Mormon History Podcast – Gospel Tangents – Mormon History Podcast

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 conversations with Sandra: https://gospeltangents.com/people/sandra-tanner

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Walters used his expertise in church history (specifically Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian records in the New York area) to investigate Joseph Smith’s claim that the First Vision was prompted by an intense local revival where ministers were fighting over converts.

Walters’ findings: the great revival and the subsequent fighting over converts among the denominations did not happen in 1820. Instead, significant church growth (hundreds of converts) occurred between 1823, 1824, and 1825. This discovery forced a complete recalibration of the chronology, as it meant the First Vision and the subsequent Moroni visits leading up to the plates could not logically fit the existing timeline.

Walters’ small pamphlet, New Light on Mormon Origins, caused such a disruption that it “threw the Mormon Church into a tizzy,” forcing LDS historians to travel back East to conduct their own major studies. Walters is credited by Sandra Tanner as being a key factor in pushing the LDS Church into serious historical scholarship.

While Walters’ dating research was shocking, his discovery of the 1826 trial documents cemented the crisis.

Pauline’s group, following David Whitmer, already accepted the story that Joseph Smith used a “rock” in his “hat” to translate the Book of Mormon, aligning with the “seer stone” narrative. However, the 1826 trial confirmed Joseph Smith’s involvement in money digging, associating the seer stone with divination and magic practices—the occult that the Christians in Pauline’s group firmly rejected.

The group found this connection irreconcilable:

The Church of Christ (Bible Book of Mormon), founded and led by Pauline Hancock, emerged as a unique splinter group focused on returning to what they believed was “1830 Mormonism”—a faith centered purely on the Bible and the Book of Mormon, devoid of later revelations (like the Doctrine and Covenants past 1830) and “Aaronic, Melchizedek Priesthood ideas”.

However, this small community, known for meeting in the “Basement church” in Independence, ultimately discovered that even their foundational scripture, the Book of Mormon, could not withstand intense historical scrutiny, leading to its dissolution years after Pauline Hancock’s death in 1962.

Faced with this overwhelming historical evidence, the Church of Christ had to make a choice regarding their “litmus test”—the Book of Mormon.

In 1972, approximately a decade after Pauline’s death (she died in the summer of 1962), the church took a formal vote on whether to retain the Book of Mormon as scripture.

The majority voted no, choosing to jettison the Book of Mormon.

The consequences were immediate:

The building, which had been the “Basement church,” was eventually purchased by another restoration group. Olive Wilcox, who led the group after Pauline, stated that she believed Pauline herself, had she lived to see the comprehensive research done by Walters, would also have chosen to give up the Book of Mormon.

What are your thoughts?

Don’t miss our other conversations with Sandra: https://gospeltangents.com/people/sandra-tanner

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Was Hugh Nibley wrong? Is global capitalism compatible with a Zion society? And when is a Latter-day Saint actually justified in defying a corrupt, oppressive government?

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First, Professor Oman challenges the popular anti-capitalist teachings of the legendary LDS scholar Hugh Nibley. While Nibley viewed commerce as being driven primarily by greed and pride, Oman argues for the 18th-century ideal of doux commerce (“sweet commerce”). He explains how the necessity of trade actually forces us to consider the needs of others and argues that markets have done more to alleviate global poverty than any other economic system. While acknowledging that the modern global economic order is not Zion, Oman points out that early Mormon revelations—such as those concerning the for-profit Nauvoo House—prove that commerce and markets will absolutely be a part of a Zion society. Then, the conversation pivots to the agonizing moral paradox of civil disobedience and the 12th Article of Faith.

