A Happy 2020 from Signature Books! The new year starts off with the inaugural issue of our monthly newsletter. There is always something new and exciting going on in the world of Mormon studies, and we plan to do our part by offering some great new titles over the next twelve months. History, biography, fiction, poetry, personal essay, anthology—it's all coming in 2020 and continues the tradition of excellence that readers have come to expect from Signature.
2019—A Year of Awards and Groundbreaking Books
As we look back on 2019, we point to several titles that add to the catalog we have amassed since 1981. The year started off with the release of BYU professor John Bennion's novel, An Unarmed Woman, a murder mystery set in nineteenth-century Utah. Levi S. Peterson said that "this tale reveals the tensions of polygamy among the Latter-day Saints of the pioneer era—virtually engaging as it does the entire population of the town, which has good reason to fear the wide-ranging effects of the crime."
The next month we saw Harvard Heath's long-awaited volume, Confidence Amid Change: The Presidential Diaries of David O. McKay, 1951–1970. Heath studied all the diaries created by McKay and his secretary, Claire Middlemiss, during these especially controversial two decades and carefully chose the entries for this book. "In view of the scope of the diary, determining what to include was daunting, considering that the full set of dated entries would occupy at least ten volumes," Heath explained. "I decided to give preference to history, doctrine, and entries showing the president's administrative style."
Western historian Will Bagley's memoir, River Fever: Adventures on the Mississippi, 1969–1972, arrived just before summer. This personal account chronicles the adventures of Bagley and friends as they set out to traverse the length of the Mississippi River in a homemade vessel. "We grew closer to the weather and nature and ourselves every day," Bagley writes of the adventure. "We saw an America we hadn't known existed." This memoir makes for a great read, and, for Bagley, it proved that "dreams really do come true."
Well-known Utah investigative reporter Rod Decker's book, Utah Politics: The Elephant in the Room, has created buzz all over the state since its release in July 2019. You may have seen Decker on a variety of television shows or heard him on the radio. This thoroughly researched book received endorsements from along the spectrum, from Sen. Orrin Hatch to Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson. "This book is a much-needed addition to the canon on state politics, and a fitting capstone to a legendary career," said Hatch.
Also in 2019 Signature published Leonard J. Arrington's final manuscript, Faith and Intellect: The Lives and Contributions of latter-day Saint Thinkers. Here Arrington examines the intellectual contributions of thirteen Latter-day Saints whose lives span the nineteenth to twenty-first centuries. From historical figures Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and B.H. Roberts, to modern thinkers still living and contributing, such as Laurel Thatcher Ulrich and Claudia Lauper Bushman, readers gain insight into the minds that have made Mormonism tick for nearly 200 years.
Signature's Mormon Studies anthology series, first launched in the late 1980s, was resurrected shortly before the year's end with the publication of editor Christian Larsen's volume, The Ancient Order of Things: Essays on the Mormon Temple. This paperback book provides ten insightful essays about the temple, the doctrines associated with it, and its relationship to such issues as race and marriage. Required reading for anyone interested in temple history.
Just in time for Christmas, we saw the release of Edward Leo Lyman's magisterial study, Finally Statehood! Utah's Struggles, 1849–1896. Lyman offers a completely fresh look, based on new sources and deeper probing, into Utah's journey to become the nation's forty-fifth state. It will be the definitive study of this period for years to come. Check out the author events below to hear Lyman speak and to purchase a signed copy.
Signature titles were recognized with several prestigious awards in 2019. Daniel Stone's book, William Bickerton: Forgotten Latter Day Prophet, won Best Biography awards from both the Mormon History Association and the John Whitmer Historical Association. Gary James Bergera was honored twice, on the same day, on both the east and west for his work, Confessions of a Mormon Historian: The Diaries of Leonard J. Arrington, 1971–1997. This massive three-volume set won Best Documentary awards from both the John Whitmer Historical Association and the Utah State Historical Society.
Two Book Design Awards from Pub West were awarded for Signature titles. A Gold award for an academic or non-trade book went to our own Jason Francis, production manager at Signature, for his design of Confessions of a Mormon Historian. Haden Hamblin won a Silver award for an adult trade book, non-illustrated, for his design of Caldera Ridge, by Jack Harrell. Read more about these awards and all of the recipients here.
One of Signature's authors received special recognition for his work over the span of his career. Will Bagley was the 2019 recipient of the Owen Wister Award from the Western Writer's Association. Check out his Signature title, River Fever: Adventures on the Mississippi, 1969–1972.
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Signature Author Cited in LDS Statement on Finances
In the wake of a Washington Post story about a whistleblower complaint filed by a former investment manager for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Signature author D. Michael Quinn was quoted favorably in a December 20 news release issued by the church. Reportedly, over a twenty-two year period the church had stockpiled $100 billion in funds obtained through tithing, none of which has been used for charitable purposes, and for which tax payments to the IRS have been avoided. The church responded by saying it has obeyed all relevant laws and that the Post article did not tell the complete story. As a recognized authority on the subject, Quinn was important to cite, but he also had things to say specifically about the report. His book, The Mormon Hierarchy: Wealth and Corporate Power, was published by Signature in late 2017, and may be purchased at stores or online here. You may also check out his response to the controversial story on the Salt Lake Tribune podcast, Mormon Land.
