We explore the tumultuous history of Mormonism after Joseph Smith’s death, including Brigham Young’s succession and controversial doctrines like polygamy and blood atonement. Lindsay Hansen Park and Bryan Buchanan guide us through the schisms, scandals and sexual dynamics of this era, from the chaotic leadership struggles in Nauvoo to the restrictive culture of polygamy in Utah.
We examine how polygamy hindered missionary work and statehood, the harsh realities for women, the escalating conflicts with the US government, and the 1870s crackdown on plural marriage. Despite sympathizing with early Mormons, the hosts candidly critique problematic teachings and figures like Brigham Young. They argue that Mormonism still struggles from a reluctance to denounce past errors, which allows those harmful ideas to persist and hurt people today. This no-holds-barred journey illuminates a complex chapter of Mormon history.
1815: Mormon Polygamy Under Joseph Smith w/ Lindsay Hansen Park and Bryan Buchanan
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Show Notes:
- Sunstone Donations
- Year of Polygamy – Podcast
- Year of Polygamy – Website
- Year of Polygamy – Donate
- Sunstone Mormon History Podcast
- Benchmark Books
- Cherish Families
- Holding Out HELP – FLDS
- Feminist Mormon Housewives
- Under the Banner of Heaven
- Biography of Juanita Brooks by Lindsay Hansen Park – coming soon!
- Mountain Meadows Massacre by Juanita Brooks
- The Mormon Succession Crisis of 1844 by D. Michael Quinn
- Brigham’s Destroying Angel by Bill Hickman
- Counterfeiting – appearing early in Smith family by Mary Ann Clements
- Vengeance is Mine by Barbara Jones Brown
- The Mormons by Thomas Kane
- The Seer by Orson Pratt
- Perpetual Emigration Fund
- Justice and Mercy by Gary Bergera
- John W. Woolley
- Edward Steptoe
- Albert Carrington
- Master’s Thesis on the Mormon Reformation
- Wife No. 19 by Ann Eliza Webb Young
- Cristina Rosetti Law of Purity
- Alfred Cumming
- Burying the Salt Lake Temple with the Great Evacuation
- Connell O’Donovan
- New York Times murder of Dr. King Robinson
- Women’s Exponent
- The Plygamous Wives Writing Club by PaulaHarline
- Letters from Exile by Constance L Lieber
- Playing with Shadows: Voices of Dissent in the Mormon West
- In Sacred Loneliness by Todd Compton
- In Sacred Loneliness Documents Edition by Todd Compton
- Amelia Fulsom
- Gardo House
- David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism by Greg Prince
- The Forgotten Kingdom
- A House Full of Females
- John Turner’s Biography of Brigham Young
- Mormon Enigma: Emma Smith
- Kingdom of Nauvoo by Ben Park
- Kingdom of the West series
- Prostitution, Polygamy and Power
- Charisma Under Pressure by Dan Vogel
- D Michael Quinn – Same Sex Dynamics Nineteenth Century study in Mormonism
- Wild Wild Country
- History of the Saints by John C. Bennett
- Saintly Scoundrel Biography of John C. Bennett
- Carthage Conspiracy by Dallin H. Oaks
- Method Infinite by Cheryl Bruno and Nick Niterski
- Mormon Polygamy by Richard Van Wagoner
- American Polygamy by Watson
- In Sacred Loneliness by Todd Compton
- In Sacred Loneliness Documents Edition by Todd Compton
- A House Full of Females by Laurel Ulrich
- Joseph Smith’s Polygamy by Brian Hales vol. 1
- Joseph Smith’s Polygamy by Brian Hales vol. 2
- Joseph Smith’s Polygamy by Brian Hales vol. 3
- Nauvoo Polygamy by George D. Smith
- Continuing Revelation by Bryan Buchanan
- Edith Romney Society
- The Prophet’s Puzzle podcast by Dan Vogel
Mormon Stories Related:
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- 564: Lindsay Hansen Park Interviews John Dehlin on the 10th Anniversary of Mormon Stories Podcast
- 324-326: Grant Palmer on Sexual Allegations Against Joseph Smith, William and Jane Law, and His Resignation
- 1801: Mormon Bible Scholar – Dan McClellan Part 1
- 1802: 10 Things You Should Know About the Bible – Dan McClellan Part 2
- 1803: How “Thoughtful” Mormons Stay in the Church – Dan McClellan Part 3
- 1794: Did Joseph Smith engage in Human Trafficking?
- 1797: Joseph Smith’s Polygamy Practice is Indisputable w/ Radio Free Mormon
Pervy apostle Albert Carrington’s “Little Folly in Israel” defense had to have some interesting personal sources of justification. #1) Having spent some time in the Church Historian’s office, he had to have known where many of the skeletons of polygamy were hidden.
But #2), his daughter Francis Carrington was married Zeb Jacobs. The son of Zina Huntington Jacobs Smith Young, with Henry Jacobs having been the bio-dad. Zina eventually became the Alpha Femme of the church.
In 1849, Carrington purchased the original Deuel log cabin, the oldest pioneer structure known to have been built in the valley, and had it relocated to West Temple, where the Church History Museum is currently located.
https://jacobbarlow.com/2014/06/10/a-pioneer-home/
Zeb Jacobs ran a livery out of that lot for many years. Eventually the church relocated the cabin onto Temple Square, and it was later moved to This is the Place Heritage Park.
An interesting footnote to this episode is Arthur Conan Doyle’s first Sherlock Holmes story, A Study in Scarlet, which tells a tale of murder and revenge based on Brigham Young’s iron fisted rule of the Utah Territory. It touches on Blood Atonement, the Danites, the administration of Polygamy and the mortal risk of defying Brigham or attempting to leave the faith. While not perfectly accurate with regards to the details, it does shed considerable light on the general public perceptions of the Mormons in Utah at the time, as well as launching the literary career of history’s most famous fictional detective.
Hey Linsey how about some sources. You guys ramble on for hour about 2nd or 3rd hand accounts that may or may not be true. What a joke!! Lol
I am stating to visualize hero cards or something the unsung heros of Mormon history… Ann Eliza, Nancy Rigdon, William Law.
If I could get that info (with sources), I’ll get to working on that.
McLean is buried in the SLC Mount Olivet
Cemetery. Piece of trivia
So fascinating, and cringey, and heartbreaking, and inspiring, etc etc etc! In the episode this is said to be a part 2, but I’m having a hard time finding part 1? Which episode number is part 1? Thanks!
Hello Staci, Here is part 1: https://www.mormonstories.org/portfolio-items/joseph-smith-polygamy/