The “Never Friends” Story and Its Origin A later family-based tradition claims that Brigham Young and John Taylor were essentially “never friends.” One version, printed in an appendix titled “Never Friends: Brigham Young and John Taylor” in The John Taylor Papers (by Samuel W. Taylor and Raymond W. Taylor, descendants of John Taylor), relates the … Read more
The Latter-day Saint Exodus and Fear of Federal Intervention (1846) As the Latter-day Saints moved west in early 1846, they did so believing federal intervention was imminent. Members had repeatedly been warned that an army was coming to stop their migration. Many viewed the United States government as hostile because it had failed to protect … Read more
Early Historical Sources and the Study of Church Origins Season 5, Episode 9 turns again to the earliest historical sources of the Restoration and immerses the reader in the world of Joseph Smith, the apostles who followed him, and the doctrinal tensions that emerged as the Church grew. The podcast uses original journals and records—especially … Read more
Anti-Mormonism in Colorado and Its Territorial Origins Much of what is now Colorado was originally part of Utah Territory. When non-LDS settlers sought to create Colorado Territory, political leaders used anti-Mormon rhetoric to justify separating the region from Utah. This produced a regional political culture in which anti-Mormon sentiment became normalized and persisted into the … Read more
Doctrine & Covenants 93: Historical and Theological Significance Doctrine and Covenants 93 is considered one of Joseph Smith’s most theologically expansive revelations. Received in 1833, it introduced doctrines not found in traditional Christianity, including: Jesus Christ did not receive a fulness of glory at first but advanced “grace to grace.” Human beings existed as intelligences … Read more
Joseph Smith Raising the Dead– Nauvoo Malaria Outbreak & Miraculous Healings, 1839) The Nauvoo Sickness Crisis of 1839 When the Saints arrived at the swampy lowlands of Commerce, Illinois—soon to be renamed Nauvoo—they were met not with stability but disease. The stagnant Mississippi backwaters bred thick clouds of mosquitoes, and by July 1839, malaria and … Read more
The Lectures on Faith in Early Latter-day Saint Scripture When the Doctrine and Covenants first appeared in 1835, it contained two major parts: the “Doctrine,” which consisted of the Lectures on Faith, and the “Covenants,” a collection of revelations to Joseph Smith. The volume’s title page explained that its contents were “carefully selected from the … Read more
Background on Brigham Young’s Devotion to Joseph Smith Brigham Young is one of the clearest historical examples of complete loyalty to Joseph Smith. His writings, journals, and published sermons consistently show: He did not test Joseph’s revelations against prior scripture. If Joseph Smith taught something—difficult or new—Brigham accepted it as revelation from God. He initially … Read more
Question About the Illuminati and the Temple A missionary reported teaching a family whose father once investigated the Church and had prepared for baptism. Before his baptism, he watched an illegal video of the temple endowment online. Disturbed by what he saw and by perceived similarities to other religious rites, he asked a member why … Read more
Are “Mormons” Christian? – Part 1 President Polk’s Motive for the Mormon Battalion It was long assumed that President James K. Polk called for the Mormon Battalion out of military necessity and that the Saints responded patriotically. Traditional narratives describe this as mutually beneficial: the U.S. gained troops for the Mexican-American War, and the Saints … Read more