Episodes

Welcome to an exploration of one of the most distinctive branches of Mormonism: the Strangite Church. We will discuss Strangite women’s role in priesthood. While many are familiar with the larger Latter-day Saint movements, the Strangites offer a fascinating glimpse into different interpretations and practices rooted in early Restorationism. Based primarily in Burlington, Wisconsin, the Strangite Church has a rich history, unique theological perspectives, and surprising elements that set it apar...

It’s always fun to talk to someone from the Strangite Church, officially known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Strangite) Based in Burlington, Wisconsin, this branch of the Latter-day Saint movement offers a distinctive perspective on the succession of Joseph Smith and the ongoing divine restoration. https://youtu.be/RUL8rF0hb4U Strangite Genesis in Voree The current headquarters of the Strangite Church is Burlington, Wisconsin. Interestingly, the area holds historical sig...

This is a re-broadcast of my 2023 interview with Lynne Whitesides. She passed away from pneumonia/leukemia on July 7, 2025. We miss her. Lynne Whitesides was the first person punished in the September Six. She shares her story of why she wasn’t excommunicated, who was involved, and where she is on her spiritual journey. Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/thV_CGqy3jY Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without ...

Join us on a fascinating journey to Voree/Burlington, Wisconsin, to explore the unique history and beliefs of a Latter-day Saint group often referred to as the Strangites. This isn’t the commonly known LDS Church; rather, it’s a distinct branch founded by James Strang. He started a rival Mormon Church in Voree/Burlington, Wisconsin back in 1844 and the church still exists! We’ll tour around the Trust Farm and see historic sites, including the Hill of Promise & the home where James Strang died. G...

I’ve visited some temples recently! “Gospel Tangents” recently hosted a surprise live session, a “late night unannounced edition,” much to the delight of its “night owl” viewers. I shared a whirlwind of Temples, Travels, updates, upcoming content, and even some breaking news from various Restorationist traditions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jw_a2PA5jAU Temples, Travels, & Timely Insights! I’ve been traveling extensively, leading to a “boatload of pictures” and a significant backlog of vi...

We’re discussing polygamy in John Turner’s Joseph Smith Biography and giving away a book! https://youtube.com/live/09QmyE6WweU Don’t miss our other conversations with John: https://gospeltangents.com/people/john-turner/ Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission Welcome, everyone, to Gospel Tangents Live! Sunday, we were live, giving away a copy of John Turner’s acclaimed biography, “The Rise and Fal...

Joseph Smith’s arrest for treason in having the Nauvoo Expositor destroyed led to his death. He didn’t use habeas corpus to get out of this jam, and it cost him his life. Dr John Turner shares his reactions to Joseph’s life. Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/pcN0sdqR0ws Don’t miss our other conversations with John: https://gospeltangents.com/people/john-turner/ Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without writt...

We’re diving into Nauvoo polygamy & Joseph Smith’s many wives. How often did he have sexual relations with his wives? Was it less frequent than many think? John Turner attempts to answer. Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/1S-ZRA7kFcQ Don’t miss our other conversations with John: https://gospeltangents.com/people/john-turner/ Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission Insights into Joseph S...

The origins of polygamy are murky. Was there an 1831 revelation on the topic? What was the nature of the Fanny Alger relationship? We’ll also discuss Zion’s Camp, and Joseph Smith’s dog, Old Major, who caused some issues with the troops. How did Liberty Jail affect Joseph Smith & the Church? John Turner tackles these questions. Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/v9171F-vXok Don’t miss our other conversations with John: https://gospeltangents.com/people/john-turner/ Copyright © 2025 ...

What does John Turner believe about the Golden Plates? Were they made of tin as Dan Vogel asserts? What about the First Vision controversy? Does John think Joseph was a pious fraud? Did Joseph take advantage of Martin Harris? John answers these and other question. Check out our conversation… Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission What Did Joseph Smith Really Have in that Box? Historian John Turne...

Fawn Brodie, Richard Bushman, and Dan Vogel have the 3 most popular biographies on Joseph Smith prior to John Turner’s latest. Which is best? John will answer that and we’ll discuss the First Vision anachronisms. Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/BOTVrDQJGbc Don’t miss our other conversations with John: https://gospeltangents.com/people/john-turner/ Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permissio...

How did a non-Mormon who teaches in Virginia get interested in Mormon History? John Turner has written the newest biography of Joseph Smith. He is a professor of History at George Mason University and has written not only the pre-eminent biography of Brigham Young, but has a new biography called “Joseph Smith: The Rise & Fall of an American Prophet.” We’ll discuss both of these amazing biographies and why he chooses to write about these important Mormon figures. Check out our conversation… Don’...

