In our final conversation with Clair Barrus, we’ll discuss polygamy skeptics and William Clayton Journals. They are some of the most important pieces of contemporary evidence of polygamy, so skeptics don’t like this journal. Is there evidence it was forged? Clair Barrus weighs in. We’ll also discuss William & Jane Laws’ accusations against Joseph Smith. Check out our conversation…

https://youtu.be/uqCbNbGazqk

Check out our conversation with Clair Barrus who wrote a chapter in Secret Covenants…

Don’t miss our other conversations with Clair: https://gospeltangents.com/people/clair-barrus/

Cop...

Joseph Fielding Smith is the architect of controversial LDS orthodoxy. He has some controversial writings about Blacks and Ezra Taft Benson. We’ll also delve into his role with Lowell Bennion, a BYU professor who was fired. Was JFS responsible or was it someone else? Matthew Bowman answers. We’ll also dive into his role in shaping orthodoxy in the 20th century. Check out our conversation…

https://youtu.be/toqjRr1B8Eo

Joseph Fielding Smith: Architect of Controversial LDS Orthodoxy

Joseph Fielding Smith described as a “lightning rod” due to some views considered politicall...

Joseph Fielding Smith, a towering figure in the 20th-century Latter-day Saint landscape, is often remembered as a theologian and Church leader. But his long tenure as Church Historian also positioned him as a key interpreter of Mormon history, an area where his approach offers a fascinating case study in the relationship between faith, perspective, and the writing of the past. Our recent discussion drawing from the sources explored this complex legacy, highlighting Smith’s contributions alongside critical insights into the nature of historical objectivity and bias.

https://youtu.be/EyAoFsz9mn0

Church Historian

Wh...

Joseph Fielding Smith: evolution was not something he thought highly of. The son of Joseph F. Smith and grandson of Hyrum Smith, was a prominent figure in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As an apostle from 1910 and later Church President, he became known for his strong defense of traditional doctrines, often clashing with those who sought to reconcile faith with modern scientific and academic thought.

https://youtu.be/8Kq1TVQBQtE

Don’t miss our other conversations about this book! https://gospeltangents.com/lds_people_historical/joseph-fielding-smith/

Joseph Fi...

Dr. Matthew Bowman has just released a new biography on Joseph Fielding Smith. Bowman is the Howard W. Hunter Chair of Mormon Studies at Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, California. The Mormon Studies chair Bowman holds at Claremont Graduate University is the oldest in the country, having been established over 15 years ago. Bowman is the third person to hold the chair, following Richard Bushman and Patrick Mason. Patrick Mason left Claremont to take the chair at Utah State University.

https://youtu.be/6VrK15TQVcY

Don’t miss our other episodes with Dr Matthew Bowman! https://go...

In our final conversation with Dr Margaret Toscano, we’ll discuss the chapter in Sara Patterson’s book, “The Sept 6 & the Struggle for the Soul of Mormonism.” Margaret will discuss her and her husband Paul’s reaction to Sara’s descriptions of them in the book. Check out our conversation…

https://youtu.be/LqxYh6QHY3E

Don’t miss our other conversations about the Sept Six: https://gospeltangents.com/mormon_history/sept-six/

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Gospel Tangents

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Beyond the Sept 6

More than two decades after the events...

In our final conversation with Dr Margaret Toscano, we’ll discuss the chapter in Sara Patterson’s book, “The Sept 6 & the Struggle for the Soul of Mormonism.” Margaret will discuss her and her husband Paul’s reaction to Sara’s descriptions of them in the book. Check out our conversation…

https://youtu.be/LqxYh6QHY3E

Don’t miss our other conversations about the Sept Six: https://gospeltangents.com/mormon_history/sept-six/

Copyright © 2024

Gospel Tangents

All Rights Reserved

Beyond the Sept 6

More than two decades after the events...

I asked about Peggy Fletcher Stack’s opinion. Central to Peggy’s thirty-plus-year career is her unwavering commitment to journalistic ethics and objectivity.

https://youtu.be/yFqxStPt0NA

Remember, this is a secret episode. Sign up at gospeltangents.com/newsletter to get the link to the secret episode emailed to you.

