Home >> Awards >> 2002 Best Book Award
As a result of the generosity of the Smith Petit Foundation, the annual award for the Best Book in Latter Day Saint history now carries an award of $1,000.00 (You should have unwritten a book, Eric)
Glen M. Leonard, 2002 JWHA Best Book Award Recipient |
In both the best article and best book award there was at least one significant competition for the prize. Our award for best book goes to Glen Leonard for his Nauvoo: A Place of Peace, A Place of Promise. With nearly 700 pages of text, and massive documentation, Glen has given thorough treatment to most of the developments and issues related to the Nauvoo experience of Mormonism. It probably does not replace Flander’s Nauvoo with regard to the social, political and economic aspects of Nauvoo Mormonism. But Flanders consciously focused on these “secular” aspects of Nauvoo. Leonard’s contribution lies in its much more thorough treatment of the religious aspects of Nauvoo. Thus I see Leonard and Flanders are complementary treatments. Both should have a long life ahead of them. I suspect Leonard will be the book LDS people will read on Nauvoo for many years to come. For the Community of Christ -- and I am saying this as a complement to Glen -- his book will help us understand why the RLDS Church ultimately rejected the innovations of the Nauvoo period.
Glen and Karen Leonard are Utah natives with pioneer roots to Nauvoo, New England, and the British Isles. They have a deep love, knowledge and extraordinary background in Church history.
Glen is the director of the Museum of Church History and Art and is a well known Church historian and author. He has published several articles and books about Church history and co-authored The Story of the Later Day Saints (1992). His latest work, scheduled for publication by Deseret Book just for the Nauvoo Open House, is titled Nauvoo: A Place of Peace, A People of Promise. It covers the history of the church from the Missouri period through Nauvoo to Winter Quarters.
Glen graduated from the University of Utah, with an emphasis in history and journalism and went on to earn a Ph.D. in history. He has worked as a newsman for UPI, a publications editor for the Utah State Historical Society, and a research historian for the Church Historical Department and has enjoyed his current position as director of the Museum of Church History and Art and a historic sites adviser since 1979.
Residents of Farmington the past 23 years, Glen and Karen share interests in Church history, travel, music, and their family. They have traveled widely in the United States, Canada, and England, where they take in the cityscape, museums, and historic sites.
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