Mormon History Podcast – Gospel Tangents – Mormon History Podcast

Dan Vogel Unlocks Book of Abraham

#1114

12/22/2025

Historian Dan Vogel breaks down the complex history of the Book of Abraham, beginning with the 1835 purchase of Egyptian mummies in Kirtland, Ohio. Rather than seeing the Kirtland Egyptian Papers as a failed attempt by scribes to understand Egyptian, Vogel argues they were Joseph Smith’s own working papers. He demonstrates how Smith used these documents to “brainstorm” a new theological framework, allowing him to introduce doctrines like the priesthood ban and the plurality of gods under the guise of an ancient text. This is a replay of my 2019 interview with Dan.

Don’t miss our other conversa...

Strangite Priesthood-Beaver Island Preview Gary Weber (5 of 6)

#1072

12/19/2025

Recently, I had the fascinating opportunity to delve into the beliefs practices, and Strangite priesthood views with Gary Weber of the Strangite Church, a lesser-known branch of Mormonism. This discussion sheds light on many intriguing aspects of their faith, highlighting both commonalities and distinct differences from the more widely known LDS (Latter-day Saint) Church.

Understanding Strangite Priesthood: A Core Difference

One of the most significant distinctions discussed was the Strangite understanding of the priesthood and its associated “keys.” While the Melchizedek priesthood holds specific keys related to office, it does not encompass all keys. According to G...

How Interracial Marriage Fueled the LDS Priesthood Ban 1847-1852 (Rick B)

#1111

12/16/2025

Interracial Marriage is critical to the reasons for a priesthood/temple ban on black LDS Church members. For many years, the official position of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) was that “it is not known precisely why, how, or when this restriction [on the priesthood for male members of African descent] began in the church.” However, historical research utilizing early records suggests that the origins of the ban are quite specific, pointing to a confluence of events involving race and interracial sexual relations (often called “amalgamation” or “miscegenation” at the time) that served as the primary cata...

*Blacks, Women & Priesthood in LeBaronism (Jacob Vidrine 13 of 13)

#1110

12/15/2025

Can women hold priesthood in LeBaron Mormon fundamentalism? Jacob Vidrine from Church of the Firstborn surprised me with his answer about women & priesthood! We also finish our conversation about the race ban in Brigham Young & Joseph Smith’s time. Check out our conversation, but it is only available to newsletter subscribers. Sign up at https://gospeltangents.com/newsletter!

Don’t miss our other conversations with Jacob: https://gospeltangents.com/people/jacob-vidrine

Gospel Tangents

Nuance in the Priesthood Ban

The discussion explores the often-simplified views...

Christmas Special! When Was Christ Born? (Rick B)

#1112

12/15/2025

When was Christ born? I held a livestream to tackle some of the most enduring mysteries surrounding the Christmas story, diving deep into scholarly debates concerning the timing of Christ’s birth, the nature of the Star of Bethlehem, and the identity and traditions surrounding the Wise Men. The discussion also included a giveaway of a free copy of Sand Tanner’s book, Lighthouse, authored by Ronald Huggins.

Don’t miss our other conversations about Christmas: https://gospeltangents.com/lds_theology/christmas/

Gospel Tangents

The Great D...

Why Mormon Fundamentalists Restrict Blacks (Jacob Vidrine 12 of 13)

#1109

12/13/2025

Many Mormon fundamentalists restrict blacks from joining despite the 1978 revelation that allowed black men to hold the priesthood. This is considered a landmark moment in LDS history, but many in Mormon fundamentalists believe this 1978 revelation marked the moment the mainstream Church lost its essential authority. This theological break, rooted in Brigham Young’s fiery declarations about race and priesthood lineage, is why most fundamentalist groups reject modern LDS temple work.

Don’t miss our other conversations with Jacob: https://gospeltangents.com/people/jacob-vidrine

Gospel Tangents

Why Bl...

From Adam-God to Adoption: Jacob Vidrine’s Discovery of Polygamy, Rebaptism, & LeBaronism (11 of 13)

#1108

12/10/2025

The path to LeBaronism began when the speaker gained a testimony of the Adam-God doctrine, then accepted principles like rebaptism, eventually leading to a testimony of the Law of Adoption and connection with the Church of the Firstborn.

Don’t miss our other conversations with Jacob: https://gospeltangents.com/people/jacob-vidrine

Gospel Tangents

How LeBaron Group Practices Temple Work Without a Temple

The quest for pure priesthood authority and the full restoration of doctrines—from Adam-God to the Law of Adoption—led one believer...

Notorious Polygamist: Tom Green’s TV Family, Child Polygamy, & Utah Prosecution (Jacob Vidrine 10 of 13)

#1107

12/07/2025

Tom Green gained notoriety for appearing on television with his plural family, which led to Utah prosecuting him after discovering one wife was “very underage,” resulting in his conviction for child polygamy and welfare fraud, or child rape according to one account, and a prison sentence

Don’t miss our other conversations with Jacob: https://gospeltangents.com/people/jacob-vidrine

Gospel Tangents

Tom Green: Polygamy, Prison, & Quest for Community

Tom Green, a controversial figure in Mormon fundamentalism, was a key claimant to the succession of Ross...