Podcast appearances and mentions of Marion D Hanks

Happy New Year to all the listeners and readers! As we step into 2026, I gave my second annual Gospel Tangents 2025 Book Awards. (Click the link for 2024!) It is the perfect time to look back at the milestones, challenges, and incredible content that defined 2025. While the past year was personally difficult due to several significant health challenges, it was a prolific year for the podcast, featuring 115 episodes! https://youtube.com/live/Jy-QsGSU4bA Hits of 2025 One of the most fascinating aspects of 2025 was seeing which videos resonated most with the audience. Some of the most-watched content actually came from the archives, proving that great history is timeless. This is 4 of my top 10 list. Mark Scherer Spike: A 2023 interview with Mark Sheerer saw a massive, unexplained spike in May, gaining tens of thousands of views and becoming the most-watched video of the year. See our conversation on Emma Smith's 2nd husband Lewis Bidamon. The Mormon Cave: A 2021 episode featuring KC Kern and Greg Pavone rediscovering a cave in New York blew up in October. It turns out the surge might have been tied to the property being put up for sale. Fired from the First Presidency: The 2024 interview with Matt Harris remained a powerhouse, sitting at number three for the year. Sandra Tanner: Her discussion on Joseph Fielding Smith and the “ripped out” 1832 First Vision account was the most popular interview actually recorded in 20256. Gospel Tangents 2025 Book Awards The podcast isn’t just about interviews; it's about highlighting the best scholarship in the field. Here are the standout winners for the 2025 Book Awards: Best Book: John Turner's Rise and Fall of an American Prophet. Best Temple Book: Holiness to the Lord by Jonathan Stapley, which offers what may be the best “temple prep” explanation ever written in its first chapter. Best Social Science Book: Goodbye Religion by Ryan Cragun, which explores why people are leaving organized religion across various faiths. Best Biography: Matthew Bowman's work on Joseph Fielding Smith: A Mormon Theologian. Best First Book: Rich Hanks for To Be a Friend of Christ, a biography of his father, Marion D. Hanks. Best Mormon Feminism Work: Katie Rich and Heather Sundal for their work on Exponent II. Katie also won an award for her article on the Relief Society and Brigham Young. Looking Ahead to 2026 As we enter our 10th year of Gospel Tangents, there are big things on the horizon. There is a second podcast in the works, likely featuring a more informal YouTube Live format once or twice a month. However, growth comes with its own hurdles. We are currently about 12 months behind on transcripts1 If you are a fan of the show and want to help preserve these histories, please reach out at Gospel Tangents at gmail dot com to assist with transcribing. Your support on Patreon also remains vital to keeping this project running as we balance a busy production schedule. If you can help me with Instagram and Substack marketing, please reach out, knowing that my budget is extremely tight. Reviewing a year of history is much like excavating a cave; you never know which artifacts will suddenly catch the light and gain new value, but the effort of digging ensures that the story is never truly lost. Which of these titles did you like best? AI gave me these: 1. Ripped Pages and Rediscovered Caves: The Gospel Tangents 2025 Year in Review 2. A Decade of History: Celebrating the 2025 Book Awards and Most-Watched Moments 3. From Mark Sheerer to Sandra Tanner: The Surprising Viral Hits of 2025 4. The Best of Mormon History: 2025's Award-Winning Books and Must-See Interviews 5. Looking Back to Leap Forward: Gospel Tangents' Recap of 2025 and 2026 Predictions

Here is a Journal of Mormon Polygamy Recap. I'll also give away a free book "To be a Friend of Christ," the biography of Marion D Hanks, written by his son Richard. Check out our conversation... https://youtube.com/live/S2d9JJrHCxM Don't miss our other conversations about polygamy skeptics: https://gospeltangents.com/lds_theology/polygamy-skeptics/ transcript to follow Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission   transcript to follow Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission

Marion D Hanks helped start early Morning Seminary for the LDS Church! His son Richard details Marion's calling of stake presidents, what Rich loved about his father, and the tough end of Marion's life as he dealt with dementia. Check out our conversation... https://youtu.be/Nl3KMlYwk_8 Don't miss our other conversations with Richard: https://gospeltangents.com/people/richard-hanks/ transcript to follow Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission   transcript to follow Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission

