Allen, James B. and Glen M. Leonard. The Story of
the Latter-day Saints, 2nd ed. Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book Company,
1992.
[BX 8611. A473] Davis 3rd floor stacks
Although intended primarily for the latter-day saint,
non-Mormons will benefit from this informative work. The book includes
extensive information on 20th century events, and emphasizes four themes:
the Latter-day Saints as a religious people, the church influenced by
events in world around it, the church seeing its mission with universal
scope, and dynamics of change in the church. Maps and pictures are included
throughout the text. The bibliography at the end lists helpful sources
organized by type. An extensive index is also included.
Arrington, Leonard J. and Davis Bitton. The Mormon
Experience. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1979.
[BX 8611.A78] Davis 3rd floor stacks
This book was written to provide a one-volume, scholarly
introduction to the Mormon people. The authors were Church Historian and
Assistant Church Historian when the book was published, and the book was
written with full access to the off-limits church archives. Mormons wrote
the history, but it does not have a strong Mormon bias. Written primarily
for a non-Mormon audience, this work is a wonderful introduction to Mormon
Church history. The book includes an explanatory introduction, which discusses
previous histories and the authors' goals in writing the book. There are
several maps, pictures, an appendix listing the First Presidencies of
the church from 1830-1978, a bibliographic essay, and an index. 
Davis, Inez Smith. The Story of the Church. Independence,
MO: Herald Publishing House, 1985.
[BX8611.D3] Davis 3rd floor stacks.
This work is a history of the Reorganized Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints, which claims on the title page to be the
legal successor to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The
Reorganized Church broke off from the church after Joseph Smith's death
in 1844. The appendix contains lists of "Important Events in Church
History," and "Leading Officers of the Church." The index
is extensive, although somewhat difficult to use. Since it is written
from the Reorganized Church standpoint, this book provides another viewpoint
of Mormon history.
O'Dea, Thomas F. The Mormons. Chicago, IL: University
of Chicago Press, 1957.
[BX8611.O3] Davis 3rd floor stacks
While this book emphasizes theological and sociological
aspects of Mormonism, it does include a valuable discussion of church
history, especially in the following chapters: "Who are the Mormons,"
"The Gathering," and "Zion in the Mountains." Other
chapters include discussion of Mormon values, the Book of Mormon,
various social institutions, and sources of strain and conflict. O'Dea
is not a member of the Church, and attempts to provide an unbiased look
at the church.
Roberts, B. H. A Comprehensive History of the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University
Press, 1965. First published in 1930.
[BX8611.R65] Davis 3rd floor stacks
This six-volume set has been included for those interested
in a detailed study of Mormon history. Roberts was known as a great Mormon
thinker from the early 1900s, and his history contains extensive information
about Joseph Smith, his ancestry, the beginnings of the church, Mormon
scripture, the Utah War, the Mountain Meadows Massacre, and many other
events in church history. Footnotes sometimes distract from the text,
and some illustrations are included.
Shipps, Jan. Mormonism: the Story of a New Religious
Tradition. Chicago, IL: University of Illinois Press, 1985.
[BX 8611.S49] Davis 3rd floor stacks
This book describes the history of Mormonism
in the context of arguing that "Mormonism is a separate religious
tradition and that it must be understood and respected on its own terms."
Of particular interest are the first chapter and the appendix, which contains
a chronology. A bibliography and index are also included.
Smith, Joseph Fielding. Essentials in Church History,
24th ed. Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret Book Company, 1971.
[BX8611.S67] Davis 3rd floor stacks
This volume is designed for members of the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, originally intended as a textbook for
church schools. Doctrines and revelations have been included. As such,
the book is primarily for believing Mormons, although outsiders might
benefit from an insider's viewpoint. Some chapters are primarily doctrine,
whereas others contain the story of Joseph Smith and the development of
the church. Readers looking for an introduction should turn to the history
chapters.