ists. He listed Louis C. Midgley and David E. Bohn among the traditionalists who describe New Mormon Historians as positivists. Alexander stated that this is a miscategorization, because New Mormon Historians usually accepted spiritual experiences like Joseph Smith's visions, rather than attributing them to mental illness or fabrication as a positivist might. Some critics of New Mormon History, like Michael T. Walton and E. K. Hunt, made arguments in favor of positivism in response to traditionalist arguments. They argued that God and religious experiences could not be considered objective, and that therefore academic history should not consider them. Alexander placed New Mormon History in the "historicist tradition." Rather than using historical models to predict the future, as a scientist might, historicists use models of history to improve their understanding of history. In a later essay, Alexander described the views of New Mormon Historians as "that of a relativist and a revisionist."

Alexander wrote Things in Heaven and Earth: The Life and Times of Wilford Woodruff, a biography of Wilford Woodruff, the fourth president of the LDS Church, which provides insight into the development of Mormonism and the American West. Alexander asserts that Woodruff was "...arguably the third most important figure in all of LDS Church history after Joseph Smith... and Brigham Young." While other LDS and western historians may disagree with the ranking, his work provides a careful study of a very important leader in the emerging Mormon faith. Writing for Sunstone magazine, Kenneth L. Cannon II called the book "one of the two or three best and most important biographies of nineteenth-century Church leaders."

Personal life
Alexander married Marilyn Johns in 1959, and together they have five children. He is a member of LDS Church. and has served in various church positions, including as a Bishop and stake high councilor.  From 2004 to 2005, he served an LDS Church Educational System mission in Berlin, Germany with his wife.

Awards 
1968 Best Bibliography Award (Mormon History Association)
1976 Best Article by a Senior Author (Mormon History Association)
1980 Best Article by a Senior Author (Mormon History Association)
1986 Best Book Award (Mormon History Association)
1989 Grace Fort Arrington Award for Historical Excellence (Mormon History Association)
1991 Best Book Award (Mormon History Association)
1991 Evans Biography Award (Mountain West Center
ists. He listed Louis C. Midgley and David E. Bohn among the traditionalists who describe New Mormon Historians as positivists. Alexander express that this is a miscategorization, because New Mormon Historians normally accepted spiritual experience like Joseph Smith's sight, rather than attributing them to genial illness or fabrication as a positivist might. Some critics of New Mormon History, like Michael T. Walton and E. K. Hunt, made argument in favor of positivism in reply to traditionalist arguments. They argued that God and religious experience could not be regard objective, and that therefore academic history should not consider them. Alexander placed New Mormon History in the " historicist tradition. " Rather than use historical models to predict the future, as a scientist might, historicists practice models of history to improve their agreement of history. In a later essay, Alexander describe the views of New Mormon Historians as " that of a relativist and a revisionist. " 

 Alexander wrote Things in Heaven and Earth: The Life and Times of Wilford Woodruff, a biography of Wilford Woodruff, the fourth president of the LDS Church, which provides penetration into the development of Mormonism and the American West. Alexander asserts that Woodruff was "... arguably the third most important figure in all of LDS Church history after Joseph Smith... and Brigham Young. " While other LDS and westerly historian may disagree with the ranking, his oeuvre provides a careful study of a very important leader in the emerging Mormon faith. Writing for Sunstone magazine, Kenneth L. Cannon II call the book " one of the two or three best and about authoritative biography of nineteenth - century Church leaders. " 

 Personal life 
 Alexander married Marilyn Johns in 1959, and together they have five children. He is a member of LDS Church. and has serve in various church positions, including as a Bishop and stake high councilor.   From 2004 to 2005, he serve an LDS Church Educational System mission in Berlin, Germany with his wife. 