Following the 1978 revelation, the LDS Church rescinded the ban preventing blacks from receiving priesthood & temple ordinances. Marion D Hanks was against the ban. Dr Matt Harris utilized Hanks' journals to document how general authorities reacted to the new 1978 revelation. Rich Hanks details more about his father's resistance to the ban and his elation at overturning the ban. Check out our conversation... https://youtu.be/h6Wwz4e94WM Don't miss our other conversations with Richard: https://gospeltangents.com/people/richard-hanks/ transcript to follow Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission   transcript to follow Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission

In the 1950s & 60s, LDS missionaries in England were baptizing children after baseball games without their parents consent,known as baseball baptisms. Marion D Hanks was called by Pres David O McKay to stop the practice. Rich Hanks is the son of Marion and details Marion's approach to the situation. We'll discuss how Marion always put Christ first in decision making, and how he helped start service missions. Check out our conversation... https://youtu.be/tsJoc-tkSck Don't miss our other conversations with Richard: https://gospeltangents.com/people/richard-hanks/ transcript to follow Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission   transcript to follow Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission

For today's episode, we're releasing a fascinating conversation that Aubrey had with Rich Hanks about the life and legacy of his father, Marion D. Hanks. For those who know his name, you'll know exactly why this conversation matters so much to us—Marion D. Hanks embodied so many of the values we hold dear. He was a leader of immense integrity, a champion for those on the margins, and a disciple of Christ in the truest sense. Even today, the ripples of his influence continue to shape the Church and the lives of so many.President David O. McKay once gave him a blessing with a simple but powerful charge: “Let your voice be heard, even if it is in opposition to the stated norms.” And he did. For forty years, he consistently pushed for change—advocating for humanitarian work long before it became a priority, fighting against the priesthood and temple ban, and insisting that sustaining leaders meant honest engagement, not silent agreement.Rich shared incredible stories about his father—the ways he stood up to cultural and institutional pressures, his deep reverence for the individual, and his unwavering belief that true discipleship is rooted in love, not conformity. He also spoke movingly about his father's final years, as dementia slowly took hold, and the lessons of grace and devotion that emerged even in that difficult season. More than anything, we were struck by how Marion D. Hanks' entire life was centered on lifting, healing, and serving—just as Christ did.We are so grateful to Rich for sharing these stories. We think this conversation will be inspiring to anyone who has ever wrestled with how to live their faith with integrity, courage, and compassion. And with that, we'll jump right into our conversation with Rich Hanks.

My friend Richard Hanks (mid 60s, retired business executive, active Latter-day Saint/former Mission President) joins us to talk about his biography of his father Elder Marion D. Hanks (beloved general authority—called at age 31—who lived from 1921-2011) in his book called “To Be a Friend of Christ: The Life of Marion D. Hanks.” Richard talks about his father's unique approach to the gospel and his work—focused on following Christ—advocating for: increasing the church's humanitarian efforts, Christian service by full-time missionaries, acceptance of those on the fringes, the creation of singles wards, combining High Priests and Elders quorums, adapting garments to local climates, civil marriage before sealings, a kinder and more merciful approach to repentance, and a strong/vocal desire to end the priesthood ban—all while being deeply committed to the Church and supportive of its leaders. Richard talks about key areas of his father's ministry including “aggressive Christianity versus aggressive proselytizing”; “souls versus statistics ”; and “this is the only true church/others are wrong" versus "The more excellent way.” He further talks about his father's work to focus the mission of the Church on Christ, bring the Christus to Temple Square, teaching faith over dogma and certitudes, and principles to help those with legitimate concerns stay in the Church. I was always aware of and grateful for the ministry of Elder Hanks, but it wasn't until becoming familiar with Richard's book about his father, that I realized how unique, progressive, and needed was his ministry in the Church, all he accomplished, and the many lives he blessed being laser focused on helping people "Come unto Christ." If you are looking for hope for the future of the Church and how your contributions are needed, I encourage you to read Richard's book. Thank you, Richard, for making this book possible, and for your work to create Zion. Links: Richard's book at Amazon: www.amazon.com/dp/1560854723 Contacting Richard: RichDHanks@gmail.com

