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← Older revision		Revision as of 23:16, 17 February 2026
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	\|author=Michael W. Homer		\|author=Michael W. Homer
	\|topic=Mormonism		\|topic=Mormonism
			\|summary=This article traces Arthur Conan Doyle's evolving views on Mormonism, from his hostile portrayal of polygamy and the Danites in A Study in Scarlet to a more nuanced and comparative assessment after his 1923 visit to Utah. It argues that his early depiction relied heavily on anti-Mormon sources, while later reflections reveal a reassessment shaped by personal experience and his commitment to Spiritualism.
	}}		}}
	''Arthur Conan Doyle and His Views on Mormonism: From A Study in Scarlet to The Edge of the Unknown '' is an article written by [[Michael W. Homer]] published in the [[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (Vol. 2, No. 1) in spring 1991.		''Arthur Conan Doyle and His Views on Mormonism: From A Study in Scarlet to The Edge of the Unknown '' is an article written by [[Michael W. Homer]] published in the [[A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society]] (Vol. 2, No. 1) in spring 1991.

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TCDE-Team: Created page with "{{Cargo_Research_Articles |date=1991-03-01 |author=Michael W. Homer |topic=Mormonism }} ''Arthur Conan Doyle and His Views on Mormonism: From A Study in Scarlet to The Edge of the Unknown '' is an article written by Michael W. Homer published in the A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (Vol. 2, No. 1) in spring 1991. This article traces Arthur Conan Doyle's evolving views on Mormonism, from his hostile portrayal of polygamy and the Danit..."

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Created page with "{{Cargo_Research_Articles |date=1991-03-01 |author=Michael W. Homer |topic=Mormonism }} ''Arthur Conan Doyle and His Views on Mormonism: From A Study in Scarlet to The Edge of the Unknown '' is an article written by Michael W. Homer published in the A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (Vol. 2, No. 1) in spring 1991. This article traces Arthur Conan Doyle's evolving views on Mormonism, from his hostile portrayal of polygamy and the Danit..."

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← Older revision		Revision as of 16:14, 11 February 2026
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	'''From A Study in Scarlet to The Edge of the Unknown.'''		'''From A Study in Scarlet to The Edge of the Unknown.'''

	~~Arthur [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] and His Views on Mormonism:~~
	~~From A Study in Scarlet to The Edge of the Unknown~~

	~~Michael W. Homer~~


	Although he was raised in a very strict Roman Catholic family, [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] started to doubt the religion of his parents at the age of eight, when he began to attend Jesuit schools. By the time he entered the University of Edinburgh at 17 he was, by his own account, a nonbeliever and, during his university years, he came under the influence of materialists who taught the process of deductive reasoning through the observation of material phenomena. As a result of this training, [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] became convinced that every mystery of life could be solved through observation and deductive reasoning.		Although he was raised in a very strict Roman Catholic family, [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] started to doubt the religion of his parents at the age of eight, when he began to attend Jesuit schools. By the time he entered the University of Edinburgh at 17 he was, by his own account, a nonbeliever and, during his university years, he came under the influence of materialists who taught the process of deductive reasoning through the observation of material phenomena. As a result of this training, [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] became convinced that every mystery of life could be solved through observation and deductive reasoning.
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	Although [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] was apparently not criticised, either formally or informally, by the LDS Church during his visit to Salt Lake City, he was "rapped" by the Presiding Bishop of the LDS Church upon his arrival in San Francisco.		Although [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] was apparently not criticised, either formally or informally, by the LDS Church during his visit to Salt Lake City, he was "rapped" by the Presiding Bishop of the LDS Church upon his arrival in San Francisco.

	On June 5 1923, there appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle two letters entitled Bishop Nibley Raps Sir Arthur. [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] asks Apology.		On June 5 1923, there appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle two letters entitled Bishop Nibley Raps [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle\|Sir Arthur]]. [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] asks Apology.

	In 1923, Charles W. Nibley was the Presiding Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and within two years would be sustained as second counsellor to the Church President, Heber J. Grant. Nevertheless, he was apparently not writing in his official capacity since an Apostle, John A. Widstoe, had attended a luncheon given in [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]]'s honour at the Alta Club in Salt Lake City.		In 1923, Charles W. Nibley was the Presiding Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and within two years would be sustained as second counsellor to the Church President, Heber J. Grant. Nevertheless, he was apparently not writing in his official capacity since an Apostle, John A. Widstoe, had attended a luncheon given in [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]]'s honour at the Alta Club in Salt Lake City.

	The headline preceding the letters proclaimed: Another Critic of [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]] has arisen in San Francisco. He is Presiding Bishop Charles W. Nibley of the Church of Latter-Day Saints, Salt Lake City, who is staying at the Palace Hotel. Bishop Nibley speaks caustically of Sir Arthur's recent lecture in the Mormon City. The criticism and the answer of [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] are given below.		The headline preceding the letters proclaimed: Another Critic of [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]] has arisen in San Francisco. He is Presiding Bishop Charles W. Nibley of the Church of Latter-Day Saints, Salt Lake City, who is staying at the Palace Hotel. Bishop Nibley speaks caustically of [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle\|Sir Arthur]]'s recent lecture in the Mormon City. The criticism and the answer of [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] are given below.

