Wayward saints
Subtitle: the Godbeites and Brigham Young
By: Ronald W. Walker ; foreword by Jan Shipps.
Publisher: University of Illinois Press
Published: 1998
Place of publication: Urbana
Language: eng
Number of pages: 399
Subjects: Young, Brigham, 1801-1877; Godbe, William Samuel; Harrison, Elias L. T., 1830-1900; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints -- History; Church controversies -- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; Church controversies -- Mormon Church; Mormon Church -- History
Description: A story that includes spiritualist seances, conspiracy, and an important church trial, Wayward Saints chronicles the 1870s challenge of a group of British Mormon intellectuals to Brigham Young's leadership and authority. William S. Godbe and his associates revolted because they disliked Young's authoritarian community and resented what they perceived as the church's intrusion into matters of personal choice.

Expelled from the church, they established the "New Movement," which eventually faltered. Both a study in intellectual history and an investigation of religious dissent, Wayward Saints explores nineteenth-century American spiritualism as well as the ideas and institutional structure of first- and second-generation Mormonism.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [373]-390) and index.
Table of contents: title: Rebellion in Zion; title: British origins and youthful beginnings; title: Godbe's rising star; title: Intellectuals in Zion; title: Two rival visions of society; title: Merchant wars and declining faith; title: New York epiphany; title: Interval before rebellion; title: Before the bar; title: First months of revolt; title: Church of Zion; title: Politics; title: Newspaper war; title: When the spirits did abound; title: The liberal institute; title: The spoken and written word; title: Godbe's last years; title: Requiem.