We are here today with part fourteen of our Joseph Smith: The Podcast series with Dr. John Turner. Today we are continuing on with chapter thirteen of his new book “Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.” The chapter is titled “Zion is Fled” and covers the years 1883-1834 in Missouri. In this episode we explore one of the most turbulent periods in early Mormon history. We dive into the Missouri conflict of the 1830s, the Saints’ rising tensions with their neighbors, and the violent clashes that shaped both Mormon identity and leadership.
We also discuss:
-The growing resentment of Non-Mormons
-The destruction of a Mormon printing press by mob violence
-Slavery in Missouri and how that related to the Saints
-Doctor Philastus Hurlbut affidavits
-The Solomon Spaulding Manuscript
-The 1833 Meteor shower
-How persecution shaped and influenced the Saints’ identity
This conversation wrestles with big questions: Why did violence erupt? How did Joseph Smith and the Saints respond to failed prophecies? And what do these early struggles reveal about faith, leadership, and survival in a hostile America?
