William L. Davis, Ph.D. '16

"Visions in a Seer Stone: Joseph Smith and the Making of the Book of Mormon," by William L. Davis, Ph.D. '16, will be published by UNC Press on May 25. In this interdisciplinary work, Davis examines Joseph Smith's 1829 creation of the Book of Mormon, the foundational text of the Latter Day Saint movement. Positioning the text in the history of early American oratorical techniques, sermon culture, educational practices, and the passion for self-improvement, Davis elucidates both the fascinating cultural context for the creation of the Book of Mormon and the central role of oral culture in early 19th-century America.

Davis earned his Ph.D. in theater and performance studies from the School of Theater, Film and Television.