Sunstone Mormon History Podcast

What happens when spiritual ambition meets logistical failure? In this episode, we dig into the catastrophic 1856 Mormon handcart disaster, when Brigham Young's promise of a faster, cheaper, holier way to Zion led to starvation, frostbite, and mass death. Stripping away pioneer kitsch and faith-promoting folklore, Lindsay and Bryan uncover the real story of financial …

Mormonism has always dreamed big and in this episode, we dive into one of its boldest and most disastrous dreams: the great gathering of Zion. Lindsay and Bryan pull apart the myth and the machinery behind Brigham Young's plan to build a literal Kingdom of God in the American West, fueled by prophecies, poverty, and, …

Before Mountain Meadows, there was blood in Arkansas. This is the wild, tragic, and shockingly true story of the Mormon apostle murdered over a love triangle, the woman caught in the crossfire, and the ripple effect that helped ignite one of the darkest moments in American frontier history. SHOWNOTES: Eleanor McLean and the Murder of …

In this episode, legal historian John Dinger joins us to uncover the little-known world of rogue probate judges in frontier Utah. These weren't your average courtroom clerks. Mormons wielded sweeping powers, defied federal authority, and turned probate courts into parallel governments under Brigham Young's theocracy. What happens when local law outruns the Constitution? Tune in …

In this episode, Lindsay and Bryan dive into one of the most violent and outrageous chapters of early Mormon history: the “Runaway Officials” scandal. When federal appointees tried to enforce U.S. law in Utah Territory, they faced threats, beatings, and sabotage from a theocratic regime that ran more like a mafia than a government. From …

Once again, through no action or righteousness on their part, another great story landed in the lap of Lindsay and Bryan. That's right, it's mailbag time again! A friend of a listener was going through some papers of her mother's and found an affidavit from a woman claiming to be a plural wife of Joseph …

We love our fan mail! Especially when they contain juicy historical details, which is why we’re introducing MAIL BAG EPISODES, where we sometimes share those tidbits on an episode. Lindsay and Bryan usually find enough rabbit holes on their own but sometimes they get pushed into them without warning (don't worry, it's less dangerous than …

In this episode, we delve into the life of one of the most controversial and complex figures of the American West: William Adams “Wild Bill” Hickman, known as “Brigham's Destroying Angel.” Hickman's life was a paradox: he was a devoted father to 35 children, a trusted enforcer for Mormon leaders, and a self-proclaimed murderer of …

Join Lindsay and Bryan as they dive into the explosive history of the Utah War for part two of our Utah War series. We explore the complex interplay of guerrilla tactics, federal overreach, and theocratic resistance that defined this strange conflict. From Brigham Young's bold proclamations to Porter Rockwell's psychological warfare, the duo unpacks how …

Dive into the chaotic and fascinating history of the Utah War with Lindsay and Bryan. They’ll unravel how political paranoia, religious zeal, and national stereotypes collided in the 1850s, leading to guerrilla warfare, fiery rhetoric from Brigham Young, and nearly one-third of the U.S. Army marching into Utah Territory. Was it truly a “bloodless war”? …

The Sunstone Mormon History Podcast recently took off their “regular chronology” hat for a minute and put on the “fantastic new book” hat (it's hot pink, thanks for asking). Lindsay and Bryan sat down with Katie Ludlow Rich and Heather Sundahl—authors of “50 Years of Exponent II” (published by Signature Books)—to talk about their book. …

In this gripping episode, Bryan and Lindsay delve into the controversial rumors of punitive castrations carried out by Mormon elders, focusing on figures like Bishop Warren Snow. They examine the source materials, weighing the evidence and context behind these shocking claims. Was this zealotry, justice, or something else entirely? Join the discussion as they bring …

In Part Three of our series on the Mormon Reformation, we dive into the most harrowing chapter yet. This episode uncovers the brutal measures Mormons took against apostates and outsiders during this period of fiery zeal, exploring the violent and gory tactics used to enforce loyalty and obedience. We also delve into the dark side …