Don’t miss our other conversations with Peggy: https://gospeltangents.com/people/peggy-fletcher-stack/

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Gospel Tangents

All Rights Reserved

Peggy Fletcher Stack’s Opinion

She is asked daily about her personal faith but maint...

We discuss 2 important moments in Peggy Fletcher Stack’s career: “We don’t apologize,” and “What about the women? Peggy Fletcher Stack is the senior religion reporter at the Salt Lake Tribune. The focus of the conversation turns to the persistent challenges within religious coverage and the dramatic evolution of the journalistic landscape itself. For Peggy, certain topics consistently emerge as central “pressure points” or “conflicts.” Drawing on Apostle Boyd K. Packer’s 1993 speech, she observes that issues surrounding feminists, gays, and intellectuals have dominated her reporting because, as she puts it, journalists cover “planes that crash,” not “planes that land on time.”

Peggy Fletcher Stack highlights her biggest interviews, significant moments, and enduring themes of her three decades covering religion. Peggy’s career at the Salt Lake Tribune has intersected with pivotal historical events and figures. She covered sensitive issues like Catholic abuse and the aftermath of 9/11, immediately being assigned to interview Utah Muslims. She shared a moving story of a young Muslim boy named Osama who faced bullying after 9/11 but later reclaimed his name and faith.

https://youtu.be/shlJFq8BV2s

Biggest Interviews

Covering the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City brought another hi...

It was fun to sit down with Peggy Fletcher Stack about her time at Sunstone and Mark Hofmann. Peggy Fletcher Stack is a senior religion reporter at the Salt Lake Tribune with over three decades of experience. Peggy, also a co-host of the Tribune’s weekly “Mormon Land” podcast, discussed her extensive career, offering insights into her work, her background, and some of the pivotal moments she’s covered. The conversation quickly delved into the origins of her career, her time at the Sunstone organization, and even her connection to a notorious historical event.

https://youtu.be/jI3Y_aw9...

In our final conversation with Dan and Ann Hatch of Christ's Church, we'll get into whether they accept black Church members. Do they ordain blacks? (Many fundamentalists reject the 1978 revelation on priesthood from Spencer W Kimball in the mainstream LDS Church.) We'll also discuss why outsiders can't attend priesthood meetings, solemn assemblies, and other topics. To Check out our conversation, sign up at gospeltangents.com/newsletter and I'll send you a secret link to the final part of our conversation! https://youtu.be/K3btHzokc2M Don’t miss our other conversations with Ann & Dan: https://gospeltangents.com/people/ann-hatch/ tr...

Joseph Smith's bank went under back in 1837. Those banknotes he printed are now worth much more money! Brent Ashworth shares his Kirtland bank notes from the Kirtland Safety Society signed by Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, & Sidney Rigdon! He also shares Lorenzo Snow's prison diary, and we'll also play a Bing Crosby record from the 1930s on an early 1900s phonograph! Check out our conversation... Don’t miss our other conversations with Brent: https://gospeltangents.com/people/brent-ashworth transcript to follow Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission   transcript to follo...

How did Brent Ashworth get started in collecting Mormon memorabilia? He started at age 7! We'll discuss his first collections from the prophet Heber J Grant, his 1st edition Book of Mormon, and other documents he has related to Joseph Smith and early Church history! Check out our conversation... https://youtu.be/XZQ_2YRDYEQ Don’t miss our other conversations with Brent: https://gospeltangents.com/people/brent-ashworth 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 con...

Brent Ashworth has not only Church history artifacts, but Elvis memorabilia, a piece of the Spirit of St Louis, and a 1st Edition Book of Mormon used at School of the Prophets in Kirtland! Check out our conversation... https://youtu.be/2XAc8ut6BPQ Don’t miss our other conversations with Brent: https://gospeltangents.com/people/brent-ashworth 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.

