American Zion

A New History of Mormonism

De: Benjamin E. Park

Narrado por: Tom Parks

Duración: 16 h y 42 m

Resumen del Editor

The first major history of Mormonism in a decade, drawing on newly available sources to reveal a profoundly divided faith that has nevertheless shaped the nation.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded by Joseph Smith in 1830 in the so-called "burned-over district" of upstate New York, which was producing seers and prophets daily. Most of the new creeds flamed out; Smith's would endure, becoming the most significant homegrown religion in American history.

In American Zion Benjamin E. Park presents a fresh, sweeping account of the Latter-day Saints: from the flight to Utah Territory in 1847 to the public renunciation of polygamy in 1890; from the Mormon leadership's forging of an alliance with the Republican Party in the wake of the New Deal to the "Mormon moment" of 2012; and beyond. In the twentieth century, Park shows, Mormons began to move ever closer to the center of American life, shaping culture, politics, and law along the way.

A definitive, character-driven work of history, American Zion is essential to any understanding of the Mormon past, present, and future. But its lessons extend beyond the faith: as Park puts it, the Mormon story is the American story.

©2024 Benjamin E. Park (P)2024 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

The book’s narrative.

An excellent, well-researched, survey of Mormonism in America. The best book on the topic available.

Great Book.

This is a great piece of historical work. Some of the names can be tricky for outsiders, but other than that the book is wonderful.

The Definitive Mormon History for the Next Generation

Ben Park masterfully captures much of the nuance across the width and breadth and depth of Mormon histories. He is respectful of Mormon beliefs and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while not glossing over controversy or thorny issues.

Excellent book and narration

Engaging, thoughtful, thoroughly enjoyable single-volume history of Mormonism in America. Park traces the major social, political, and theological shifts as Mormonism reacted to, against, and integrated with the larger American culture. Park went far beyond the nearly all-white male priesthood hierarchy to highlight aspects of the larger story through the experiences of women, racial minorities, and LGBTQ+ individuals. The book will appeal to a broad audience as Park successfully argues how the story of this home-grown American religion reveals much about how the United States has changed over the last two centuries. Strong audio performance.

Fascinating

As an outsider, helped me understand Mormonism. Thorough and well narrated. I recommend to history buffs.

Entertaining

A comprehensive and entertaining history. Very much worth the read. A strictly secular account of a fascinating institution; it's difficult to find histories on this church without an obvious agenda.

Impressive book!

I really enjoyed this history of the faith of my childhood. Dr Park somehow manages to cover an amazing amount of history, including aspects too often left out, while staying a respectably modest length for a non-historian like me! I especially appreciated the chapters on modern Mormon history, having participated in some of the feminist Mormon movements he mentions. Really well done!

My only qualm is that the narrator mispronounces quite a few words that any Mormon or Mormon-adjacent person will recognize and wince at (Moroni, Mahonri, Ensign, recommend, Levina, and Manti were just a few).

The writer

The reader mispronounced many names peculiar to Mormonism. A little tutoring would have helped him.

Tells both sides

The author writes a balanced narrative of both positive and negative sides of the LDS Church, Mormons.

Extremely Readable!

Dr. Park has done it again! Finished the book in less than a week. The stories were captivating and the amount of new information and insight into the lives of Latter-day Saint figures was refreshing and thought provoking. Excellent work!