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 Latter-day Saint History

Did the Nazis Spy on the Church?

A Latter-day Saint family prays by candlelight in a modest German home, unaware of a Nazi officer watching through a frosted window.

The government of Adolf Hitler spied on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during World War II. Recently uncovered documents offer an unprecedented glimpse into how the Third Reich monitored the Church and subjected its membership to systematic surveillance, censorship, and intimidation. A 1937 report even details notes made about President Heber J. Grant during a series of sermons. This interview with Stephen O. Smoot explores key insights into Church-state tensions, missionary activity, and the persecution of individual members, including resistance figures like Helmuth Hübener as part of the story of Mormonism around the world in the time leading up to World War II.

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Doctrine and Covenants Polygamy

D&C 132: What Is the Plural Marriage Revelation?

Doctrine and Covenants 132 is the revelation on plural marriage dictated by Joseph Smith in 1843. Shared in secret during his lifetime and later canonized in 1879, it became one of the most consequential and controversial texts in Latter-day Saint history. The revelation introduced the sealing of marriages for eternity, provided the theological foundation for polygamy, and continues to influence Church teachings about family and exaltation today. In this interview, scholar William V. Smith explores D&C 132’s origins and lasting impact.

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International Latter-day Saint History

Who Was Eduardo Balderas?

Black and white portrait of Eduardo Balderas, featured on the cover of “Eduardo Balderas: Father of Church Translation.”

Eduardo Balderas, the Church’s first official full-time Spanish translator, was so influential among Spanish-speaking Latter-day Saints that many called him the “thirteenth apostle.” He played a pivotal role in making the gospel accessible in Spanish by translating scripture, temple ordinances, and other Church literature. Trusted by Church leaders and admired across cultures, Balderas helped bridge linguistic and cultural divides for Mormonism Around the World. In this interview, biographer Ignacio Garcia explores how this quiet pioneer helped make the gospel truly global.

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Doctrine and Covenants Joseph Smith

What Was Joseph Smith’s Civil War Prophecy?

Split painting showing Joseph Smith’s 1832 prophecy on the left, with a parchment and quill on a desk, and a Civil War battlefield with cannon smoke and divided flags on the right, symbolizing Doctrine and Covenants 87.

In 1832, Joseph Smith received a revelation now known as the Civil War Prophecy. Early Latter-day Saints saw it as evidence of his prophetic calling, while contemporary newspapers responded skeptically. Initial interpretations emphasized conflict between the Northern and Southern States. Over time, the prophecy was also applied to later wars, including World War I and the Cold War. Today, it’s call to “stand ye in holy places” is the most commonly cited application in General Conference. In this interview, historian Scott C. Esplin discusses the origin and evolving interpretations of Joseph Smith’s Civil War Prophecy.

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Latter-day Saint History

How Was the St. George Temple Built?

A photograph of the St. George Temple.

The St. George Temple was built in 1877 in Utah Territory during President Brigham Young’s administration. Precedents were set there for clothing, performing ordinances in behalf of those outside of family, endowments for the dead, and record keeping. In addition, the endowment ceremony was put in writing for the first time in association with the temple’s construction. It was also in the St. George Temple that Wilford Woodruff saw the Founding Fathers in vision. This post discusses the history and significance of the St. George, Utah Temple.

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American West Latter-day Saint History

William Clark’s Firsthand Account of the Utah War

Soldiers marching through a snowstorm during the Utah War, illustrating harsh winter conditions on the trail.

The Utah War is a pivotal episode in the history of the American West. For those crossing the overland trails in 1857, it meant cold camps, political suspicion, and constant fear of attack. One of the most vivid firsthand accounts comes from a civilian teamster named William Clark, whose memoir captures the uncertainty and danger as Johnston’s Army advanced toward Salt Lake City under mounting tension and disrupted supply lines. In this interview, historians William P. MacKinnon and Kenneth L. Alford explore Clark’s remarkable journey—and what it reveals about the Utah War.

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19th Century American West

What Was The Utah War?

Militia members of the Nauvoo Legion fortify Echo Canyon as U.S. troops advance during the Utah War.

The Utah War was an armed confrontation between the United States government and Latter-day Saint settlers in the West—yet almost no one fired a shot. Sparked by rumors of rebellion, political missteps, and religious distrust, the standoff saw President James Buchanan dispatch Johnston’s Army to replace Brigham Young as territorial governor. The conflict was ultimately resolved through diplomacy, with federal troops entering Utah peacefully and a new governor taking office without violence.

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Latter-day Saint History Vast Early America

How Did Taxes Shape Mormonism?

Taxes shaped early Latter-day Saint history by enabling religious competition that framed the world in which Joseph Smith lived. For example, tax policy influenced the Second Great Awakening, exempted early preachers, and continues to shape how temples, tithing, and missionary work are treated under the law. In this interview, tax law scholar Samuel D. Brunson explores the intersection of finance, governance, and faith in Latter-day Saint history.

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Latter-day Saint History

What Can We Learn From Wilford Woodruff’s Mission Years?

A painting of Wilford Woodruff baptizing a woman while serving a mission in England
"The Dawning of a Brighter Day" by Julie Rogers. Credit: Wilford Woodruff Papers Foundation.

Wilford Woodruff’s missionary years offer a powerful example of devotion and sacrifice. He served over half a dozen major missions, often at significant personal cost. On one occasion, he left his wife in an unfinished home. On another, he was away in the eastern United States when Joseph Smith was martyred. He even attempted to secure a copyright for the Doctrine and Covenants during a mission to England. In this interview, Kristy Wheelwright explores how Woodruff’s mission experiences deepen our understanding of his life and legacy.

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International

Who Was Andrés Carlos González?

A painting of Andrés Carlos González

Andrés Carlos González was among the first native Mexicans to be called as a missionary, as a mission presidency councilor, and as a patriarch. The grandfather of M. Russell Ballard also inquired about his ability to serve as a mission president. González wrote the lyrics to the popular hymn Placentero nos es trabajar (“Oh, How Great Is Our Joy”) and was a notable resident of the Latter-day Saint colonies in Mexico. This interview with John A. Gonzalez discusses Andrés Carlos González’s life and legacy as a notable figure in the history of Mormonism around the world.

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