Naked Mormonism Podcast

On this episode, Joseph Smith’s presidential campaign is ramping up! Jo nominates James Arlington Bennet for his Vice-Presidential candidate, White-out Willard Richards drafts a letter to Bennet, notice is printed in the Nauvoo Neighbor, and a retraction is published the following week. A special conference is called to preach to 8,000 Mormons about politics, the campaign, and the Mormon expansionist agenda. Jo picks a few of his dissenters out of the crowd and grand-stands about them being enemies, preaching about how he will “use up” those who oppose the mission of the church. Construction on the Nauvoo Temple and tithing are emphasized. Bloody Brigham Young makes a speech about not filing legal complaints when wrongs are committed against you. An exploratory group is formed and armed to the teeth to venture into the wilds of Texas and Oregon for the next Mormon settlement and staging ground. A “Hint” is sent to Missouri and the Missourians in St. Louis start to get uneasy about a President Joseph Smith. Li

On this episode, we discuss the continued growing tensions between the Mormon and non-Mormon settlements in Illinois in early 1844. The Nauvoo City Council renews its effort to get an ordinance passed through the state legislature from Dec. 1843 which claimed Nauvoo to be a sovereign territory as well as the Nauvoo Legion to be a federally-recognized militia. How did they work to lobby this through the State legislature? By harping on the same persecution narrative resulting from the 1838 Missouri-Mormon conflict. This dead horse keeps on giving. Eventually, Governor Thomas Ford steps in to try and cool things down. The unsatisfied Warsaw Signal prints his letter with their commentary and Jo prints a concession in the Nauvoo Neighbor. Thomas Ford’s History of Illinois (1854) reflects on this complicated time when Jo decided to run for POTUS. Links: Warsaw Signal archives: http://warsaw.advantage-preservation.com/search?t=30053&i=t&bcn=1&m=between Thomas Ford’s letter (14 Feb 1844) http://www.sidn

On this episode, we sit down with Don Bradley, author of a recently-released book covering what we know about the lost 116 pages of the Book of Mormon. Don has been researching this topic for the last 15 years and writing about it for the last 2; now his research is compiled into his book “The Lost 116 Pages”. What can we know about a manuscript which as been lost for nearly 2 centuries? What sources has Don used to inform his speculation of the contents of that manuscript? What missing puzzle pieces of the Book of Mormon could be filled by the manuscript? Find out the answer to hardly any of these questions by listening to our discussion, but find out the answer to all of these questions by purchasing his book! We spend very little time discussing the actual content of the book, instead focusing more heavily on Joseph Smith and the world view which allowed him to write the 116 pages and the Book of Mormon. Purchase here: https://www.amazon.com/Lost-116-Pages-Reconstructing-Mormons/dp/158958760X/ref=sr_1_1?k

On this episode, we spend a bit of time familiarizing ourselves with one of the most powerful people in Mormon history. Few people left behind so much material to work with as Eliza R. Snow and her poems, written throughout her life, reveal a level of character development seldom seen through any other set of documents. We get a sense for her perspectives on religion, social issues, polygamy, the plight of the Native American, and Christian Zionism. When taken as a whole, Eliza’s lexicon charts the progression of humanity through Mormon history better than nearly any other source. Go support Vulgarity For Charity by donating to Modest Needs and sending in your receipt! https://www.modestneeds.org/ vulgarityforcharity@gmail.com Eliza R. Snow’s Poetic Lexicon https://erslexicon.wordpress.com/poems-11-15/ Laurel Thatcher Ulrich’s newest book A House Full of Females https://www.amazon.com/House-Full-Females-Mormonism-1835-1870-ebook/dp/B01FPH2N0M Show links:                                                      

On this episode, times are tough in Nauvoo. From fights against the anti-Mormons in Carthage to financial strain pressuring everybody in the Kingdom on the Mississippi, Mormon leadership is looking for possible solutions to increasing debt crushing Jo and the whole community. They decided the Nauvoo Temple was the most financially viable solution to return initial investment causes, which pushed all other city projects back years. Joseph Smith decides to call on the Green Mountain Boys militia to help the Nauvoo Legion in a campaign to make Missouri answer for her crimes. Check out the Smith-entheogen paper in Journal of Psychedelic Studies here: https://www.academia.edu/40786304/The_entheogenic_origins_of_Mormonism_A_working_hypothesis Links: Letter to Green Mountain Boys http://www.sidneyrigdon.com/dbroadhu/IL/sign1844.htm Yelrom settlement http://mormonhistoricsites.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/NJ11.1_Historic-Sites.pdf Isaac Morley https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/person/isaac-morley Show links:     