In part two of our deep dive into the Mormon Reformation, Lindsay and Bryan explore how the movement intensified under the leadership of Jedediah Morgan Grant, Brigham Young, and Heber C. Kimball. As the push for purity reached its peak, controversial doctrines like blood atonement and plural marriage took center stage, along with the surprising …

  In this episode, Lindsay and Bryan wrap up the story of Jedediah Morgan Grant, the “Sledgehammer of Mormonism,” as they dive into the final chapter of his life. From his rise to prominence in Salt Lake City as mayor and Brigham Young's right-hand man, to his fiery leadership in the intense spiritual revival known …

Join hosts Lindsay and Bryan as they smash into the life and legacy of one of Mormonism's most fiery and controversial figures: Jedediah Morgan Grant, also known as “Brigham's Sledgehammer.” Buckle up; it's about to get heavy… SHOWNOTES: Mormon Thunder: A Documentary History of Jedediah Morgan Grant

Join Lindsay as she sits down with Phillip B. Gottfredson to delve into one of the most significant yet often overlooked chapters in Utah’s history—the Black Hawk War of 1865. In this gripping conversation, they explore the complex and brutal conflict that erupted between Mormon settlers and Native American tribes, led by the Ute war …

Welcome to our Scandinavian Summer Smorgesbord, where we serve up hot takes on cold historical facts! In this episode, we finally let Lindsay dig into her family roots—think less Ancestry.com and more “My Grandparents Were the Cigarette-Dispensing Rebels of Fountain Green.” Bryan tries (and fails) to dodge another round of Scandinavian sagas, but Lindsay's not …

Dive into the fascinating blend of history and personal stories in the latest episode of the SMHP podcast! Lindsay and Bryan take a deep, heartfelt dive into the rich tapestry of Mormonism’s Scandinavian past, exploring Lindsay’s connection to her ancestors and the unique impact of Danish Mormon migration to Utah as well as the Scandinavian …

Join Bryan and Lindsay for another episode of Before They Were Famous! This time, starring tall-guy and early Latter-day Saint leader, Charles Coulson Rich. SHOWNOTES: Become a Sunstone History Podcast recurring donor Charles C. Rich: Mormon General and Western Frontiersman by Leonard Arrington

The SMHP recently sat down with Dr. Matt Harris to discuss his hotly-awaited new book "Second-Class Saints: Black Mormons and the Struggle for Racial Equality" (Oxford University Press). Harris's book is full of fascinating new sources and fresh insights into the rise and fall of the temple and priesthood ban. Check out the conversation! SHOWNOTES: Register for the Sunstone Summer Symposium Become a Sunstone History Podcast recurring donor

Ever wondered what Amasa Lyman was up to before he became the 13th apostle of the LDS Church? What's that? You've never heard of a 13th apostle before? Join Bryan and Lindsay as we rewind the clock to uncover the surprising and untold early life of Amasa Lyman. Before he was the (13th) apostle of the LDS Church, he was a man of unexpected twists, trials, and spiritual adventures. Discover how a humble beginning set the stage for his extraordinary legacy. SHOWNOTES: Register for the Sunstone Summer Symposium Become a Sunstone History Podcast recurring donor

Join Lindsay and Bryan as they interview historian Ryan Wimmer about the Walker War that involved the Mormons, Utes, and other native bands in the 1850s. SHOWNOTES: Register for the Sunstone Summer Symposium Become a Sunstone History Podcast recurring donor The Walker War Reconsidered Ryan Elwood Wimmer Brigham Young University - Provo Brigham Young and Mormon Indian Policies: The Formative Period, 1836-1851 by Lawrence G. Coates, Brigham Young University Studies, Vol. 18, No. 3 (Spring 1978), pp. 428-452 A history of the Goshutes A HISTORY OF Sanpete County by Albert C.T. Antrei and Allen D. Roberts

