E41: Brigham Young and the Chamber of Secrets

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (0:28)
There is an abundance of evidence available to us today that absolves Joseph from any responsibility or connection to the abomination that was and is polygamy. He was a man who should be respected and appreciated for the great work he undertook in an attempt to bring a hard-hearted and stiff-necked people back into the presence of God. Seriously consider Joseph's history and his own words. Glimpse into his heart. As you explore this alternate polygamy narrative, you may be surprised by what you find. You may even discover some truth.
Hi, this is Lindsay Hansen Park.

**Bryan Buchanan** (1:17)
And this is Bryan Buchanan.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (1:18)
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** (1:46)
This is the tale of Mormon saints and sinners from our roots until present day.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (1:51)
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** (1:59)
It's the Sunstone History Podcast.
I am surprised by polygamy deniers.
I am not surprised by polygamy deniers. Why am I moonlighting my positions? Hey, take it easy, Bruce Willis.
Why am I surprised? Well, Joseph Smith being a polygamist himself and teaching others to do it is established. It just is. I don't run into many people who try to argue that I don't have a shirt that says I'm the one mighty and strong. It's a pretty short discussion. I do have a shirt that says I'm the one mighty and strong. And I am, but that's its own episode. Why am I not surprised? Some people don't like polygamy and they really don't like Joseph Smith being a polygamist. The end. It's really as easy as that. And that's fine. But you have to be honest with yourself if you choose that approach. That is apologetics, not history. You can't use apologetic tactics with the translucent veneer of the historical method and call the whole thing history. It's not.
This is what kind of drives the two of us a little nuts sometimes. There are a growing number of people who are on this train. If I'm not mistaken, this is now the third time that Lindsay has used a podcasting platform to tackle this.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (3:28)
It's true. I'm obsessed. John Hamer came on during the original Year of Polygamy podcast episode run that we did, and we actually did a panel together with all the Johnnys. John Hatch, John Dinger came on to help the cause. Why do we care? Okay, it's time for all the cards on the table, and it's pretty simple. We don't do this to be pro-polygamy or anti-polygamy. It's not pro-LDS or anti-LDS. It's not pro-restoration movement or anti-restoration movement. We have one card only.
We are pro-history and anti-crappy pseudo-history. Boom, done.
Really though?
To get to that position that Joseph either wasn't a polygamist at all or maybe he was for a short time but then changed his mind or he did something that later people confused for polygamy or he was just an innocent, misunderstood man whose close friends and contemporaries were all secret polygamists against his will, he was just a steel magnolia among the weeds. Doesn't matter. Any of these positions require you to shoot in the general direction of the historical method. Again, just to reiterate, our only dog in this fight, if this even constitutes as a dog, is it's almost hurtful to watch people get sucked into this. It would be like one of our friends messaging us saying, hey, I just read the great book on American history. Have you heard of this Tim Ballard guy in his Lincoln hypothesis? Stabs us right in the feels.

**Bryan Buchanan** (4:54)
Here's the thing. All of this current Joseph Smith fighting polygamy business definitely is not new. There is absolutely precedent. Time to back up a little bit and figure out the historical context and you people booing in the back can shut it. Let's talk about Joseph Smith.
No, not senior.
No, not junior either. We've had enough of him for a minute. Today, the Joseph Smith on the menu is the little guy himself, Joseph Smith III.
As you may recall, his dad was killed in 1844 Sorry for the spoiler. That means he's raised mainly by Emma, and she had a mild distaste for polygamy. Again, apologies for the spoilers.
Once the reorganization is reorganized in 1860, Joseph Smith III is convinced to be the leader of the movement. He comes out of his corner swinging. This is from his first sermon at a general church conference, quote, There is but one principle taught by the leaders of any faction of people that I hold in utter abhorrence. That is a principle taught by Brigham Young, and those believing in him. I have been told that my father taught such doctrines. I have never believed it and never can believe it. If such things were done, then I believe they never were done by divine authority. I believe my father was a good man, and a good man never could have promulgated such doctrines. Notice he couldn't even say the P word.