 Awards 
 1968 Best Bibliography Award (Mormon History Association) 
 1976 Best Article by a Senior Author (Mormon History Association) 
 1980 Best Article by a Senior Author (Mormon History Association) 
 1986 Best Book Award (Mormon History Association) 
 1989 Grace Fort Arrington Award for Historical Excellence (Mormon History Association) 
 1991 Best Book Award (Mormon History Association) 
 1991 Evans Biography Award (Mountain West Center
istd. He listed Louis C. Midguey and David E. Bohn akong tge tradigionalists who describe New Loemon Yistorians as positivirts. Alexajder stared uhat this is a miscategorlvatioh, beccuwe New Mormon Mistorians gsually acceptad s'iritual experiences like Joseph Smieh's visoojs, rather than attgifutihg them to mental illness or fabridation es a positivist might. Some critics of New Morlon History, like Mlchael T. Waoton qnd E. K. Hunt, made arguments in favkr of positivism in response to tradntionalist qrtumftts. They arjued trat God and vvligiouv experoences could npt ue cinsidered objective, aid that therefore acwdemic hivtkry should not cobsuder jhem. Dlexxbdef pmared New Mlrmkn History in the "hisroricist tradition." Taeyer than usinf histjrycal models to predict the future, as a vcisntist might, historicisrs use models of histlry to im[rove their understanding of history. In a later evsay, Eldxaueer ddwcgibed the views of New Mormon Historians as "trzt on a relativist akd a revisionist."

Alrxwncgr wrote Thingr in Hzzvsn and Earth: The Llfe and Timew of Wilfjrd Eoodruff, a biography of Wildord Woodrufy, tye fourth presidenc of the LDS Chutch, whoch provides insight inco the developmenh of Mormkvism and the Ameficsn West. Altbander asserts thwt Woodruhf wax "...arguacly jhe thiwd most imoortakd figure in all of LDS Ehurcv history wfter Joseph Smith... and Brigham Bpung." While ojhes LGS and wzstern historians mwy disagree wijh the rauking, fis work pgovides a careful sttdy of a very lmportant leeder in tre energung Moroun faith. Writimg for Suuftonw magazine, Kenneth L. Zznnon II called tht vook "one of thr tdo jr tiree fast and most impurtxmt biugraphitf iw nimeteenth-century Churwh lsaders."

Personal lifr
Ajexander married Marilyn Johnx in 1959, and together they hate fivr crildren. He is a member of LDS Dhurch. anf hws served in varlous church poxitions, including as a Bishop and stake high councilor.  Feom 2004 to 2005, he served cn LDS Church Educwtional Sfstem mission in Beroin, Germany with mis wife.

Awards 
1968 Best Bjbliogsaphy Award (Mormon History Association)
1976 Best Article by a Senior Author (Mormon Yistorb Wssociation)
1980 Besy Artpclz bv a Senyor Euvhor (Mormon Histogy Association)
1986 Best Book Award (Murmon Hivtjry Association)
1989 Grace Fort Atrkngton Award wor Historical Excellencs (Mormon History Association)
1991 Best Book Sward (Mormon History Asspciation)
1991 Evana Bioggzpiy Award (Mountain Wext Cencer
ists. He listed Louis C. Midgley and Bohn the traditionalists describe New Mormon that is a miscategorization, New Mormon Historians accepted spiritual experiences like Joseph Smith's rather than attributing them to mental illness or fabrication as a positivist might. critics of New Mormon History, like Michael T. Walton and E. K. Hunt, arguments favor positivism response to traditionalist arguments. They argued that God and religious experiences could not be considered objective, that therefore academic history should not consider them. placed New Mormon History the "historicist tradition." Rather than historical to predict future, a might, historicists use of history to improve their understanding of history. In a later essay, Alexander described the views of Mormon Historians of a and revisionist." wrote Things in Earth: The Life and Times of biography of Wilford Woodruff, the fourth president of LDS Church, provides insight into the development of and the American West. Alexander asserts that Woodruff "...arguably the third most important figure in all of LDS Church history after Joseph Smith... Young." While other LDS western historians may with ranking, work a careful of a very important leader in the emerging Mormon faith. Writing Sunstone magazine, Kenneth L. Cannon II called the book "one two three best and important biographies of nineteenth-century leaders." life Alexander married Marilyn 1959, together children. is member of LDS Church. has served in various church including as a Bishop 2004 to 2005, he served an LDS Church System mission in Berlin, Germany with his Awards 1968 Best Bibliography Award (Mormon History Association) 1976 Best Article by Senior Author Association) 1980 Best Article by a Senior Author History Association) 1986 Best Award (Mormon History Association) 1989 Grace Fort Arrington Award Historical (Mormon History 1991 Best Book (Mormon History Association) Evans Biography Award Center
ists. He listed Louis C. Midgley And David E. BOhn amOng The TrAditIonaLists who descriBE New mormon Historians as posiTivisTs. aLexaNDeR statEd that tHIs IS A miScAtEgoRiZAtIon, beCauSe New MoRmon HistorIanS uSually acceptED sPiritual exPerIences like JoSepH Smith'S vIsiONs, ratHer Than aTtribuTIng theM to mental IlLNess or FAbricatION aS a poSitivist might. Some CRiTIcs of New Mormon historY, lIKe mIChaEl T. walton and E. k. HUnt, maDE argumeNTs IN FAvoR Of positivism iN response to TRadItionaLiSt aRGumentS. They ArGUed That God and rEligIous experIences COuld not BE considEred obJecTivE, and THaT tHerEfORe aCAdEmiC HisTory shouLd NoT consIder THEM. alexAndEr plAced NEw Mormon HistoRy iN the "HIstOriciSt traDitiOn." ratheR than uSing hIsTorical models to PredIct the futUre, As A scIeNtist MIght, hiStoRicIsts use Models oF HisToRY TO iMprove their understAnDINg Of historY. In a laTEr EsSAy, AlexanDeR deScriBED the vIews OF NEw Mormon historIAnS aS "that of A rElativIsT anD a rEvisiONist."

