PROVO — The biggest target of 19th century anti-Mormons was not the Book of Mormon. "The real issue was that Mormonism was a religion that professed to be constantly engaged with the supernatural world," said Christopher James Blythe, a graduate student in the history department at Utah State University.

The word "supernatural," in the way Blythe used it, is an academic term for "spiritual gifts" such as revelation, visions and healings. He spoke on Thursday, July 2, at Brigham Young University during the Mormon Scholars Foundation Summer Seminar, "Parley and Orson Pratt and the Formation of Mormon Thought."

"Parley P. Pratt became one of the principle voices of 19th century Mormonism," Blythe said. "He was an apologist and a polemicist eager to defend the faith."

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