Gospel Tangents Podcast

What do Land Deeds in Nauvoo have to do with D&C 132? It turns out there is a controversy where an argument is made for and against 132 being legit vs forgery. Mary Ann Clements weighs in on the controversy. Check out our conversation with Mary Ann about her chapter in Secret Covenants … Sign up to our free newsletter!  https://gospeltangents.com/newsletter https://youtu.be/s2zWvjVzQbA D...

Many scholars have made the claim that the polygamy revelation in D&C 132 is really 4 different revelations mashed into one. Does David Hocking agree? We will discuss that revelation, along with the revelation that says Lehi landed in Chile. David is a Heartlander. Does he agree? We’ll discuss his book, “ Revelations of Joseph Smith .” Check out our conversation… https:...

We’ll discuss changes in revelations for the Doctrine & Covenants and JST.  Joseph Smith got a revelation to get a Canadian copyright for the Book of Mormon. It didn’t succeed. Is this a failed revelation? David Hocking weighs in on that uncanonized revelation in his new book “ The Revelations of Joseph Smith .” Check out our conversation.. https://youtu.be/5WdAr21wooI...

We’ll discuss the revelations from 1834-1838 including the uncanonized Zelph Revelation. In 1834, Joseph Smith changed the name of the church from Church of Christ to Church of the Latter Day Saints. Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/ogCyg94XghM Don’t miss our other conversations with David Hocking: http://gospeltangents.com/people/david-hocking Copyright © 2025 Gospel...

David Hocking has put together several Annotated Scriptures. We’ll discuss his latest book, which is sort of an Annotated Doctrine & Covenants. It is called “The Revelations of Joseph Smith.” We’ll also discuss his previous books, and dive into revelations on the coming forth of the Book of Mormon & the Church of Christ. Check out our conversation… https://you...

Here’s a throwback episode with historian Jean Addams. We discussed similarities and differences between LDS and Church of Christ (Temple Lot) worship services back in 2020. I stopped by and saw them this past week and thought it would be fun to re-visit this episode. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eANzkhkDxoI We’re diving into the world of the Church of Christ (Temple Lot), drawing o...

In our final conversation with Clair Barrus, we’ll discuss polygamy skeptics and William Clayton Journals. They are some of the most important pieces of contemporary evidence of polygamy, so skeptics don’t like this journal. Is there evidence it was forged? Clair Barrus weighs in. We’ll also discuss William & Jane Laws’ accusations against Joseph Smith. Check out our co...

Joseph Fielding Smith, a towering figure in the 20 th -century Latter-day Saint landscape, is often remembered as a theologian and Church leader. But his long tenure as Church Historian also positioned him as a key interpreter of Mormon history, an area where his approach offers a fascinating case study in the relationship between faith, perspective, and the writing of the past. Our recent discuss...

Joseph Fielding Smith: evolution was not something he thought highly of. The son of Joseph F. Smith and grandson of Hyrum Smith, was a prominent figure in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As an apostle from 1910 and later Church President, he became known for his strong defense of traditional doctrines, often clashing with those who sought to reconcile faith with mod...

Dr. Matthew Bowman has just released a new biography on Joseph Fielding Smith. Bowman is the Howard W. Hunter Chair of Mormon Studies at Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, California. The Mormon Studies chair Bowman holds at Claremont Graduate University is the oldest in the country, having been established over 15 years ago. Bowman is the third person to hold the chair, following Richard...

In our final conversation with Dr Margaret Toscano, we’ll discuss the chapter in Sara Patterson’s book, “ The Sept 6 & the Struggle for the Soul of Mormonism .” Margaret will discuss her and her husband Paul’s reaction to Sara’s descriptions of them in the book. Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/LqxYh6QHY3E Don’t miss our other conversations...

In our final conversation with Dr Margaret Toscano, we’ll discuss the chapter in Sara Patterson’s book, “ The Sept 6 & the Struggle for the Soul of Mormonism .” Margaret will discuss her and her husband Paul’s reaction to Sara’s descriptions of them in the book. Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/LqxYh6QHY3E Don’t miss our other conversations...

