the extent and the significance of many of the textual differences that exist between the four gospels of the King James Version and the corresponding books of the Inspired Version. Comparison was made between a King James Version printed in 1824 (since it was the nearest that the writer could obtain to that used by Joseph Smith) and an Inspired Version printed in 1927.

Religious education in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as given by the seminaries is to help youth achieve a meaningful testimony that God lives, Jesus is the Christ, and Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. The purpose of this study was to determine why some youth were not taking advantage of this training by enrolling in seminary.It was determined that the teachers were a negligible reason for lack of enrollment. Rather, the reasons stemmed more from a lack of awareness of the nature of the seminary program by some priesthood leaders, by the youth and their parents. Specifically, some youths would have attended seminary, but due to unique circumstances, such as lack of transportation, were unable to do so. Academic load in school prevented other students from enrolling in seminary. The influence of parents who were inactive in the Church, and who therefore did not encourage seminary attendance, resulted in the non-attendance of their children. The negative attitude of youth towards the Church was more noticeable than the negative attitude of their parents.

This study makes a consideration of four related concepts of Deity, each of which is accepted as doctrine by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which claims to have received these doctrines from Joseph Smith. On the other hand, each of these concepts is rejected as doctrine by the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which claims that Joseph Smith did not teach them.

Between 1853 and 1914 the kingdom of Prussia and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormons, disagreed over the issue of Mormon missionaries proselyting in Prussia. In 1853 royal magistrates banished all Mormon missionaries from the kingdom for advocating emigration. A new church policy of preaching without seeking for official permission, in addition to an improved relationship between the Mormons in Utah and the United States government after the Manifesto of 1890, led to an increase in missionaries sent to Germany, including Prussia. By 1900 mormon success alarmed the Prussian Protestant clergy and a few Prussian governors as well. The governor near the Russian border banished Mormon missionaries as "undesirable" foreigners. In response to an appeal by the United States Embassy, the Prussian Interior Minister decided in December, 1902 that the Mormons posed a threat to the public morality of Prussia. He issued a new banishment decree in 1903. Despite this decree and increased scrutiny by local police officials, Mormons continued to work in Prussia, enjoying limited success until World War I put a hiatus on American Mormon missionary work in Europe.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the foundations of prejudiced attitudes toward Mexicans held by White Americans and to investigate a means of reducing it, paying specific attention to prejudice found within a subpopulation of White Americans. The origins of American prejudice toward Mexicans are outlined using both historical and psychological explanations. An understanding of these origins leads to the notion that increased favorable contact is the best method for reducing prejudice. A field study focusing on prejudice toward Mexicans among ecclesiastical volunteers demonstrated that missionary service can be considered a means of favorable contact. Eighty-one White American Latter-day Saints were measured on their levels of prejudice toward Mexicans and the amount of favorable contact with Mexicans before and during their service assignments in the American Southwest. Results indicated that individuals reported significantly more favorable contact after six months of service and significantly less prejudice. There were no significant differences in the amount of favorable contact or levels of prejudice between individuals who were assigned to Spanish-speaking or English-speaking service assignments.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has continued to receive exposure in national periodicals. This thesis will explore that image from 1982 to 1990. During those years, the church continued to grow in membership and expand its existing programs. National periodicals can assist in assessing the public image of the Church because they help "mould public attitudes by presenting facts and views on issues in exactly the same way at the same time throughout the entire country." In this manner, they help to form the public opinion about the Church. They also reflect existing opinions because magazine publishers cater to what the public is interested in. This study will enhance the reader's understanding of this image by discussing the topics that received the greatest emphasis during that time period. This study is preceded by two theses, one by Adam H. Nielson covering the Church's image from 1970-1981, and the other by Dale P. Pelo, which studied the image of the Church from 1961-1970. Richard O. Cowan presented a doctoral dissertation which covered 1850-1961. This thesis is a continuation of those studies, and implements the same research procedures and methods.

This thesis is a study of the Mormon adoption program developed by the Mormons in response to the Indian slave trade in Utah, 1850-1880. It focuses on the Mormon justifications, as enumerated by Brigham Young, for the adoption policy and it links those justifications to expected results. Further this thesis compares the Mormon's expected results with the actual results of the adoption program through an analysis of historical accounts and Mormon ordinance records.

Polygamy was the key issue which acted to popularize opposition to the Latter-day Saint Church during the years 1905-1936. As a result of the continuing controversy over the so-called "Mormon Question," secular moviemakers in this period planned or actually produced nearly forty motion pictures containing Mormon characterizations. Although several important pro-LDS movies were made (some with Church assistance), the anti-Mormon photoplay dominated the silent film era portrait of the Saints. Murder and polygamy as basic themes provide clear reference to traditional literary and theatrical images. Early attempts by Utah and Church officials to censor the offending pictures were unsuccessful. Following World War I, U. S. Senator Reed Smoot was able to effect the suppression of a number of anti-Mormon productions. After the Church reaffirmed its plural marriage ban in the mid-1920s, the anti-polygamy movement died out. As the polemical film aimed at the Church was abandoned, the Saints gradually took on a more favorable screen image.

The public image of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the product of several factors. This thesis investigates that image as presented in national periodicals from 1970 to 1981. During this time "Mormons" and "Mormonism" was a popular topic as the religion gained notoriety, and as an awareness of its peculiar beliefs and practices increased. The rationale for using national magazines to assess public image is the assumption that they "reflect prevailing points of view" and help "formulate public opinion." Since popular attitudes are one of the factors that influence how the Church is accepted in the world, this study will enhance the reader's understanding pertaining to the factors that molded those views. This study was preceded by a thesis covering the same subject from 1961-1970 by Dale P. Pelo, and a doctoral dissertation covering 1850-1961 by Richard O. Cowan.

This research, presents a qualitative study of six Latter-day Saint fathers of children with special needs. In-depth interviews were used to examine the demands and resources fathers draw upon in meeting the needs of their child(ren), the application of the conceptual ethic of fathering as generative work and crisis/stress theory, as well as an analysis of how fathers incorporated their religious beliefs, faith, and practices into fathering their special needs children. Narrative accounts are used to illustrate the results. These results are then applied to an integrated conceptual framework and clinical applications are made.