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Edward Leo Lyman
hardback: $34.95
ebook: $9.99
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Edited by Christian Larsen
paperback: $18.95
ebook: $9.99
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BOOKSTORE SPOTLIGHT:
The King's English
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Founded in 1977 by Betsy Burton and Ann Berman, the King's English Bookshop fast became an iconic part of Salt Lake City and has remained so ever since, proof that independent bookstores are not only invaluable to the culture and literacy of a community, but that they can thrive as well.
The store, located in the Sugar House district at 1511 S. 1500 E., contains a noticeable charm the moment one walks through the door. Its several rooms house a large quantity of new books in just about every genre. A children's room, complete with a tree house, exists thanks to a grant provided by author James Patterson. In 2016 the store got the attention of the London newspaper, the Guardian, which ran a story about it.
The King's English staff is knowledgeable and helpful, two of the traits indie booksellers pride themselves in, and strive to match books to readers.
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Its customer base is loyal and is drawn in by the 350 plus signings the store holds each year, a feat that keeps marketing manager Rob Eckman busy.
The King's English has hosted several Signature authors recently, including David Pace, Dream House on Golan Drive; Stephen Carter, Moth and Rust; Gary James Bergera, Confessions of a Mormon Historian; Deja Earley, To the Mormon Newlyweds; Will Bagley, River Fever; John Bennion, An Unarmed Woman; and Rod Decker, Utah Politics. Click below for information on Jack Harrell's signing of Caldera Ridge on January 23.
Store hours are Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Check out their website at thekingsenglish.com
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Q and A with author
Rod Decker about his book, Utah Politics
This excerpt is reprinted by permission of Kurt Manwaring. The interview appears in full online at fromthedesk.org
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Do you feel you have a legacy in Utah politics? What do you think it is—or hope it will be?
Journalism fades quickly. But I hope this book changes the way people look at Utah history and Utah politics, and the effect lasts for as long as people are interested in Utah.
Introduce Utah Politics: The Elephant in the Room and describe the book’s scope.
It is political history, showing religion and public morality are crucial to Utah politics, and account for Utah’s strong Republicanism.
How did Utah’s quest for statehood begin as a fraud?
Latter-day Saints sent a statehood petition with false claims of a convention, legislature, and election which never happened. Congress didn’t detect the falsehood, but didn’t grant statehood, anyway.
Briefly summarize how Utah evolved from being politically ordinary to Republican-dominated.
The chief factor is Latter-day Saint resistance to American social change, specifically to the sexual revolution that changed American behavior after World War II.
Latter-day Saints still adhere to the old morality and to marriage and traditional families more than other Americans, and they vote their belief in traditional families and morality.
When has Utah morality aligned and differed with the rest of the country? How important is morality to understanding Utah politics?
Public morality has been decisive in Utah politics.
As America changed, Utah fought battles over abortion, pornography, birth control for teens without telling their parents, gay marriage, and other issues, as Utahns, specifically Latter-day Saints, tried to retain legal support for the old American public morality. Federal courts decided those issues against Latter-day Saint preferences.
They now vote Republican as the party more for the old morality, and more against federal power.
What conflicts and ideologies are at play in the legislature working to overturn citizen referendums?
This is new. Lawmakers haven’t acted this way before. It shows most legislators have safe seats and don’t fear voters. They believe majorities may oppose them on specific issues, but they will still carry safe majorities in their districts.
Unless a number of Republicans lose the coming election, legislators will continue to disregard voters when they disagree with them.
How is President Donald Trump viewed by key Utah politicians with Latter-day Saint affiliation? Does this align with or differ from what history would suggest?
From 1976 through 2012, Utah was the most Republican state in seven of 10 elections, and close to the most Republican in the others.
For Trump, Utah was the least Republican state of all states that voted for Trump.
Utah Latter-day Saints gave 32 percent of their vote to Evan McMcullin, who got almost no votes anywhere else. Those voters objected to Trump’s morality. Utah Republican politicians also object to his morality, but like having a Republican in the White House.
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AUTHOR EVENTS
Jack Harrell signing Caldera Ridge
King's English Bookshop, 1511 S. 1500 E., Salt Lake City, UT 84105
Tuesday, January 28, 6:00 p.m.
Edward Leo Lyman and Rod Decker signing Finally Statehood! and Utah Politics.
Utah State Historical Society, 300 S Rio Grande St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Edward Leo Lyman signing Finally Statehood!
Benchmark Books, 3269 S. Main St., Ste. 250, Salt Lake City, UT, 84115
Tuesday, February 11, 5:30
Christian Larsen and contributors signing Ancient Order of Things.
Benchmark Books, 3269 S. Main St., Ste. 250, Salt Lake City, UT, 84115 |
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