“The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.” Can we be that kind of instrument in His hands? An example of love, service, and excellence? Click here to see the speech page.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rich Hanks is an author, investor, and adviser to both start-ups and established businesses. He has served as a board director of numerous profit and non-profit companies and organizations, and as a mission president in Birmingham, Alabama. His book, To Be a Friend of Christ, draws on previously unavailable primary sources—journals, correspondence, notebooks, and recordings—to share the first and only authorized biography of his father, Marion D. Hanks, who served for nearly 40 years as a General Authority. Links To Be a Friend of Christ: The Life of Marion D. Hanks Share your thoughts in the Leading Saints community. Read the transcript of this podcast Get 14-day access to the Core Leader Library Highlights Rich shares personal anecdotes about his father, highlighting his early calling as a General Authority at just 31 years old and the unique challenges that came with it, including the absence of an emeritus status at the time. Rich elaborates on Marion D. Hanks' contributions to early morning seminary programs and the establishment of the Christus as a symbol of the Church, emphasizing his efforts to make the Church more relatable and accessible to the public. The discussion also touches on Elder Hanks' mission presidency in England, where he worked to reform the culture of missionary work, focusing on genuine conversion rather than mere numbers. Rich recounts how his father prioritized the spiritual well-being of missionaries and the importance of service, drawing parallels to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Throughout the episode, Rich reflects on the leadership principles exemplified by his father, including the importance of being a voice for change while maintaining respect for Church authority. The conversation concludes with Rich sharing how his father's legacy has influenced his own approach to leadership as a mission president, emphasizing the need to focus on the individuals being served rather than solely on baptism numbers. Overall, the episode provides a rich exploration of Marion D. Hanks' life and the enduring impact of his leadership philosophy within the Church. 02:05 - Who Was Marion D. Hanks? 02:52 - Elder Hanks' Influence and Legacy 03:42 - Rich Hanks' Personal Connection to His Father 04:05 - Marion D. Hanks as a General Authority 05:39 - The Emeritus Status and Its Impact 07:25 - Growing Up with a General Authority Father 08:56 - Marion D. Hanks' Teaching Innovations 10:51 - The Christus Symbol and Its Origins 12:47 - Elder Hanks as Mission President 16:55 - Addressing the Baptism Culture in England 20:55 - Leadership Principles from Elder Hanks 22:15 - The Importance of Service in Leadership 25:01 - The Dynamics of Being a General Authority 27:40 - Navigating Leadership Disagreements 30:12 - The Role of Revelation in Leadership 32:37 - The Legacy of Service and Community Engagement 39:09 - Personal Reflections on Leadership Principles 43:24 - Applying Elder Hanks' Principles in Modern Leadership The Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints' mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill and many more in over 700 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary,

Can you imagine being inside the room for 1978 revelation? The journals of Marion D Hanks take us there when the 1978 revelation was announced to the Quorum of 70. We will also discuss the 1969 statement by the Apostles and most of the First Presidency affirming the ban. Dr Matt Harris takes us behind the scenes to discuss the statement affirms a ban from temple & priesthood for black members and claiming the reasons were known only to God.  Check out our conversation... https://youtu.be/MY9DQdG-lA4 Don't miss our other conversations with Matt: https://gospeltangents.com/people/matt-harris/ Copyright © 2024 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission. transcript to follow Copyright © 2024 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission.