Join Bryan and Lindsay as they discuss the history of the war the Mormons declared on the Ute tribe (and all other tribal bands in Utah) during the 1850's. These conflicts have been dubbed, "The Walker War," after Ute Chief Walkara (or Walker). What really happened and why? Tune in to find out. SHOWNOTES: Register for the Sunstone Summer Symposium Become a Sunstone History Podcast recurring donor Brigham Young and Mormon Indian Policies: The Formative Period, 1836-1851 by Lawrence G. Coates, Brigham Young University Studies, Vol. 18, No. 3 (Spring 1978), pp. 428-452 The Walker War Reconsidered Ryan Elwood Wimmer Brigham Young University - Provo A history of the Goshutes A HISTORY OF Sanpete County by Albert C.T. Antrei and Allen D. Roberts

Join Lindsay and Bryan for an audio version of their Youtube Chat where they discuss their favorite time periods in Mormon history. SHOWNOTES: Become a recurring donor and support this podcast!

Join Lindsay and Bryan as they discuss the 19th century economies of indigenous trafficking in the American west, human enslavement and abuse and how Mormons contributed and impacted it. SHOWNOTES: "Redeeming" the Indian: The Enslavement of Indian Children in New Mexico and Utah by Sondra Jones Bancroft's History of Utah Utah Indians and the Indian Slave Trade: The Mormon Adoption. Program and its Effect on the Indian Slaves by Robert M. Muhlestein. The Whites Want Every Thing: Indian-Mormon Relations, 1847–1877 (Volume 16) (Kingdom in the West: The Mormons and the American Frontier Series) by Will Bagley

Did you know that Brigham Young called people on official church missions to pan for filthy lucre? Come learn about the Gold Mission with Lindsay and Bryan. SHOWNOTES: The Mormon Gold-Mining Mission of 1849 by Eugene Campbell Bancroft's history of Utah Kenneth Owens, Gold Rush Saints: California Mormons and the Great Rush for Riches Kenneth Davies and Lorin Hansen, Mormon Gold - Mormons in the California Gold Rush Contributing to the Development of California and the Monetary Solvency of Early Utah Erwin Gudde, Bigler's Chronicle of the West M. Guy Bishop, Henry William Bigler: Soldier, Gold Miner, Missionary, Chronicler

The sale of the Kirtland Temple from the Community of Christ to the LDS church has made headlines lately. Join Bryan and Lindsay as they discuss the long and storied history of the Kirtland Temple ownership. SHOWNOTES: Become a recurring donor at Sunstone.org Davis Bitton, “The Waning of Mormon Kirtland” Roger Launius, The Kirtland Temple: A Historical Narrative Christian Larsen, The Ancient Order of Things: Essays on the Mormon Temple Kim Loving, “Ownership of the Kirtland Temple: Legends, Lies, and Misunderstandings” David Howlett, Kirtland Temple: The Biography of a Shared Mormon Sacred Space Jeff Walker, “The Kirtland Safety Society and the Fraud of Grandison Newell A Legal Examination”

Join Lindsay and Bryan as they talk about the state of Mormon historical source material. Does the LDS church hide its history? What sources are available? How do you check our work? We also discuss our new move to Youtube as well. SHOWNOTES: Youtube version of this episode Subscribe to Sunstone's youtube channel Become a recurring donor to Sunstone

Who were the real Mormons? We mean, the top-shelf kind? According to Brigham Young, any of the California Mormons couldn't pass muster. Join Lindsay and Bryan as they talk about the history of how California Mormons came to be. SHOWNOTES: Become a monthly donor here! Pictures of Fort San Bernardino Mormons Created and Then Abandoned San Bernardino The Rise and Decline of Mormon San Bernardino by Edward Leo Lyman The Mormon settlement in San Bernardino, 1851-1857

Petty jokes about his name aside, who was Richard Ballantyne? Bryan and Lindsay dive into Brother Ballantyne and his history with the history of Sunday School in the Mormon church. Shownotes: DONATE TO SUNSTONE Richard Ballantyne founded the first sunday school in Utah 1897 Things You Didn't Know (or May Have Forgotten) about Sunday School Mormon Sundays by William G. Hartley

Join Bryan and Lindsay for a special bonus episode! We were honored to talk with professors (and students) from Montana State (and several other universities ) about how we do responsible Mormon history. The panel, Believers and Skeptics in Mormon History has a youtube video which can be found here! Shownotes: Become a recurring donor today!

