The Ritualization of Mormon History and Other Essays by Davis Bitton

BYU Studies Quarterly Volume 35 | Issue 1 Article 23 1-1-1995 The Ritualization of Mormon History and Other Essays by Davis Bitton Steven L. Olsen Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq Recommended Citation Olsen, Steven L. (1995) "The Ritualization of Mormon History and Other Essays by Davis Bitton," BYU Studies Quarterly: Vol. 35 : Iss. 1 , Article 23. Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq/vol35/iss1/23 This Book Review is brought to you for free and open access by the All Journals at BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in BYU Studies Quarterly by an authorized editor of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact , . Olsen: <em>The Ritualization of Mormon History and Other Essays</em> by DAVIS BITTON the ritualization of mormon history and other essays urbana and chicago university of illinois press 1994 xii 194 pp ap index bibliographies 2750 27.50 2750 reviewed by steven L olsen adjunct faculty department of anthropology brigham young university Mormoni sms most influential teachers davis bitton is one of mormonisms and writers in the 1970s and early 1980s bitton was at the center of arguably the most progressive period of mormon historical scholarship in the twentieth century most of the nine essays in this collection come from this remarkable era all the essays have been updated to encompass some of the subsequent scholarship and include ample bibliographies these essays reflect a particular point of view that is akin to the new social history and the new urban history which refocus historical inquiry from socie societys tys central institutions and elite individuals to ordinary folks and their daily activities and associations thus bitton writes about brigham young jr not his illustrious father about the preservation and dissemination of mormon history in popular pageants and community celebrations not in institutional or academic scholarship and about the poetic legacy of member charles lowell walker not that of elder orson FE whitney these new histories have also drawn heavily from the social sciences and humanistic disciplines that are concerned as much with articulating individual cultural perspectives as with establishing objective facts thus bitton does not analyze the historical origins and sociological functions of polygamy rather he analyzes some nineteenth century polemic on plural marriage in an effort to explain why so many good people believed so deeply in a practice that ran counter to mainstream american values likewise bitton addresses utah mormonisms Mormoni sms first indigenous generation not to determine whether they were good or bad or the degree of their civility but rather to determine how and why they were perceived so radically differently by various groups bitton also reviews the B H roberts case not to prove or disprove roberts worthiness to join the US house of representatives but rather to reveal the subtle and complex assumptions central to the arguments in this controversy Published by BYU ScholarsArchive, 1995 235 1 BYU Studies Quarterly, Vol. 35, Iss. 1 [1995], Art. 23 byustudies BYU YU studies B 236 Bit tons studies is human adaptabittens another dominant theme in bittons tion to changing environments and circumstances in these essays cormons adapt when the discontinuity bitton suggests that mormons between experience and expectation threatens physical survival or group or individual identity or places deeply held beliefs in direct and seemingly unalterable contradiction from this permormons meeting the challenge of raisspec tive we see early utah cormons spective ing children in a demanding frontier environment abandoning and later repudiating polygamy for the sake of peaceful coexistence with victorian america adjusting social dance practices to avoid alienating the rising generation and inevitably selecting marginal ization over confrontation in a secular national political arena cormons as sharing a great deal with in the end bitton sees mormons good hearted and hardworking and the rest of humanity being goodhearted trying to fulfill basic human needs for existence companionship and meaning in life he sees them facing personal social and natural limitations at every turn and needing a good dose of humor and compassion cormons are also thoroughgoing americans but Bit tons mormons bittons bittens americans of a particular and peculiar stripe this distinctiveness makes these people interesting to study and fascinating to know reading these essays one senses that bitton is not only a historian of the first rank but also a lifelong explorer of the human condition his expeditions have yielded much insight which is especially remarkable since the insights are revealed by a relatively small religious group in the american west whose influence and intrigue on the national scene have been disproportionate to the size of the group some critics might respond to all of this by exclaiming so tell me something 1I dont already know the temptation to take for granted the subtle insights of these essays is to underappreci ate their influence among the community of scholars of mormonism in the years since they first appeared those familiar with the transformation of mormon historiography in the 1970s and 1980s cannot forget the difference bitton made in both scholarly and personal terms that difference is amply woven throughout these essays https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq/vol35/iss1/23 2 Olsen: <em>The Ritualization of Mormon History and Other Essays</em> by review of the ritualization of mormon history 237 to the question of relevance however another remark would likely sound more reasonable to bitton himself if the insights of these studies seem close to the lessons of daily life he might simply respond eureka revealing the essence of life as lived by ordinary latter day saints of the past is a central thrust of Bit tons bittons bittens intellectual explorations that the conclusions may seem self evident is a credit to the success of his effort to those who may see in these essays much that seems ordihist nary 1I challenge them to fist list the prior historical scholarship on mormon adolescence literary traditions leisure activities political rhetoric community celebrations and public ritual research like Bit tons breaks new ground in mormon studies by demonstrating bittons bittens the value of applying to the mormon past new approaches that have proven crucial to the understanding and appreciation of other times places and peoples contemporary students of mormonism could do worse than pursue and refine such fruitful avenues of inquiry one may quibble with bitton on the relevance of some pieces of evidence the accuracy of certain conclusions or with the publisher on the selection of a particular essay it is incontrovertible vertible however that bitton has left an enviable intellectual tro legacy to students of mormonism this (...truncated)