Considerable literature has been written about the Mormons and their settlement of the lands within the Great Basin; yet no one has produced a systematic study which analyzes the following geographical factors: What pattern of land occupancy was actually used by these early pioneers? Which physical characteristics determined the selection of a site for the Mormon village? What type of city survey pattern was instigated as towns were established along the eastern margin of the Great Basin? What was the relationship between the forts and the settlements in their lay-out patterns? As these questions were systematically analyzed new findings were brought to the surface, thus shedding new light on topics which previously had not been explored satisfactorily.

The purpose of choreographing "Jacob Five: A Journey into the Olive Vineyard" was to artistically express a religious allegory in order to praise God as well as to bring the audience, dancers, and choreographer to a new understanding of the passage from which it was derived. The 39-minute dance was presented April 10, 1993 as a dance fireside. Following the performance, an informal discussion was held to give the audience an opportunity to respond to the dance. These comments were considered and recorded as part of the evaluation of this thesis. Both the thesis and video of "Jacob Five: A Journey into the Olive Vineyard" are available through the Brigham Young University Department of Dance.

The purpose of this study was to identify the extent of prophetic authority as it is understood and taught by those denominated prophets in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The purpose was accomplished by examining four specific areas: (1) What are prophets and what was their authority in the past as articulated in the accepted scriptures of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? (2) What is the foundation of prophetic authority for the present dispensation? (3) How does prophetic authority relate to the member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? (4) How doe does prophetic authority relate to the world as a whole?It was found that the Plan of Salvation, as understood in the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is implemented by authorized ministers of God the Father who is the source of all authority. Christ is the greatest of these ministers and is the great prophet. The lesser prophets under Christ and specifically, Presiding Prophets, are fully empowered to implement, while holding inviolate the agency of the individual, the total Plan to all of God's children in and out of the Church. The Presiding Prophets of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lay claim to this total authority.

Over all, this thesis was written to be a "ramble" of its own around and through three issues that are central to the writing of the personal essay-voice, authority, and experience-and central to the emergence of this author's own sense of "self."Drawing upon years of voluminous journals, this collection of six personal essays demonstrates what the scholarly introduction proposes: that the personal essay is both a valid genre and a magnificent bridge from informal life-writing to genuine literary accomplishment. Drawing on Phillip Lopate's differentiation of "memoiristic" essays from the more classic autobiographical form, this collection includes three of each "persuasion." First, there are three autobiographical pieces which combine narrative with exposition. In the second section of the thesis there are three memoiristic essays written entirely in a story-like style, employing such devices as dialog, character development, and detailed description.

This study presents a textual and grammatical analysis of 52 passages of Isaiah as they are found in Cave IV of the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Masoretic Text, the Septuagint, the King James version, and the Book of Mormon. The objective was to determine the relationship, if any, of those verses in the Book of Mormon with the other textual traditions. Based on the differences between the Book of Mormon text and the King James version, and upon the confirmation of those Book of Mormon differences by the other traditions, it was concluded that The Book of Mormon follows its own tradition.

The problem of this study was to investigate Brigham Young's recreational philosophy, views, practices and activities. This historical research was conducted and information gathered from Brigham Young's journals, the Manuscript History of Brigham Young, compilations of Brigham Young's discourses, books and articles written by his daughters, accounts written by those who were present when recreational events occurred, compilations of manuscripts and documents, and interpretations of various historians who interpreted events as they read them.The historical data collected indicated Brigham Young developed over a period of time a definite philosophy of recreation in regards to his personal life. He enjoyed not only large group gatherings where recreational events occurred but he enjoyed cultural refinement recreational pursuits as well.

In 1939, when Germany mobilized its military against neighboring Poland, LDS missionaries were notified to evacuate their missions. In August 1940, the full-time missionaries in the South African and Pacific missions were also evacuated because of the spread of hostilities in Europe. Later the missionaries were released from the missions in South America. By 1943 the only missionaries serving outside of North America were in Hawaii.All of the more than eight hundred missionaries were transported at Church expense to America, where they were either reassigned to missions within the United States or released to return to their homes. All this was accomplished without serious illness or accident. This thesis recounts their activities, experiences, and problems. Special research emphasis has been given to personal interviews and contemporary journal accounts.

Although much has been done in the study of values several important questions relative to the study of values remain. This thesis discusses the questions of what happens to the value systems of those who leave their culture for extended periods of time, do the perceptions of value systems become more accurate after exposure, and how does religiosity affect value systems.The study was based on the idea that each of the cultures being tested (Latin and United States) had a distinct, general value system which differentiated it from the other and yet unified the individuals within it. In this particular study this was not true. However, the possible reasons for this occurrance suggest some intriguing questions for further study. It is possible for example, that these results occurred because the sample group contained all LDS individuals and that this similarity in religion caused more similarity than culture caused differences between the sample groups. Also there was an indication that it is easier to differentiate cultures on the basis of their stereotypes of each other than on the basis of their value systems.

The problem of this thesis is: To determine whether there are Hebraic idioms in the Small Plates of Nephi in the Book of Mormon that have been retained in translation. An idiom is defined as any peculiar genius of the language: grammatical, syntactical, or verbal imagery. Non-Hebraic idioms were not considered.The assumptions underlying the problem are:1. The Book of Mormon is a record of the Nephites whose cultural, social, and lingual milieu originated in Israel.2. The Book of Mormon was originally written according to a Hebrew pattern of thought and communication.3. Joseph Smith, as a young man inexperienced with languages and inept by training as a translator, tended to translate literally.

This study analyzes the intent and primary bases of the L.D.S. concepts of Zion, consecration, and stewardship as it applies to the individual. Only the scripture and the statements of the Prophets, Seers, and Revelators of the L.D.S. Church are considered. An exhaustive history of consecration or stewardship is not provided. No attempt is made to establish Church doctrine.Major conclusions are: (1) the most important definition of Zion is the "pure in heart" who, when a community, are the perfect society; (2) the concept of consecration is to wholly love God, and is achieved through the gospel of Jesus Christ, resulting in Christ-like love or charity; (3) the royal law--to love others--fulfills every law of God, and those with charity extend the love of Christ in divine service, any resultant community has a unity with the Lord; (4) the earth and all therein is the Lord's--the individual's stewardship is his sphere of accountability in regard to the earth, its possessions, Jesus Christ, and the individual's inter-relationship with others.