Mormon History Podcast – Gospel Tangents – Mormon History Podcast
Gospel Tangents explores Mormon History, Science, Theology, and is a resource to learn more about real Mormon History by interviewing historians, scientists, experts, and authors. These podcasts will help generate future documentaries.
How Wes Walters’ Revival Research Forced Mormon Historians to Confront the 1820 Story (Sandra Tanner 5 of 5)
A key figure who accelerated the historical crisis for both the Tanners (who left the group in 1962) and Pauline’s church was Wes Walters, a Presbyterian minister from Marissa, Illinois.
Walters was asked to write an article on Mormons for Christianity Today. His detailed research focused on testing Joseph Smith’s claims against tangible historical records, particularly those surrounding the First Vision. Walters reasoned that while you couldn’t prove whether Smith spoke to God, you could prove whether he was standing in a given place on a given day.
Don’t miss our other conversa...
Jerald & Sandra Tanner’s Apostolic Scolding (4 of 5)
Jerald and Sandra Tanner received an apostolic scolding by LeGrand Richards over the First Vision! By the early 1960s, Sandra and Jerald Tanner were deep into critical analysis of Mormon history, having transitioned from struggling Utah Mormons to committed followers of a Christ-focused faith centered on the Bible and the Book of Mormon. This new path led them to join Pauline Hancock’s “Basement Church” in Independence, Missouri, formally known as the Church of Christ (Bible & Book of Mormon).
0:00 Attending Pauline’s church
5:28 Pauline’s Cancer/Sandra’s baptism
17:02 Apostle LeGrand Richards
Don’t miss our oth...
Missing 1832 First Vision Account (Sandra Tanner 3 of 6)
Sandra Tanner discusses one of the most intriguing episodes in Mormon history: her early inquiry into the missing 1832 First Vision account. (She didn’t know it was missing at the time. The account was allegedly ripped out of the Joseph Smith journal by Church Historian Joseph Fielding Smith. This pursuit led Sandra directly into correspondence with Joseph Fielding Smith, then Church Historian, concerning what she believed was the original, definitive record of Joseph Smith’s earliest spiritual experience.
Don’t miss our other conversations with Sandra: https://gospeltangents.com/people/sandra-tanner
Copyright © 2025
Gospel Tangents...
Shocking Truth: Murderers in Celestial Kingdom? Challenging Sandra Tanner’s Faith (2/6)
Will there be murderers in Celestial Kingdom? An Institute Teacher’s answer challenged Sandra Tanner’s faith back in the 1950s. We’ll talk about this unusual case and how it contributed to Sandra joining Pauline Hancock’s Basement Church (known as Church of Christ) in Independence Missouri. Check out our conversation…
Don’t miss our other conversations with Sandra: https://gospeltangents.com/people/sandra-tanner
Copyright © 2025
Gospel Tangents
All Rights Reserved
From Brigham Young Defender to Critic: Influences That Sparked Tanners’ Journey
The history of early Mormonism and its subseque...
Pioneers of Criticism: Sandra Tanner, Pauline Hancock, & Quest for the Original Church of Christ (1 of 5)
Before Stassi Cramm became the first woman to lead the Community of Christ, Pauline Hancock led the Church of Christ. Sandra Tanner was baptized in about 1960 into Pauline Hancock’s Church of Christ. We’ll discuss Pauline’s church, Sandra’s conversion and de-conversion, and more in this amazing conversation. Check it out!
Don’t miss our other conversations with Sandra: https://gospeltangents.com/people/sandra-tanner
Copyright © 2025
Gospel Tangents
All Rights Reserved
0:00 Updating Sandra Tanner
5:15 (In)Famous Sandra
9:39 Is Sandra Tanner Anti-Mormon?
12:05 Pauline Hancock’s Origins
24:48 H...