Using the tragic story of Helmuth Hübener—a young Latter-day Saint who was excommunicated and executed by the Gestapo for distributing anti-Nazi pamphlets—Oman explores why the Church historically demands strict legal obedience to survive under hostile regimes. From the East German Stasi to Pinochet’s Chile, we explore the dangerous tightrope the Church must walk. Does strict obedience to the law risk moral complicity with dictators, or is it a necessary safeguard to protect a vulnerable church from being entirely suppressed? Oman argues that there are no easy answers when balancing the dangers of institutional complicity against the naive, potentially destructive consequences of grand individual defiance.

Be sure to check out Professor Nathan Oman’s extensive work on these topics in his two-volume set, Law and the Restoration, as well as his newest book from Oxford University Press, Living Oracles!

CHAPTERS

0:00 Taking on Hugh Nibley

9:13 Civil Disobedience (Hubener)

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Have you wondered what’s behind the energy in the polygamy revisionist movement? Are these the same as RLDS polygamy arguments? Back in 2010, Newell Bringhurst wrote a chapter in “Persistence of Polygamy” on the evolution of RLDS thinking on Joseph Smith’s polygamy, how it got forgotten, and recycled among a new generation of LDS members who weren’t aware of the previous history.

Are the modern arguments that Joseph Smith was a strict monogamist actually new? In this deep dive, we explore the “layered archive” of historical claims surrounding Joseph Smith’s polygamy, revealing that many of today’s “polygamy revisionist” arguments are actually recycled 19th-century RLDS positions.

The presentation breaks down the 150-year evolution of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now Community of Christ) through four distinct phases:

The Early Concessions (1852–1860): Contrary to popular belief, early leaders like William Marks and Isaac Sheen did not initially deny Joseph Smith’s involvement. Instead, they claimed he had been involved in “spiritual wifery” but recognized his error and repented shortly before his death in Carthage.

The Era of Absolute Denial (1860–1960): Under the leadership of Joseph Smith III, the strategy shifted toward establishing the absolute innocence of the founding prophet. This century-long “institutional mandate” framed D&C 132 as a “Brighamite forgery” and placed the blame for polygamy entirely on Brigham Young.

The Academic Shockwave (1960s–1980s): The “dam broke” when mid-century historians like Robert Flanders and Lawrence Foster published research that eroded the bedrock of the church’s denial. This led to a painful institutional reckoning, eventually forcing the church to acknowledge Joseph Smith’s foundational role in plural marriage.

The Modern Revisionist Resurgence: Today, a new wave of LDS members—facing their own faith crises—are adopting these older RLDS arguments to resolve cognitive dissonance regarding the prophet’s moral legacy.

Drawing on works like Newell Bringhurst’s The Persistence of Polygamy and Robert Flanders’ Nauvoo: Kingdom on the Mississippi, this presentation weighs revisionist claims against the preponderance of contemporaneous evidence. We also discuss the psychological toll of these shifting narratives and the ongoing battle to control the legacy of Joseph Smith.

Chapters

What do you do when your personal conscience clashes with official LDS Church positions? Why did the LDS Church transition from the fiery, anti-communist speeches of Ezra Taft Benson in the 1960s to the strict political neutrality we see today?

Oman is the author of 2 volumes of Law and the Restoration Volume 1 and Volume 2, from Greg Kofford Books.

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In this episode of Gospel Tangents, I sat down with Nathan Oman, law professor and author of Law and the Restoration, to explore the fascinating evolution of Mormon political theology and the realities of modern Church discipline.

We dive into the Church’s shift toward “quietism”—a strategy of withdrawing from global political conflict to focus on personal righteousness and international missionary work. Discover why praise for the U.S. Constitution has largely vanished from General Conference, replaced by an emphasis on the 12th Article of Faith and being an unthreatening, law-abiding citizen in international environments.

The conversation also tackles the complex tension between personal conscience and institutional authority. Oman explains the “epistemic advantage” of church doctrine and shares practical, ethical advice on how faithful members can navigate deep personal disagreements with the Church without undermining its global mission.

In this video, we cover:

Oman is the author of 2 volumes of Law and the Restoration Volume 1 and Volume 2, from Greg Kofford Books.

