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How did early Mormonism succeed in the face of overwhelming opposition and violence? Gary Shepherd and Gordon Shepherd effectively draw our attention to the centrality of patriarchal blessings as key rituals cementing Mormon identity, doctrine, and commitment among the first generation of Latter-day Saints, both men and women, many of whom were left with little more to hold on to but the promises of heaven. The distinctive Mormon belief in and ritualized practice of personalized revelation takes center stage here in explaining not only why people came to Mormonism but, perhaps more important, why they stayed. Patrick Q. Mason, Howard W. Hunter Chair of Mormon Studies, Claremont Graduate School

Gary Shepherd and Gordon Shepherd have provided a welcome and successful case study of early Mormonism. <em>Binding Earth and Heaven</em> is generally focused on the tumultuous decades before the martyrdom of founder Joseph Smith, and specifically focused on the function of patriarchal blessings. . . . This is a strong and valuable work, especially in its core statistical analysis. </p> Christopher W. Chase, <em>Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions</em></p>

From the perspective of historical sociology, Gary Shepherd and Gordon Shepherd have written one of the most important studies of gender in Mormon history. They expected to find 'extreme male bias' in the 'patriarchal blessings' of pastoral counsel and prediction given to women and to men by Mormon patriarchs from the mid-1830s to mid-1840s. Instead, their content analysis of these carefully recorded documents provides statistical evidence of surprising gender egalitarianism in a patriarchal church's first decade. --D. Michael Quinn Gary Shepherd and Gordon Shepherd have provided a welcome and successful case study of early Mormonism. Binding Earth and Heaven is generally focused on the tumultuous decades before the martyrdom of founder Joseph Smith, and specifically focused on the function of patriarchal blessings. . . . This is a strong and valuable work, especially in its core statistical analysis. --Christopher W. Chase, Nova Religio: The Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions How did early Mormonism succeed in the face of overwhelming opposition and violence? Gary Shepherd and Gordon Shepherd effectively draw our attention to the centrality of patriarchal blessings as key rituals cementing Mormon identity, doctrine, and commitment among the first generation of Latter-day Saints, both men and women, many of whom were left with little more to hold on to but the promises of heaven. The distinctive Mormon belief in and ritualized practice of personalized revelation takes center stage here in explaining not only why people came to Mormonism but, perhaps more important, why they stayed. --Patrick Q. Mason, Howard W. Hunter Chair of Mormon Studies, Claremont Graduate School This is a truly original work. It draws upon both primary and secondary sources to demonstrate the importance of the Mormon ritual institution of patriarchal blessings, which is widespread among Mormons at the grassroots but little known outside the church. --Armand L. Mauss, Washington State University

How did early Mormonism succeed in the face of overwhelming opposition and violence? Gary Shepherd and Gordon Shepherd effectively draw our attention to the centrality of patriarchal blessings as key rituals cementing Mormon identity, doctrine, and commitment among the first generation of Latter-day Saints, both men and women, many of whom were left with little more to hold on to but the promises of heaven. The distinctive Mormon belief in and ritualized practice of personalized revelation takes center stage here in explaining not only why people came to Mormonism but, perhaps more important, why they stayed. --Patrick Q. Mason, Howard W. Hunter Chair of Mormon Studies, Claremont Graduate School

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Gary Shepherd is Professor Emeritus of Sociology and Anthropology at Oakland University. Gordon Shepherd is Professor of Sociology at the University of Central Arkansas.

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