Gospel Tangents Podcast

Rick B
  • 4.5 (130)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

A 360-degree view of Mormonism. We interview the best Mormon scholars, scientists, and clergy from all restoration branches, including LDS, Community of Christ, Strangites, Bickertonites, Temple Lot, Remnant, etc.

  1. 3d ago

    Virtual, Vodou, and Fundy Temples (Rick B 3 of 4)

    We’re taking a deep dive into Virtual, Vodou, and Fundy Temples. It’s a fascinating look at secret and highly controversial world of divergent temples and modern groups of the Restoration. Following the assassination of Joseph Smith, the temple liturgy fractured like a prism, scattering the sacred rites of the Restoration in vastly different directions. https://youtu.be/L6vQWsbxxaE Don’t miss our other conversations on temples: https://gospeltangents.com/mormon_history/lds-temples/ Copyright © 2026 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved What you will discover in this presentation: Lost Rites of Mormonism: Discover early temple ordinances that the mainstream LDS Church left behind, including the Law of Adoption (sealing members to prominent church leaders rather than biological parents), baptisms for health (ritual immersion for physical healing), and the controversial Oath of Vengeance. The 1978 Breaking Point: Understand how early 20th-century alterations to the endowment and the 1978 revelation lifting the racial ban on Black members became the “last straw” for fundamentalists, who believed mainstream temples were defiled and set out to build their own sacred spaces. Inside Secret Sanctuaries of Fundy Temples: Go behind the scenes of Warren Jeffs’ isolated YFZ Ranch in Eldorado, Texas, and the dramatic 2008 paramilitary raid sparked by a hoax call. Plus, hear about an exclusive interview conducted inside the temple of Christ’s Church (the Righteous Branch) in Nevada, where they still practice the multi-hour 1877 St. George endowment and perform second anointings. Decentralized and Progressive Temples: Explore Missouri Independents who reject the traditional fundamentalist racial ban to allow Black members to receive full temple ordinances, and the progressive Church of Jesus Christ in Christian Fellowship (CJCCF) & Reform Mormons. Both churches conduct virtual temple worship over Zoom using “home temples” and ordain women to the priesthood. Mormonism Meets Haitian Vodou: Learn how Haitian Latter-day Saints engage in “bricolage,” beautifully blending Mormon temple theology about the thin veil between the living and the dead with indigenous Vodou ancestral veneration. Join us as we explore how nearly two centuries of history have led diverse branches of the Restoration to continuously adapt Joseph Smith’s most sacred ordinances to forge their own unique connections with the Divine! 0:00 Discontinued Temple Rites 4:03 Racial Apostasy 4:37 FLDS Temple 6:39 Christ’s Church Temples 10:49 Baptism for Health 12:49 Missouri Independent Temple 16:53 Women’s Authority, 20:17 Internet Temples 22:36 Haitians Adapting Mormon Temples Don’t miss our other conversations on temples: https://gospeltangents.com/mormon_history/lds-temples/ Copyright © 2026 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved

  2. Aug 11

    RLDS & Bickertonite Views About Temples

    What happened to the Latter Day Saint movement after it fractured? We discuss the fascination history on RLDS & Bickertonite views about temples. While Brigham Young led his followers West to build physical temples in Utah, multiple restoration branches took a completely different path—formally rejecting Nauvoo theology, secret endowments, and polygamy https://youtu.be/-tjIZUJcOqo Don’t miss our other conversations on temples: https://gospeltangents.com/mormon_history/lds-temples/ Copyright © 2026 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved We dive into the fascinating, competitive, and highly diverse world of non-LDS temples. Discover how the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now Community of Christ) built the massive Auditorium in Independence, Missouri—which historian John Hamer argues was secretly designed as a Kirtland-style temple—before dedicating their famous spiral temple in 1984 under Wallace B. Smith. We also explore: RLDS & Bickertonite Views About Temples The Battle for the Temple Lot: How Granville Hedrick’s followers returned to Jackson County in 1867 and purchased the original plot where 24 temples were once planned. The Great Depression’s Forgotten Temple: Why Otto Fetting’s attempt to construct a Greek-style temple on the Temple Lot in the 1930s left a massive excavation hole—and why former President Harry Truman asked to have it filled in. The Bickertonite Chasm: Why William Bickerton abandoned Brigham Young’s church after polygamy was announced in 1852, choosing to reject physical temples entirely while embracing radical inclusivity—including ordaining deaconesses in the 1860s and calling an African-American apostle. Tongues and the “Smith Corpus”: A fascinating discussion on why groups that rejected Joseph Smith’s later revelations (like the Doctrine and Covenants) successfully preserved early Kirtland Pentecostal gifts like speaking in tongues, while the mainstream LDS Church largely phased them out. Tune in for an incredible journey through the fractured history and competing temple visions of the Restoration! Support the show at patreon.com/gospeltangents to hear the entire uncut conversation! Copyright © 2026 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved

  3. Aug 7

    Embracing Nauvoo: Wild World of non-LDS Temples (Rick B 1 of 4)

    Many people think there aren’t non-LDS temples, but that’s not true. When Joseph Smith was assassinated in 1844, the restoration did not just fracture geographically—it shattered the unified theology of the temple. While the LDS Church went on to build a massive global network of private temples, several other branches of the restoration developed highly unique, surprising, and divergent temple traditions of their own. https://youtu.be/AiIf0-7mOIE Don’t miss our other conversations on temples: https://gospeltangents.com/mormon_history/lds-temples/ In this presentation to the Book of Mormon Perspectives Forum, Gospel Tangents host Rick Bennett explores the fascinating history of “Divergent Temples” across different restoration groups: The Wightites (Texas): Led by Apostle Lyman Wight, this group built the first temple west of the Mississippi in Zodiac, Texas, in 1849—nearly 30 years before the St. George Utah Temple. Shockingly, Wight’s temple endowments were completely open to the public. To secretly practice polygamy, women in the group used their maiden names on both the census and during proxy baptisms to avoid government detection. The Strangites (Wisconsin & Michigan): Led by James Strang, who claimed an angel ordained him as Joseph’s successor on the day of the martyrdom. Strang established the “Order of the Illuminati,” which featured mysterious, phosphorus-anointed initiations that culminated in Strang being crowned as the “king in Zion.” The Cutlerites (Missouri): Founded by Alpheus Cutler, the seventh member of Joseph Smith’s original Quorum of the Anointed. Today, a dwindling number of Cutlerites in Independence, Missouri, still perform temple work on the private second floor of their building. Scholars believe their endowment ceremony is the most unchanged version since the 1840s. However, to distance themselves from polygamy, they reject sealings for the dead while continuing to perform sealings for the living. Whether you are interested in historical mysteries, theological evolutions, or the Masonic roots of early endowment dramas, this episode offers an eye-opening look at how different restoration groups have sought to build holiness to the Lord. 00:00 Introduction 04:13 Nauvoo Temple Origins 12:14 Groups That Kept Nauvoo-Style Temples

  4. Jul 27

    First Lady of Fundamentalism (Anne Wilde 2017 interview)