CHAPTERS

0:00 Taking on Hugh Nibley

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What case helped end polygamy in the LDS Church? What do a 19th-century Mormon polygamist, reality TV star Kody Brown, and the Native American religious use of peyote all have in common?

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In this fascinating episode of Gospel Tangents, host Rick Bennett sits down with Nathan Oman, law professor and author of Law and the Restoration, to unpack one of the most consequential Supreme Court cases in American history: the 1879 Reynolds v. United States decision. Oman is the author of 2 volumes of Law and the Restoration Volume 1 and Volume 2, from Greg Kofford Books.

We explore how this landmark ruling was the “big bang” that launched the federal government’s legal crusade against the Latter-day Saints, systematically crushing their legal options and ultimately forcing the 1890 Manifesto that ended plural marriage. But the impact of Reynolds didn’t stop in Utah!

Discover the shocking history of how the Reynolds decision was later used during the Spanish-American War to legally justify American imperialism, denying full constitutional rights to “conquered” peoples in the Philippines and Puerto Rico by comparing them to “barbaric” polygamist Mormons.

We also jump forward in time to discuss Sister Wives star Kody Brown’s famous lawsuit. Find out why his lower-court victory decriminalizing polygamy was thrown out by the 10th Circuit Court, and why modern prosecutors deliberately avoid bringing pure polygamy charges today just to keep the Supreme Court from having to officially answer if polygamy is actually unconstitutional. Finally, we dive into the unexpected crossover between Mormon polygamy and the Native American Church’s sacramental use of peyote.

In this video, we cover:

📚 Guest: Nathan Oman, law professor at William & Mary and author of Law and the Restoration.

Chapters

0:00 Federal Prosecution of Polygamy in Utah

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Why was Joseph Smith killed? Did early Mormons try to start their own independent country? And did you know 19th-century Mormon bishops literally served as civil judges?

In this episode of Gospel Tangents, host Rick Bennett sits down with Nathan Oman, law professor and author of Law and the Restoration, to uncover some of the most explosive and fascinating legal history of the Latter-day Saints. We dive deep into the unique world of 19th-century Mormon church courts, where bishops bypassed the traditional secular systems to build a harmonious Zion. Discover how these bishops handled financial disputes, strictly enforcing contracts for those who could pay, while actually helping poor and vulnerable members pay off their debts based on a highly “moralized vision” of equality. We also look into Joseph Smith and Brigham Young’s efforts to repay creditors following the Kirtland banking failure.

The episode also cracks open the secrets of the Council of 50. Learn about their aborted attempt to write an inspired constitution for the Kingdom of God—drafted by John Taylor, Parley P. Pratt, and Willard Richards—which was ultimately abandoned because it lacked the necessary legal detail to function. Oman explains the Council’s radical political maneuvers to move the Saints beyond U.S. borders into the Far West to carve out an independent nation, much like what had just happened in Texas. Finally, we explore the explosive “witch’s brew” of 1844 Illinois that ultimately led to Joseph Smith’s murder. Why was Joseph Smith killed? Why did the Nauvoo Expositor paint him as a “tyrant in waiting”?

Learn how critics used centuries-old Protestant tropes, which naturally linked claiming to be a prophet with Anabaptist history, polygamy, and sexual licentiousness, to create a recognizable villain out of Joseph Smith. In this video, we cover: Mormon Bishops acting as literal civil judges in monetary disputes. How church courts forgave debts and handled secular bankruptcies. The aftermath of the Kirtland Safety Society failure. The Council of 50’s secret, unfinished Constitution. Mormon plans to build an independent country outside U.S. borders. The Nauvoo Expositor, polygamy, and the political fears that got Joseph Smith killed.

📚 Guest: Nathan Oman, law professor at William & Mary and author of Law and the Restoration.

Oman is the author of 2 volumes of Law and the Restoration Volume 1 and Volume 2, from Greg Kofford Books.

