E100: Mormonism and Race, part three

**Bryan Buchanan** (0:08)
It doesn't really matter when it comes on. Doesn't really matter what part it's at. I will always watch Last Crusade. Why? Because it's the best part of the trilogy. And I will not be taking any comments on this question. I agree, Raiders of the Lost Ark is very good.
However, any of you out there that want to argue its bestness will forever have to answer for the face melting scene. Now, that's just appalling. Now, I'm a reasonable man. I won't sit here and pretend like Last Crusade is perfect. The fake German accents? Yeah, sure, okay. The book burning scene that would have taken place five years earlier? Yeah, yeah, you're right. However, in the end, they got it right.
Now, why do we bring this up?
Today is of course part three of our look at the history of the temple and priesthood ban. We get the best part this time, when it's finally removed. Let's move on.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (1:12)
Hi, this is Lindsay Hansen Park.

**Bryan Buchanan** (1:14)
And this is Bryan Buchanan.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (1:16)
Bringing you the story of Mormonism from the shadow of the Everlasting Hills, straight out of Zion, this isn't your grandpa's Mormon history.

**Bryan Buchanan** (1:43)
This is the tale of Mormon saints and sinners from our roots until present day.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (1:48)
Gird your loins, lock your hearts and pay your tithing, because we're bringing you the story of Mormonism in all its paradisiacal glory.

**Bryan Buchanan** (1:56)
It's the Sunstone History Podcast.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (2:22)
Before we get into it though, a word from our friends at Signature Books. When Joseph Smith entered Kirtland, Ohio for the first time, he had only the year before established a church and brought forth a new book of scripture, the Book of Mormon.
After moving the church and most of its members from Western New York and establishing its headquarters at Kirtland, while simultaneously establishing his Zion in communities in Missouri, he oversaw a decade of both peace and prosperity and chaos and conflict. But just who was Joseph Smith and what motivated him? In examining Smith's life during his Ohio and Missouri sojourns, Vogel seeks to answer these questions. But Vogel is quick to note, quote, there are in fact many possible constructions of Joseph Smith. And depending on how one assesses the evidence for his truth claims, a completely different Joseph Smith emerges, but this is probably as Smith wanted it, end quote. During this period, Smith established a temple, printing presses, additional scripture, expanded church offices and built a bank, all indicating a sense of permanence and strength for his young church at one level while causing its near collapse at another. Charisma Under Pressure, Joseph Smith, American Prophet, 1831 to 1839 by Dan Vogel. New from Signature Books, Get It From Benchmark Books or Vanilla Ice will rip off your song.
And while you're buying books, make sure you check out Benchmark Books, who will be at the 2023 Sunstone Summer Symposium happening in Sandy, Utah, July 27th through the 29th. Get your tickets today. It's one of the best ways to support this podcast and to support Sunstone by coming to our awesome conference. Happening in Sandy, Utah, you can register at sunstone.org. Join us.
Bryan and I will be there presenting. Bryan will be at the Benchmark Books table, and we will also be giving some really fun presentations.

**Bryan Buchanan** (4:54)
But first, today, we need to get our bearings. It was two weeks ago, you remember. Lori Vallow had just gotten her murdery butt found guilty on all counts. However, in a more accurate sense, it was really 1908
Joseph F. Smith had utterly forgotten the F.
He stood up in a meeting with the First Presidency and the Apostles and said, with a straight face, that Elijah Abel had been ordained, but that it was declared null and void by Joseph Smith himself. A friend of the podcast, Paul Reeve, described it like this, quote, Forgetfulness replaced evidence to solidify the ban in Mormon collective memory.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (5:30)
Don't look now, but history had been erased. From this point forward, the ban was basically solidified.
We say basically because apparently a few of Elijah Abel's descendants were ordained. Otherwise though, ol Longbeard himself had ruled. Joseph F had set the precedent for the next several generations.
Moving forward, unofficial and even official explanations for the ban would frequently start, quote, the Prophet Joseph Smith taught, and that was that. The Pearl of Great Price was used more and more and more as rationale. For example, a first presidency letter in 1912 answered the question of why the ban existed like this, quote, you are referred to the Pearl of Great Price, Book of Abraham, chapter 1, verses 26 and 27, going to show that the seed of Ham was cursed as pertaining to the priesthood, and that by reason of this curse they had no right to it.