    Back in 2017, I sat down with Anne Wilde, one of the foremost experts on modern-day polygamy. While I like to call her the First Lady of Fundamentalism, she has lived an incredibly unique life as an Independent Fundamentalist. For 33 years, Anne lived as the secret second wife of Ogden Kraut, a prolific fundamentalist author whose 65 books she personally helped write and edit. From the secret history of Mormon schisms to her own spiritual journey, you won’t want to miss this fascinating conversation! https://youtu.be/LH2zMt27kxM Don’t miss our other conversations Shannon: https://gospeltangents.com/people/shannon-flynn Copyright © 2026 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Check out a transcript of the interview on Amazon. Pick up a transcript of our conversation! Raised in the mainstream LDS Church, Anne later became an “Independent Fundamentalist” and lived for 33 years as the secret second wife of prolific fundamentalist author Ogden Kraut. This sweeping conversation covers everything from the hidden history of Mormon schisms to controversial theology and modern civil rights. Hidden History of Post-Manifesto Polygamy Many believe plural marriage ended abruptly with the LDS Church’s 1890 Manifesto, but Anne explains it was more like a sunset: “when does it get dark? It’s just gradually.” She points to an uncanonized 1886 revelation received by Church President John Taylor, which fundamentalists believe declared plural marriage an everlasting covenant that could not be changed. Consequently, polygamy continued underground and in places like Mexico and Canada. It took the 1904 Second Manifesto and the 1933 Third Manifesto—which enforced excommunication for those practicing plural marriage—to create a permanent rift between the mainstream church and fundamentalist groups. Untangling the Polygamous Sects One of Anne’s main goals is to dispel the myth that all polygamists are the same. She breaks down the diverse landscape of modern polygamy: The AUB (Apostolic United Brethren): With about 7,500 members, this group has a priesthood council and allows members more free agency in choosing their spouses. (Kody Brown of the TV show Sister Wives comes from this tradition.) FLDS (Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints): Notorious for the extreme one-man rule of Warren Jeffs, this group practices arranged marriages and strict dress codes. Anne notes that Jeffs’ oppressive control and habit of splitting up families has caused their numbers to plummet. Since he went to prison, the numbers are about 10% of what they were. Centennial Park: A breakaway group of about 2,000 members who separated from the FLDS because they wanted a priesthood council rather than a one-man dictatorship. Ervil LeBaron: Anne also discusses dangerous outliers like Ervil LeBaron, a militant polygamist who claimed his own priesthood authority and became an assassin responsible for roughly 20 deaths, including that of AUB leader Rulon Allred. Independent Fundamentalists: Anne identifies with this category—believers who adhere to early doctrines and plural marriage but choose not to affiliate with any centralized sect. Surprising Stances on Gay Marriage Despite their conservative theology, Anne reveals that many fundamentalists support the legalization of gay marriage. Viewing it through the lens of civil rights, she argues that if polygamists want the government to decriminalize their own family structures, they must grant the same free agency to the LGBTQ+ community. She also expressed deep disappointment with the LDS Church’s 2015 policy that temporarily barred the children of gay parents from being baptized, feeling it wrongly punished children. Anne Wilde’s Controversial Theology: Was Jesus a Polygamist? Anne Wilde and her late husband, Ogden Kraut, authored numerous books, including a highly popular 1969 text arguing that Jesus Christ was a polygamist. She suggests that the wedding feast at Cana was actually Christ’s own wedding, and that he was married to at least Mary, Martha, and Mary Magdalene. She also tackles difficult aspects of Doctrine and Covenants Section 132, such as the “Law of Sarah,” which ideally requires a first wife’s consent for subsequent marriages. However, Anne notes that if a first wife adamantly refuses to consent to a priesthood law, the husband is exempt from her approval and can marry anyway. Furthermore, she interprets the scriptural mentions of “concubines” not as sex slaves, but as lesser, non-covenant wives permitted by the customs of the era. Advocacy and the 2002 Olympics After living in secret for decades, Anne stepped into the public eye ahead of the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Tired of seeing only bitter ex-members defining the narrative around plural marriage, Anne co-founded an advocacy group called “Principle Voices“. During the Olympics, they provided hundreds of press packets and fielded interviews with global media to offer a positive perspective on the lifestyle and to clearly distinguish themselves from the abuses of the FLDS church. Ultimately, Anne’s story is a call for understanding. Whether you agree with her lifestyle or not, her experiences provide a rare, inside look at a marginalized community deeply woven into the fabric of Mormon history. Questions to ponder: 1. In what ways do the civil rights struggles of polygamists align with those of the LGBTQ+ community? 2. Why is it important to recognize the structural and cultural differences between various polygamous sects? 3. How does the “Law of Sarah” impact the balance of agency and power within a plural marriage? 4. What role does media representation play in shaping the narrative of marginalized or secretive religious communities? Don’t miss our other conversations Shannon: https://gospeltangents.com/people/shannon-flynn Copyright © 2026 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Check out a transcript of the interview on Amazon.

