The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 104, July 2000 - April, 2001 Page: 630

Southwestern Historical Quarterly

from 1842-1995. The entries are arranged in alphabetical order, vary in length,
and betray a confessional bias. Notes for both parts of the book begin on page
518, and works consulted, excluding those "articles, pamphlets, and brochures,
which are documented in the Notes" (p. 569) precede the index.
As a reference work, Lone Star Bishops presents a few problems; as a somewhat
quirky compendium of information seldom encountered by the layman, and
never to be found within the covers of the same book, it succeeds.
Southwest Texas State Unzverszty Elizabeth Makowski
Hzspanzcs zn the Mormon Zion, 1912-1999. By Jorge Iber. (Texas A&M University
Press, 2ooo. Pp. xvi+196. Preface. ISBN o-89096-933-7. $34.95, cloth.)
Because the Hispanic population in Utah accounts for a mere six percent of
the state, their history has been largely ignored by scholars. This minority, how-
ever, has played a role far larger than their numbers would suggest. Partly as a
response to George J. Sinchez's statement that "the relationship between eth-
nicity and religion is still a relatively unexplored area for historical research,
particularly in Chicano history" (p. xi), Jorge Iber has finally allotted them
their due role in the history of Utah as well as the role Utah played in their
history.
Religion often plays a large role in any history, especially when recently
arrived immigrants are looking for familiarity in a strange new world. ThusJorge
Iber explores not only the Mormon religion and its relationship with Hispanics
in Utah, but also the Catholic religion in this "Mormon Zion," largely filling this
historical void for the state of Utah. Indeed, as Iber tells us throughout this
book, many Hispanics use their culture as well as religion to express (and under-
stand) themselves.
In reading this book, there are a few items to consider. First, Iber frequently
refers to the "Mormon Zion." While this usually has religious connotations, Iber
uses this, as well as "the Beehive State," merely in reference to Utah. Also, he
refers to the Salt Lake Tribune as being "the state's most important newspaper"
(p. ix). For this book, he is correct, as the other leading newspaper, the Deseret
News, is highly pro-Mormon while the Tribune is often referred to as anti-
Mormon, due to its liberal views and often critical articles of the Mormon
Church. Thus, for Hispanics that are not Mormons, the Salt Lake Tribune would
indeed be considered the "most important newspaper." But for Hispanic mem-
bers of the LDS Church, this would not be the case. Iber tends to rely heavily on
Tribune sources rather than the Deseret News throughout his book.
The forte of this book is Iber's use of primary sources such as oral histories as
well as excellent archival research. According to Iber, "this work will use avail-
able materials to spotlight sucesses, failures, trials, tribulations, contributions,
and division of Hispanics in the Beehive State. The text adds another fragment
to the expanding mosaic that is the history of the Spanish-speaking people of
the United States" (p. xv).
As Iber also states, "the barrios of California and Texas do not make up the

630

April