E105: Playing the Mormon Trail

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (0:06)
I just saw the latest Indiana Jones, The Dial of Destiny.

**Bryan Buchanan** (0:10)
No spoilers.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (0:11)
Never, I would die first.

**Bryan Buchanan** (0:13)
Like face melting day?

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (0:16)
No, Walter Donovan, it's just something you say.

**Bryan Buchanan** (0:19)
Fine, just tell us if you liked it, then.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (0:22)
Well, I said this on social media, but my review is this. I don't need much more from the franchise than this. Harrison Ford, and that delivered.
Then you've got Punching Nazis, also Check, exaggerated treasure lore, and mucked up ancient history with a woody and somewhat salty educated female scholar. Check, check, and check again. Set that all to a John Williams score, and I am in.

**Bryan Buchanan** (0:47)
Well, Crystal Skull still sucked.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (0:49)
Your mom sucked. Wait, sorry, Bryan's mom. I know you listened to this podcast. I apologize.
Bryan, don't you dare insult Harrison Ford. He is a national treasure.

**Bryan Buchanan** (1:00)
He belongs in a museum.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (1:08)
Hi, this is Lindsay Hansen Park.

**Bryan Buchanan** (1:10)
And this is Bryan Buchanan.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (1:12)
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** (1:39)
This is the tale of Mormon saints and sinners from our roots until present day.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (1:44)
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** (1:52)
It's the Sunstone History Podcast. So what do you think about the new Willy Wonka movie?

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (2:18)
I'd follow Timothy Chalamet anywhere.

**Bryan Buchanan** (2:21)
See, I don't know. Do we really need to turn that whole story into a fandom?

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (2:25)
Time will tell. While I think it's fun how storytellers use characters and universes created by other storytellers, put their spin on things, I do sometimes think people can take it a little too far.

**Bryan Buchanan** (2:39)
Define too far.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (2:40)
Well, Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean franchise comes to mind.

**Bryan Buchanan** (2:45)
I'm gonna take on your role here and sympathize with Disney. You got some good bones to the story. You wanna milk it all you can? You get every drop of fun out of it.
Wait, actually, petition to not use the verb milking or the idea of getting every drop within 500 yards of Johnny Depp?

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (3:00)
Granted and fair, the world could have done without at least two of the pirate movies. And I say that as a fan. I'm one of those crazy Disney adults. Everyone knows this.
I'm like one step away from wearing puffy paint Mickey Mouse sweaters all the time. I want my ashes spread on the pirates ride. But the woke fascists at Disney and their crazy rules and boundaries shut down my dying wish.

**Bryan Buchanan** (3:24)
Well, I will take your point on that franchise.
Taking things too far. Today, we're going to talk about Mormon fandom world and how far we take that story.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (3:34)
Can't stop won't stop until we get to Kolob. That should be him.

**Bryan Buchanan** (3:38)
You said it on Year of Polygamy, but it's worth saying again. After Joseph Smith died, each subsequent prophet's job was just to recreate the restoration.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (3:46)
It's definitely what fundamentalist break-off sex are always trying to do. Restore the restoration. Recreate that experience. Don't know how to move theology into the future, Mormons? No worries. Move it closer to the past.
Well, as Mormons...

**Bryan Buchanan** (4:05)
There's something to be said about prophets of Mormonism in the latter days, trying to recreate the nostalgia of the past. For example, you got your Joseph Smith played by Gene Wilder. You've got your Brigham Young played by Johnny Depp. Solid move connecting those two by the way. You've got your John Taylor played by Timothy Chalamet.
Et voila, a solid Mormon fandom is born. We'll cracker milk soup that thing for ages.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (4:28)
I'm not sure that that tracks, but I appreciate your point. It's especially relevant today as we talk about the Trek West.
Mormons love their Trek stories.
Raise your hand if you've been a Mormon anywhere around the world and worn a pioneer dress at least one time in your life.

**Bryan Buchanan** (4:47)
All the hands are raised in the room, except mine, I was so, so sadly in Belize when that nonsense took place. Trek, the comic con for Mormons who like to LARP as pioneers.