In this episode, Lindsay and Bryan discuss several expeditions, including the Stansbury Expedition and the Gunnison Expedition and Massacre. Each of these events had a profound effect on early Mormonism. SHOWNOTES: Howard Stansbury's Expedition around the Great Salt Lake: An Examination of the Route and the Maps by Jesse G. Peterson John W.Gunnison's Letters To His Mormon Friend, Albert Carrington  Gunnison Indian Depredation clippings Blood of the Prophets: Brigham Young and the Massacre at Mountain Meadows Review By Thomas G. Alexander, Footnote History of Edward Steptoe Gunnison's book: The Mormons, or, Latter-day saints, in the Valley of the Great Salt Lake Gunnison Massacre Site “Proud as a Peacock and Ignorant as a Jackass”: William W. Drummond's Unusual Career with the Mormons by Ronald Walker GUNNISON MASSACRE—1853—MILLARD COUNTY, UTAH—INDIAN MAREER'S VERSION OF THE TRAGEDY—1894 by Josiah Gibbs

Join Bryan and Lindsay for another episode of BEFORE THEY WERE FAMOUS, as they talk about an important (feminist) Mormon pioneer foremother, Emmeline B. Wells. SHOWNOTES: The Diaries of Emmeline B. Wells Emmeline B. Wells: An Intimate History by Carol Cornwall Madsen An Advocate for Women: The Public Life of Emmeline B. Wells, 1870-1920 by Carol Cornwall Madsen Pedestals & Podiums: Utah Women, Religious Authority & Equal Rights by Martha Sonntag Bradley 

If you watched the recent Hulu hit, ABC's Daughters of the Cult about the complicated LeBaron family legacy, check out today's SMHP episode. In this special bonus episode, Bryan Buchanan and historian Cristina Rosetti dive into the early history of the family. If you're curious how Ervil LeBaron's murderous group got started, dive into this special episode.

Want to come to Zion? Don't have the cold, hard cash? No worries! Bryan and Lindsay will walk you through how to get there through the 1850's Perpetual Emigration Fund. Shownotes: Donate to Sunstone and the History Podcast (leave us a note in the comment section to say hi!) Bound for Zion: The Ten-and Thirteen- Pound Emigrating Companies, 1853-54 by Polly Aird Expectations Westward: The Mormons and the Emigration of Their British Converts in the Nineteenth Century by Philip A. M. Taylor

Some historians claim that whenever Mormons moved into town, the crime rate went up. Is it true? Did Mormonism make some prolific thieves and robbers? Join Lindsay and Bryan as they dive into the seedy story. Shownotes: Donate to Sunstone and the History Podcast (leave us a note in the comment section to say hi!) John Hallwas and Roger Launius, Cultures in Conflict Bill Shepard, “Stealing at Mormon Nauvoo” Mormon Nauvoo and the Problem of Theft of Non-Mormon Property by Roger Launius John D. Lee Battalion notes by Juanita Brooks Let This Be a Warning to All N*****s by Connell O'Donovan

In the early days of the Utah territory, Mormon leaders decided to exterminate anything that got in the way of their plans to build their Kingdom of God. This episode delves into the ghastly execution of the Timpanogos tribe that occupied lands Mormons invaded. It also tells the story of the "Wasters & Destroyers" contest where Mormons devised a contest to kill as many animals as possible, which added to the devestation. Shownotes: Donate to Sunstone and the History Podcast (leave us a note in the comment section to say hi!) Daniel Hanmer Wells and Events of His Time The Whites Want Everything by Will Bagley A History of Utah's American Indians by Forrest S. Cuch The Wasters and Destroyers article, Utah Historical Quarterly 1994 - VOL LXII - No 1 A Historical Study of the Exploration of Utah Valley and the Story of Fort Utah  Ute perspectives of the Timpanogos Massacre Donate to the Timpanogos tribe

