121 episodes
Sunstone Mormon History Podcast Sunstone
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- Education
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4.7 • 427 Ratings
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There’s the Mormon history you do know … and the Mormon history you don’t. Join Lindsay Hansen Park (Year of Polygamy) and historian Bryan Buchanan as they dig into all aspects of Mormonism’s astonishing 200-year past—uncovering the little-known stories that chronicle how a six-person church grew into a multi-billion-dollar religion.
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Episode 1: The Creation
Join Sunstone's Lindsay Hansen Park and Benchmark Books' Bryan Buchanan as they discuss the origins of the creation story in Mormonism, and the tensions between science and Mormonism.
Listen to this episode here.
Additional resources and information about topics discussed in this episode:
"The 1911 Evolution Controversy at Brigham Young University" (Gary J. Bergera) http://signaturebookslibrary.org/the-1911-evolution-controversy-at-brigham-young-university/
The B. H. Roberts/Joseph Fielding Smith/James E. Talmage Affair (Richard Sherlock and Jeffrey E. Keller) http://signaturebookslibrary.org/the-b-h-robertsjoseph-fielding-smithjames-e-talmage-affair/
Seers, Savants, and Evolution: The Uncomfortable Interface (Duane E. Jeffery) http://signaturebookslibrary.org/seers-savants-and-evolution-the-uncomfortable-interface/ -
Episode 2: The First Mother in Israel
Lindsay and Bryan discuss the life of Lucy Mack Smith, the mother of Joseph Smith Jr. This episode features special guests Tim Coray and Carol Lynn Pearson reading as Lucy Mack Smith.
Listen to this episode here.
Additional resources and information about topics discussed in this episode:
“Lucy's Image: A Recently Discovered Photograph of Lucy Mack Smith” (Ronald E. Romig and Lachlan Mackay) https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1078&context=mormonhistory
Lucy Mack Smith’s general conference address (original minutes) https://catalog.lds.org/assets/06b8dd6e-b6aa-4dae-8916-9a04c6d1abc2/0/11
Lucy’s Book (online) http://signaturebookslibrary.org/lucys-book/
Lucy’s Book (hard copy, out of print)—order from Benchmark Books www.benchmarkbooks.com
Etching of Lucy Mack Smith (Frederick Piercy, from Route from Liverpool to Great Salt Lake Valley) Church History Digital Catalog | Assets
Conflict in the Quorum: Orson Pratt, Brigham Young, Joseph Smith (Gary James Bergera)—purchase from Benchmark Books http://www.benchmarkbooks.com
Sources Used to Compile the Lucy Mack Smith History (Sharalyn D. Howcroft, from Foundational Texts of Mormonism): -
Episode 3: The Smith Family
In this episode, Bryan Buchanan and Lindsay Hansen Park discuss the sisters of Joseph Smith. Joined by historian Christopher C. Smith, this episode explores the lives of members of the Smith family and how Mormonism impacted their stories.
Listen to this episode here
Additional resources and information about topics discussed in this episode:
The Sword of Laban: Joseph Smith, Jr. and the Dissociated Mind (William D. Morain)—purchase from Benchmark Books http://www.benchmarkbooks.com
“Joseph Smith's Boyhood Operation: An 1813 Surgical Success” (LeRoy S. Wirthlin) https://byustudies.byu.edu/content/joseph-smiths-boyhood-operation-1813-surgical-success
United by Faith: The Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith Family (chapters on Sophronia, Katharine and Lucy)—order from Benchmark Bookswww.benchmarkbooks.com
Joseph Smith’s Accounts of the First Vision (Joseph Smith Papers) https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/articles/primary-accounts-of-first-vision
Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling (Richard L. Bushman)—order from Benchmark Books www.benchmarkbooks.com -
Episode 4: Magic and Mormonism
Did early Mormons once dabble in the occult? This episode explores Joseph Smith's fascination with magical practices, including animal sacrifice and seer stones. Join hosts Lindsay Hansen Park and Bryan Buchanan as they discuss early Mormonism and the Magic World View with acclaimed Mormon historians D. Michael Quinn and Christopher C. Smith.
Listen to this episode here.
Additional resources and information about topics discussed in this episode:
documentary on Mark Hofmann https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbnw57x4vjA&list=PL2J4pOVStq7iJEK2OFEeG0MuU3GqiZ6j2&index=21&t=17s
Salamander Letter (Mark Hofmann) https://karriehiggins.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/salamanderletterfrontandback.jpg
Early Mormonism and the Magic World View (D. Michael Quinn)—purchase from Benchmark Books www.benchmarkbooks.com
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Episode 5: History of the Scriptures
Did Joseph Smith write or translate the Book of Mormon? Who was involved? Is it true a magic toad and a bloody ghost helped bring forth scripture? Tune into the Sunstone History Podcast as Bryan Buchanan and Lindsay Hansen Park discuss the history of Mormon scriptures with Brian Hales, Sarah Stone, Kalani Tonga, Christopher C. Smith, and Sheldon Kent
Listen to this episode here. -
Episode 6: Bad Boys of Early Mormonism
In early Mormonism, it was often hard to parse out the Saints from Scoundrels. Bryan Buchanan and Lindsay Hansen Park discuss some of the early "bad boys" in the Mormon movement including Hiram Page, Oliver Cowdery, William McLellin. This episode features commentary by historians Cheryl L. Bruno and Christopher C. Smith.
Listen to this episode here.
Additional resources and information about topics discussed in this episode:
“Using DNA to Discover the Origins of Hiram Page, Witness to the Book of Mormon” (Gary Merrill) https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16noj_RBgUPc1pgFuGzp7sL8Gn3TvXNKr
“Hiram Page”—master’s thesis (Bruce Stewart)
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6141&context=etd
Oliver Cowdery: Scribe, Elder, Witness (John Welch/Larry Morris) https://publications.mi.byu.edu/fullscreen/?pub=2239&index=1
D&C 66 (in William McLellin’s handwriting) https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/revelation-29-october-1831-dc-66/
The Journals of William E. McLellin 1831-1836 (Jan Shipps/John Welch) purchase from Benchmark Books www.benchmarkbooks.com
The William E. McLellin Papers, 1854-1880 (Stan Larson/Samuel J. Passey) purchase from Benchmark Books www.benchmarkbooks.com
William E. McLellin's Lost Manuscript (Mitchell K. Schaefer) purchase from Benchmark Books www.benchmarkbooks.com
Differing Visions: Dissenters in Mormon History (Roger Launius/Linda Thatcher) purchase from Benchmark Books www.benchmarkbooks.com
Southpark season 7, episode 12
Customer Reviews
Quality, true and honest historical research
With a big side of humor. I love these two. To have Mormon History be as interesting as Bryan and Lindsey make it is unique. Their banter plays off each other so well and you will always come away entertained and more knowledgeable.
Straightforward history, told with a sense of humor!
I love this podcast. The hosts have clearly done their research and are transparent about their source material. They share book recommendations at the end of every episode for listeners who want to take a deeper dive. I love the humor they bring to narrating events that are often quite troubling - it’s great way to help the medicine go down. And the music is amazing! Thanks for all your work, Bryan and Lindsay!!
Love it!
You are not getting Sunday school history here. The history is what it is, and it is endlessly entertaining! Brian and Lindsey(both spelled wrong?) are awesome! I love the approach of not learning church history to prove or disprove the truth claims of the church. The history itself is just interesting, infuriating, inspiring for what it is.