Oral History Collection
| MAIN ENTRY: | Turk, Tony |
| DATE OF INTERVIEW: | April 10, 1974 |
| LOCATION OF INTERVIEW: | Lubbock, Texas |
| INTERVIEWER: | History Seminar Course #633 |
| LENGTH OF INTERVIEW: | 2 hours, 25 minutes |
| SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE: | Tony Turk, historian and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon Church), discusses the history and various aspects of the Mormon Church. |
| TAPE ONE, SIDE ONE: | Introduction of Tony Turk Dwight Pitcaithley [reviewer] Leland Hargrave Creer, The Founding of an Empire; the Exploration and Colonization of Utah. Utah and Mormon history Bob Williams [reviewer] Gustive O. Larson. Prelude to the Kingdom; Mormon Desert Conquest: A Chapter in American Cooperative Experience. Socioeconomic history of Mormons Mormon Church Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Reflects the developing American nation Persecution, moves around the country Influence of and on the U. S. H. Allen Anderson [reviewer] Nels Anderson, Desert Saints Background of author given Mormon history and society Mormons as part of the American West Brigham Young As a colonizer State of Deseret (Mormon Kingdom) San Bernardino, California Mormon characteristics Selection of Utah for settlement Political power in Illinois De-emphasized mineral resources Language and script Mormon Church Gathering of Zion period |
| TAPE ONE, SIDE TWO: | Mormon Church (continued) Gathering of Zion period (continued) Worldwide membership Mormon population in Utah and Salt Lake City, Utah Mountain Meadows Massacre (1857) Mormon involvement Description of events Idea of Atonement of Blood Utah history Utah or Mormon War Similarity to the U. S. South Brigham Young (again) Leadership in the Mormon War Polygamy In the Mormon Church In the general American population Anti-Mormon literature Mormon Church was not opposed to slavery Examples of anti-Mormon stories, feelings Polygamy in the Mormon Church One reason cited Mormon literature Books, bibliographies available No Man Knows My History, by Fawn Brodie Polygamy in the Mormon Church Not forced Began in 1841 Discrimination against Mormons Polygamy as a reason In Missouri Mormons as a communistic group |
| TAPE TWO, SIDE ONE: | Discrimination against Mormons (continued) In comparison to other groups Larson and Anderson books Treatment of Mormons Interpretation of Mormon scripture Very rigid and strict Practicing as opposed to "Jack" Mormons Socioeconomic aspects of Mormon Church In Larson book Approach to welfare Concern for individual dignity Work projects As a result of the frontier experience Assistance for members in Europe after World War II Skilled craftsmen Training Sugar beet refining by Mormons Machinery purchased The United Order System Property consecrated to the Church In comparison to Soviet Union System Economic status of the Mormon Church Wealthiest church in the world Once owned large tracts of land Interference from U. S. government Holdings, copyrights kept in individuals’ names Petition for Utah statehood |
| TAPE TWO, SIDE TWO: | Petition for Utah statehood (continued) Different governments of Utah and Deseret Mormon military force Joseph Smith Ran for President of the United States (1944) Martyrdom Brigham Young As a leader Mormon military force Atonement of Blood Dispersion of the Mormon Church Sidney Rigdon faction Vice-presidential candidate Power oriented Brigham Young (again) President of the Quorum of 12 Apostles Emma Smith, first wife of Joseph William Smith, brother of Joseph Emma and William Smith faction Stayed in Jackson County, Missouri Reorganized Church James Stran faction Lymon White faction To Texas to set up Kingdom of God Buffer state between Texas and Mexico Colony locations Travis and Gillespie counties Dispersion (1858) Reorganized Mormon Church Mormon Church in Utah Polygamy Rescinded by Manifesto of President Woodruff Cohabitators moved to Mexico George Romney Born in Juarez colony Spiritual polygamy in the church Not renounced by Woodruff manifesto Marriage vows are eternal Prophets of God Rise from the Presidency of the Quorum Migration to Mexico Cohabitators leave in 1880s Polygamy Outlawed by the Mormon Church Still exists in secret schismatic groups As viewed by the Mormon Church |
| TAPE THREE, SIDE ONE: | Mormon colonies in Mexico Began in 1870s Book written by Barney Burns Interest of Pancho Villa in Mormonism Vicarious baptisms Polygamy (again) Justifications Greater female population Based upon statement by Apostle Paul Family expansion Manifesto for ending polygamy Reasons No reason for restoration Mormon territory Arizona Missionaries 20,000 a year Members are called to start colonies Brigham Young As a city planner Movement of Mormons into Arizona Mesa and Prescott, Arizona Northern rim of the Grand Canyon Movement of Mormons into Utah Presently discouraged Stakes of Zion around the world Professor Dale L. Morgan of Utah Book about the Kingdom of God to be written Tony Turk’s interest in Texas Mormons Desert Saints Best book written about Mormon Church Attack or defend points of view on the Mormon Church |
| RANGE DATES: | 1830-1974 |
| BULK DATES: | 1830-1920 |