It's time for another episode of Before They Were Famous. This time we focus on the leader of the Nauvoo Legion, Daniel H. Wells and his role in many massacres against indigenous tribes. Shownotes: Donate to Sunstone and the History Podcast (leave us a note in the comment section to say hi!) Daniel Hanmer Wells and Events of His Time Defender by Quentin Wells Protecting the Home Front: The Utah Territorial Militia During the Civil War by Ephraim D. Dickson III Lawrence R. Flake, Prophets and Apostles of the Last Dispensation (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2001), 255–57. Indigenous history of Battle Creek Massacre History of the Timpanogos tribe MC Hammer - U Can't Touch This - Guitar Percussion Cover

In 1849 the Mormons in Utah territory had big, big plans. Too-big-for-their-britches kinds of plans. They called it the State of Deseret and it didn't last long, at least in name. Join Bryan and Lindsay as they discuss this turbulent history and the secret shadow government that still continues in Utah today. Shownotes: Donate to Sunstone and the History Podcast (leave us a note in the comment section to say hi!) Forgotten Kingdom: The Mormon Theocracy in the American West 1847-1896

It's the worst war in Mormon history: The Cricket War of 1849. Or is it 1851? (Wait, was it grasshoppers?) Lindsay and Bryan discuss the myth behind the famous lore of the Seagull and the Crickets. Shownotes: Donate to Sunstone and the History Podcast (leave us a note in the comment section to say hi!) Storytelling Through Brushstrokes: Minerva Teichert's Visualization of the Mormon Pioneer Experience and Messages to Her Audience by Amy L. Williamson Song: Seagulls and Crickets by the The Three D's Mormons, Crickets, and Gulls: A New Look At An Old Story by William Hartley

Alright kids, the pioneers have arrived in Zion. Now what? Lindsay and Bryan talk about their first year in the Great Salt Lake valley. Shownotes: Donate to Sunstone and the History Podcast (leave us a note in the comment section to say hi!) A Banner is Unfurled by Ron Walker Sagwitch Bio Open Hand and Mailed Fist: Mormon-Indian Relations in Utah 1847-52 by Howard Christie Information on the different emigrant drop stations Indian Relations in Utah during the Civil War by Kenneth L. Alford

In this episode, Bryan and Lindsay discuss Orson Pratt and the reorganization of the First Presidency. Shownotes: Donate to Sunstone and the History Podcast (leave us a note in the comment section to say hi!) Buy the book! Conflict in the Quorum: Orson Pratt, Brigham Young, Joseph Smith by Gary Bergera

Well, that took forever... But Bryan and Lindsay finally brought the podcast to Zion! This episode covers the story of Brigham Young's vanguard wagon company as they arrive in the Great Salt Lake Valley. Now the fun can really begin! Shownotes: Donate to Sunstone and the History Podcast (leave us a note in the comment section to say hi!) Historic Resource Study: Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail by Stanley Kimball Church overland trail database "This Is the Place": Myth and Mormondom by Richard C. Poulsen, Western Folklore, Vol. 36, No. 3 (Jul., 1977), pp. 246-252 Finalizing Plans for the Trek West: Deliberations at Winter Quarters, 1846-1847 by Richard E. Bennett, Brigham Young University Studies, Vol. 24, No. 3 (Summer 1984), pp. 301-320 Violence and Disruptive Behavior on the Difficult Trail to Utah, 1847-1868 by David L. Clark, BYU Studies Quarterly, Vol. 53, No. 4 (2014) The Pioneer Camp of the Saints: The 1846-1847 Mormon Trail Journals of Thomas Bullock by Will Bagley Intimate Chronicle: The Journals of William Clayton edited by George Smith Lighthouse: Jerald & Sandra Tanner, Despised and Beloved Critics of Mormonism by Ronald Huggins

Ever played the old PC game The Mormon Trail? Your ancestors played it in real life and this episode discusses what it was like for them. Shownotes: Donate to Sunstone and the History Podcast (leave us a note in the comment section to say hi!) Historic Resource Study: Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail by Stanley Kimball Church overland trail database