	The complete text of Bishop Nibley's letter is as follows:		The complete text of Bishop Nibley's letter is as follows:


	: ''The elders of the Mormon Church considered seriously before allowing [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] to speak in the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. Rather than be called narrow and intolerant, we permitted his lecture, and Sir Arthur left Salt Lake City several thousand dollars richer. I think he had a lot of gall to take Mormon money when he attacked us so bitterly in his book "A Study in Scarlet" which was published early in his life.''		: ''The elders of the Mormon Church considered seriously before allowing [[Arthur Conan Doyle\|Conan Doyle]] to speak in the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. Rather than be called narrow and intolerant, we permitted his lecture, and [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle\|Sir Arthur]] left Salt Lake City several thousand dollars richer. I think he had a lot of gall to take Mormon money when he attacked us so bitterly in his book "A Study in Scarlet" which was published early in his life.''
	: ''To Sir Arthur and his ectoplasm, the product of dimly-lighted seances, I answer that the only light that he has discovered was ~~bom~~ in darkness and is not light to me.''		: ''To [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle\|Sir Arthur]] and his ectoplasm, the product of dimly-lighted seances, I answer that the only light that he has discovered was born in darkness and is not light to me.''
	: ''I see no organization which Sir Arthur has founded. He merely seems to come and talk of his method of raising devils and then goes on to another city with money of those who paid $2 to hear him and see his pictures of vaporous spirits of evil issuing from the mouths of women. I do believe that he is successful in raking in the shekels.''		: ''I see no organization which [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle\|Sir Arthur]] has founded. He merely seems to come and talk of his method of raising devils and then goes on to another city with money of those who paid $2 to hear him and see his pictures of vaporous spirits of evil issuing from the mouths of women. I do believe that he is successful in raking in the shekels.''
	: ''I have heard of him claiming to prove religion on a scientific basis without regard to faith. Religion does not need Sir Arthur's support. Faith, which he terms as immoral, is the soul and life of religion. It is the force that made the martyrs courageous.''		: ''I have heard of him claiming to prove religion on a scientific basis without regard to faith. Religion does not need [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle\|Sir Arthur]]'s support. Faith, which he terms as immoral, is the soul and life of religion. It is the force that made the martyrs courageous.''
	: ''There is no religion without faith, for we must believe if we are to be Christians, Mohammedans, or what not. His assertion of his ability to prove religion is absurd. I do not know what his beliefs are, but Sir Arthur does not seem to have any. He never mentions Jesus Christ in his lectures.''		: ''There is no religion without faith, for we must believe if we are to be Christians, Mohammedans, or what not. His assertion of his ability to prove religion is absurd. I do not know what his beliefs are, but [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle\|Sir Arthur]] does not seem to have any. He never mentions Jesus Christ in his lectures.''
	: ''Bringing up evil spirits or devils is not new. It has been practices for centuries. No doubt there are spirits about who will talk to Sir ~~Anthur~~, or anyone for that matter, but they are figments or the devil.''		: ''Bringing up evil spirits or devils is not new. It has been practices for centuries. No doubt there are spirits about who will talk to [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle\|Sir Arthur]], or anyone for that matter, but they are figments or the devil.''


	Nibley's views concerning the spiritualist beliefs of [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]] were similar to those previously expressed by James E. Talmage and Joseph West. Sir Arthur's response to Nibley was surprisingly conciliatory toward the Mormon religion:		Nibley's views concerning the spiritualist beliefs of [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]] were similar to those previously expressed by James E. Talmage and Joseph West. [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle\|Sir Arthur]]'s response to Nibley was surprisingly conciliatory toward the Mormon religion:


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	70. J. H. Beadle in his introduction to Hickman's book compared the Mormons to "the bloody fanatics of Zwickan and Munster." Hickman, p.10		70. J. H. Beadle in his introduction to Hickman's book compared the Mormons to "the bloody fanatics of Zwickan and Munster." Hickman, p.10

	71. Joseph A. West; Sir ~~Arthur [[~~Arthur Conan Doyle~~\|Conan Doyle]]~~'s "New Revelation" and "Vital Message"; Improvement Era 24 (1920): 6-13		71. Joseph A. West; Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "New Revelation" and "Vital Message"; Improvement Era 24 (1920): 6-13

	72. James E. Talmage; The Articles of Faith; Salt Lake City, Desert News, 1899, p.236		72. James E. Talmage; The Articles of Faith; Salt Lake City, Desert News, 1899, p.236
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	81. Higgins to Doyle, May 10 1923, LDS Church Library Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah 82.Doyle to Higgins, May 10 1923, LDS Church Library Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah		81. Higgins to Doyle, May 10 1923, LDS Church Library Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah 82.Doyle to Higgins, May 10 1923, LDS Church Library Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah

	83. Bishop Nibley Raps Sir ~~Arthur [[~~Arthur Conan Doyle~~\|Conan Doyle]]~~ Asks Apology, San Francisco Chronicle; June 5 1923, p.5, Section CC		83. Bishop Nibley Raps Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Asks Apology, San Francisco Chronicle; June 5 1923, p.5, Section CC

	84. [[Arthur Conan Doyle]]; [[Our Second American Adventure]]; Boston; Little, Brown & Co., 1924, p.87 85.Ibid. pp.97-8		84. [[Arthur Conan Doyle]]; [[Our Second American Adventure]]; Boston; Little, Brown & Co., 1924, p.87 85.Ibid. pp.97-8

Arthur Conan Doyle and His Views on Mormonism - Revision history

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