Most of what I really need to know about Mormon History I learned at Keepapitchinin

Most of what I really need to know about Mormon history, I learned at Keepapitchinin. Wisdom was not at the bottom of a stack of esoteric theology books, but there on the internet in a faith friendly environment.


These are the things I learned: Provenance is everything. Anything that happened before 1847 is prehistoric. Mormons knew nothing about Marijuana in the 20th century. Sugar is good for you and patriotic too. Funny bones and Latter Day Saint Images, enough said. There are some ads you are not going to see again anytime soon. And no pioneer no matter how lost doesn’t stay lost forever.

Lab rats are an essential bridge between modern eating and historic recipes. Codes and ciphers have a long and glorious tradition. It is always important to be honest with yourself. Some beards are good, some are better and some are the best. Remember the bandelos. There is nothing wrong with a graphic art version of the scriptures. Cats of all sizes were known in the Lion house, though not always welcome. If you have a question, ask it. Catherine Hurst has an answer for everything, even if you don’t know the question. Usually it’s “ask your mother.”

Brigham Young, George Q. Cannon, and everyone else received and sent letters. So do we.

And then remember about John M. Bernhisel and the first territorial library? Yes, everything you need to know is in there somewhere. Conference wordles, and detective stories, and serial fiction and magazine covers and the lives of little known saints.

Think of what a better world this would be if we all – the whole world – had green jello casserole every day. Or if the basic policy of all churches was that history, no matter how uncomfortable it makes us feel, should be cherished and preserved because it is the one thing that is truly ours.