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Preface

Undertaking the task of mapping the local, regional, and global aspects of any group is demanding. When that group's growth over a century and a half corresponds with diffusion across America and into numerous foreign countries, it creates an even greater challenge in simply defining what is important enough to map. This volume was undertaken to help users understand where and how the events of Mormon history relate to specific places or regions. This atlas is not intended to be exhaustive, but it is hoped that the maps and subjects included will enlighten readers about the places affected by the unique American religion commonly referred to as Mormon.

The actual maps and topics included are the result of discussion by the editors with numerous scholars of the Mormon experience over the last three decades. Some maps reflect the editors' personal interest in Mormon history; others were suggested by colleagues. We are particularly indebted to the numerous contributors who freely devoted their time to prepare each essay and provide the data necessary to design each map. They shared years of research willingly, and without complaint condensed hundreds of pages of scholarship into the one page we allotted for each essay.

The maps reflect the diligent work of the contributors and the cartography laboratory of the Geography Department of Brigham Young University. Jeffry S. Bird, cartographic technician for the Geography Department, and his assistants Gaiping Li, Kim Young-Sook, and Jeffery N. Jarvis provided yeoman service in data entry and cartographic design through many phases of development. Jeff Bird was particularly instrumental in helping design the maps and in making all the final cartographic changes.

The idea for this work was suggested to us by Charles E. Smith, President of the Academic Reference Division of Simon & Schuster, when he visited Brigham Young University in June 1992. His enthusiasm helped the

editors persist in their task. Paul Bernabeo, Editorial Director of the Academic Reference Division, brought the project to fruition. Paul shepherded the editors through the numerous details associated with editing a multiauthor volume and encouraged the prompting of dilatory contributors to complete their tasks.