Saints Podcast

Joining us this week is Emily Utt, a curator in the Church History Department, and James Goldberg, a writer and historian. In this episode we explore the exodus of Latter-day Saints from the Ottoman Empire to Aleppo and the trials they faced while fleeing danger. We then zip across to Cardston, Canada, to analyze the construction and dedication of the first temple outside of the United States of America.

In this episode we discuss church leaders adjusting to life after the war. Melanie Riwai-Couch, the Pacific Area Church History Manager for the Church History Department, and Jed Woodworth, the managing historian of the Saints project. We discuss Heber J. Grant's ascent as president of the church and the church in Pacific when Elder David O. McKay visits as part of his world tour.

George Tate, an emeritus professor of Humanities and Comparative Literature at Brigham Young University, and Jonathan Stapely, a historian and scientist, join the podcast this week to discuss section 138 of the Doctrine and Covenants and the circumstances around the revelation. We also explore the hardships that President Joseph F. Smith experienced in the final years of his life.

How did Latter-day Saints respond to the First World War? Edgar Wolferts, grandson of Paul Schwarz, joins us to discuss this question and to share his family's experiences of the war in their native Germany.

In this week's chapter we read about the outbreak of the First World War and the ongoing Mexican Revolution. Joining us today is Elder Hugo Montoya, a General Authority Seventy and a counsellor in the South America Northwest Area Presidency. Elder Montoya is a descendant of Rafael Monroy and he shares his family's experiences and perspectives on the revolution. Please note this episode contains some distressing material.

Kate Holbrook, a managing historian in the Church History Department, and Steve Harper, a professor of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University, join us to discuss the life of Alma Richards, his accomplishments at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, and the role of the Word of Wisdom in the lives of Latter-day Saints.

Jed Woodworth is the managing historian of the Saints project. In today's episode Jed shares insights into the issues surrounding post-manifesto marriage and the public's opinion of the Church in the early twentieth century.

The erection of the Joseph Smith Memorial in Vermont, United States, was an exciting moment for the Church. Joining us in this episode is Keith Erekson, Director of Outreach in the Church History Department, who explains the symbolism and significance of the monument as well as other insights from chapter 8.

In this episode we explore the political crises surrounding the Church and the legacy of plural marriage. Joining us this week is Ken Cannon, a lawyer and independent historian. Ken shares his perspective on the way the Church deals with the challenges leading up to the Second Manifesto.

Matt Grow is the managing director of the Church History Department. In today's episode, Matt brings his perspective to George Q. Cannon's return to Hawaii and the growing concern about Latter-day Saint youth in Cardston, Canada.