The outermost court: Gentiles in Mormon Zion, 1831--186

This thesis explores the lives of the non-Mormon minority that lived within early Mormon communities. Understanding the nature of community formation and the role of passive religious dissent on the frontier of antebellum America problematizes monolithic narratives of religious conflict. A more localized exploration of Mormon/non-Mormon interaction provides insight into how these communities changed over time and how economic issues were central to their viability. Other studies of these relationships have focused on the conflict that arose between Mormon communities and their neighbors. By framing this investigation in terms of the opportunities for collaboration, I argue that these communities were more stable when they were economically integrated. This conclusion is evidenced by drawing from letters, journals, and newspaper reports from non-Mormon residents as well as the public statements and sermons of Mormon leaders.