Whitmer Cast

In this episode, first-time host Joseph DuWors, PhD candidate in Mormon Studies, interviews retired Prof. Thomas Murphy about his provocative new book that seeks to center Indigenous connections to the Book of Mormon, both in its origin and in how modern readers receive it.  We are joined by New Zealand Latter-day Saint and author Ganesh Cherian, whose own book Joseph Smith: The Architect of Mormo...

In this episode, host Katherine Pollock talks with Kyle Beshears about his new book, 40 Questions about Mormonism , as well as the history of Mormon and Evangelical dialogue. About the book: https://www.kregel.com/theology-and-religious-studies/40-questions-about-mormonism/ Visit us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/JohnWhitmerHistoricalAssociation

In this episode, Katherine Pollock interviews Nancy Ross, one of the authors of Mormon Garments: Sacred and Secret from University of Illnois Press. From the publisher: "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints requires that adult members wear garments under their clothes day and night. Though a central practice, the wearing of garments exists behind a wall of silence, as Church author...

In this episode, host Katherine Pollock talks with Dr. Matthew Bowman, Howard W. Hunter Chair of the Mormon Studies Program at Claremont Graduate School. Find out more about the program at: https://mormonstudies.cgu.edu/ Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/JohnWhitmerHistoricalAssociation

In this episode, host Katherine Pollock sits down with Stephen O. Smoot and Brian C. Passantino, editors of Joseph Smith's Uncanonized Revelations , published by BYU Religious Studies Center. About the book: https://rsc.byu.edu/book/joseph-smiths-uncanonized-revelations Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/JohnWhitmerHistoricalAssociation/posts

In this episode, we bring you a recording of a recent author meets critics session from the 2025 JWHA annual meeting in Independence, Missouri. In this session, John G. Turner, author of Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet , is joined by David J. Howlett and Stephen C. Harper to discuss the book. The session was moderated by Matthew L. Harris.

In this episode, host Katherine Pollock talks with Rebecca Williamson of the Nauvoo Historical Society. https://nauvoohistoricalsociety.com/

In this episode, host Jason R. Smith talks with Matthew Bowman, author of Joseph Fielding Smith: A Mormon Theologian - published by University of Illinois Press.  The book focuses on the thought and writings of long-serving LDS Apostle, Church Historian, and Church President, Joseph Fielding Smith. About the Book: https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p088056

In this episode, host Jason R. Smith talks with W. Paul Reeve and Christopher B. Rich, two of the authors of This Abominable Slavery: Race, Religion, and the Battle over Human Bondage in Antebellum Utah, published by Oxford University Press.  This important book details the legal and theological debates of mid-19th century Utah over race and labor. About the Book: https://academic.oup.com/book/581...

In this episode, we bring you an interview with Taylor Petrey, author of the recent book, Queering Kinship in the Mormon Cosmos - published by University of North Carolina Press.  As he discusses, Petrey’s book explores some new and exciting ways to rethink and reimagine kinship bonds within the theological frame of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. More about the book: https://uncp...

In this episode, Jason R. Smith interviews Steven C. Taysom, author of the recent book, Like a Fiery Meteor: The Life of Joseph F. Smith, published by University of Utah Press. We discuss the book and the extraordinary life of the sixth President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In this episode, host Jason R. Smith interviews Shinji Takagi, Meagan Rainock, and Conan Grames - authors of the recent book, Unique But Not Different: Latter-day Saints in Japan - published by Greg Kofford Books.  We discuss the survey they conducted of Latter Day Saints in Japan and learn more about their findings.  You might be surprised by what they have to say. If you’d like to join JWHA or v...

In this episode, we bring you a followup to our last episode with an authors meet critics panel session from the 2024 JWHA annual meeting in St. George, Utah. In this session, Cheryl Bruno and John Dinger, authors of Come Up Hither to Zion: William Marks and the Mormon Concept of Gathering, are joined by Chris Blythe, Kyle Beshears, and Rachel Killebrew to discuss the book. If you’d like to join J...

In this episode, we bring you an interview with Cheryl Bruno and John Dinger about their recent book, Come Up Hither to Zion: William Marks and the Mormon Concept of Gathering, published by Greg Kofford Books. If you’d like to join JWHA or visit our entire backlog of episodes and journals, go to www. JWHA.info.

In this episode, we bring you an interview with Dr. Kyle Walker about his new book, Sister to the Prophet: The Life of Katharine Smith Salisbury , published by the BYU Religious Studies Center and Deseret Book.  In this new book, he tells the story of Joseph Smith’s younger sister.

In this episode, host Jason R. Smith interviews Dr. Matthew L. Harris about his new book, Second-Class Saints: Black Mormons and the Struggle for Racial Equality , published by Oxford University Press. In this groundbreaking work, Harris tells the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' 126 year priesthood and temple ban against those of African ancestry which ended in June...

Special crossover episode with Latter Day Digest in which host Gene Judson interviews Paul DeBarthe and Michael S. Riggs, co-authors of the recent book, Hawn’s Mills Hamlet: A Phase III Archaeological Investigation. Click here to buy the book: https://a.co/d/7d1GYyw Click here to visit Latter Day Digest: https://www.youtube.com/@Latter-dailyDigest

In this episode, host Jason R. Smith interviews Adam Stokes, an elder and apostle in the Church of Christ with the Elijah Message, Assured Way of the Lord. We discuss the history of his church and Adam tells us about his church·s unique take on scripture and theology.

Host Jason R. Smith interviews Dr. David Howlett about the history and importance of the Kirtland Temple. David also shares some of his research on religious pilgrimage. David is a visiting assistant professor of religion at Smith College and is currently the President of the Mormon History Association. He is the author of Kirtland Temple: the Biography of a Shared Mormon Sacred Space. https://dav...

Katherine Pollock interviews BYU scholar Joseph Spencer on several of his publications, including a chapter comparing Community of Christ and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints editions of the Book of Mormon and his newest book A Word in Season: Isaiah’s Reception in the Book of Mormo n (University of Illinois Press).

A session from our 50th Anniversary meeting entitled “Gnostic Mormonism: The History and Scriptures of Three Gnostic Branches of the Latter Day Saint Movement,” presented by Mike LeCheminant.  In this session, Mike discusses the Scriptures and beliefs of three lesser known branches of the Smith-Rigdon Movement.

Host Jason R. Smith talks with historian Joseph Johnstun about Nauvoo, the death and tomb of Joseph Smith, as well as his thoughts about the recent purchase of historic properties in Kirtland and Nauvoo by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

A session from our 2019 annual meeting entitled “Discerning God’s Presence: Experiential Claims and Restorationist Movements in the Burned-Over District,” presented by Ann Taves. 

This new book contains reflections from two groups of scholars who both trace their beginnings to the early Saints who built the Kirtland Temple. They come from the two largest branches of the Restoration Movement, Community of Christ and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who have often found themselves on the opposite sides of many issues. They may both be part of the same original...

Host Jason R. Smith talks with Cheryl L. Bruno and Dr. Nicholas S. Literski, two of the authors of the book Method Infinite: Freemasonry and the Mormon Restoration.   They discuss their book and talk about research methods and motivations.