Podcast appearances and mentions of Richard E Bennett

Dr. Jonathan Stapley tackles a tough topic: race & LDS Temples as we conclude his deep dive into Stapley's award-winning book, Holiness to the Lord. We tackles some of the most complex historical topics surrounding Latter-day Saint temple worship, including the ideological shift away from plural marriage, the history of racial restrictions, and the profound religious work of caring for the dead. https://youtu.be/ZIp-oSEBoGo 0:00 Trading Polygamy for Temple Work 3:58 Race & the Temple 16:21 Caring for the Dead Don't miss our other discussions with Jonathan. https://gospeltangents.com/people/jonathan_stapley Copyright © 2026 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Dr. Jonathan Stapley concludes his deep dive into his award-winning book, Holiness to the Lord. He tackles some of the most complex historical topics surrounding Latter-day Saint temple worship, including the ideological shift away from plural marriage, the history of racial restrictions, and the profound religious work of caring for the dead. Did Temple Work Replace Polygamy? Historian Dr. Richard E Bennett has previously argued that as the Church abandoned plural marriage, work for the dead stepped in as its replacement. Stapley agrees there is truth to this. Before 1890, regular temple attendance was incredibly rare; most early Latter-day Saints only went once in their lives for their own endowment and sealing. Because of this, 19th-century Saints typically viewed temple robes as “burial clothing,” since they saw it more often on deceased bodies than on living worshippers. However, following the 1890 Manifesto and Wilford Woodruff’s 1894 revelation on adoption, regular proxy labor radically transformed the Latter-day Saint experience. Temple attendance became a normative, regular practice, effectively replacing plural marriage as the core foundation of 20th-century Latter-day Saint identity construction. Segregation, Race & LDS Temples We also unpacked the complicated history of race & the temple. Early in the Church’s history, Black members did participate in temple ordinances: Elijah Abel was washed and anointed in the Kirtland Temple, Jane Manning James performed baptisms for the dead in the Endowment House, and historical records show that several previously enslaved women were endowed in the Salt Lake Temple. Tragically, as Jim Crow-era segregationist worldviews hardened in the 20th century, policies shifted. Stapley highlights research by Tanya Ryder showing a period where Black members could submit their family history to the temple but were required to have white proxies perform the actual baptisms. When asked if the temple restriction was instituted primarily to prevent interracial marriage, Stapley offers a nuanced historian’s view. While Brigham Young actively encouraged intermarriages between white settlers and Native Americans, he harbored intense opposition to Black and white intermarriage and procreation. Stapley notes that while Brigham Young’s racist views on intermarriage undeniably informed the temple ban, historians lack the specific documentation to conclusively prove it was the exact causal instigation. Debunking the 1979 “Satan” Film Myth Stapley also takes a moment to debunk a persistent rumor regarding the 1979 temple film. A popular story claims that the Church asked a dark-skinned or Polynesian actor to play Satan, but the actor protested the racist casting. Stapley explains that there is no good evidence for this event; the entire rumor stems from a single, unreliable third-hand source—a typed memory of a purported conversation. Caring for the Dead To conclude, Stapley reflects on one of the most resonant chapters of his book: the religious practice of caring for and dressing the dead. In modern society, the professionalization of medicine and funerals has largely insulated us from death. Stapley argues that the Latter-day Saint practice of dressing deceased loved ones in temple clothing provides an incredibly important religious outlet to process grief. Furthermore, this enduring ritual acts as a powerful symbol, signaling the believers’ incorporation into the priesthood as heavenly kings, queens, priests, and priestesses. Don't miss our other discussions with Jonathan. https://gospeltangents.com/people/jonathan_stapley   Copyright © 2026 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved

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

This is a re-release of our interview from 2017 with BYU professtor Dr. Richard E Bennett, my name twin.  We're going to talk about temples, especially how LDS Temple worship evolution over the past 2 centuries in the LDS Church. How much did the Kirtland Temple cost? How is Masonry involved? What changes have been […]

