John A. Peterson, a son of Charles Peterson, received a BA in history from Utah State University, an MA in history from Brigham Young University, and a PhD in American history from Arizona State University. He has taught in the Church Educational System for thirty-two years, including twenty years at the Institute adjacent to the University of Utah. He also worked for several years in the Church Historical Department and is the author of the award-winning book Utah’s Blackhawk War.