Wayward saints

Wayward saints

By Ronald W. Walker

Book Description

In the turbulent 1870s, a fascinating clash of spiritual authority and intellectual freedom unfolded within the Mormon community. Wayward Saints reveals the compelling story of William S. Godbe and his circle of British Mormon intellectuals who dared to challenge Brigham Young's commanding leadership.

These thoughtful dissenters found themselves at odds with what they viewed as excessive authoritarianism and unwelcome interference in personal spiritual matters. Their rebellion sparked a dramatic confrontation that included mysterious spiritualist seances, allegations of conspiracy, and a pivotal church trial that would reshape religious boundaries.

When excommunication followed, Godbe and his followers didn't simply disappear. Instead, they boldly established the "New Movement," attempting to forge an alternative spiritual path that honored both faith and intellectual inquiry. Though their experiment ultimately struggled to survive, their story illuminates timeless questions about religious authority, personal conscience, and the courage to follow one's spiritual convictions.

Ronald W. Walker weaves together threads of intellectual history and religious dissent to explore broader themes of nineteenth-century American spiritualism and the evolving structure of early Mormonism. This narrative offers valuable insights for anyone grappling with questions of spiritual autonomy, institutional loyalty, and the complex relationship between faith and independent thought.

For readers interested in religious history and the dynamics of spiritual communities, this account provides a thought-provoking examination of conscience in action.

Who Is This For?

📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~11 hours)

📄 Length: 399 pages

What You'll Discover

  • ✓ Explore Mormon Church
  • ✓ Explore Church of Zion
  • ✓ Explore Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
  • ✓ Explore History
  • ✓ Explore Godbeites
  • ✓ Explore Mormon church, history
  • ✓ Explore Church controversies
  • ✓ Explore Young, brigham, 1801-1877

Topics Covered

Mormon Church Church of Zion Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints History Godbeites Mormon church, history Church controversies Young, brigham, 1801-1877

Related Books You Might Like

Cover of Anabaptists, The

Anabaptists, The

Hans-Jürgen Goertz

1996 • 215p

Within the turbulent landscape of the Reformation, a radical Christian movement emerged that challenged not only Catholic doctrine but also the emerging Protestant establishments. Hans-Jürgen Goertz presents a thorough exploration of the Anabaptists,...
Cover of Stories of the rose

Stories of the rose

Anne Winston-Allen

1997 • 210p

Stories of the Rose unveils the fascinating evolution of one of Christianity's most beloved devotional practices during its crucial formative period. Anne Winston-Allen takes readers on an illuminating journey through the late Middle Ages, revealing...
Cover of bone gatherers, The

bone gatherers, The

Nicola Frances Denzey

2007 • 290p

In the shadows of early Christianity, a remarkable group of women emerged whose sacred work has been largely forgotten by history. These were the bone gatherers, devoted women who courageously collected the remains of martyred saints to ensure they r...
Cover of Martyrium

Martyrium

Nicole Hartmann

2013 • 216p

In this scholarly exploration, Nicole Hartmann examines how early Christian communities shaped their identity through the lens of martyrdom during the second century. Drawing from the premise of a highly differentiated Jesus movement, this study offe...
Cover of PEROU SOLIDAIRE

PEROU SOLIDAIRE

Francis Devigne

2012 • 350p

In Pérou Solidaire, Francis Devigne unveils the profound spiritual wisdom of Peru's pre-Columbian civilizations and their descendants, revealing a worldview that honors all forms of life through the sacred concept of Earth-Mother. This exploration de...
Cover of Way Of Improvement Leads Home Philip Vickers Fithian And The Rural Enlightenment In Early America, The

Way Of Improvement Leads Home Philip Vickers Fithian And The Rural Enlightenment In Early America, The

John Fea

2009 • 280p

In an era when personal transformation seemed both possible and necessary, one young man's journey reveals the timeless tension between ambition and belonging. Philip Vickers Fithian emerged from the grain fields of rural New Jersey with an unshakeab...