When I begin a new project I inevitably have to think carefully about what I hope to achieve and how I am going to do that. That is exactly the same with this new Substack newsletter Echoes of the Past, which I intend to be a place for people to learn more about Latter-day Saints and their experiences over the last two hundred years.
But for the benefit of current and future readers of this newsletter, I might take the time to share Rudyard Kipling’s poem “I Keep Six Honest Serving Men” which he published in 1902 in The Elephant’s Child:
I keep six honest serving-men (They taught me all I knew); Their names are What and Why and When And How and Where and Who. I send them over land and sea, I send them east and west; But after they have worked for me, I give them all a rest. I let them rest from nine till five, For I am busy then, As well as breakfast, lunch, and tea, For they are hungry men. But different folk have different views; I know a person small— She keeps ten million serving-men, Who get no rest at all! She sends'em abroad on her own affairs, From the second she opens her eyes— One million Hows, two million Wheres, And seven million Whys!
The ‘person small’ was Kipling’s daughter who made liberal use of ‘What, why, when, how, where, and who’ questions. As Kipling notes: ‘She keeps ten million serving-men, Who get no rest at all!’ Having an inquisitive and questioning mind is healthy and admirable. To help introduce this project I will use Kipling’s ‘six honest serving-men’ to frame my points. Hopefully they give more insight into my reason for creating this newsletter.
1. What is Echoes of the Past?
Echoes of the Past is a newsletter that provides stories and biographies about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members. It is a digital-only publication that sends stories to your email and app, which you can then read and use. Hopefully these stories could be used in lessons, talks, social settings, and other venues. Stories are drawn from across the world and in some way or another are connected to the Church and its members.
The stories will address a wide range of world events, themes, and other aspects. One story might be about a nineteenth-century meeting place and the next could be how the Church began in Mozambique. I try to provide a variety of stories to stimulate interest and share knowledge. It is, ultimately, a resource for receiving small doses of high-quality Latter-day Saint history.
2. Why this space?
I have been researching and writing Latter-day Saint history for well over ten years, but I have changed my approach over the years. I’ve used a blog, website, Facebook page & group, and I’ve written articles for popular magazines, but there is nothing that seems to work for everyone.
Substack is a great middle-ground where I can write an article and then share it with people who are interested in it. It is easy for me to share on social media but it is also kept neat and well organised in one place. I have full editorial control and other than internet access anyone can read my work. Those who rely on their emails can subscribe without having to set up a social media account. It is for all of these reasons (and more) that I think Substack is right for me.
3. When will stories appear?
I will be writing regularly and will certainly publish an article each week, but I will add more as and when I can. I’m sure there might be an odd occasion when I cannot publish on time, but I’m looking forward to sharing my research and writing with you.
4. Who is this for?
I like to think of my work as a blend of academic scholarship, family history, and devotional writing. All of the details and quotes used in my stories are based on existing sources, some of which I have unearthed after being forgotten about for years. Hopefully my writing appeals to a range of people, but I welcome comments and requests for specific topics, locations, or stories. I’d love for everyone to feel comfortable commenting on stories and tell me what you like (or dislike) about them. Got a question? Send it over.
5. Where can I find more information?
Use the footnotes within each article to know where to find the original source. I am as transparent and open as possible so you can replicate, confirm, or challenge my interpretation or use of a document.
6. Who runs this?
My name is James Perry, and I am a professional historian who researches and writes Latter-day Saint history. I hold a history PhD from Lancaster University and have worked in various Higher Education contexts. I am an Associate Fellow of the Royal Historical Society and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. My work has been published in a range of venues including academic and devotional publications. I am the host of the Saints podcast and live in England with my wife and three children.
So, with all of that out of the way, I hope you enjoy Echoes of the Past and enjoy the stories I share.