Item Detail
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9721
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2
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0
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English
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The 'Prophet Puzzle' Assembled; or, How to Treat Our Historical Diplopia Toward Joseph Smith
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Journal of Mormon History
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1976
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3
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Salt Lake City, UT
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Mormon History Association
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101-5
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In response to Shipp's article, 'The Prophet Puzzle.' JOURNAL OF MORMON HISTORY 1(1974):3-20, Hill argues that there is a possible middle ground between the bifurcation in historiography dealing with Smith. He urges using the modes and insights of sociology and anthropology and cites recent works. 'While in the last thirty years historians have made much progress toward a less moralistic and a more tolerant and insightful attitude toward Joseph Smith and his movement, the works of Burridge and others suggest that continued reexamination is needed. Only when the tradition-bound views of the past are reconsidered in the context of anthropological insights will the prevailing diplopia be cured and the dual images of Joseph Smith as prophet and profiteer be focused into one.' (p. 105)