Why is it called the Vinegar Bible? Brent Ashworth has a Bible from 1716, an ad from the Titanic, Ulysses Grant's desk, Heber Grant's chair, and much more! Check out his amazing museum! https://youtu.be/Xq1FzZNDTpE Don’t miss our other conversations with Brent: https://gospeltangents.com/people/brent-ashworth 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.

Brent Ashworth has one of the largest Americana & Mormon Memorabilia collections in Utah. He discusses artifacts ranging from the Civil War, Elvis, Pearl Harbor, Mark Hofmann forgeries, LDS prophets, Babe Ruth, and much, much more! We're giving a tour of his mini-museum! Check out our conversation.... https://youtu.be/B3XKyQnB1wQ Don’t miss our other conversations with Brent: https://gospeltangents.com/people/brent-ashworth 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 conte...

In our final conversation we'll talk about some other Mormon Fundamentalism groups and how the race ban & Word of Wisdom are viewed. I'll also note that Cristina got married after this interview and moved to Canada! Her new last name is Gagliano. Check out our conversation... https://youtu.be/wBE1qyHDzAg Don’t miss our other conversations with Cristina: https://gospeltangents.com/people/cristina-rosetti Several Mormon fundamentalist denominations are discussed: Apostolic United Brethren (AUB) FLDS (Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) Centennial Park group Nielsen/Naylor group Thompson group LeBaron groups Kingston group Righteous Branch Confederate Nations of Is...

We're going on another polygamy tangent trip! We'll discuss consecration with David Nielsen & I'll go to a polygamist church! Check out our conversation... https://youtu.be/iG4rRCSc2ww Don't miss our other conversations with David: https://gospeltangents.com/people/david-nielsen 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.

I attended a polygamist Easter service and the Mesa Temple Easter Pageant this week. Check it out! https://youtu.be/kUdtO3PYEAo Don’t miss our other conversations with David Nielsen: https://gospeltangents.com/people/david-nielsen 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.

Many fundamentalist Mormons do not allow for black members. Is Nielsen-Naylor the same? We'll discuss temple theology and discuss these weighty issues. Check out our conversation... https://youtu.be/VAgAilf0g00 Don't miss our other conversations with David: https://gospeltangents.com/people/david-nielsen 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.

Here is a quick announcement about the upcoming Mormon Studies Conference in southern California on April 19, 2025. Dr Matthew Bowman is the dean of Mormon Studies at Claremont Graduate University and gives more details. If you're in southern California, I hope you'll check it out! https://youtu.be/p15cP_ZjzM0

The FLDS Split with Centennial Park and Nielsen-Naylor on the 1980s. Is there a mission to rescue FLDS & reclaim their Mormon cousins? David Nielsen weighs in. We'll also ask David what the thinks about Cristina Rosetti's book on Joseph Musser and discuss church services. Check out our conversation... https://youtu.be/MGWFxkq4CEM Don't miss our other conversations with David: https://gospeltangents.com/people/david-nielsen 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 con...

Does Nielsen-Naylor believe in "1 true church" like the LDS Church does? I found David Nielsen's answer fascinating!. I was also surprised to learn women propose marriage to men! Check out our conversation... https://youtu.be/vWC8qGfnWxs   Don't miss our other conversations with David: https://gospeltangents.com/people/david-nielsen 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 permissio

Since Warren Jeffs took over the FLDS Church, there have been many FLDS splits. Centennial Park split off in 1984, and then Nielsen-Naylor split off in the 1990s. David Nielsen is part of the Nielsen-Naylor Group and we'll find more about FLDS through Nielsen-Naylor history. Check out our conversation... https://youtu.be/uyOkEsN_sUQ 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

We're going on a Polygamy Tangent (Trip) to the Journal of Mormon Polygamy Conference Mar 21-22, 2025 at the University of Utah. I'll give my live reactions and even talk to a polygamy skeptic! Check it out! https://youtu.be/0guJSrqPbBU 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

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

Some people think the Exodus story is more myth than real. How does George Potter explain it? Check out our conversation... https://youtu.be/ysWSrWN0WTQ Don’t miss our other conversations with George: https://gospeltangents.com/people/george-potter/ transcript to follow 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

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 witho...

