LaJean Carruth's guest appearances

LaJean Carruth

Latter-day Saint Perspectives

Rita Wright

Joseph Smith

Scott Livingston

Craig Harline

Anthony Sweat

Kate Holbrook

Jenny Oaks Baker

Robert Millet

Michael Goodman

Terryl Givens

Jane Clayson Johnson

Jenny Reeder

Janiece Johnson

Melissa Inouye

Brad Wilcox

OwlTail

Gerrit Dirkmaat

In our first doubleheader, we present an episode covering the discrepancies between the shorthand versions of speeches of early LDS Church leaders in Utah and their published versions. First, Russell Stevenson interviews Gerrit Dirkmaat about the research he and LaJean Carruth did comparing the shorthand notes of George Watt to some of the speeches in the Journal of Discourses.In their research, they examined hundreds of sermons, and sometimes the sermons and original transcriptions varied by hundreds of words. Dirkmaat points out that when one is talking about doctrine, words matter. While the essence of these speeches are similar in the shorthand and published versions, the words used vary greatly.The Journal of Discourses have historical and religious value, but Dirkmaat urges members to be careful quoting specific passages and to realize that in most cases, there is no way to know the specific words used.LaJean Purcell Carruth has an unusual skill: she can read the shorthand of George Watt, the transcriber of the speeches contained in the Journal of Discourses, his private printing venture.Over the past thirty years, she has learned his distinctive style--the unique upturns and curves he made in his notations. As she transcribed his notes, she noticed that they varied -- sometimes greatly -- from the printed versions of the same speeches. She wrote a poem about what she noticed:There was a man named George Watt,Who could improve Brigham Young, so he thought.So he took out words here,And he added words there,And his accuracy was not what it ought.LaJean Purcell Carruth©LaJean expounds on what she has learned about the speaking styles of early religious leaders. They spoke extemporaneously and without notes and were more prone to engage in speculative theology than current leaders.She emphasizes that Brigham Young was a powerful speaker. He cared about the people, and they knew that he cared about them. When George Watt changed Brigham Young's words, he changed what Brigham Young said about himself. She feels the real Brigham Young has been lost to us as we view him through his discourses printed in the Journal of Discourses.In her research, she discovered that the "one drop" phrase attributed to Brigham Young by Wilford Woodruff did not exist in the original shorthand transcription of George Watt on a speech relating to the priesthood and temple ban.LaJean shares with Laura Harris Hales what she has learned about Brigham Young from the words left out of the Journal of Discourses and other important speeches.Download TranscriptExtra Resources: Episode 22 TranscriptSlavery, Servitude, and Race (Entire Presentation for Free)Speech by Brigham Young February 5, 1852 (FREE)“The Prophets Have Spoken, But What Did They Say" Examining the Differences Between George D. Watt's Original Shorthand Notes And The Sermons Published In The Journal Of Discourses”LDS Perspectives PodcastEpisode 22: “In Brigham Young’s Words,” Part 1, with Gerrit DirkmattRussell Stevenson:    Recording church history does not happen on its own. It demands a process, a technique, and real and diligent labor. Today we have historian Gerrit Dirkmaat to discuss with us the famous, and at times infamous Journal of Discourses , a widely cited compilation of speeches by early church leaders. What did the prophets say? How did they say it? What does it mean for our understanding of the 19th century church? Thanks for being here.Gerrit Dirkmaat:        It’s good to be here.Russell Stevenson:    For those of us who have not had the opportunity to learn about this thing that we call the Journal of Discourses , give us a little bit of background about dictionary level, what is it?Gerrit Dirkmaat:        The Journal of Discourses is a huge source. Actually, it’s hard to wrap your hands around what all of it is, but on the most basic level, this is a 26-volume set that was produced throughout the mid- to late 19th-century of sermo...

In our first doubleheader, we present an episode covering the discrepancies between the shorthand versions of speeches of early LDS Church leaders in Utah and their published versions. First, Russell Stevenson interviews Gerrit Dirkmaat about the research he and LaJean Carruth did comparing the shorthand notes of George Watt to some of the speeches in the Journal of Discourses. In their research, they examined hundreds of sermons, and sometimes the sermons and original transcriptions varied by hundreds of words. Dirkmaat points out that when one is talking about doctrine, words matter. While the essence of these speeches are similar in the shorthand and published versions, the words used vary greatly. The Journal of Discourses have historical and religious value, but Dirkmaat urges members to be careful quoting specific passages and to realize that in most cases, there is no way to know the specific words used. LaJean Purcell Carruth has an unusual skill: she can read the shorthand of George Watt, the transcriber of the speeches contained in the Journal of Discourses, his private printing venture. Over the past thirty years, she has learned his distinctive style--the unique upturns and curves he made in his notations. As she transcribed his notes, she noticed that they varied -- sometimes greatly -- from the printed versions of the same speeches. She wrote a poem about what she noticed: There was a man named George Watt, Who could improve Brigham Young, so he thought. So he took out words here, And he added words there, And his accuracy was not what it ought. LaJean Purcell Carruth© LaJean expounds on what she has learned about the speaking styles of early religious leaders. They spoke extemporaneously and without notes and were more prone to engage in speculative theology than current leaders. She emphasizes that Brigham Young was a powerful speaker. He cared about the people, and they knew that he cared about them. When George Watt changed Brigham Young's words, he changed what Brigham Young said about himself. She feels the real Brigham Young has been lost to us as we view him through his discourses printed in the Journal of Discourses. In her research, she discovered that the "one drop" phrase attributed to Brigham Young by Wilford Woodruff did not exist in the original shorthand transcription of George Watt on a speech relating to the priesthood and temple ban. LaJean shares with Laura Harris Hales what she has learned about Brigham Young from the words left out of the Journal of Discourses and other important speeches. Download Transcript Extra Resources: Episode 22 Transcript Slavery, Servitude, and Race (Entire Presentation for Free) Speech by Brigham Young February 5, 1852 (FREE) “The Prophets Have Spoken, But What Did They Say" Examining the Differences Between George D. Watt's Original Shorthand Notes And The Sermons Published In The Journal Of Discourses” LDS Perspectives Podcast Episode 22: “In Brigham Young’s Words,” Part 1, with Gerrit Dirkmatt Russell Stevenson:    Recording church history does not happen on its own. It demands a process, a technique, and real and diligent labor. Today we have historian Gerrit Dirkmaat to discuss with us the famous, and at times infamous Journal of Discourses , a widely cited compilation of speeches by early church leaders. What did the prophets say? How did they say it? What does it mean for our understanding of the 19th century church? Thanks for being here. Gerrit Dirkmaat:        It’s good to be here. Russell Stevenson:    For those of us who have not had the opportunity to learn about this thing that we call the Journal of Discourses , give us a little bit of background about dictionary level, what is it? Gerrit Dirkmaat:        The Journal of Discourses is a huge source. Actually, it’s hard to wrap your hands around what all of it is, but on the most basic level, this is a 26-volume set that was produced throughout the mid- to late 19th-century of sermo...

Episode 22: In Brigham Young’s Words – Gerrit Dirkmaat and LaJean Carruth