Saints 3 is the third volume in the new official history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Scott Hales (General Editor and lead writer) and Jed Woodworth (General Editor and lead historian) discuss the Saints book and tease Saints Volume 4.
Winter Quarters played a key role in the pioneer exodus of the Latter-day Saints. As many as one thousand pioneers died during the settlement’s temporary existence. It was also there that Brigham Young received his only canonized revelation. In this interview, Richard Bennett, president of the Mormon Trail Center at Winter Quarters, discusses the history and legacy of Winter Quarters.
Joseph Smith had a grand view of the ultimate relationship between politics and religion. He and the early Latter-day Saints also suffered greatly from political persecution. With no obvious path for recourse, Joseph Smith launched a presidential campaign in 1844. In this interview, historian Spencer McBride explains what happened.
Frank J. Cannon is an overlooked—and often misunderstood—figure in Latter-day Saint history. As the son of George Q. Cannon, Frank was religious royalty of his time, but often rebelled. He was eventually excommunicated, but not before being relied up to negotiate on behalf of the Church and ghostwrite a faith-promoting biography of Joseph Smith. In this interview, independent historian Val Holley discusses his biography of Frank Cannon.
Neylan McBaine is the CEO of Better Days 2020, founder of Mormon Women, and author of Pioneering the Vote: The Untold Story of Suffragists in Utah and the West.
Gary Boatright discusses the Latter-day Saint “Wagon Box Prophecy” and explains what happens when a false (but faith-promoting) story becomes accepted as fact.
Saints Volume 2: No Unhallowed Hand is the second book in a four-volume history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Saint volume 1 covered the time period of 1815–1846. Matt McBride explains what the book covers, how it came to be—and what comes next.
Joseph Smith’s time in Nauvoo was filled with highs and lows. On one hand, he brought his work to a crescendo. On the other, Joseph Smith and other Church leaders were dealing with the raw consequences of polygamy, trying to write a new constitution, and often reacting to one crisis and the other. The difficult season culminated with Joseph Smith’s martyrdom in 1844.
Louie B. Felt isn’t someone recognized by many Latter-day Saints. Most of our attention toward women in early Utah history typically goes toward deserving figures like Eliza Snow, Emmeline B. Wells, or Susa Young Gates. And yet Louie B. Felt was one of the most prominent people of her time. RoseAnn Benson discusses Felt’s legacy, including her call as the first general president of the Primary Association.
Rod Decker was a Utah political reporter for more than 40 years and is the author of Utah Politics: The Elephant in the Room (Signature Books, 2019). The book provides a political context for many of the events described in Saints 3: Boldly, Nobly, and Independent, 1893–1955.