On this episode, a fight breaks out between the Carthaginians and the Mormons of Nauvoo. Olive Amanda Smith Fullmer filed an affidavit charging her partner, Milton Cook, with bastardy (abandonment) and the Mormon Sheriff, Horace Eldridge, is granted a warrant for Cook’s arrest. When Eldridge arrives in Carthage, he’s confronted by the citizens and unable to serve the warrant. He returns to Nauvoo and gathers a posse of Nauvoo Legionnaires, including Stephen Markham, to descend on Carthage and affect the arrest once and for all. The ensuing confrontation creates chaos and pandemonium and the local media outlets battle it out in print for determining what actually happened. Check out the updated Smith-entheogen theory paper here! https://www.academia.edu/40786304/The_entheogenic_origins_of_Mormonism_A_working_hypothesis https://akademiai.com/doi/full/10.1556/2054.2019.020 Links: Olive Amanda Fullmer Smith https://www.geni.com/people/Olive-Fullmer/6000000002404621131 Milton Cook https://www.geni.com/people/Mil

On this episode, we discuss William Marks, his importance to our timeline, and a special council called to determine how loyal he was to the prophet. Just like last week, some had entertained thoughts that there was a Brutus in the highest rings of Mormon leadership waiting to backstab the prophet when his back was turned. William Marks is called in and various church officials testify about secret oaths and plots in the dark alleys of Nauvoo. Some police officers camp outside Marks’s home waiting to cut him off when the time was right. Jo plays dumb and everybody goes home for want of candles. Show links:                                                                                                                                                              Website http://nakedmormonismpodcast.com Twitter @NakedMormonism Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Naked-Mormonism/370003839816311 Patreon http://patreon.com/nakedmormonism Music by Jason Comeau http://aloststateofmind.com/ Show Artwork http:/

On this episode, we discuss the Nauvoo Police Force and the perpetuation of the Danite system of law. Joseph Smith was afraid there may be a Judas or Brutus in the ranks of Mormon leadership and pointed the finger at William Law. Law becomes the focus of an assassination attempt, which he became aware of through a Danite who didn’t keep his mouth shut. An inquisition is held to determine if William Law is the “dough-headed” traitor in the ranks while spiritual wifery and Daniteism are discussed openly behind the closed door. How will William Brutus Marks fair in his tribunal? Tune in next week to find out! Links: An Interview with William Law https://www.mrm.org/law-interview The Culture of Violence in Joseph Smith’s Mormonism by D. Michael Quinn https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/the-culture-of-violence-in-joseph-smiths-mormonism-part-iii/ Nauvoo Expositor https://archive.org/stream/NauvooExpositor1844Replica/Nauvoo_Expositor_1844_replica_djvu.txt Show links:                                                  

On this episode, we dive into a strange occurrence in early 1844. By the last year of his ministry, Joseph Smith had designated half a dozen people to be his rightful successors in his absence or in the case of his death. But, in early 1844, it was finally time for Joseph Smith III (Jo 3.0) to receive his ordination as rightful heir to the Mormon mantle. We discuss when it happened, a bunch of other succession instructions (as well as when and why they were given), and finally discuss the text of the actual Jo 3.0 succession blessing which was “discovered” by Mark Hofmann in 1981. The letter was a forgery, but the RLDS still have the most solid ground for rightful succession. If you disagree, fight me in the comments about it! Links: Mormon Enigma by Linda King Newell and Valeen Tippetts Avery https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/596364.Mormon_Enigma Lecture on Faith #2 http://lecturesonfaith.com/2/ The Mormon Succession Crisis of 1844 by D. Michael Quinn https://byustudies.byu.edu/content/mormon-succession

On this episode, we air a presentation given for the John Whitmer Historical Association conference on psychedelics in early Mormonism. If my inbox is any indicator, many of you have been waiting on the newest research related to the Smith-entheogen theory; the wait is over. This presentation focuses specifically on the likely presence of the nightshade family of plants in Mormonism within the 19th-century medicinal and occult context. If this presentation isn’t enough, consider listening to the Patreon-exclusive edition which is nearly 3 hours’ worth of extended research used to create the presentation, along with a few stories from the conference itself and some audience reactions. That’s my way of saying ‘thank you!’ to our financial supporters who made this research and attending the JWHA conference possible! Next week we’ll jump back into our historical timeline. Sign up here and join the ranks of the NaMo family! http://patreon.com/nakedmormonism Show links:                                              

