My Book Of Mormon

There's so much controversy that we just don't have anything harmonious, except a tiny little background clause in membership transfer that we'll care about in 1925. Right now it's 1922-1924, and Fred M's leadership is tanking the church. Membership? Money? Happiness? It's bad news bears. Let's yell about it at general conference!!   Read along with us here Historical Amnesia: Corporate Identity and Collective Memory Support the show on Patreon  

Fred M becomes the prophet, and immediately things go awry. He micromanages, he gives his wife biological specimens, he throws down during general conference. It's the first of six controversies!!!!   All the Links Patron Bonus - Sunstone 2019 Read along with us here NPR article about surgery on a boat Historical Amnesia : Corporate Identity and Collective Memory, the doctoral dissertation by Dr. Kenneth Mulliken Rubber suits during baptism  

An era comes to a close as the son of the prophet passes away of old age. Let's recap his life and read his final revelation. Suspicious that his final words from God sound a lot like everything Fred M. wants, eh?   Read along with us here Lyman Wight's recollection of Joseph Smith Jr passing the torch to his son Support the show on Patreon  

Prophet Emeritus Joseph Smith III suddenly sounds an awful lot like his son, Fred M. It's shocking how much the divine will of god aligns with the mortal will of Fred M. This does not bode well.   All the Links Read along with us here Isaac White J.W. Wight Joseph R Lambert Wiliam M Aylor "The Apostolic Office", by Paul Hanson  

R. C. Evans is ousted from the presidency and he is NOT happy about it. He's replaced with "just another Smith".   All The Links Section 129 Pretender to the Throne: R.  C. Evans and the Problem of Presidential Succession Bertha Madison Smith Roger Launius, NASA historian Elbert A. Smith (a grandson) J.F. Curtis

Fred M.'s influence grows ever stronger. The church is (slowly and thoughtfully) on the move from rural everywhere to Independence, MO. Saints are advised to migrate only after they've secured a job and housing, and to integrate kindly with their neighbors.    All The Links Read along with us here Mormon Extermination Order The Stone Church (historical) The Stone Church (today)

The church is in transition from the founders to the next generation. Fred M is named the successor to JS 3.0, money isn't enough for all the things, and are children or old people more important? Discuss.   All the links Read along with us here Health Ministries in the RLDS Church Independence Sanatorium Ennovation Center Mite to Bishop Emma Burton is a Queen (her husband's biography)

Joseph Smith III has a vision. Happily, it streamlines responsibilities within the church and nominates people to leadership positions. It's official canon... but not everyone believed so at the time.   All the Links Read along with us here Support the show on Patreon List of the Presiding Patriarchs Richard P Howard James Caffall Edmund C Briggs R.C. Evans Francis Sheehy Cornelius Butterworth John Rushton  

It's 1901, and the differences between RLDS and LDS are big enough to warrant a full-on comparison. What does the two factions believe? How does the afterlife work? Which is the One True Church?   All the Links Support the show at Patreon Community of Christ (formerly RLDS) vs LDS

The church is at a turning point. Should their money go to the newly-begun Graceland College? What about strengthening their existing membership? Missionary work?  Joseph 3.0 solves it all by taking a turn from Common Consent to Divine Revelation, but in a nice way, not an authoritarian dictator sort of way.   All the Links Read along with us here Gomer T Griffiths History of Graceland Patron Bonus Ep

The Q12 is being fully filled, not just on paper, but in reality. Sure, we could focus on the formality and the procedure. Nope! There's human drama all over the place. Much for fun to focus on that.   All the Links Read along with us here. Presiding Patriarchs E. L. Kelley William W. Blair William H Kelley Isaac White J. W. Wight R. C. Evans    

Be nice to each other!!! For real, just be nice. All this administrative stuff is important, and boring.   All the Links Read along with us Support the show at Patreon.com/MyBookofMormonPodcast Temple Lot Case Thomas W Smith Joseph Bazalgette, the sewer architect The Great Stink    

On the surface, this is all some administration and encouragement for unity and peace. Just underneath, two members of the Q12 flounce away while Joseph Smith 3.0's younger brother, David, is committed to a hospital for the insane.    All the Links David H. Smith, the youngest son of the Prophet and Emma From Mission to Madness: Last Son of the Mormon Prophet, by Valeen Tippetts Avery The Sweet Singer of Israel, Deseret News Northern Illinois Hospital for the Insane The Temple Lot Court Case(s) Support the show at Patreon.com/MyBookofMormonPodcast

Sometimes you just have to write out the boring church policies. Slog through it with us. Please? It's real boring, but we're interesting. Promise. Oh god, go get a drink and chug.   All The Links Read along with us Alexander H Smith

The RLDS drama is so small in comparison to the Brighamite LDS shenanigans of polygamy/theocracy. A few of the leadership flounce away, basically peacefully, a few others pass away. JS 3.0 gently chides the Saints in matters of ceremony.    All the Links Support the show at Patreon.com/MyBookofMormonPodcast Wikipedia on The Quorum of the Twelves Apostles Read about Gurley Jr's snit with JS 3.0  RIP, Josiah Ells  

The church is a bit too scattered, consensus isn't quite where it needs to be. JSIII calls his flock back together. Time to solidify the base.   All the Links JSIII and the Kirtland Temple Lawsuit And the article about that lawsuit is here Community of Christ, An Illustrated History   Support the show at Patreon.com/MyBookofMormonPodcast Read Community of Christ 118 here

RLDS struggles with how to maintain a foundation in Joseph Smith while also distinguishing themselves from Joseph Smith's actions.    All the Links Council of the 12 Apostles The Changing RLDS Reponse to Mormon Polygamy Daniel B Rasey The Oshkosh Northwestern History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint: 1844-1872   Support the show at Patreon.com/MyBookofMormonPodcast Read along with us, CC 117  

William Marks is called to the presidency. Joseph Smith III ceases to discriminate against "the Negro race" by instituting a separate but equal clause.    Listen to Marie's work wife point out the obvious racism by supporting the show at Patreon.com/MyBookofMormonPodcast   All the Links Emancipation Proclamation  William Marks Jim Tankersley interview on Pres. Buchanan  

Drink every time Bryce says "Different!" Joseph Smith III offers his leadership to the newly-founded RLDS church, and immediately differentiates himself from his father and particularly from Brigham Young. The initial revelation sets up a system of tithing. All The Links Read along with us here. Joseph Smith III acceptance speech is here. Support the show at Patreon.com/MyBookofMormonPodcast

Historian John Hamer of the Community of Christ joins Bryce to talk about the Schism Crisis. Joseph Smith's assassination left a power void, one that Brigham Young filled for the saints who moved to Utah. The ones who stayed reorganized under Joseph Smith, III on April 6, 1860.   All the Links John C. Hamer's wikipedia page The Perils of Occam's Razor Support the show at Patreon.com/MyBookofMormonPodcast