  5. Jul 21

    Shannon Flynn Describes Working with Forger/Bomber Mark Hofmann

    Shannon Flynn was a former close associate of the notorious Mormon forger and bomber, Mark Hofmann. Recorded before Flynn’s 2021 passing, this conversation provides a chilling, up-close look at Hofmann’s methods, his personality, and the desperate unraveling that led to two murders. We’ll get up close and personal and discuss this crazy chapter of Mormon History. https://youtu.be/9QcITtuSxLo Don’t miss our other conversations Shannon: https://gospeltangents.com/people/shannon-flynn Copyright © 2026 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Check out a transcript of the interview on Amazon. Mark Hofmann’s Beginnings The Origins of a Forger (Early Life & Coins): Hofmann’s life of deception began long before he forged church documents; he started electroplating fake mint marks onto coins at just 12 years old. Flynn reveals that Mark Hofmann successfully fooled experts for years, though a simple block of dry ice would cause the forged mint marks to flake right off. Fabricating Provenance (The “Oath of a Freeman”): Flynn details the ingenious ways Mark Hofmann established legitimate backstories for his fake documents. For the highly valuable “Oath of a Freeman,” Hofmann slipped a forged copy into a stack of pamphlets at a massive New York bookstore, took it to the register, and obtained a genuine receipt to prove where he “found” it. Mastering the Art of Deception (Forgery Techniques): Mark Hofmann’s historical research and chemical techniques were unprecedented. He would steal blank flyleaves from 19th-century books at the University of Utah and BYU so the paper would pass carbon dating. To age the ink instantly, he placed documents in a fish tank with an old electric train motor, using the ozone (O3) to oxidize the ink. This technique eventually led to his downfall, as the rapid drying caused the ink to crack—a telltale sign investigators later used against him. Beating the Polygraph: Despite murdering two people and fabricating dozens of documents, Mark Hofmann passed a polygraph test with a highly truthful score of +14. Flynn explains that Hofmann had a genius-level IQ of 137 and used intense self-hypnosis and biofeedback—skills he learned from a hypnotist at age 13—to suppress his physical stress responses. Police Coercion and Flynn’s Arrest: Flynn was briefly caught up in the investigation and was arrested for possessing an unregistered automatic weapon that actually belonged to Hofmann. Flynn vividly recounts how the police lied to the media about finding a “bomb factory” in his storage unit, which initially made Flynn believe that the police were framing Hofmann for the bombings too. The Murders and Mark Hofmann’s Unraveling: Hofmann operated heavily on a “forgery on demand” basis, constantly producing documents to put out financial fires. The pressure reached a breaking point when a $185,000 bank loan for the nonexistent “McLellin collection” came due. Hofmann built pipe bombs to kill Steve Christensen and Kathy Sheets purely to buy himself time and distract investigators. The third bomb, which injured Hofmann himself, was likely triggered in a moment of desperation as he realized his web of lies had trapped him. Life in Prison & Church Fallout: Flynn visited Mark Hofmann several times in prison during the early 1990s, noting that Hofmann had fully adapted to convict life and still practiced self-hypnosis daily. Flynn also addresses the faith crises many experienced over the Hofmann saga, arguing that it is unreasonable to leave the LDS Church just because its leaders failed to detect the forgeries, pointing out that general authorities “don’t have magic powers.” 00:00 Introduction 01:39 How Shannon Met Mark 02:32 Mark’s Early Forgery Career – Coins 09:07 Shannon’s Work with Mark 11:33 Oath of a Freeman Forgery 16:57 Mark’s Legitimate Collecting & Financial Dealings 20:31 McLellin Collection Scheme & First Interstate Bank Loan 25:12 Mark’s Personality 27:57 Beating the Polygraph 51:49 Shannon’s Arrest & Jail Time 1:02:09 The Bombings – Initial Response 1:32:03 Document Forgery Techniques – Paper & Ink 1:38:04 Advanced Forgery Methods – Oxidation & Cracking 1:23:16 Bombing Motives & Third Bomb 1:11:20 Mark’s Production to Demand Strategy 1:15:45 Impact on LDS Scholarship 1:43:40 Prison Life & Suicide Attempt 1:46:05 Shannon’s Prison Visits & Correspondence 1:57:28 Legal Strategy & Plea Agreement 1:40:03 Parole Hearing & Life Sentence 2:04:30 Closing Thoughts on Church Authority Don’t miss our other conversations Shannon: https://gospeltangents.com/people/shannon-flynn Copyright © 2026 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved

  6. Jul 11

    How Wes Walters’ Revival Research Forced Mormon Historians to Confront the 1820 Story (Sandra Tanner 5 of 5)