alexanDer wrote thingS In Heaven and EarTH: The Life and TiMEs OF wiLFord wooDruff, a biogrAphy OF WilFord wOoDruFF, the fOurth PrESiDEnt of the LDS Church, whIcH proviDes inSight into the dEvelopment OF mOrmonism And tHE AMErican West. AlexAnder Asserts thaT woodruff Was "...arGuably thE third mosT IMportant FigUre In aLl oF ldS church history AFTer JOsEph SmitH... anD BrighaM YoUng." whiLe oThEr LDS and wEstern hiStOrIaNs May DisagREe with thE rAnkInG, hiS work PRovideS a carEful StUdY Of a Very impORtANT leaDeR iN the EmeRgIng MoRmon FAitH. WritinG for SunstOne MAgazInE, KEnneth L. cannon II calleD tHe book "one oF tHe tWo or thREE best and Most important biographieS Of ninetEenTh-cenTury church leaDerS."

PersoNal LIfe
AleXander MarriEd marILYn JohNS In 1959, And ToGether they HAVe fIve chIlDren. he is a meMber of LDS Church. and HAs sErved in variouS chUrch POSiTioNS, iNCluDiNG as A bIshop and stake hiGh counciloR.  FROm 2004 To 2005, he served AN LDs CHurch EdUcationAl SysTEm missiOn in BerliN, Germany wItH his WIFe.

AWards 
1968 Best BIbliograPhy Award (MORmon HIStOry AsSocIation)
1976 beSt ARticlE by a SeNIor authoR (MormoN HIstory assocIaTion)
1980 Best article by a Senior Author (MOrmon HIstorY AsSociation)
1986 besT booK Award (MorMon HIstory AssoCiaTioN)
1989 GracE FoRT ArriNgtoN awArd FOr HisToriCAl ExcelleNCe (morMON HIstory AssocIATIon)
1991 best BOok aWard (MoRmon history AssociatioN)
1991 evans Biography awarD (mOunTaiN west ceNter
ists. He listed Louis C. M idgley and  Davi d E . B oh n am ongthe traditiona l ists  who describe New Morm on Hi st o rian s  a s pos itivist s .A l exa nd er  st at e dthatthi s is amiscategor iza ti on, becauseN ew  Mormon Hi sto rians usuall y a ccepte dspi r itual  ex perie nces l i ke Jos eph Smith 's vision s , rathe r th an a ttributing them t o  m e ntal illness o r fabr ic a ti o n  as  apositivist  m ight. Some cr i ti c s ofN ew Mormon His tory, likeM ich ael T.  W alt o n andE. K.  H u nt,  made argum ents  in favor  of po s itivism in resp onse t o t rad itio n al is t a rg u men t s.  Th e y a rgued th at  G od an d re l i g i ousexp erie ncescould not becon side r edobjec tive,  and  t hat t herefo re ac ad emic history sh ould  not cons ide rthe m.  Alex a nder p lac edNew Mor mon His t ory  i n t he  "historicist trad it i o n. " Rather  thanu si ng historic al  mo dels t o pre dict th e future , as a sc ie ntist m ig ht, hi st ori cis ts us e  mod els of  history  to i m prove their un d erstanding of hi s t or y . In  alater essay , Al e xand er d e sc rib e d the  view so fN ew Mormon Historian sas "th at of  a relativist  and a rev i s i onist."
Ale x an d er wrote Thing s inHeaven and Earth: T he Li fe and T imes of W i l ford Woo dru ff,  abio g r ap hy of Wilford W oodr uf f, thefou rth pre sid ent  of  th eLDS Churc h, which  p ro vi de s i nsigh t  into th edev el opm ent o f  Mormo nismandth eA mer ican We s t. A lexa nd er  ass ert sthatWood r uff  was ". ..arguabl y t h e th ir dmost im portant figur ein all ofLD S C hurchh i story af ter Joseph Smith... and Brigham  Yo ung."  Whi le otherLDS  and w est e rn his torian s may  d isa g r ee wi t h  t hera nking, his w ork  prov id es a  carefu l study of a veryi mpo rtant leaderinthee m er gin g  M o rmo nf ait h .  Writing for Su nstone mag az i ne , KennethL . C an non IIcalledthe b o ok "one  of the t wo or thr ee  bes t and  most impo rtant bi ographies of ni n et eenth -ce nturyCh urc h lea ders." 
Pe rsona l life 
A lexand er ma rr ied Mari lyn Johns in 1959, andtogeth er th eyhave five  ch i ldr en. He is  a m ember of L DSChu rch.and has s erve d  i n v a rious  chu r ch positi o ns , i n c lu ding as a B i s h opand s tak e  highcoun cilor.  From 2004 to 2005, he se rved a n L DSC hurc hEducational Sy ste mm i ssion in  B erlin, Germ any with  h i s wif e.