Hank, John and Dr. Richard E. Bennett share their favorite thought from this week's Come, Follow Me lesson.Show Notes (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese): https://followhim.co/episodesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/followhimpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/followhimpodcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FollowHimOfficialChannelThanks to the followHIM team:Steve & Shannon Sorensen: Executive ProducersDr. Hank Smith: Co-hostJohn Bytheway: Co-hostDavid Perry: ProducerKyle Nelson: MarketingLisa Spice: Client Relations, Show Notes/TranscriptsJamie Neilson: Social Media, Graphic DesignWill Stoughton: Rough Video EditorAriel Cuadra: Spanish TranscriptsKrystal Roberts: French TranscriptsIgor Willians: Portuguese Transcripts"Let Zion in Her Beauty Rise" by Marshall McDonaldhttps://www.marshallmcdonaldmusic.com/products/let-zion-in-her-beauty-rise-pianoPlease rate and review the podcast.

Doctrine & Covenants 136:President Richard Bennett joins us from Nebraska for a bonus episode to discuss Doctrine and Covenants Section 136, the only canonized revelation of Brigham Young.  As the Saints are expelled from Nauvoo,  they endure tragedy and experience triumph at Winter Quarters, Nebraska.Show Notes (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese): https://followhim.co/episodes/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/followhimpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/followhimpodcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FollowHimOfficialChannelThanks to the followHIM team:Steve & Shannon Sorensen: Executive ProducersDr. Hank Smith: Co-hostJohn Bytheway: Co-hostDavid Perry: ProducerKyle Nelson: Sponsor/MarketingLisa Spice: Client Relations, Show Notes/TranscriptsJamie Neilson: Social Media, Graphic DesignWill Stoughton: Assistant Video EditorAriel Cuadra: Spanish TranscriptsKrystal Roberts : French TranscriptsIgor Willians : Portuguese Transcripts"Let Zion in Her Beauty Rise" by Marshall McDonaldhttps://www.marshallmcdonaldmusic.com/products/let-zion-in-her-beauty-rise-pianoPlease rate and review the podcast.

Doctrine & Covenants 136:President Bennett returns and teaches that the Restoration and faith had a price that the Saints paid. We consider the covenants the Saints made and the sacrifice as they leave America and seek Zion. President Bennett shares the history of the Pioneers as he serves as Site Director and Mission President of the Mormon Trail Center in Omaha, Nebraska, USA.Show Notes (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese): https://followhim.co/episodes/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/followhimpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/followhimpodcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/FollowHimOfficialChannelThanks to the followHIM team:Steve & Shannon Sorensen: Executive ProducersDr. Hank Smith: Co-hostJohn Bytheway: Co-hostDavid Perry: ProducerKyle Nelson: Sponsor/MarketingLisa Spice: Client Relations, Show Notes/TranscriptsJamie Neilson: Social Media, Graphic DesignWill Stoughton: Assistant Video EditorAriel Cuadra: Spanish TranscriptsKrystal Roberts : French TranscriptsIgor Willians : Portuguese Transcripts"Let Zion in Her Beauty Rise" by Marshall McDonaldhttps://www.marshallmcdonaldmusic.com/products/let-zion-in-her-beauty-rise-pianoPlease rate and review the podcast.

  You can listen to or download the June 13 broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The hosts were Terry Hutchinson, John Gee and Kevin Christensen. In this episode, our hosts interviewed author Richard E. Bennett about his important new book 1820: Dawn of […] The post Interpreter Radio Show — June 13, 2021 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

