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.

The majority of critics who have opposed the Book of Mormon have claimed the book is the product of one man because of the uniformity of style throughout. If these charges were true, Joseph Smith's claim of divine origin for the book and its contents would be in jeopardy.Studies have shown Semitisms, enallage, and constructions amidst the Book of Mormon writings which seem to indicate that it is a fairly literal translation. If it is such, style differences among the writers should be evident to some degree.The mental or emotional state of a writer fashions his writings. The counts of words, phrases, and various constructions along with his use of rhetorical figures reveal the author's characteristics. A few individual observations had indicated style differnces in the Book of Mormon but no statistical analysis had been attempted. It was decided, therefore, that a statistical comparison of the writings attributed to Nephi, Jacob, Mormon, and Moroni would be made.

Joseph Smith, prophet and founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stated that when he was fourteen years old he had received a visitation from two members of the Godhead: the Father and the Son. He was alone when he went into the woods to pray, and was therefore the only witness to the manifestation of these personages. He also declared that when he was seventeen years old he was visited by an angel named Moroni. Again he was without witnesses. For a first-hand account of these two experiences we must rely on a single source, Joseph Smith. All other sources of the story of his visions of Moroni and the Father and Son are secondary since they have been retold after the authors had hear Joseph's story.Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rely upon the story of Joseph Smith as a foundation of their faith. Details left by Joseph himself, however, are only sketchy in nature, making a historical analysis of the events highly difficult. Further problems arise when accounts by other writers who knew Joseph Smith not only fill in a few missing details, but also sometimes present some conflicting details. A survey of these sources and problems, together with an analysis of Joseph Smith's several efforts to re-tell the story, would be helpful to "Mormons" and "non-Mormons" alike in determining what consistent "threads" might run through all the stories, as well as pin-pointing what historical problems may still remain in correlating various accounts. This thesis is not an effort to prove beyond all doubt that Joseph Smith was telling the truth, for this cannot be done by empirical methods. It is simply an effort to analyze as objectively as possible the various sources and to suggest possible reasons for some of the problems and conflicts. It also shows that Joseph Smith was consistent in his recitation of the major aspects of his story over the years.

The purpose of this study is to compile the major eschatological prophecies and teachings found in the scriptures and in the discourses and writings of Latter-day Saint General Authorities; to include sufficient explanatory material to interrelate and clarify the events which are expected to transpire; and to establish, in so far as is possible, the order of these eschatological events.

The general topic of this thesis is the changes that have occurred in The Doctrine and Covenants through its various editions, beginning with A Book of Commandments which was printed in 1833, to the 1937 edition of The Doctrine and Covenants.

Students and scholars of the L. D. S. Scriptures have long been aware of differences existing in the various publications of the material in our Book of Moses. To our knowledge no one has ever carefully isolated or analyzed these changes nor has any explanation been given either to justify or condemn them.Our first objective has been to make a linear comparison of all significant publications of the contents of the Book of Moses. By "significant" we refer to those publications in which there are additions or omissions of words. All changes are then considered in the light of their historical background.

As the title indicates, this thesis is a consideration of selected changes that have been made in major editions of the Book of Mormon. Much has been said recently about changes and modifications in this record but, unfortunately, most of it has been said by those who have been unfriendly toward both the book itself and the church which endorses it. Because this kind of bias is usually an obstruction to objective scholarship, this study has been undertaken by one firmly within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to document not only what changes have been made, but also when they were made, and, consequently who probably made them.A detailed analysis of every change that has been made in the Book of Mormon since its initial publication in 1830 would be neither feasible nor rewarding as a Master's thesis. Therefore, although consideration has been given to every change, this study has been limited to "selected changes," defined as major modifications in format and the addition, deletion, or change of words within the text which could alter the meaning of the passage. For the most part, differences in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, verb forms, verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, pronoun forms, pronoun-antecedent problems, and other grammatical or stylistic revisions have not been considered. Nevertheless, some of these kinds of changes have been included in those isolated cases where they appear to influence the meaning of the verse.

A survey questionnaire was sent to 254 churches in the United States. An analysis of the answers of those giving a positive reply indicates that a great apostasy has taken place regarding the true Christian fast. Only a few small, independent churches seem to even approach Christ's ordained fast.It is claimed that great health benefits arise from wise periodic fasting. A physiological section analyzes the effects of fasting.A historical section presents the most important teachings and happenings of Gandhi, early reformers and practioneers, native races of America, U.S. presidents and state governments, early Christian history, and all large world religions.

Pilgrimage to sacred places of religious meaning has taken place since the early days of mankind. In the last few decades pilgrimage travel has experienced a world-wide boom due to modern means of transportation. Though pilgrimage is most commonly referred to in the context of the major world religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), there is some indication of pilgrimage-like travel among Mormons.This thesis looks at Mormon pilgrimage behavior among Mormon visitors to Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah. The study undertaken has revealed considerable differences between Mormon and non-Mormon motivations, behavior and visiting patterns visitors to Temple Square. Though there is no formal doctrine for Mormons concerning pilgrimage, these differences give evidence of pilgrimage-like activity among Mormons, indicating that Mormon visitors to Temple Square are religiously-motivated travelers and a part of a pilgrimage-tourist phenomenon.

The purpose of this study was to determine how effectively seminary teachers teach the concept of "living prophets" to students in non-credit released time and early morning seminary classes.The study was composed of a sample of 475 seminary students in non-credit released time and early morning seminary classes, and twenty seminary teachers. Each participant answered a questionnaire to test his concept of "living prophets." The responses were tabulated and presented in written and illustrative form.The findings showed that the teachers themselves had a clear concept of the role of "living prophets" in the church, but the concept in its fullest sense was not being implanted too effectively in the lives of the students.The students recognized a "living prophet " at the head of the church, but had difficulty in accepting the counsel pertaining directly to their personal lives. They showed a strong desire to study in seminary what the modern day prophets were saying about vital issues of the day.