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.
William W. Phelps was closely associated with many key events in the early history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was called “a printer unto the church” in D&C 57, and wrote popular hymns like The Spirit of God. According to biographer Bruce A. Van Orden, W. W. Phelps was also a prolific ghostwriter for Joseph Smith.
Henry B. Eyring often receives compliments for his books and General Conference talks. But the Latter-day Saint leader’s desire has always been for Church members to look beyond him and see the Savior. Biographer Robert Eaton shows how President Eyring’s life, like that of the Prophet Joseph Smith, is a pattern for coming unto Christ.
Susa Young Gates was one of the most influential women in Utah history. As the daughter of Brigham Young, she held a place of prominence in pioneer society. But her legacy goes beyond genealogy. Biographer Romney Burke describes Susa Young Gates as a human dynamo who left her mark on nearly every aspect of contemporary Latter-day Saint life.
Emma Hale Smith is sometimes viewed only as “Joseph Smith’s wife, Emma.” Stories are told of her wrestles with polygamy or her decision to remain in Nauvoo. There’s even a new argument that she may have possessed a Joseph Smith daguerreotype. But Emma is more than a story. In this interview, Jenny Reeder shares insights from her Emma Smith biography, First: The Life and Faith of Emma Smith.
The King Follett Discourse is one of Joseph Smith’s most well-known sermons. Many consider it the pinnacle of the Prophet’s teachings, although Joseph had previously taught most of the ideas. Interestingly, the King Follett Sermon rarely makes an appearance in general conference or other official sources. In this interview, James Faulconer says that the sermon’s role in Latter-day Saint theology is an open question.
George D. Watt was the first Latter-day Saint convert baptized in the British Isles. He kept a diary as he crossed the ocean and traveled the pioneer trails on his way to Salt Lake. Watt became indispensable thanks to his expertise with Pitman shorthand, and created the Journal of Discourses. You can now read his 1851 journal, thanks to the efforts of LaJean Purcell Carruth and Ronald G. Watt.
The 2022 Mormon History Association Conference will be held in Logan, Utah. Claudia Bushman reveals the theme and explains how to register. She also gives a sneak peek at some of this year’s research, including a panel about Carthage Jail that she says “promises to break new ground.”book
M. Russell Ballard, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has lived a life of entrepreneurship, leadership, and prominence—even if he considers himself ordinary. In this interview, biographer Dr. Susan Easton Black says that the real theme of his life has not been innovation or business, but devotion to Jesus Christ.
The Council of Fifty minutes reveal that Joseph Smith asked a committee to draft a replacement to the U.S. Constitution. The effort was eventually replaced by a revelation from God wherein the Prophet was told that the council itself was to be a living constitution. While the White Horse Prophecy is extremely suspect from a historical standpoint, the Prophet’s efforts to draft a new constitution are well-documented. Legal scholar Nathan B. Oman explains what was going on behind the scenes of the Council of Fifty.
Under the Banner of Heaven is an FX miniseries based on a book of the same name by Jon Krakauer. While the book has a controversial history stemming from factual errors about Joseph Smith and the Latter-day Saints, it tells a riveting story. The miniseries stars Andrew Garfield as Detective Jeb Pyre, a fictional Latter-day Saint detective who struggles with his beliefs after coming across the shocking murders committed by Dan Lafferty and Ron Lafferty.