    A key figure who accelerated the historical crisis for both the Tanners (who left the group in 1962) and Pauline’s church was Wes Walters, a Presbyterian minister from Marissa, Illinois. Walters was asked to write an article on Mormons for Christianity Today. His detailed research focused on testing Joseph Smith’s claims against tangible historical records, particularly those surrounding the First Vision. Walters reasoned that while you couldn’t prove whether Smith spoke to God, you could prove whether he was standing in a given place on a given day. https://youtu.be/ifGZ-3IrGPQ Don’t miss our other conversations with Sandra: https://gospeltangents.com/people/sandra-tanner Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved   Walters used his expertise in church history (specifically Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian records in the New York area) to investigate Joseph Smith’s claim that the First Vision was prompted by an intense local revival where ministers were fighting over converts. Walters’ findings: the great revival and the subsequent fighting over converts among the denominations did not happen in 1820. Instead, significant church growth (hundreds of converts) occurred between 1823, 1824, and 1825. This discovery forced a complete recalibration of the chronology, as it meant the First Vision and the subsequent Moroni visits leading up to the plates could not logically fit the existing timeline. Walters’ small pamphlet, New Light on Mormon Origins, caused such a disruption that it “threw the Mormon Church into a tizzy,” forcing LDS historians to travel back East to conduct their own major studies. Walters is credited by Sandra Tanner as being a key factor in pushing the LDS Church into serious historical scholarship. Magic Connection: A Bridge Too Far While Walters’ dating research was shocking, his discovery of the 1826 trial documents cemented the crisis. Pauline’s group, following David Whitmer, already accepted the story that Joseph Smith used a “rock” in his “hat” to translate the Book of Mormon, aligning with the “seer stone” narrative. However, the 1826 trial confirmed Joseph Smith’s involvement in money digging, associating the seer stone with divination and magic practices—the occult that the Christians in Pauline’s group firmly rejected. The group found this connection irreconcilable: They questioned why God would use an instrument associated with magic. They noted that Joseph Smith seemed to bypass the instruments God allegedly supplied (the plates) and continued using the same rock used in divination. The transition from seeking treasure (magic) to seeking revelation (religion) looked too “fishy,” suggesting it was merely a “switching of what you’re using this stone for”. The fact that the same individuals involved in drawing magic circles and searching for treasure were the same first converts to Mormonism was deeply troubling. Pauline Hancock’s Church Voted to Disband The Church of Christ (Bible Book of Mormon), founded and led by Pauline Hancock, emerged as a unique splinter group focused on returning to what they believed was “1830 Mormonism”—a faith centered purely on the Bible and the Book of Mormon, devoid of later revelations (like the Doctrine and Covenants past 1830) and “Aaronic, Melchizedek Priesthood ideas”. However, this small community, known for meeting in the “Basement church” in Independence, ultimately discovered that even their foundational scripture, the Book of Mormon, could not withstand intense historical scrutiny, leading to its dissolution years after Pauline Hancock’s death in 1962. The Vote & Dissolution Faced with this overwhelming historical evidence, the Church of Christ had to make a choice regarding their “litmus test”—the Book of Mormon. In 1972, approximately a decade after Pauline’s death (she died in the summer of 1962), the church took a formal vote on whether to retain the Book of Mormon as scripture. The majority voted no, choosing to jettison the Book of Mormon. The consequences were immediate: Families who wanted to retain the Book of Mormon left and joined other smaller splinter groups, such as the Hedrickites. The remaining members decided they would continue to meet as Christians studying only the Bible. After a few more years, however, they concluded that since they were just Bible-believing Christians, they no longer had a purpose to stand independently from the rest of the Christian world. They decided to disband, sell the building, and disperse into various Christian churches. The building, which had been the “Basement church,” was eventually purchased by another restoration group. Olive Wilcox, who led the group after Pauline, stated that she believed Pauline herself, had she lived to see the comprehensive research done by Walters, would also have chosen to give up the Book of Mormon. What are your thoughts? Don’t miss our other conversations with Sandra: https://gospeltangents.com/people/sandra-tanner Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved

  7. Jul 8

    Was Hugh Nibley Wrong about Zion? (Nathan Oman 5 of 5)

