historical methodology

Carthage Conspiracy (Joseph Smith Martyrdom)

by
Joseph Smith Martyrdom: Realistic oil painting of four armed men with blackened faces rushing up the wooden staircase inside Carthage Jail to attack Joseph and Hyrum Smith in June 1844.

Carthage Conspiracy – Historical Overview This reconstruction presents only historical information, source analysis, and documentary context regarding the deaths of Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith in 1844, the reliability of associated sources, and the methodology used by historians in evaluating alternative theories. Claims of New Interpretations of the Martyrdom A recent video has circulated claiming … Read more

Oral History and the Authorship of D&C 135

by
Historical debate on D&C 135

 D&C 135 How Historians Examine the Past Historians study the past through written and spoken sources, seeking to understand what most likely occurred. This task becomes significantly more complex when sources involve oral traditions or accounts of miraculous events. Because miracles fall outside natural probability, historians cannot confirm or deny them using standard historical tools. … Read more