Terrible Revolution

Latter-day Saints and the American Apocalypse

By: Christopher James Blythe

Narrated by: Christopher Grove

The relationship between early Mormons and the US was marked by anxiety and hostility. Nineteenth-century Latter-day Saints looked forward to apocalyptic events that would unseat corrupt governments across the globe. Mormons envisioned divine deliverance by way of plagues, natural disasters, foreign invasions, American Indian raids, slave uprisings, or civil war unleashed on American people. For the Saints, these violent images promised a national rebirth that would vouchsafe the protections of the US Constitution and end their oppression.

In Terrible Revolution, Christopher James Blythe examines apocalypticism across the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The responses of the church hierarchy to apocalyptic lay prophecies promoted their own form of separatist nationalism during the nineteenth century. Yet, after Utah obtained statehood, as the church sought to assimilate to national religious norms, these same leaders sought to lessen the tensions between themselves and American political and cultural powers. As a result, visions of a violent end to the nation became a liability to disavow. Ultimately, Blythe argues that the visionary world of early Mormonism, with its apocalyptic emphases, continued in the church's mainstream culture in modified forms but continued to maintain separatist radical forms at the level of folk-belief.

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Struggle and Faith

Blythe tears up the official history without condemning any party found within. He is interested in truth, first and foremost, an essential quality when dealing with Mormon history as it is almost always either a hagiography or a demonization. Through Terrible Revolution's study of folklore, vernacular religion, lay prophecy, and apocalypticism we can gain a glimpse of a cultural history long suppressed by the church and ignored by those outside it. This book helped dispel many illusions I had about Mormon doctrine and at the same time it opened up new avenues of study within it. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in Mormon cultural history, and to anyone who wants to know how the church developed into what it is today.

Great Listen

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I wasn't sure what to expect, as apocalypticism isn't a topic I am particularly interested in (at least, I didn't think I was), but I ended up getting sucked in. The entire book is fascinating, though I particularly enjoyed the chapters about 20th and 21st century Mormon apocalypticism. I also enjoyed the narrator and the pacing of the book; I was engaged throughout. Terrible Revolution is a great listen. If you think you might be interested, give it a shot. It's worth your time.

The Respectful and serious tone of the author gives the book immediate credibility

A similar book could have been written by a 20 something female journalism graduate and easily come off as condescending and disrespectful. Adding an eye roll and a wink at the reader after each sentence.

This author decides to treat the subject matter with respect and dignity as if he either believes every word or has integrity enough not to laugh or make fun. The first version of the book might have sold way better but this is the version we got and it’s really good and very interesting.