We discuss 2 important moments in Peggy Fletcher Stack’s career: “We don’t apologize,” and “What about the women? Peggy Fletcher Stack is the senior religion reporter at the Salt Lake Tribune . The focus of the conversation turns to the persistent challenges within religious coverage and the dramatic evolution of the journalistic landscape itself. For Peggy, certain t...

Peggy Fletcher Stack highlights her biggest interviews, significant moments, and enduring themes of her three decades covering religion. Peggy’s career at the Salt Lake Tribune has intersected with pivotal historical events and figures. She covered sensitive issues like Catholic abuse and the aftermath of 9/11, immediately being assigned to interview Utah Muslims . She shared a moving story...

It was fun to sit down with Peggy Fletcher Stack about her time at Sunstone and Mark Hofmann. Peggy Fletcher Stack is a senior religion reporter at the Salt Lake Tribune with over three decades of experience . Peggy, also a co-host of the Tribune’s weekly “ Mormon Land ” podcast, discussed her extensive career, offering insights into her work, her background, and some of the pivo...

Joseph Smith’s bank went under back in 1837. Those banknotes he printed are now worth much more money! Brent Ashworth shares his Kirtland bank notes from the Kirtland Safety Society signed by Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, & Sidney Rigdon! He also shares Lorenzo Snow’s prison diary, and we’ll also play a Bing Crosby record from the 1930s on an early 1900s phonograph! Check out...

How did Brent Ashworth get started in collecting Mormon memorabilia? He started at age 7! We’ll discuss his first collections from the prophet Heber J Grant, his 1st edition Book of Mormon, and other documents he has related to Joseph Smith and early Church history! Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/XZQ_2YRDYEQ Don’t miss our other conversations with Brent:  https://gospelta...

Brent Ashworth has not only Church history artifacts, but Elvis memorabilia, a piece of the Spirit of St Louis, and a 1st Edition Book of Mormon used at School of the Prophets in Kirtland! Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/2XAc8ut6BPQ Don’t miss our other conversations with Brent: https://gospeltangents.com/people/brent-ashworth transcript to follow Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangent...

Why is it called the Vinegar Bible? Brent Ashworth has a Bible from 1716, an ad from the Titanic, Ulysses Grant’s desk, Heber Grant’s chair, and much more! Check out his amazing museum! https://youtu.be/Xq1FzZNDTpE Don’t miss our other conversations with Brent: https://gospeltangents.com/people/brent-ashworth transcript to follow Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Exc...

Brent Ashworth has one of the largest Americana & Mormon Memorabilia collections in Utah. He discusses artifacts ranging from the Civil War, Elvis, Pearl Harbor, Mark Hofmann forgeries, LDS prophets, Babe Ruth, and much, much more! We’re giving a tour of his mini-museum! Check out our conversation…. https://youtu.be/B3XKyQnB1wQ Don’t miss our other conversations with Brent: https:/...

In our final conversation we’ll talk about some other Mormon Fundamentalism groups and how the race ban & Word of Wisdom are viewed. I’ll also note that Cristina got married after this interview and moved to Canada! Her new last name is Gagliano. Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/wBE1qyHDzAg Don’t miss our other conversations with Cristina: https://gospeltangents.c...

We’re going on another polygamy tangent trip! We’ll discuss consecration with David Nielsen & I’ll go to a polygamist church! Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/iG4rRCSc2ww Don’t miss our other conversations with David: https://gospeltangents.com/people/david-nielsen transcript to follow Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for boo...

I attended a polygamist Easter service and the Mesa Temple Easter Pageant this week. Check it out! https://youtu.be/kUdtO3PYEAo Don’t miss our other conversations with David Nielsen: https://gospeltangents.com/people/david-nielsen transcript to follow Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission   transcr...

Many fundamentalist Mormons do not allow for black members. Is Nielsen-Naylor the same? We’ll discuss temple theology and discuss these weighty issues. Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/VAgAilf0g00 Don’t miss our other conversations with David: https://gospeltangents.com/people/david-nielsen transcript to follow Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Exce...

Here is a quick announcement about the upcoming Mormon Studies Conference in southern California on April 19, 2025. Dr Matthew Bowman is the dean of Mormon Studies at Claremont Graduate University and gives more details. If you’re in southern California, I hope you’ll check it out! https://youtu.be/p15cP_ZjzM0