On this episode, we resume our conversation with Philippa Meek, a research fellow at Exeter University specializing in Mormon polygamy studies. What would it take to decriminalize or legalize polygamy? Is this the best option? Philippa makes the case that plural marriage will be the next social justice issue and it’s only a matter of time before it is legal and considered socially acceptable by presenting survey data and legal precedent in other sexual and family dynamic issues from the 20th and 21st centuries.   Come to the March for the Children!!!March for the Children Oct. 5, 2019https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07eg6v5ed1df906027&oseq=&c=&ch= https://protecteverychild.com/ How to find Philippa Meek@philippajmeek https://exeter.academia.edu/PhilippaJulietMeek Show linksWebsite http://nakedmormonismpodcast.com Twitter @NakedMormonismFacebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Naked-Mormonism/370003839816311 Patreon http://patreon.com/nakedmormonism Music by Jason Com

On this episode, we take a break from our historical timeline to bring you a special guest. Philippa Meek is a research fellow at Exeter University specializing in polygamous religious sects. Part one of our discussion walks us through the controversial and intense history of early Mormon polygamy in Nauvoo and Utah. Then we dive into the legal issues surrounding the Utah Mormons and how the federal government passed numerous acts to specifically target Mormon polygamy, as well as the Mormon response to this increased pressure. Tune in next week to hear about navigating the legal sphere of legalizing polygamy!   Come to the March for the Children!!!March for the Children Oct. 5, 2019https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07eg6v5ed1df906027&oseq=&c=&ch= https://protecteverychild.com/ How to find Philippa Meek@philippajmeek https://exeter.academia.edu/PhilippaJulietMeek Show linksWebsite http://nakedmormonismpodcast.com Twitter @NakedMormonismFacebook https://www.facebook.c

On this episode, we check in with Emma and her slipping grasp on power. She kicks out of the Nauvoo Mansion the Partridge sisters, the Lawrence sisters, and Jane Manning James to hopefully cut down on the rumors circulating the city. Orsimus F. Bostwick files a public complaint against Hyrum Sidekick-Abiff Smith and claims “half a bushel of meal” will get him any prostitute he wants in Nauvoo. An anonymous poem is published about Celestial Marriage. W. W. Phelps responds with “The Voice of Innocence from Nauvoo” and it’s read to the first meeting of the Relief Society of 1844. Emma chastises her counselors telling them to keep an eye on their daughters. Links: Come to the March for the Children!!! March for the Children Oct. 5, 2019 https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07eg6v5ed1df906027&oseq=&c=&ch= https://protecteverychild.com/ If the sales pitch at the end hit ya in the brain and feels, please consider supporting the show here http://patreon.com/nakedmormonism The

On this episode, we tap into over a dozen news articles to get a finger on the pulse of 1844 America when it came to the Mormons. People across the nation loved to read headlines about the Mormons and papers with those headlines sold like hotcakes. Newspapers ramped up the headlines to sell more copies, which, in turn, made everybody even more frenzied about the deluded religious fanatics that were going to take over the country. A new scandal breaks and Jo deflects everybody’s attention by calling out John C. Calhoun on his complacency toward the plight of the Mormons. Links: Newspaper articles featured: https://www.newspapers.com/image/395996318/?terms=mormon%2Bmurder https://www.newspapers.com/image/466587498/?terms=mormon https://www.newspapers.com/image/465170931/ https://www.newspapers.com/image/325594764/?terms=mormon https://www.newspapers.com/image/394606828/?terms=mormon https://www.newspapers.com/image/186572158/?terms=mormon https://www.newspapers.com/image/392172886/?terms=mormon https://

On this episode, we begin with discussing the arrest and extradition to Missouri of Mormon horse-thief Daniel Avery. He suffers for 2 weeks in a Missouri jail and is let off on a writ of habeas corpus to return to Nauvoo and swear out an affidavit detailing what happened. The Anti-Mormon political party becomes more aggressive in its opposition to Mormon political power and the Nauvoo City Council responds with enacting an ordinance which would allow them to arrest any officer of the law attempting to arrest a Mormon and throw them in prison for life. The Anti-Mormon party reacts in outrage and drafts their own resolution to run any Mormons out of Carthage and Warsaw, as well as send a copy of the new Nauvoo ordinance to the Governors of Missouri and Illinois. We wrap the episode with briefly discussing last week’s episode and some listener mail. Links: Carthage Conspiracy https://books.google.com/books?id=18HuCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA59&lpg=PA59&dq=daniel+avery+mormon&source=bl&ots=Y471RQm6W4&s

