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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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Doctrine and Covenants New Testament

What Does D&C 77 Say About the Age of the Earth?

A split image featuring an hourglass contrasted with a view of the earth from space, illustrating the literal-symbolic tension about the age of the earth in D&C 77.

Section 77 of the Doctrine and Covenants contains statements indicating that the Earth will exist for 7,000 years. Some Latter-day Saints interpret this literally, while the revelation’s historical context also allows for scientific understandings of how old the Earth is. For instance, Joseph Smith’s focus in D&C 77 was the Book of Revelation, known for its symbolism. His later teachings also seem to challenge a strict 7,000-year timeline. In this interview, Nicholas Frederick examines the background of Doctrine and Covenants 77, emphasizing the central role of Jesus Christ.

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Categories
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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Categories
Doctrine and Covenants

Rosalynde Welch on 7 Visions of Christ in the Doctrine and Covenants

The Doctrine and Covenants reveals Jesus Christ through themes of glory, suffering, intimacy, and presence. A new book from Deseret Book portrays a Savior whose power comes through submission, whose bleeding body crosses porous boundaries, and whose nearness is both cosmic and personal. In this interview, Rosalynde Welch explains how writing Seven Visions: Images of Christ in the Doctrine and Covenants with co-author Adam Miller helped her recognize an invitation to see Christ—here and now.

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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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Categories
Devotional Theology

What I’ve Learned From 30 Years of Interfaith Dialogue

A group photo of Robert L. Millet, Richard Mow, and many other interfaith leaders.

Beginning in 1991, when I was appointed dean of Religious Education at BYU, and continuing well past my retirement from BYU in 2014, my interactions with men and women of various faiths have profoundly impacted me. They have broadened my horizons dramatically and reminded me—a sobering reminder we all need once in a while—that we are all sons and daughters of the same Eternal Father.

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Categories
Latter-day Saint History Theology

What Did the First Presidency Say About Evolution in 1909 and 1925?

Sepia illustration of early 20th-century Latter-day Saint leaders symbolizing the Church’s evolution discourse—featuring Joseph F. Smith, B.H. Roberts, James E. Talmage, and Joseph Fielding Smith, with background elements representing science and scripture.

In 1909 and 1925, the First Presidency stated that the Church has no official position on evolution. Shaped by their historical contexts, these statements reflected a range of views among Church leaders at the time. Decades later, Joseph Fielding Smith reinterpreted the statements, promoting a rigid anti-evolution stance that was not originally intended. Due in part to his prominence, this interpretation soon became the prevailing view among many Latter-day Saints. In this interview, Dr. Ben Spackman discusses his chapter about the First Presidency statements in a new BYU evolution book.

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Categories
Joseph Smith

What’s in John Turner’s Joseph Smith Biography?

Illustration of John Turner reflecting on scenes from Joseph Smith’s life, including the First Vision, Kirtland Temple dedication, Nauvoo preaching, and Carthage Jail.

Historian John Turner’s new biography of Joseph Smith portrays the Prophet as charismatic, flawed, and relentlessly dynamic. His conclusions often differ from those in Richard Bushman’s Rough Stone Rolling, offering a new perspective. Turner approaches Joseph’s spiritual claims with scholarly caution, adopting different stances based on his interpretation of the evidence. He writes there is “little reason to doubt” that Joseph saw the Lord in the First Vision, yet personally concludes that the gold plates weren’t real. In this interview, Turner reflects on Smith’s life—from the Prophet’s unifying vision of Zion to the divisive impact of polygamy.

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