Many scholars have made the claim that the polygamy revelation in D&C 132 is really 4 different revelations mashed into one. Does David Hocking agree? We will discuss that revelation, along with the revelation that says Lehi landed in Chile. David is a Heartlander. Does he agree? We’ll discuss his book, “Revelations of Joseph Smith.” Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/HR2NovCIj7E Don’t miss our other conversations with David Hocking: http://gospeltangents.com/people/david-hocking Co...

We’ll discuss changes in revelations for the Doctrine & Covenants and JST. Joseph Smith got a revelation to get a Canadian copyright for the Book of Mormon. It didn’t succeed. Is this a failed revelation? David Hocking weighs in on that uncanonized revelation in his new book “The Revelations of Joseph Smith.” Check out our conversation.. https://youtu.be/5WdAr21wooI Don’t miss our other conversations with David Hocking: http://gospeltangents.com/people/david-hocking Copyright © 2025 Gospel T...

We’ll discuss the revelations from 1834-1838 including the uncanonized Zelph Revelation. In 1834, Joseph Smith changed the name of the church from Church of Christ to Church of the Latter Day Saints. Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/ogCyg94XghM Don’t miss our other conversations with David Hocking: http://gospeltangents.com/people/david-hocking Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission. ...

David Hocking has put together several Annotated Scriptures. We’ll discuss his latest book, which is sort of an Annotated Doctrine & Covenants. It is called “The Revelations of Joseph Smith.” We’ll also discuss his previous books, and dive into revelations on the coming forth of the Book of Mormon & the Church of Christ. Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/JjvC2RZtJrM Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without ...

In our final conversation with Clair Barrus, we’ll discuss polygamy skeptics and William Clayton Journals. They are some of the most important pieces of contemporary evidence of polygamy, so skeptics don’t like this journal. Is there evidence it was forged? Clair Barrus weighs in. We’ll also discuss William & Jane Laws’ accusations against Joseph Smith. Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/uqCbNbGazqk Check out our conversation with Clair Barrus who wrote a chapter in Secret Covenants…...

Joseph Fielding Smith, a towering figure in the 20th-century Latter-day Saint landscape, is often remembered as a theologian and Church leader. But his long tenure as Church Historian also positioned him as a key interpreter of Mormon history, an area where his approach offers a fascinating case study in the relationship between faith, perspective, and the writing of the past. Our recent discussion drawing from the sources explored this complex legacy, highlighting Smith’s contributions alongsid...

Joseph Fielding Smith: evolution was not something he thought highly of. The son of Joseph F. Smith and grandson of Hyrum Smith, was a prominent figure in the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As an apostle from 1910 and later Church President, he became known for his strong defense of traditional doctrines, often clashing with those who sought to reconcile faith with modern scientific and academic thought. https://youtu.be/8Kq1TVQBQtE Don’t miss our other conversatio...

Dr. Matthew Bowman has just released a new biography on Joseph Fielding Smith. Bowman is the Howard W. Hunter Chair of Mormon Studies at Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, California. The Mormon Studies chair Bowman holds at Claremont Graduate University is the oldest in the country, having been established over 15 years ago. Bowman is the third person to hold the chair, following Richard Bushman and Patrick Mason. Patrick Mason left Claremont to take the chair at Utah State University....

In our final conversation with Dr Margaret Toscano, we’ll discuss the chapter in Sara Patterson’s book, “The Sept 6 & the Struggle for the Soul of Mormonism.” Margaret will discuss her and her husband Paul’s reaction to Sara’s descriptions of them in the book. Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/LqxYh6QHY3E Don’t miss our other conversations about the Sept Six: https://gospeltangents.com/mormon_history/sept-six/ Copyright © 2024 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Beyond the Sept ...

We discuss 2 important moments in Peggy Fletcher Stack’s career: “We don’t apologize,” and “What about the women? Peggy Fletcher Stack is the senior religion reporter at the Salt Lake Tribune. The focus of the conversation turns to the persistent challenges within religious coverage and the dramatic evolution of the journalistic landscape itself. For Peggy, certain topics consistently emerge as central “pressure points” or “conflicts.” Drawing on Apostle Boyd K. Packer’s 1993 speech, she observe...

Peggy Fletcher Stack highlights her biggest interviews, significant moments, and enduring themes of her three decades covering religion. Peggy’s career at the Salt Lake Tribune has intersected with pivotal historical events and figures. She covered sensitive issues like Catholic abuse and the aftermath of 9/11, immediately being assigned to interview Utah Muslims. She shared a moving story of a young Muslim boy named Osama who faced bullying after 9/11 but later reclaimed his name and faith. ht...

It was fun to sit down with Peggy Fletcher Stack about her time at Sunstone and Mark Hofmann. Peggy Fletcher Stack is a senior religion reporter at the Salt Lake Tribune with over three decades of experience. Peggy, also a co-host of the Tribune’s weekly “Mormon Land” podcast, discussed her extensive career, offering insights into her work, her background, and some of the pivotal moments she’s covered. The conversation quickly delved into the origins of her career, her time at the Sunstone organ...