Milton R. Hunter
Encyclopedia
Milton Reed Hunter was an American author, educator, and religious leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served as a member of the church's First Council of the Seventy from 1945 until his death in 1975.
Of Scottish
descent, Hunter was born in Holden, Utah
, the son of John Edward and Margaret Teeples Hunter. He attended Brigham Young High School
, and Brigham Young University
, receiving a bachelor's degree in 1929 and a master’s degree in 1931. He married Ferne Gardner in Logan, Utah
in 1931, and the couple later had six children. For several years Hunter worked as a public school administrator in Nevada and Utah. His first education job was as principal of a school in St. Thomas, Nevada
, a city since flooded by Lake Mead
. He later taught LDS seminary courses while living in Provo, Utah
.
In 1935, Hunter earned Ph.D. in history from the University of California, Berkeley. Although his professors in Berkeley, California encouraged him to take a university position in history, he chose to continue as a teacher of religion and moved to Logan, Utah
to teach at the Institute of Religion. Hunter spent the next 17 years as a seminary teacher.
Hunter was called to serve on the LDS First Council of the Seventy and was sustained on April 6, 1945. Assignments as a General Authority for the LDS Church took him to many parts of the world. During this time, he visited Mexico
, Central America, and South America to study archaeological ruins in the context of accounts found within the Book of Mormon
. He was a cofounder of the New World Archaeological Foundation
, and is widely known among LDS faithful as co-author of the book Ancient America and the Book of Mormon.http://deseretbook.com/auctions/show-auction?auction_id=458046 First published in 1950, the book focuses on the writings of an Aztec historian Ixtlilxochitl
who, in written accounts of Mesoamerican history provided to the newly-arrived Europeans, appears to corroborate a number of claims made in the Book of Mormon
. Hunter also served as national president of Delta Phi Kappa (LDS), the LDS returned missionary fraternity.
, the Colonizer, published in 1940, was based on his dissertation. His book, Utah in Her Western Setting, was enthusiastically reviewed and was used as a text in Utah schools. However the revised edition, published as The Utah Story was not as well received. He also produced history and church related articles, reviews, and papers.
Although Hunter's work was well researched and clearly written, he wrote for a popular local audience and from a strongly LDS point of view. Utah historians Dale Morgan
and Brigham D. Madsen were at times highly critical of Hunter's editing of material, his use of selected sources, and his avoidance of material detrimental to the reputation of the LDS church. Geographer Wayne Wahlquist, in a review of literature relating to the settlement of the Utah area, noted Hunter's strengths and weaknesses as a scholar in Brigham Young the Colonizer. He praised Hunter for his accurate and comprehensive use of material, but noted his ... superficial treatment of the colonization process, on such issues as land titles and distribution, and the types of lands settled, and for failing to recognize that the colonization process did not end with Brigham Young. (Walquist, p. 6-7) Historiographer Gary Topping, in 2003, noted that Hunter's myopic cultural vision was clearly apparent in his work. Fully imbued with the patriotism, the chin-up optimism, and the faith in progress held by Mormons and other Americans during the World War II period, the books promote unrestrained industrial development and exploitation of natural resources. (Topping, p. 35) He also notes that Hunter's work ignores cultural diversity in the region, and portrays Native Americans
in a disparaging manner.
Of Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
descent, Hunter was born in Holden, Utah
Holden, Utah
Holden is a town in Millard County, Utah, United States. The population was 400 at the 2000 census.-History:Holden was settled in 1855 by a group of ten families sent out by the LDS bishop of Fillmore. It was named for Elijah E...
, the son of John Edward and Margaret Teeples Hunter. He attended Brigham Young High School
Brigham Young High School
Brigham Young High School was a private high school in Provo, Utah, first known as Brigham Young Academy, later attached to Brigham Young University and operated under the Church Educational System of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints .- History :When Brigham Young Academy was...
, and Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
, receiving a bachelor's degree in 1929 and a master’s degree in 1931. He married Ferne Gardner in Logan, Utah
Logan, Utah
-Layout of the City:Logan's city grid originates from its Main and Center Street block, with Main Street running north and south, and Center east and west. Each block north, east, south, or west of the origin accumulates in additions of 100 , though some streets have non-numeric names...
in 1931, and the couple later had six children. For several years Hunter worked as a public school administrator in Nevada and Utah. His first education job was as principal of a school in St. Thomas, Nevada
St. Thomas, Nevada
St. Thomas, Nevada, is a ghost town in Clark County, Nevada, near where the Muddy River flows into the Colorado River. St. Thomas was purchased by the US Federal Government and abandoned as the waters of Lake Mead submerged the town. It is now located within the Lake Mead National Recreation...
