Richard E. Turley, Jr.

Chapter 1 gives background information.

I was pleased that Chapter 2 has references to the Joseph Smith Papers project, which has the various first vision accounts.

This is the first of four volumes that covers up through the death of Joseph Smith. It is easily readable, but for those wanting to delve deeper, endnotes provide the source of the information. I read an electronic copy, which in many cases had a live link to the cited source. The paperback copy is about 46 mm thick. As of June 2021, the first two volumes have been published.

There is no need for a long review. The book is available at no charge for an electronic copy, and the printed copy is quite inexpensive. Go read it yourself.


Contents:
1. Ask in Faith (Tambora, ... Religious Excitement)
2. Hear Him (First Vision Accounts)
3. Plates of Gold
4. Be Watchful
5. All Is Lost
6. The Gift and Power of God
7. Fellow Servants
8. ...
...
46. Endowed with Power
Notes on Sources
Sources Cited
Acknowledgments
Index

2021-02-17 Accidentally marked as read for the second time. I’ll update the date finished when I actually do finish reading it the second time.… (more)

From Pages xv and xvi: "We believe our decision to tell the story in a narrative style is another reason Massacre at Mountain Meadows reached so many readers. We chose to continue that narrative format in this volume . . ."

From Page 3: "As her eyes adjusted to the coolness of the brick-and-plaster interior, she made out several clerk desks."

There is narrative history and then there are non-fiction novels. That quote from Page 3 feels like it belongs more in the latter. I hope it was an outlier.… (more)