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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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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19th Century International Latter-day Saint History

Ports to Posts: Latter-day Saint Gathering in the 19th Century

C. C. A. Christensen painting of the ship Westmoreland carrying Latter-day Saint emigrants during the 19th-century voyage.

Latter-day Saint emigration in the 19th century was a carefully organized journey of faith, notwithstanding disasters like the 1856 handcart tragedy. Tens of thousands relied on systems like the Perpetual Emigrating Fund, the guidance of trusted allies such as George Ramsden of the Guion Line, and meticulous planning to navigate both stormy seas and the hardships of overland travel. In this interview, historian Fred E. Woods explores the logistical, spiritual, and human dimensions of this migration, revealing how faith and practical organization shaped pioneer emigration.

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Joseph Smith Old Testament Pearl of Great Price

What Does Genesis Really Say About Creation?

At its core, Genesis offers not one but two distinct creation accounts, each highlighting different aspects of humanity’s relationship with God. Far from being the straightforward words of Moses, the book reflects centuries of redaction and compilation—much like the Book of Mormon—woven from multiple voices and contexts. Along the way, readers encounter surprising details: skies imagined as a solid dome, humans formed from dirt, and Joseph Smith’s bold emendations of the Old Testament Hebrew text. In this interview, Avram R. Shannon explains how ancient context reshapes our understanding of Genesis, creation, and the faith-science conversation.

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American History Ancient history Latter-day Saint History Theology

The Best of From the Desk: 2025 Year in Review

Illustrated scholar’s desk with an open annotated book, stacked manuscripts, and parchment sketches, with “2025” engraved on the wooden surface, symbolizing a year-in-review of historical and theological scholarship.

Another year is in the books—and it’s resulted in some thought-provoking scholarship. We’ve put together a list of 2025’s most influential interviews, along with fan favorites, and identified recently published pieces that are already trending. Plus, we’ve cut through the stats to highlight this year’s hidden gems. From Bruce Chilton’s groundbreaking work on the Aramaic Jesus to Jonathan Stapley’s unprecedented history of Latter-day Saint temple worship, these are 2025’s most noteworthy interviews in history, religion, and theology.

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20th Century International

When Did Latter-day Saints Establish the Church in South America?

Melvin J. Ballard’s tombstone in Salt Lake City referencing his 1925 dedicatory prayer for the LDS Church in South America, marking the establishment of the South American Mission.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints firmly established itself in South America in 1925, when three General Authorities arrived in Buenos Aires to open the South American Mission. The continent was dedicated for the preaching of the gospel by Elder Melvin J. Ballard on Christmas Day in 1925. Early subsequent efforts focused on German immigrants, but missionaries soon discovered that Spanish- and Italian-speaking communities were more receptive. Visionary leaders like David O. McKay and Reinhold Stoof laid the foundations that would later support thriving congregations in Argentina and Brazil. In this interview, historian Mark Grover explores the challenges and milestones in South America that have contributed to today’s global Mormonism.

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20th Century Latter-day Saint History

Who Was Ernest L. Wilkinson?

A black-and-white headshot of Ernest L. Wilkinson in 1951, the year he became BYU president.

Ernest L. Wilkinson served as BYU’s president from 1951 to 1971. The influential leader developed a complicated bond with the student body, driving unprecedented growth while also stirring controversy. His autocratic personality, political views, and aggressive enforcement of orthodoxy were responsible for both success and scandal. For example, his cultivation of a “special arrangement” with David O. McKay created friction with Church leaders, a 1966 “Spy Ring” heightened tensions with faculty, and an enhanced Honor Code sparked a paternalistic shift in his relationship with students. In this interview, editor Gary J. Bergera shares insights from Wilkinson’s diaries, recently published by Signature Books.

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Brigham Young Latter-day Saint History Theology

What Did Brigham Young Say About the Curse of Cain?

Brigham Young in a 3/4-profile, sepia 19th-century study with an embossed ‘MARK OF CAIN’ title—illustrating what Brigham Young taught about the mark of Cain.

Brigham Young said that the “mark of Cain” referred to Black skin, and taught that the descendants of Cain were cursed because the Old Testament figure murdered his brother in the book of Genesis. While initially open to Black men holding the priesthood, Young’s stance shifted in 1849, eventually hardening into firm opposition communicated through racist language. Although never presented as a “revelation,” his arguments played a key role in the creation of priesthood and temple restrictions that lasted until the 1978 revelation. In this interview, scholar W. Paul Reeve explores the history and legacy of Brigham Young’s racial teachings.

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