This report presents a history of the Deseret alphabet, beginning with a chapter on English orthography in general and the various attempts that have been made in orthographic reform. The second chapter examines the motives behind the creation of the Deseret alphabet, including the possibilities of a secret Mormon code, a protection from unwholesome literature, a case of being in the right place at the right time, a phonetic English orthography, and a preparation for a pure language. The third chapter traces the roots of the Deseret alphabet: the roots (pre-1850), the developmental period (1852-1857), and the rises and falls (1858-1877). The remaining three chapters examine the practical application of the alphabet, its successes and failures, and the effect the alphabet had on English orthography. Appendixes include a table of common English spellings, the initial teaching alphabet, the Deseret alphabet, an alphabet comparison table, Remy's version, a title page to exercises in phonography, a flyer on secret "Mormon Language," tracings of a coin with the Deseret alphabet, the Deseret alphabet First Book, a section on play from the Deseret Second Book, "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" in Deseret characters, the title page and table of contents of "The Book of Mormon" in Deseret characters, the minutes of the Parowan State 1855 in the Deseret alphabet with translation, a journal page of Thomas Haskell and his version of the Deseret alphabet, tracings from a tombstone with Deseret characters, and the "Deseret News" printing of the "Sermon on the Mount." (HOD)