Pres David O. McKay blessed Marion Hanks to "speak your mind," even when opposed by other Church leaders. His son Richard details some of these events as Marion tangled with Bruce McConkie, Mark Peterson, Boyd Packer, & others. Check out our conversation... https://youtu.be/iFnC5JJLJds 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 permi

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 wri...

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 boo...

Marion Hanks was one of the youngest modern-day GA (general authorities.) At just age 31, he was called to be one of the 7 presidents in the First Council of 70! His son Richard Hanks has written a biography called "To Be a Friend of Christ." We will learn more about Marion's life without a father growing up. Check out our conversation... https://youtu.be/SWCBWl0zS-w 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 foll...

This is a throwback episode with Brian Hales from 2017. Brian is the author of Joseph Smith's Polygamy, Volumes 1-3, and it's just in time for the Journal of Mormon Polygamy Conference this weekend at the University of Utah. Check out our conversation.... https://youtu.be/WVs0ypGKq5o Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission Canadian Polygamy – Should it be Legal? The Interview GT:  Well I’d like to welcome everybody out here to Gospel Tangents Podcast.  I’m really excited to talk to Dr. Brian Hales.  He’s the expert o...

The Kingston Group, also known as the Davis County Cooperative Society, is one of the most reclusive Mormon Fundamentalist groups around. I was able to attend a funeral, which was open to the public. Here's what I learned! https://youtu.be/RoX9ldV4NU0 Don't miss our other conversations on Mormon fundamentalism: https://gospeltangents.com/ 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

Robert Messick will discuss the Book of Mormon census he is doing to find out how many and the location of every 1st Edition copy of the Book of Mormon. We're also diving into the Bickertonite Book of Mormon, Red-Letter Edition!  What famous people besides Elvis have a Book of Mormon? Why did Apollo astronaut Buzz Aldrin autograph his Book of Mormon? Check out our conversation... https://youtu.be/rArRcqbqc1Q Don't miss our other conversations with Robert: https://gospeltangents.com/people/robert-messick/ transcript to follow Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be re...

We know the RLDS Church has its own version of the Book of Mormon, but what other churches have their own? What about the first Gold Book of Mormon and LDS Paperback edition with the golden angel Moroni on the cover, a Reformed Egyptian gold cover, and many other editions? Check out our conversation... https://youtu.be/CTFvsUPBdPo Don't miss our other conversations with Robert: https://gospeltangents.com/people/robert-messick/ 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 Exc...

Did you know the LDS Church didn't publish an official version of the Book of Mormon for 90 years?! It took 90 years to publish! Robert Messick knows about all of the LDS and Restoration editions. He's the host of the YouTube channel called "Book of Mormon Editions." We'll dive deep into the publishing history of the Book of Mormon. Check out our conversation.... https://youtu.be/-0axvFxYMAE Don't miss our other conversations with Ryan: https://gospeltangents.com/people/robert-messick/ transcript to follow Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission   tr...

Since its founding, the LDS Church has used the King James Version of the Bible. Is it time to dump KJV? Many people find the old English tough to read & understand. Is it time to upgrade to a more modern version? Will that cause ripple effects with the Book of Mormon? Dr Joseph Spencer weighs in on the issue. We'll also discuss his other books and upcoming projects. Check out our conversation... https://youtu.be/R15AGtUer90 Don’t miss our other conversations with Joseph: https://gospeltangents.com/people/joseph-spencer/ transcript to follow Copyright © 2024 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for...

The LDS Church recently changed from 3 to 2 hour church. Is 2 hr church destroying community? Dr Ryan Cragun answers. We'll also discuss whether religious or non-religious are more healthy, wealthy, and wise. Check out our conversation... https://youtu.be/moBMOw1jjdU Don't miss our other conversations with Ryan: https://gospeltangents.com/people/ryan-cragun/ 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