What was life like if you were stuck in Winter Quarters? Bryan and Lindsay dig into some of the stories of the women who lived there and what their day-to-day life was like. Shownotes: Donate to Sunstone and the History Podcast (leave us a note in the comment section to say hi!) George Q. Cannon: Politician, Publisher, Apostle of Polygamy by Kenneth Cannon Journey to Zion: Voices from the Mormon Trail by Carol Cornwall Madsen

Many people don't realize just how many Mormons were part of the fated Donner/Reed tragedy. In this episode, Lindsay and Bryan discuss the horrible tale of travel gone awry. Shownotes: Donate to Sunstone and the History Podcast (leave us a note in the comment section to say hi!) Register for the Sunstone Summer Symposium The Emigrants' guide to Oregon and California by Lansford Hastings The strange, sad and influential lives of the Donner Party survivors The Mormons and the Donner Party by Eugene E. Campbell Nathaniel V. Jones diary, 1846 July-1847 August The journal of James Frazier Reed CROSSROADS IN THE WEST: THE INTERSECTIONS OF THE DONNER PARTY AND THE MORMONS by Guy L. Dorius

Women were an integral part of the Mormon Battalion story and Lindsay and Bryan share their histories, including the story of a rogue group of women that braved the wild to avoid practicing polygamy. Shownotes: Donate to Sunstone and the History Podcast (leave us a note in the comment section to say hi!) Register for the Sunstone Summer Symposium Women of the Mormon Battalion by Larson, Carl V. and Shirley N. Maynes (comps. and eds.) Five hundred wagons stood still: Mormon Battalion wives by Shirley N. Maynes Mormon Battalion: U.S. Army of the West, 1846-1848 by Ricketts, Norma Baldwin Called to War: Dawn of the Mormon Battalion by Sherman Fleek Army of Israel: Mormon Battalion Narratives by Bigler, David L. and Will Bagley 

In this episode, Lindsay and Bryan discuss the history of the only United States military regiment ever mustered specifically from a religious group: The Mormon Battalion. Shownotes: Donate to Sunstone and the History Podcast (leave us a note in the comment section to say hi!) Register for the Sunstone Summer Symposium Charisma Under Pressure: Joseph Smith, American Prophet, 1831–1839 (Dan Vogel).  From Iowa to Immortality: A Tribute to the Mormon Battalion by Elder Lance B. Wickman The Mormon Battalion's Manifest Destiny: Expansion and Identity during the Mexican-American War by Natalie Brooke Coffman of University of Vermont The Mormon Battalion by Sherman L. Fleek Reddick Allred's journal

The third in a three-part miniseries where Bryan and Lindsay discuss the development of race in Mormon theology through a historical lens. Shownotes: Donate to Sunstone and the History Podcast (leave us a note in the comment section to say hi!) Register for the Sunstone Summer Symposium Charisma Under Pressure: Joseph Smith, American Prophet, 1831–1839 (Dan Vogel).  "The Chosen Seed: Reexamining Mormon Conceptions of Race and Lineage Forty Years after Official Declaration 2”—Sunstone presentation (Stirling Adams, Matt Harris and Newell Bringhurst). “Mormonism's Negro Doctrine: An Historical Overview”—Dialogue (Lester Bush). Mormonism and White Supremacy: American Religion and the Problem of Racial Innocence (Joanna Brooks).  Nobody Knows: The Untold Story of Black Mormons—DVD (Margaret Young and Darius Gray) 

In this three-part miniseries, Bryan and Lindsay discuss the development of race in Mormon theology through a historical lens. Shownotes: Donate to Sunstone and the History Podcast (leave us a note in the comment section to say hi!) Register for the Sunstone Summer Symposium (Use coupon code HistoryPod for 30% off full or one day registration and active through May 21st) Century of Black Mormons by the University of Utah “I would confine them to their own species,”LDS Historical Rhetoric & Praxis Regarding Marriage Between Whites and Blacks by Connell O'Donovan The Prohibition of Interracial Marriage in Utah by Patrick Mason Religion of a Different Color: Race and the Mormon Struggle for Whiteness by W. Paul Reeve Let's Talk about Race and Priesthood by W. Paul Reeve The Mormon Church & Blacks: A Documentary History by Matthew L. Harris and Newell G. Bringhurst