Category: Latter-day Saint History

Learn more about the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including historical findings about Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and more.

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20th Century International

How Did David O. McKay Transform the Church Into a Global Faith?

A historical illustration in a 1920s photographic style, showing David O. McKay and his travel companion, Hugh J. Cannon, on the deck of a steamship. Both men wear suits and fedora hats as they lean over a table, intently examining a large map labeled "PACIFIC OCEAN." McKay points to a group of islands on the map. Vintage leather luggage and a folding camera sit beside them, with a busy port city visible in the background.

David O. McKay’s missionary experiences, apostolic assignments, and prophetic initiatives helped transform the Latter-day Saint faith into a global religion. Known for his warmth, charisma, and attentiveness to people, McKay combined personal ministry with a visionary approach to leadership. He traveled the world as an Apostle to meet members, assess local needs, and expand missionary work. As the prophet, President McKay also created new missions, adapted racial policies in response to local conditions, and established the first temples outside the United States and Canada. In this interview, biographer Brian Q. Cannon traces the lasting impact of David O. McKay on the international Church.

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Polygamy

Mormon Polygamy: A Comprehensive Guide

A depiction of Joseph and Emma Smith discussing polygamy, by Latter-day Saint artist Anthony Sweat.

Mormon polygamy (or “plural marriage”) was a 19th-century religious practice introduced by Joseph Smith and further embraced by leaders like Brigham Young. It played an important role in shaping the history and culture of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While the Church officially ended the practice through the 1890 Manifesto (and polygamy is strictly prohibited today), it took years to bring it to a complete stop, and the topic remains controversial today. This guide provides an overview of Latter-day Saint polygamy, including answers to common questions and resources for further reading.

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Latter-day Saint History

Who Was Joseph W. Musser?

Conceptual oil painting of Joseph White Musser, the "Father of Mormon Fundamentalism," seated at a study desk. He is holding papers, surrounded by historical items including a framed 1886 Revelation quote behind his head, stacked Journal of Discourses volumes, a plural family photograph, and a celestial chart representing fundamentalist doctrine.

Joseph White Musser was the intellectual architect of Mormon Fundamentalism, who sought to preserve 19th-century traditions, such as plural marriage, as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints moved toward modernization. Following his 1921 excommunication, Musser became a prolific pamphleteer, meticulously compiling early teachings on the Adam-God doctrine and the 1886 Revelation to argue that priesthood authority remained with those who kept the “fundamentals.” His writings provided the theological glue for a displaced people, demonstrating that religious identity is often most sharply defined in conflict with the mainstream. In this interview, historian Cristina Rosetti explores Musser’s enduring influence on the fundamentalist movement.

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19th Century Devotional Latter-day Saint History

The Cost of Eternal Glory: Eliza R. Snow’s Counsel About Overcoming Trials

A soulful 1875 portrait of Eliza R. Snow, Latter-day Saint poet and leader. Her steady, weathered gaze and firm expression capture the resilience she preached in her discourses on overcoming trials. She is wearing a dark ruffled dress with a white collar and an ornate brooch.

There are nearly 1,300 Eliza R. Snow discourses on record. After spending decades privately lifting others through poetry, Snow shifted to a more public ministry when Brigham Young asked her to help rebuild Relief Societies in Territorial Utah. Terrified of public speaking, Eliza nonetheless accepted the prophet’s call. Several themes appear in the speeches she would later give, including charity, unity, and ministering as the Savior did. In this interview, editor Sharalyn Howcroft discusses Eliza’s teachings about overcoming trials as found in the newly-published book, “Rise Up and Speak: Selected Discourses of Eliza R. Snow.”

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19th Century Devotional Latter-day Saint History

Imagining the Restoration Through the Eyes of Emma Smith

An Anthony Sweat painting of profiles of Emma Smith and Joseph Smith looking into each other's eyes.
"Harmony Joseph and Emma" by Anthony Sweat.

