Alexander L. Baugh

Alexander L. Baugh was born and raised in Logan, Utah. After receiving his B.S. degree in 1981 from Utah State University, he was hired by the LDS Church Education System. From 1981-1987 he was an instructor at Bountiful Viewmont Seminary. During this time he attended Brigham Young University and completed a masters degree in history in 1986 with an emphasis in Western American and Mormon History. From 1987-1991, he taught in the Department of Religious Education at BYU while pursuing his Ph.D. at BYU. From 1991-1994, he coordinated the Seminaries in South Carolina while also serving as the director of the LDS Institute of Religion adjacent to the University of South Carolina in Columbia. In 1995, he became a full-time faculty member in Religious Education at BYU, and in 1996, after completing his Ph.D. in American History, he was appointed assistant professor in the Department of Church History and Doctrine at BYU. In 2002, he was appointed an associate professor of Church History and Doctrine.

Dr. Baugh is the author of A Call to Arms: The 1838 Mormon Defense of Northern Missouri (BYU Studies, 2000). He is also a co-author of On This Day in the Church: An Illustrated Almanac of the Latter-day Saints (Deseret Book, 2001). In addition, he has also co-edited Regional Studies in Church History: New York and Pennsylvania (Brigham Young University Department of Church History and Doctrine, 2002). He has published articles and chapters in the Encyclopedia of Mormonism (Macmillan Publishing Company, 1992); Joseph Smith: The Prophet, the Man (Bookcraft, 1993); Regional Studies in Latter-day Saint Church History: Missouri (Brigham Young University, 1994); Regional Studies in Latter-day Saint Church History: Western Canada (Brigham Young University, 2000); A City of Refuge: Quincy, Illinois (Millennial Press, 2000); Encyclopedia of Latter-day Saint History (Deseret Book, 2000); and the Book of Mormon Reference Companion (2003). He has also published historical articles in the Nauvoo Journal (1995, 1998, 1999); the John Whitmer Historical Association Journal (1998); BYU Studies (1999); Mormon Historical Studies (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003); The Religious Educator (2004); and the Ensign (2001). Currently, he is a co-editor of two forthcoming book publications–“Zion’s Walls Shall Ring With Praise”: Essays on the Mormon Experience in Missouri; and The Papers of Joseph Smith, Documents Volume 3, 1834-38. He is also completing a book manuscript entitled, The Haun’s Mill Massacre: Mormon Tragedy in Northern Missouri.

Professionally, Dr. Baugh was the recipient of the Reese History Award from the Mormon History Association in 1998 for the most scholarly dissertation in the field of Mormon History. He was also presented with the T. Edgar Lyon Award from the Mormon History Association in 2000 for the best article published in the field of Mormon History. Dr. Baugh is a member of the Mormon History Association (MHA), the Missouri Mormon Frontier Foundation (MMFF), and is currently a board member of the John Whitmer Historical Association (JWHA) and the Mormon Historic Sites Foundation (MHSF). He also serves as assistant editor of Mormon Historical Studies.

Dr. Baugh enjoys personal record keeping concerning himself and his family. He has a testimony of journals, family history, genealogy and the important part records can have in the lives of family members. He enjoys reading (anything related to Mormon History and Church doctrine), attending athletic functions (he is both a USU and BYU fan), photography, exercising, skiing (he started at the age of 42), listening to the BYU Men’s Chorus, and when time allows, he even does a little cooking on the side.

In the Church, he served in the Virginia Roanoke Mission (1976-78). He has been an elders quorum president (twice), high priest group leader (three times), special home teacher to less active families, Gospel Doctrine teacher, on three stake high councils, and bishop of the BYU 61st ward. Currently, he is the Young Men’s president in his ward.

He is married to the former Susan Johnson and they are the parents of four girls–Shelly (married), Amy, Lisa, and Amanda–and one boy, Logan. Brother Baugh and his family reside in Highland, Utah.