Many Americans associate the state of Utah with Mormons.
But did you know the Mormons almost settled in Texas?
Spencer McBride, an editor with the Joseph Smith Papers Documentary Editing Project, joins us to explore the life of Joseph Smith, founder of Mormonism and the Church of Latter Day Saints.
About the Show
Ben Franklin’s World is a podcast about early American history.
It is a show for people who love history and for those who want to know more about the historical people and events that have impacted and shaped our present-day world.
Each episode features a conversation with an historian who helps us shed light on important people and events in early American history.
Episode Summary
In today’s episode, Spencer McBride, an editor with the Joseph Smith Papers Documentary Editing Project, joins us to explore the life of Joseph Smith, founder of Mormonism and the Church of Latter Day Saints.
During our exploration, Spencer reveals who Joseph Smith was and information about his revelation story; How Smith saw Mormonism as fitting within the Christian religious tradition; And, details about the Mormons’ westward migration from New York to Utah.
What You’ll Discover
- How Spencer came to study early American history
- Joseph Smith
- The Second Great Awakening
- Joseph Smith’s revelation story in 1820
- The founding of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
- How Smith translated the golden plates into the Book of Mormon
- How Smith saw Mormonism as fitting within the Christian tradition
- How Joseph Smith spread the Mormon faith
- Smith’s use of missionaries
- Kinship networks as a way to spread the Mormon faith
- How Smith’s fellow Americans received his religious message
- When and why the Mormons traveled to Utah
- Places the Mormons attempted to settle prior to Utah
- What the westward migration was like for Mormons
- Why non-Mormons wanted Mormons to leave their communities
- Joseph Smith’s views on western territories
- How Joseph Smith came to his belief in plural marriage
- Smith’s relationship with his first wife Emma
- Details about the Mormon War and how the Mormons moved to Illinois
- The circumstances of Joseph Smith’s death at 38 years old
- Whether Smith was involved in an attempt to kill the governor of Illinois
- Details about the Joseph Smith Papers Documentary Editing Project
- Details about JosephSmithPapers.org
- Negotiations between Sam Houston and Joseph Smith to bring the Mormons to Texas
- Plans for a Brigham Young Documentary Editing Project
Links to People, Places, and Publications
- Spencer McBride
- Joseph Smith Papers Documentary Editing Project
- Spencer's Website
- Twitter: @SpencerWMcBride
- Information about how Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon with the Seer Stone.
Time Warp Question
In your opinion what might have happened if Joseph Smith had lived longer? How would the Mormon journey to the west have been different?
Questions, Comments, Suggestions
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