Emma Smith, the “First Lady of the Restoration,” is something of an enigma. It is surprising, in light of history, biography, legend, and folktale, how little we really know of her as a person, as Joseph’s closest companion, from almost the beginning of his calling to its tragic end. Fortunately, what history does not provide, our creative faculties can furnish by imagining her presence and personality. The poem I introduce here is an example of what life might have been like for this remarkable woman, who was ever more central to the restoration than all but her prophet-husband.

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Categories
19th Century 20th Century Latter-day Saint History

How Did Tracy Y. Cannon Shape Latter-day Saint Hymnbooks?

Painting of Tracy Y. Cannon playing the Salt Lake Tabernacle organ, featuring the 1927 and 1948 Latter-day Saint hymnbooks he helped produce.

Tracy Y. Cannon influenced Latter-day Saint hymnbook history by steering away from the pioneer folk tunes of his grandfather, Brigham Young, toward a refined, European-influenced aesthetic. As chairman of the General Music Committee, Cannon professionalized the Church’s musical identity, famously pivoting the 1948 hymnal to mirror the harmonic elegance of Lutheran and Anglican traditions. This strategic move established the solemn, organ-centric sound that defined worship for the rest of the 20th century. In this interview, biographer Shelby Fisher discusses Tracy Y. Cannon’s training as a Mormon organist and explains how he modernized the Church’s musical tradition in a way that can still be seen today.

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Latter-day Saint History

Who Was William Marks?

William Marks was a close associate of Joseph Smith whose legacy has been largely overlooked. His story sheds light on some of the most pivotal and contested moments of the early Latter-day Saint movement. For example, he was the Nauvoo Stake President during the turbulent years leading up to Joseph Smith’s death, played a crucial role in the Church’s succession crisis, resisted the introduction of plural marriage, and eventually aligned with the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. This interview with Cheryl Bruno explores the fascinating biography of William Marks.

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Latter-day Saint History

What Did Spencer W. Kimball Write About in His Journal?

The journal of Spencer W. Kimball include his account of the 1978 priesthood revelation.

The Spencer W. Kimball journals offer a rare, daily look into the life of a prophet who presided over a transformative era of global Church growth. Far from being strictly formal records, these diaries function as personal scrapbooks where handwritten accounts of the 1978 priesthood revelation sit alongside pressed flowers, travel brochures, and newspaper clippings from remote mission tours. They reveal a man who meticulously documented his own health struggles and human frustrations with the same care he gave to high-level administrative decisions. In this interview, Church History Library archivists Jeffrey Anderson and Brandon Metcalf discuss the unique “everyman” quality of these newly released records.

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Latter-day Saint History

Who Was J. Golden Kimball?

J. Golden Kimball was a beloved and unconventional leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known for his humor, candor, and tireless devotion to missionary work. From his early struggles after the death of his father to his challenging Southern States missions, Golden balanced deep faith with a famously fiery temperament, earning the nickname “the cussing apostle.” He navigated family tensions, financial hardship, and church controversies while leaving a lasting mark through anecdotes, sermons, and personal insights. In this interview, Andrew Kimball explores the life, personality, and legacy of J. Golden Kimball.

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19th Century Latter-day Saint History Temples

Who Built the Salt Lake Temple?

A 19th-century style oil painting of Brigham Young overlooking the gritty construction of the Salt Lake Temple. The scene shows immigrant laborers carving granite blocks, oxen pulling heavy wagons through deep mud, and a wooden derrick hoisting stone toward rising walls under a hazy, golden-hour sky.

The Salt Lake Temple was built by leaders like Brigham Young, emigrant craftsmen, and local members—through detailed planning, expert masonry, and even the donations of little children. Beginning in 1843, stone was cut from a Utah mountain and transported by wagon and later rail to the Temple Block in Salt Lake City. There, it was refined and raised into place according to the intricate designs of Truman O. Angell. The First Presidency also managed a constant labor shortage caused by the simultaneous work on public projects like the Social Hall and Tabernacle, filling the gap with a wide variety of workers and volunteers. In this interview, Scott D. Marianno shares the fascinating stories of those who built the temple.

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