, a city since flooded by Lake Mead
Lake Mead
Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States. It is located on the Colorado River about southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, in the states of Nevada and Arizona. Formed by water impounded by the Hoover Dam, it extends behind the dam, holding approximately of water.-History:The lake was...
. He later taught LDS seminary courses while living in Provo, Utah
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
.
In 1935, Hunter earned Ph.D. in history from the University of California, Berkeley. Although his professors in Berkeley, California encouraged him to take a university position in history, he chose to continue as a teacher of religion and moved to Logan, Utah
Logan, Utah
-Layout of the City:Logan's city grid originates from its Main and Center Street block, with Main Street running north and south, and Center east and west. Each block north, east, south, or west of the origin accumulates in additions of 100 , though some streets have non-numeric names...
to teach at the Institute of Religion. Hunter spent the next 17 years as a seminary teacher.
Hunter was called to serve on the LDS First Council of the Seventy and was sustained on April 6, 1945. Assignments as a General Authority for the LDS Church took him to many parts of the world. During this time, he visited Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Central America, and South America to study archaeological ruins in the context of accounts found within the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
. He was a cofounder of the New World Archaeological Foundation
New World Archaeological Foundation
The New World Archaeological Foundation is an archaeological organization run by Brigham Young University.The NWAF was organized in 1952 for the purpose of supporting archaeological research into pre-Columbian cultures of Mesoamerica. It was founded by Thomas Stuart Ferguson, Alfred V. Kidder and...
, and is widely known among LDS faithful as co-author of the book Ancient America and the Book of Mormon.http://deseretbook.com/auctions/show-auction?auction_id=458046 First published in 1950, the book focuses on the writings of an Aztec historian Ixtlilxochitl
Fernando de Alva Cortés Ixtlilxochitl
Fernando de Alva Cortés Ixtlilxóchitl was a Novohispanic historian.-Life:A Castizo born between 1568 and 1580, Alva Cortés Ixtlilxóchitl was a direct descendant of Ixtlilxochitl I and Ixtlilxochitl II, who had been tlatoque of Texcoco...
who, in written accounts of Mesoamerican history provided to the newly-arrived Europeans, appears to corroborate a number of claims made in the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
. Hunter also served as national president of Delta Phi Kappa (LDS), the LDS returned missionary fraternity.
Publications
During his career as a teacher and church leader, Hunter wrote 23 books, principally on religious and history oriented topics. His book Brigham YoungBrigham Young
Brigham Young was an American leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He was the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death in 1877, he founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor of the Utah...
, the Colonizer, published in 1940, was based on his dissertation. His book, Utah in Her Western Setting, was enthusiastically reviewed and was used as a text in Utah schools. However the revised edition, published as The Utah Story was not as well received. He also produced history and church related articles, reviews, and papers.
Although Hunter's work was well researched and clearly written, he wrote for a popular local audience and from a strongly LDS point of view. Utah historians Dale Morgan
Dale Morgan
Lowell Dale Morgan , generally cited as Dale Morgan or Dale L. Morgan, was an American historian, accomplished researcher, biographer, editor, and critic. He specialized in material on Utah history, Mormon history, the American fur trade, and overland trails...
and Brigham D. Madsen were at times highly critical of Hunter's editing of material, his use of selected sources, and his avoidance of material detrimental to the reputation of the LDS church. Geographer Wayne Wahlquist, in a review of literature relating to the settlement of the Utah area, noted Hunter's strengths and weaknesses as a scholar in Brigham Young the Colonizer. He praised Hunter for his accurate and comprehensive use of material, but noted his ... superficial treatment of the colonization process, on such issues as land titles and distribution, and the types of lands settled, and for failing to recognize that the colonization process did not end with Brigham Young. (Walquist, p. 6-7) Historiographer Gary Topping, in 2003, noted that Hunter's myopic cultural vision was clearly apparent in his work. Fully imbued with the patriotism, the chin-up optimism, and the faith in progress held by Mormons and other Americans during the World War II period, the books promote unrestrained industrial development and exploitation of natural resources. (Topping, p. 35) He also notes that Hunter's work ignores cultural diversity in the region, and portrays Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
in a disparaging manner.