Joseph Smith is granted 100,000 soldiers as part of his private militia, gets elected President of the United States, and his Council of Fifty manages war on 2 fronts with the Confederate South and Texas-Mexico border while General Smith wages a conquest covering over a million square miles. He returns to Washington D.C. in 1848 to take his office as Prophet, Priest, King, and Ruler (PPKR) of the nation of Zion. Show links:                                                                                                                                        Website http://nakedmormonismpodcast.com Twitter @NakedMormonism Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Naked-Mormonism/370003839816311 Patreon http://patreon.com/nakedmormonism Music by Jason Comeau http://aloststateofmind.com/ Show Artwork http://weirdmormonshit.com/ Legal Counsel http://patorrez.com/

On this episode, we dive into part 2 of our discussion of the Council of Fifty. What was it used for? Why was it convened? What transpired in the closed-door meetings? What documents do we have and how did they come to us? This episode is divided into 3 parts to help break down what we know about the Council of Fifty. 1) Conception; how did it come to be, what are the roots of this Council being formed, what’s the doctrinal basis for it? 2) Conjugation; the complete and total intercourse between church and state to accomplish a singular theocratic goal. 3) Conglomeration; the result of dozens leading thousands within a complex theology to one single goal, complete and absolute Mormon tyranny. Links: Church article on Seer Stones https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/seer-stones?lang=eng Council of Fifty minutes https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/council-of-fifty-minutes-march-1844-january-1846-volume-1-10-march-1844-1-march-1845/389#full-transcript Council of Fifty MormonThin

On this episode, we begin our deep-dive series into the Council of Fifty. Joseph Smith’s theocracy required organizational structure; the Council of Fifty is how he planned on implementing it. William Clayton was called as scribe for the Council and we discuss his life and role in early Mormonism. Clayton’s journals have been a source of controversy and clandestine institutional secrecy for over a century and a half. We dive into why that is, the journals he kept, and the inner-workings of the controversy. This episode is a classic Naked Mormonism deep-dive and the length was required to do the issue proper justice. We have a quick guest appearance from Sandra Tanner to discuss the lawsuit filed by Andrew Ehat in the early 1980s. Links: Council of Fifty Minutes https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/council-of-fifty-minutes-march-1844-january-1846-volume-1-10-march-1844-1-march-1845/389#full-transcript Council of Fifty Minutes press release https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/church/news/council-of

On this episode, we take a break from our historical timeline to bring you a very exciting interview with Jana Riess and Benjamin Knoll. Jana Riess is the author of the book “The Next Mormons” and Benjamin Knoll is the data scientist who helped create the survey an interpret the data which underlies the book. We discuss a chapter-by-chapter Q&A about the book and explore ways to interpret the data, as well as how it was interpreted for publication in the book itself. On a personal note, this book comes very highly recommended and if you’ve heard anything about the book I can almost guarantee it’s been a good review because The Next Mormons is one of the most important books of the 2010s. It’s my sincere hope that after listening to this interview you get a copy for yourself. Enjoy! Where to find The Next Mormons https://www.benchmarkbooks.com/evening-with-an-author-jana-riess-the-next-mormons-tues-mar-5/ Jana Riess contact and bio page https://janariess.com/ Benjamin Knoll contact and bio page https://ww

On this episode, we read Jo’s POTUS campaign pamphlet. On Jan. 29, 1844, JS was nominated for President of the United States. What immediately followed was his calling for various church leaders to canvass high population areas to electioneer and commissioning William W. Phelps to write out his campaign platform. We read it top to bottom and discuss the historical importance and context for each paragraph. After that we’re joined by Mary and Shelly of Latter-day Lesbian Podcast to talk about their show and do a FUMPOTD. Check out their show in the links below. Also, if you’re in the SLC area or are going to Sunstone Symposium this weekend, come hang out at Club 90 this Friday 8/2/19! (link below) JS 1844 Presidential Campaign Pamphlet https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/transcript/general-smiths-views-of-the-powers-and-policy-of-the-government-of-the-united-states-7-february-1844?print=true Latter-day Lesbian Podcast https://latterdaylesbian.org/index.html SUNSTONE SYMPOSIUM https://www.sunstonemagazine.com/2