E97: Cold Hearts and Polygamy in Winter Quarters

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (0:15)
So, let's take some inventory on the big P scoreboard.

**Bryan Buchanan** (0:20)
Now, hold on, which P are we talking about? Because after the last episode, I don't know if we're talking prostitution, pigs skiing out of their pen, priesthood, Porter Rockwell, Patty Bartlett Sessions, Piggies Privy, plural married.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (0:33)
That's the one.

**Bryan Buchanan** (0:35)
Polygamy?

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (0:36)
Correct. I'm taking stock of the polygamy scoreboard we've covered thus far since we've complicated it with all the other P words.
So, Bryan, please stop confusing it.

**Bryan Buchanan** (0:48)
I'm confusing it? Shh.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (0:50)
Here we go.
New York, one wife is acceptable. Kirtland, Ohio, one wife is acceptable. Unless your name is Joseph Smith. Different story. Missouri, sea above. Early Nauvoo, Illinois. Multiple wives are now coming into fashion as long as you're in the innerest of inner circles.
Late Nauvoo, Illinois. Several or a few wives are acceptable, even on the margins of the inner circles. Winter Quarters, all over the place, Iowa. Federal Indian Territory land. Well, well, welly well. Now that we don't have big brother looking at our family photo album all the time, maybe we can let our hair down a little.
Hi, this is Lindsay Hansen Park.

**Bryan Buchanan** (1:50)
And this is Bryan Buchanan.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (1:52)
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.
Well, I have sinned so gravely, Brother Brigham, Brother Young. I have sinned so gravely, Brother Young. This is the tale of Mormon saints and sinners from our roots until present day.

**Bryan Buchanan** (2:32)
Gird your loins, lock your hearts, and pay your tithing, because we're bringing you the story of Mormonism in all its paradisiacal glory. It's the Sunstone History Podcast.
If you're one of those numbers addicts, you may recall that by the time the Brigham-flavored Mormons hit the dusty trail out of Nauvoo, there are about 200 dudes and 700 women involved in the principle. That's a pretty healthy portion of your society to be involved in a secret practice, a sacred practice. Can we agree on just a practice?
And what good is a practice if you can't practice it?
Mormons in Winter Quarters found themselves in a position they hadn't been in for quite some time. On their own, middle of nowhere, nobody telling them what sort of marriage arrangements were going to be cool. Who? Who could tell us how the people were feeling?
First, however, a word from our friend's signature books. In the 1940s, she was a New York Times bestselling author of Mormon novels. In the 1950s, she won a Newbery Medal, the highest honor in children's literature. But today, hardly anyone knows her name. Who is Virginia Sorensen? How did a girl who grew up in a tiny Utah town in the 1920s become a globe-trotting, award-winning author? And why has she been forgotten? You know who can tell you? Friend and coworker of the podcast, Stephen Carter. Though she wrote them four generations ago, Sorensen's novels are more urgent today than ever, addressing issues both Mormons and former Mormons grapple with. Her body of work is a treasure trove of insight, compassion and storytelling waiting to be rediscovered. Virginia Sorensen, pioneering Mormon author by Stephen Carter, new from Signature Books. Get it from Benchmark Books or end up a little lower than the Angels.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (4:59)
Speaking of Angels, if you want to be amongst all the Angels and the Devils of Summer, you better be coming to Sunstone Symposium on July 27th through the 29th in Sandy, Utah. You know what listeners out there, whether you're jogging in your car, cleaning your kitchen, canning your apples. I don't know why you'd be canning your apples.
It's April. It's not apple season.

**Bryan Buchanan** (5:24)
Can somebody's apples.

**Lindsay Hansen Park** (5:25)
Can somebody's apples.
Sitting at work, doing whatever it is you're doing. We miss you.
We would like to see you come out and join us for the Sunstone Symposium. This year, our theme is mainstreaming Mormonism and we have an incredible lineup shaping up.
We would love to see you out there. Come meet Bryan and I. We're going to have trivia. We're going to have some sessions. Bryan's going to be out there selling books, including the book about Virginia Sorensen, which Steven Carter will also have a panel on. We want to see you. One of the best ways to support this podcast is not just leaving a donation at sunstone.org, although that does help. Please do that.
But come to the symposium. Plan your trip. Come out to Utah. We have hotels. We have block deals on hotels and you can register now and get 30% off if you use the coupon code history pod, all one word, capital H I S T O R Y, capital P O D, history pod, get 30% off when you register for the conference. We hope to see you soon.