  You can listen to or download the June 13 broadcast of the Interpreter Radio Show below. It will also be included in our podcast feed (https://interpreterfoundation.org/feeds/podcast). The hosts were Terry Hutchinson, John Gee and Kevin Christensen. In this episode, our hosts interviewed author Richard E. Bennett about his important new book 1820: Dawn of […] The post Interpreter Radio Show — June 13, 2021 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Book Note: Richard E. Bennett, 1820: Dawning of the Restoration (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center at Brigham Young University / Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2020). 380 pages. Hardcover, $31.99. Abstract: Richard E. Bennett's 1820: Dawning of the Restoration takes a look at this significant year in a global historical context. He has produced a fascinating […] The post Understanding the Year 1820 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Review of Richard E. Bennett, 1820: Dawning of the Restoration (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center at Brigham Young University / Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2020). 380 pages. Hardcover, $31.99. Abstract: Richard E. Bennett's latest volume, 1820: Dawning of the Restoration, is not a book about the First Vision. Instead, it describes the world in 1820 through […] The post Seeking a Global Context for the First Vision first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Review of Richard E. Bennett, 1820: Dawning of the Restoration (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center at Brigham Young University / Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2020). 380 pages. Hardcover, $31.99. Abstract: Richard E. Bennett's latest volume, 1820: Dawning of the Restoration, is not a book about the First Vision. Instead, it describes the world in 1820 through […] The post Seeking a Global Context for the First Vision first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Review of Richard E. Bennett, 1820: Dawning of the Restoration (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center at Brigham Young University / Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2020). 380 pages. Hardcover, $31.99. Abstract: Richard E. Bennett's latest volume, 1820: Dawning of the Restoration, is not a book about the First Vision. Instead, it describes the world in 1820 through […] The post Seeking a Global Context for the First Vision first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Review of Richard E. Bennett, 1820: Dawning of the Restoration (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center at Brigham Young University / Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2020). 380 pages. Hardcover, $31.99. Abstract: Richard E. Bennett's latest volume, 1820: Dawning of the Restoration, is not a book about the First Vision. Instead, it describes the world in 1820 through […] The post Seeking a Global Context for the First Vision first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Book Note: Richard E. Bennett, 1820: Dawning of the Restoration (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center at Brigham Young University / Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2020). 380 pages. Hardcover, $31.99. Abstract: Richard E. Bennett's 1820: Dawning of the Restoration takes a look at this significant year in a global historical context. He has produced a fascinating […] The post Understanding the Year 1820 first appeared on The Interpreter Foundation.

Richard E. Bennett, professor at Brigham Young University, presents at "The First Vision of Joseph Smith, Jr.: 200 Years On" conference.

Richard E. Bennett, professor at Brigham Young University, presents at "The First Visions of Joseph Smith, Jr.: 200 Years On" conference.

Richard E. Bennett, professor at Brigham Young University, gives opening remarks for "The First Vision of Joseph Smith, Jr.: 200 Years on" conference.

Trivia question for you:  what was the first LDS temple outside the United States?  The answer is below but see if you can guess before you read the answer.  In our final conversation with BYU Church History professor Dr. Richard Bennett, we learned that this temple marked the end of gathering the church to Utah, and the beginning of creating temples away from the center of Mormonism. https://youtu.be/qrVppt6ruKQ Temples were magnets and were a powerful factor in people gathering from Europe and inland to the Rocky Mountains.  Originally they went to Nauvoo.  The saints wanted to be where the temple is. After 1900 and the beginning of an understanding that we should stay where we are and gather to the local units and gather in their own nations, you begin to see temples now moving out from Utah.  I think the first major expression of that would be the Cardston Temple. We also discussed the Temple Ship, an idea mentioned in Greg Prince's biography of President David O. McKay! Yes I know that story, like a Hope Ship.  It had a lot of traction at one time.  It's pretty hard to keep sacred a ship though, {chuckles} and I think that was the thing that sunk it, the idea that, oh we can have this boat that would be a dedicated temple.  The reason it had traction was you could go to places where the saints were. You could go to the islands and different countries all over the world.  But I think, I don't know.  I remember studying that when I was studying the life of David O. McKay years ago, and I wrote the history of Brigham Young University, shadow boat history.  This was going to be difficult to keep a ship afloat that's a temple and keep it sacred, going all over the place, and having it serviced and everything else, plus the cost. Check out our conversation, and give us a 5 star review on iTunes or Youtube! Dr. Richard E. Bennett discusses the temple ship, once proposed by David O. McKay to service international Church members! https://gospeltangents.com/shop/transcripts/1st-international-temple-was-almost-a-temple-ship/