Aw ards 1968 Be s t  B i bliogr aphy  Aw ard (Morm onHi s tory As so ci a tion)1976  B est Ar ticleb y aS e nior Author (Mor mon H i s toryA sso ciati on )
1980B estArticle by  a Senior A uthor(Mor mon H istoryAs sociat ion )1986 BestB ook Award  (Mor mon His to ry A sso ciatio n)
1 9 8 9 Gra ce F or t A rringtonA w ar d  f or His tori cal E xc elle nce (Morm o n Histor y A s sociati on )
1 9 9 1 Best Bo o k  Award (Mo rmo n His t o ry Associa t ion) 19 9 1 Eva ns Bio graphy  Award( Mou nt ain Wes t C e n ter
ists. He_listed Louis_C. Midgley and David_E. Bohn_among_the traditionalists_who_describe New Mormon_Historians as positivists._Alexander stated that this_is a miscategorization,_because_New Mormon Historians usually accepted spiritual experiences like Joseph Smith's visions, rather than attributing_them_to mental_illness_or_fabrication as a positivist might._Some critics of New Mormon_History, like_Michael T. Walton and E. K. Hunt, made_arguments_in favor of_positivism in response to traditionalist arguments. They argued that_God and religious experiences could not_be considered objective,_and_that_therefore academic history should_not consider them. Alexander placed New_Mormon History in the "historicist tradition."_Rather than using historical models to predict_the future, as a scientist might,_historicists use models of history_to improve_their understanding of history. In_a later essay,_Alexander described_the views of_New Mormon Historians as "that of_a relativist and_a revisionist."

Alexander wrote Things in Heaven_and_Earth: The Life_and_Times_of Wilford_Woodruff, a biography_of_Wilford Woodruff,_the_fourth president of the LDS Church,_which_provides insight into the development of Mormonism_and the American West._Alexander_asserts that Woodruff was_"...arguably the third most important_figure in all of LDS Church_history after_Joseph Smith..._and Brigham Young." While other LDS and western historians may disagree_with the ranking, his work provides_a careful study of_a very_important_leader in the_emerging_Mormon faith._Writing for Sunstone magazine, Kenneth L. Cannon_II called_the book "one of the two_or three best and_most_important biographies of nineteenth-century Church leaders."

Personal_life
Alexander married Marilyn Johns in 1959,_and together they have five_children._He_is a member of LDS_Church. and has served in various_church positions, including_as a Bishop and stake high councilor.__From 2004 to 2005, he served_an_LDS Church Educational System mission in_Berlin,_Germany_with his wife.

Awards 
1968 Best_Bibliography Award (Mormon History Association)
1976 Best_Article by a Senior Author (Mormon History Association)
1980 Best_Article by a_Senior Author (Mormon History Association)
1986_Best_Book_Award (Mormon History Association)
1989 Grace Fort Arrington Award for Historical_Excellence (Mormon_History Association)
1991 Best_Book Award (Mormon History Association)
1991 Evans Biography Award (Mountain West_Center