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Marie W Dallam, Imperial Zions: Religion, Race, and Family in the American West and the Pacific, Journal of American History, Volume 111, Issue 2, September 2024, Pages 366–367, https://doi.org/10.1093/jahist/jaae138
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Extract
This book begins with the restoration theology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Lds) and uses archival sources to unpack everyday practicalities of life that were troubled by attempts to fulfill it in the 1800s. Amanda Hendrix-Komoto discusses three interweaving topics in relation to this theology: the place of nonwhite people in the church; marriage and family relationships; and missionary endeavors. Restoration theology expects the descendants of Lamanites to be “redeemed and restored to their previous status as God's chosen people” in the last days through the teachings of the church, and that Lamanite redemption is necessary for full salvation of all people (p. 5). While an understanding of “Lamanite” identity has evolved, in the nineteenth century the Lds was particularly concerned with Native Americans and various peoples of the Pacific islands.
Hendrix-Komoto first explores how Lds restoration theology challenged dominant ideas about race and sexual propriety. In an era when whiteness was a prerequisite for being regarded as a moral U.S. citizen, the unorthodox beliefs and practices of the Lds caused them to be seen as savage and often racialized as nonwhite. In contrast, members understood their teachings as the only means to restore civility, moral integrity, and God's true vision for humans. While this material does not cover new ground, it appropriately sets the stage for the discussion of deeper issues that follows.
