Until now, the truth about the infamous Mark Hofmann forgeries and bombings has been distorted, sensationalized and exaggerated to the point of becoming myth, contends author Richard E. Turley Jr.
The media frenzy surrounding the events of October 1985 - when two people were killed by pipe bombs - has ignored the victimization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Turley said in a press conference Friday.To provide "thoughtful, corrective" insight from the perspective of the LDS Church as another Hofmann victim, Turley has published his book "Victims: The LDS Church and the Mark Hofmann Case." It is the fourth book written on the intriguing murder-forgery case that altered Mormon and American history.
Seven years ago, handmade pipe bombs killed Steven F. Chris-tensen, a historical documents collector, and Kathleen Sheets, wife of Christensen's business partner. The investigation and the longest preliminary hearing in Utah history exposed Hofmann as a master manipulator and forger of documents who murdered in an attempt to divert attention from his plot to defraud collectors.
The controversy that characterizes the Hofmann case continues with the publication of Turley's book.
Reporters questioned Turley's objectivity Friday because he is an employee of the LDS Church.
An attorney who left his practice to become a historian, Turley is currently the managing director of the LDS Church Historical Department. The aspect that sets "Victims" apart from the other books, he contends, is his unprecedented access to church officials - through exclusive interviews, use of their diaries and previously unavailable church documents.
For example, readers get a personal glimpse into the anguish Elder Dallin H. Oaks, member of the Quorum of the Twelve, experienced during the days following the bombings.
Turley quotes Oaks' journal: "The papers and TV are portraying me (by innuendo) as a sinister directing force because of the admission that I had met with Hofmann on the day of the first two bombings. I have remained silent, cheerfully, under the strategy that we would not give all the facts until charges were filed. But it is a little disquieting to think about what my friends and just casual observers are suspecting or concluding from this one-sided, leering or sneering publicity."
The book documents the LDS Church's frustrating efforts to authenticate Hofmann's brilliant forgeries and portrays, often poignantly, the emotional pain Hofmann inflicted on church officials and their families. Turley provides, as he puts it, "a richness and depth" to the tragedy through his more personal access.
But it's that exclusive access that has raised suspicion.
Turley indicated that "a substantial amount of writing was done on church time." He considered his position similar to a professor doing research and publishing at a university. He also devoted most of his free time to the book.
But he insists the book is his own work - not a "cover-up" by LDS officials. Proceeds from the book will go to him and his publisher - not the LDS Church.
"Even though church officials read the manuscript, all honored my desire to retain editorial control over its contents," Turley said.
"In no case did (review by others) lead to the omission of any material information about church officials' roles in the story."
Speaking for LDS Church officials, Don LeFevre, media relations director, told the Deseret News: "The church cooperated with Mr. Turley in his preparation of the book, but he and his publisher are responsible for its contents."
Allen Roberts, who co-authored the book "Salamander" with Linda Sillitoe, said Turley's interest seems to be to put the church in the most favorable light rather than give equal and fair treatment to all sides of the story.
"When you understand the complexity of the story, you discover that many parties made errors in judgment. It's not a simple matter of the church being a victim," Roberts said.
Jan Shipps, who is a recognized expert on LDS history and is not a member of the church, believes Turley's work "sets the whole tragedy in the context of what was going on in the LDS Church at the time."
"It does not strike me as a cover-up," Shipps said in an interview from her Indiana-Purdue University office. "It's written in a manner that seems to be as fair to everyone as possible." Shipps is the author of "Mormonism: The Story of a New Religious Tradition."
In addition to telling the story in a "fast-paced, brisk and interesting manner," Turley provides an "invaluable" list of documents affected by Hofmann. The research will benefit historians for hundreds of years, she said.
Hofmann was "mounting an assault on the Mormon faith. It's important for Mormons and non-Mormons concerned about theology to read this book."
Characterizing herself as a "token Gentile," Shipps rates the three Hofmann books from an outsider's view:
She gives "Salamander" high marks for accuracy. "They knew the community well. It's an intelligent book."'
She doesn't take "Mormon Murders" by Stephen Naifeh and Gregory W. Smith seriously. "It started out with the notion that Mormonism is a cult and dangerous and sensationalized to the point of distortion."
Robert Lindsey's book "A Gathering of Saints" is very readable, "but Lindsey didn't have the inside track that Roberts and Sillitoe have."
Gerry D'Elia, one of the prosecutors of the Hofmann case, welcomes the fourth account.
"Hofmann is a case that we can't get away from. The truth of the case is in the eyes of the beholder. How can anyone report history without putting their own slant on it? I'm interested in listening to all sides."
In the press conference Friday, Turley described the LDS Church's initial response to investigators as "not anxious to testify - as most of us would be" in the situation. Officials were hesitant to testify, but willing, he said.
D'Elia describes the church's reaction as "tentative" in the first three month of the investigation but fully cooperative afterwards.
The Hofmann story is important to Mormons and non-Mormons alike because forgery will continue to taint religion and history, argues Turley.
Describing Hofmann as the "Master of Deceit," Turley said he received word indirectly in "underhanded, sneaky ways" that Hofmann wanted to contribute to Turley's transcript. Hofmann remains in Utah State Prison serving a life sentence.
Distrustful of Hofmann's motive and questioning his capacity to be truthful, Turley requested Hofmann put his input in writing.
He never heard from him.