CHAPTERS

0:00 Bishops Legal Courts

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Some call new LDS Prophet Dallin Oaks a prophet, seer, and litigator. We’ll see what Nathan Oman thinks of Dallin Oaks. Nathan is a legal historian at William and Mary University. He discusses how law has affected Latter-day Saints over the past 2 centuries. We’ll discuss Dallin Oaks perspectives on Joseph Smith’s martyrdom and polygamy up to modern polygamy cases, politics, and LGBT issues. Oman is the author of 2 volumes of Law and the Restoration Volume 1 and Volume 2, from Greg Kofford Books. Check out our conversation…

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CHAPTERS

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This presentation relies heavily on Michael Quinn‘s research in his book Origins of Power.

Don’t miss our other conversations on LDS Faith Journeys: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9pQpKe9CEk&list=PLLhI8GMw9sJ7WQNTJCyCO3U5D2fn7d0JF

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Here’s a throwback episode with a Counselor in First Presidency of the Remnant Church. Jim Vun Cannon was serving as a counselor in the First Presidency of the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at the time of this 2017 recording.

Don’t miss our other conversations on the Remnant Church: https://gospeltangents.com/denominations/remnant-church/

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If you aren’t familiar with this branch of the restoration, the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was formed around the year 2000 by former members of the RLDS Church (now Community of Christ). These members were sifting through the ashes of what felt like a “civil war” following controversial doctrinal shifts, specifically the pivotal 1984 revelation that allowed women to hold the priesthood. In this comprehensive interview, we cover a lot of ground. We discuss Jim’s fascinating journey of joining the Remnant Church in 2012 and being called to the First Presidency just five years later.

We also dive deep into the church’s unique theology, including their ongoing efforts to literally build the city of Zion in Jackson County, Missouri, how they interpret the Law of Consecration and the Order of Enoch today, and their strict belief that Joseph Smith was a monogamist. We also tackle tough questions surrounding DNA and the Book of Mormon and why they believe women will never hold the priesthood.

Now, I want to point out an important update to our viewer. Jim Vun Cannon is no longer in the First Presidency of the Remnant Church. Since this recording, he actually broke off to form a new group called the Everlasting Church of Jesus Christ in the Latter-day & is the president of that church. Keep that fascinating update in mind as you listen to his perspectives from his time in the Remnant Church leadership. Let’s dive into the full interview!

Don’t miss our other conversations on the Remnant Church: https://gospeltangents.com/denominations/remnant-church/

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0:00 Intro/Background

Community of Christ (CoC) President Stassi Cramm, the church’s first female prophet, addressed pointed questions regarding the role of the Book of Mormon, the pursuit of consensus and faithful disagreement, her prophetic vision for the church, and the ongoing debate over infant baptism.

Don’t miss our other conversations with Stassi: https://gospeltangents.com/people/stassi-cramm/

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President Cramm emphatically denied the accusation that the Community of Christ is “moving away from the Book of Mormon.”

Key points regarding the Book of Mormon’s status include:

Cramm emphasized that regardless of historical origins, the Book of Mormon contains important gospel lessons and “long-term stories” demonstrating the continuous cycle of reaching peace only to fall apart due to human tendencies like greed and power.

The discussion shifted to the contentious issue of baptism. The Community of Christ practices believer’s baptism for those 8 years or older. Historically, they accept baptism from other denominations only if the person was 8 or older when baptized.

Cramm shared her perspective on her new leadership role, which she entered at an older age than some predecessors.

When facing disagreements—such as those surrounding the acceptance of women in the priesthood or current theological issues—the principles of faithful disagreement ensure that people with differing opinions are not judged as unfaithful or immediately ostracized. Instead, they must cultivate Christlike love, which is a choice that requires respecting an opposing opinion even if it is not shared.

Don’t miss our other conversations with Stassi: https://gospeltangents.com/people/stassi-cramm/

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