My Book Of Mormon

The forces of a changing society continue to push on all sides.  Read along with us here Support the show here Reed Homes Empowering Homosexuals in the Church: A History of GALA

The first international apostle is called as the fundamentalist movement strengthens. Restoration Festivals, Inc is formed and subsequently silenced by the Q12.  Read along with us here Support the show here Read Steve Veazey's blog about his Asia tour Everett Graffeo Kenneth Robinson Steve Veazey's appeal for more tithing dollars 1970s energy crisis  

It's time for some context to the 1980 proto-schism in RLDS. The Epitome of Faith and Doctrine is exactly the same as the Articles of Faith, just rebranded.  Read along with us here Apostle's Creed

W. Wallace Smith officially retires, Wallace B. Smith takes over. It goes smoothly, except for the 15%-25% of the congregation who Does Not Believe. Or more it's that they believe in the fundamentals and their new progressive leader.  Read along with us here  Read about the presidency of Wallace B Smith here Listen to the patron-exclusive bonus episode here  

In a shocking turn of events, W. Wallace Smith decides to retire rather than remain prophet-president until death. He nominates his son, Wallace Bunnell Anthony Smith, as successor.  Read along with us here GCR 564 Graceland College Book of Knowledge    

Sweeping changes have been made in core beliefs and how the church teaches theology to the children. Naturally, this revelation mentions literally none of that. Read along with us here Support the show here Roy Cheville Pax Mondial Temple School Paul Booth

God wants the Saints to build a temple, which is problematic since RLDS doesn't own the land where temple should be built. Can they resurrect and old agreement that would allow them to slide right into that plot of land?  Read along with us here Support the show here Journal of Mormon History Cuyahoga River  

God is so great that his words require clarification in not only a supplemental revelation, but also for months and months in the official church newspaper. Read along with us here

Oh snap, it's a revelation so groundbreaking that god had to make this a two-parter! What's a surplus? Are the bishops the bad guys? Will the temple be used for... anything? No idea!  Read along with us here Differing Visions: Dissenters in Mormon History Ruby Irene Jones, total badass  

The Statement on Objections rocks the church to its core, so naturally the revelation regarding personnel changes is what's in the D&C.    Read along with us here Support the show here F. Henry Edwards Duane Couey Aleah Koury  

The church shifts its focus from cultural anecdata from the past to hard truths for the future. Cracks in the church foundation begin to appear. Read along with us here Support the show here Cecil B Ettinger The Conference of Restored Elders Duane Couey Arthur Oakman Russell Ralston William Timms  

Pres. W. Wallace Smith flexes his prophetic muscles by doing a ton of staffing changes. On the surface, nothing is changing. In reality, he's setting up the church to do things like include non-white members in their leadership.    All the Links Read along with us here Maurice Draper Roy Cheville Charles Neff Outreach International The splinter group that broke off circa 2005 Comments on Clifford Cole  

It's the end of an era as President Israel "Dutch" Smith passes away in a car crash. President W. Wallace Smith is named successor, which makes sense since he's essentially been acting president for a solid six years.  Read along with us here Historical Amnesia: Corporate Identity and Collective Memory Nauvoo in the 1960s  

Prophet-President Israel "Dutch" Smith starts making tours of the Pacific and Europe to meet the members of his church. Or, from another perspective, he uses the church as an excuse to travel, get fancy gadgets installed on his car, and watch baseball. It's all a matter of perspective.   Read along with us here Support the show here John Garver Gentle Monarch, by Norma Derry Hiles

Israel "Dutch" Smith spends his first years of his presidency at his wife's bedside, with breaks to write correspondence and delegate decisions to F. Henry Edwards, his nephew-in-law.  All the Links Support the show here Read along with us here Roscoe Davey Maurice L Draper Reed Holmes A Gentle Monarch

The post-WWII era ushers in an era of economic growth for the church, and a grumpy Fred M., a prophet who failed to write down his succession plan. Israel "Dutch" Smith becomes prophet-president, soon thereafter giving his first revelation.  All the Links John Garver Frank Henry Edwards Fred M.'s funeral bulletin

The revelation is just another staffing change from Fred M. The reality is that nobody likes him and his closest confidantes are quitting. Somehow, despite a lifetime of being treated as Lesser, little brother Israel A. Smith steps in to start the process in becoming the next prophet-president. All the Links Read along with us here L.F.P. Curry Gentle Monarch: The Presidency of Israel A. Smith Bonus Episode - Russell M. Nelson tells us the November policy was motivated by love. He's wrong.

Fred. M's vision of a literal, physical Zion slips even further from his grasp. Church membership is falling, money is tighter than tight, and WWII is just around the corner.  All the Links Read along with us here Support the show here 1933 Saints Herald 1937 Saints Herald C. George Mesley Arthur Oakman Charles Hield Mr. Hield looks pretty fly      

Fred M. has gained complete control of the Church, for both good and bad. Great strides are made in the quest for a physical Zion on earth! And he completely misses how overspent the coffers are, and then a Great Depression wipes out what little resources were left.  All The Links Read along with us here Supreme Directional Control F. Henry Edwards The Graceland College Book of Knowledge, by David Goehner

Brother McGuire stages a coup, sort of, with the help of immense amounts of bureaucracy. Fred M. is temporarily ousted from The Saints Herald, only to regain power at the expense of his younger brother, Israel.    Read along with us here Historical Amnesia: Corporate Identity and Collective Memory General Conference Resolutions