    Was Hugh Nibley wrong? Is global capitalism compatible with a Zion society? And when is a Latter-day Saint actually justified in defying a corrupt, oppressive government? https://youtu.be/IWZgHZT5Q9w Don’t miss our other conversations Nathan: https://gospeltangents.com/people/nathan-oman Copyright © 2026 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Hugh Nibley was wrong? First, Professor Oman challenges the popular anti-capitalist teachings of the legendary LDS scholar Hugh Nibley. While Nibley viewed commerce as being driven primarily by greed and pride, Oman argues for the 18th-century ideal of doux commerce (“sweet commerce”). He explains how the necessity of trade actually forces us to consider the needs of others and argues that markets have done more to alleviate global poverty than any other economic system. While acknowledging that the modern global economic order is not Zion, Oman points out that early Mormon revelations—such as those concerning the for-profit Nauvoo House—prove that commerce and markets will absolutely be a part of a Zion society. Then, the conversation pivots to the agonizing moral paradox of civil disobedience and the 12th Article of Faith. Civil Disobedience Using the tragic story of Helmuth Hübener—a young Latter-day Saint who was excommunicated and executed by the Gestapo for distributing anti-Nazi pamphlets—Oman explores why the Church historically demands strict legal obedience to survive under hostile regimes. From the East German Stasi to Pinochet’s Chile, we explore the dangerous tightrope the Church must walk. Does strict obedience to the law risk moral complicity with dictators, or is it a necessary safeguard to protect a vulnerable church from being entirely suppressed? Oman argues that there are no easy answers when balancing the dangers of institutional complicity against the naive, potentially destructive consequences of grand individual defiance. Be sure to check out Professor Nathan Oman’s extensive work on these topics in his two-volume set, Law and the Restoration, as well as his newest book from Oxford University Press, Living Oracles! CHAPTERS 0:00 Taking on Hugh Nibley 9:13 Civil Disobedience (Hubener) Don’t miss our other conversations Nathan: https://gospeltangents.com/people/nathan-oman Copyright © 2026 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved

  8. Jul 6

    How Old RLDS Polygamy Arguments Became New Again (Rick B)

    Have you wondered what’s behind the energy in the polygamy revisionist movement? Are these the same as RLDS polygamy arguments? Back in 2010, Newell Bringhurst wrote a chapter in “Persistence of Polygamy” on the evolution of RLDS thinking on Joseph Smith’s polygamy, how it got forgotten, and recycled among a new generation of LDS members who weren’t aware of the previous history. https://youtu.be/wD-ZHracUnA Are the modern arguments that Joseph Smith was a strict monogamist actually new? In this deep dive, we explore the “layered archive” of historical claims surrounding Joseph Smith’s polygamy, revealing that many of today’s “polygamy revisionist” arguments are actually recycled 19th-century RLDS positions. The presentation breaks down the 150-year evolution of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now Community of Christ) through four distinct phases: The Early Concessions (1852–1860): Contrary to popular belief, early leaders like William Marks and Isaac Sheen did not initially deny Joseph Smith’s involvement. Instead, they claimed he had been involved in “spiritual wifery” but recognized his error and repented shortly before his death in Carthage. The Era of Absolute Denial (1860–1960): Under the leadership of Joseph Smith III, the strategy shifted toward establishing the absolute innocence of the founding prophet. This century-long “institutional mandate” framed D&C 132 as a “Brighamite forgery” and placed the blame for polygamy entirely on Brigham Young. The Academic Shockwave (1960s–1980s): The “dam broke” when mid-century historians like Robert Flanders and Lawrence Foster published research that eroded the bedrock of the church’s denial. This led to a painful institutional reckoning, eventually forcing the church to acknowledge Joseph Smith’s foundational role in plural marriage. The Modern Revisionist Resurgence: Today, a new wave of LDS members—facing their own faith crises—are adopting these older RLDS arguments to resolve cognitive dissonance regarding the prophet’s moral legacy. Drawing on works like Newell Bringhurst’s The Persistence of Polygamy and Robert Flanders’ Nauvoo: Kingdom on the Mississippi, this presentation weighs revisionist claims against the preponderance of contemporaneous evidence. We also discuss the psychological toll of these shifting narratives and the ongoing battle to control the legacy of Joseph Smith. RLDS Polygamy Arguments Chapters 0:00 Introduction and the RLDS Foundation 07:53 Anatomy of a Narrative Shift 08:19 The Bedrock: 1852 to 1960 12:30 Early Concessions 16:42 Joseph Smith III and the Strategy Shift 21:09 D&C 132: Brighamite Forgery? 27:35 Historical Reckoning (1960s to Present) 51:12 Modern Skeptic Movement 1:26:44 Three Paradigms of Polygamy 1:29:17 Conclusion: The Enduring Battle for Legacy

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About

A 360-degree view of Mormonism. We interview the best Mormon scholars, scientists, and clergy from all restoration branches, including LDS, Community of Christ, Strangites, Bickertonites, Temple Lot, Remnant, etc.

Information

  • Creator
    Rick B
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    200
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Gospel Tangents - All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    Gospel Tangents Podcast

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