With Southeast Asian refugees as beautiful examples, Elder Hanks shares what it means to truly love our neighbor by feeding the body, mind, and soul. Click here to view the speech page. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Live pure, speak true, right wrong. Follow Christ the King, and you will be prepared to live the kind of life that He lives. Click here to view the speech page.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Matson continues to explore themes of redemption, sin, the law, and the power of the Holy Ghost in the second half of the Letter to the Romans.00:00 Part II–Dr. Joshua Matson00:07 Romans 8 and being joint heirs with Christ03:14 The Atonement, glory,  and suffering05:22 Adopted by Jesus and being covenant Israel08:10 Zealously follow Christ09:51 Paul quotes Moses10:28 Dr. Matson shares a personal story about an small ward12:26 If we believe, we won't be ashamed of the gospel14:43 Paul quotes Psalms 1816:13 What prophecies in scripture do you want to help to fulfill?18:31 God has a vineyard20:14 Being cut off vs broken off23:17 Paul and Jacob parallels25:41 Romans 5-11 Paul teaches doctrine28:40 Romans 12 features commandments30:01 Proverbs and kindness32:19 Doctrine, teaching, and changing behavior35:50 Overcome evil with good36:04 Saints, governmental authority, and loving your neighbor41:58 Paul gives a gospel pep talk44:01 Marion D. Hanks addresses Romans 12-1546:40 Supporting those weak in faith49:17 Nora's Christmas Gift52:34 President Nelson's “Peacemakers Wanted”55:31 Dr. Matson shares a personal story58:48 Five titles of God1:00:19 Gentiles and Jews are inextricably linked1:02:38 Phoebe and women as deaconesses1:07:13 End of Part II–Dr. Josh MatsonPlease rate and review the podcast!Show Notes (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese): https://followhim.coYouTube: https://youtu.be/R1eqqsj-iekFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/followhimpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/followhimpodcastSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/15G9TTz8yLp0dQyEcBQ8BYThanks to the follow HIM team:Shannon Sorensen: Cofounder, Executive Producer, SponsorDavid & Verla Sorensen: SponsorsDr. Hank Smith: Co-hostJohn Bytheway: Co-hostDavid Perry: ProducerKyle Nelson: Marketing, SponsorLisa Spice: Client Relations, Editor, Show NotesJamie Neilson: Social Media, Graphic DesignAnnabelle Sorensen: Creative Project ManagerWill Stoughton: Video EditorKrystal Roberts: Translation Team, English & French Transcripts, WebsiteAriel Cuadra: Spanish Transcripts"Let Zion in Her Beauty Rise" by Marshall McDonaldhttps://www.marshallmcdonaldmusic.com

Avoid the trap of vanity and hypocrisy. Instead of worrying about how you seem to others, be the kind of person you know you can and should be. Access the speech text here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Angi and Steve take a deep dive into our least-sung Easter hymn, #198 That Easter Morn, with lyrics by Marion D. Hanks and music by Richard Cundick. As you learn about these two men and about writing this hymn, you can learn to appreciate this hymn in ways you might not have before. Plus, learn which to current apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were heavily influenced by Elder Hanks. Connect with us! Website: KnowingHymn.weebly.com Facebook Group: Knowing Hymn Instagram: KnowingHymn Twitter @ KnowingHymn Email: knowinghymn@gmail.com

The atonement, along with our own agency and accountability, work together to comprise the essence of the Plan of Salvation. Support the show: https://ldsp-pay.ldschurch.org/donations/byu/byu-speeches.html See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May your Christmas be a wholesome, hallowed, and gracious one. Marion D. Hanks reminds us to fill the season with love for the Savior and love for your neighbor. Support the show.

The first week of August 2011 saw the passing of two giants in the Mormon universe: Sister Chieko Okazaki, a former counselor in the Relief Society general presidency and beloved author and speaker, and Elder Marion D. Hanks, a long-time general authority who many looked up to as one of Mormonism’s greatest champions for love, equality, and Christian service. This episode is a celebration and appreciation of their lives through conversation with intimate friends. Mormon Matters host, Dan Wotherspoon, first interviews Sister Aileen Clyde, who served from 1990 to 1997 as a fellow counselor with Sister Okazaki in the Relief Society general presidency under the leadership of President Elaine Jack. He then speaks with Margaret Young and Darius Gray, two of Elder Hanks’ close associates. We very much hope you will enjoy getting to know more about each of these incredible souls--Sister Okazaki and Elder Hanks, as well as the great spirits of those interviewed here.