The Joseph Smith Podcast: Family, Faith, & Folklore - Dr. John Turner Pt. 1 | Ep. 2023
1Digest
This podcast, "Joseph Smith, the podcast," introduces a new biography of Joseph Smith by Dr. John G. Turner. It compares existing biographies (Brodie, Bushman, Vogel), highlighting their biases and the need for an updated perspective. The podcast delves into scholarly interpretations of Joseph Smith's life, acknowledging diverse viewpoints. Dr. Turner discusses his research methodology, emphasizing accessibility and readability. The podcast explores Joseph Smith's family background, challenging assumptions about his upbringing and education level, examining the Smith family's literacy and potential influences like Arminianism, Dartmouth College, and the Morris Charity School. It addresses allegations of fraud and illegal activities within the Smith family, exploring the tragedies and resilience they faced. The podcast analyzes Lucy Mack Smith's autobiography and Brigham Young's potential involvement, discussing its reliability as a historical source. Finally, it examines Joseph Smith's leg injury, alcohol use, and its relation to the Word of Wisdom. The podcast aims for a balanced and nuanced portrayal of Joseph Smith, acknowledging both his strengths and weaknesses.
Outlines
Introduction: Launching "Joseph Smith, the Podcast"
Announcement of a new weekly podcast focusing on Joseph Smith's life and legacy, using Dr. John G. Turner's new biography. The podcast is donor-funded.
Analyzing Existing Joseph Smith Biographies
Comparison of existing biographies by Brodie, Bushman, and Vogel, analyzing their strengths, weaknesses, and biases, highlighting the need for a new, updated biography.
Scholarly Perspectives on Joseph Smith
Exploration of various scholarly interpretations of Joseph Smith's life, acknowledging diverse viewpoints within faithful and critical communities.
Dr. Turner's Research Methodology
Dr. Turner discusses his research methods, emphasizing readability and accessibility, and addressing challenges in historical research, including access to church archives.
Joseph Smith's Ancestry and Early Life
Exploration of Joseph Smith's family background, religious beliefs of his parents and grandparents, and how these influenced his later life.
Challenging Assumptions about Joseph Smith's Upbringing
Questions common assumptions about Joseph Smith's background, focusing on the influence of Arminianism and potential impact of Dartmouth College and the Morris Charity School on his theology.
The Smith Family's Education and Literacy
Examines the Smith family's education level, challenging the notion of illiteracy, highlighting Joseph Smith's engagement with the Bible and his writing style.
Allegations of Fraud in the Smith Family History
Addresses allegations of fraud and illegal activities within the Smith family, focusing on Joseph Smith Sr. and the book by Kathleen Melanakis.
Tragedy and Resilience in the Smith Family
Examines the numerous tragedies that plagued the Smith family, exploring how these experiences shaped Joseph Smith and his family's resilience.
Lucy Mack Smith's Autobiography and Brigham Young's Role
Focuses on Lucy Mack Smith's autobiography and Brigham Young's alleged role in editing or destroying parts of the original manuscript.
Joseph Smith's Leg Injury, Alcohol Use, and the Word of Wisdom
Addresses Joseph Smith's leg injury and surgery, exploring alcohol use as an anesthetic and its implications for the narrative of Joseph Smith's life and the Word of Wisdom.
Keywords
Joseph Smith
Founder of the Latter-day Saint movement; his life and teachings are central to Mormon history and theology.
Mormon History
Historical study of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, encompassing its origins, development, and impact.
Religious Studies
Academic discipline examining religion's various aspects, including Mormon studies.
Biography
Detailed account of a person's life, often incorporating historical research and analysis.
Book of Mormon
Sacred text central to Latter-day Saint faith; its historicity is a subject of ongoing debate.
Lucy Mack Smith's Autobiography
Primary source for understanding Joseph Smith's early life; its reliability is questioned.
Word of Wisdom
Mormon principle of health and temperance; its historical application is discussed.
Arminianism
Theological system emphasizing free will, potentially influencing Joseph Smith's theology.
Dartmouth College/Morris Charity School
Potential influence on the Smith family and Joseph Smith's intellectual development.
Q&A
What are the key differences between Dr. Turner's biography and previous works on Joseph Smith?
Dr. Turner's biography aims for greater objectivity, incorporates more recent scholarship, and offers a shorter, more accessible narrative.
How accessible are the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints archives to researchers?
Access has improved significantly, though some documents remain restricted.
How did Joseph Smith's family background influence his life and work?
His family's diverse religious beliefs and experiences shaped his personality and approach to life.
What is Dr. Turner's overall assessment of Joseph Smith?
Dr. Turner presents a balanced view, acknowledging both Joseph Smith's flaws and strengths.
How reliable is Lucy Mack Smith's autobiography?
It's a valuable primary source, but its reliability is questioned due to potential editing and the passage of time.
Were there instances of fraud within the Smith family beyond treasure-digging?
The podcast acknowledges allegations but states a lack of concrete evidence.
How did family tragedies shape Joseph Smith's life?
Constant struggles instilled resilience and a determination to overcome adversity.
Show Notes
We're kicking off this brand-new series with special guest John G. Turner, historian and author of the newly released book Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.
In this episode, we dive into Turner's research process, the inspirations behind the book, and how his work compares to previous scholars like Fawn Brodie and Richard Bushman. We discuss the Introduction and Chapter One of Dr. John Turner’s book where we explore Joseph Smith’s visionary parents, his early years, the origins of the Book of Mormon, and whether the LDS Church has hidden key historical documents.
Please purchase the book here.
To support this series please donate here. One half of all donations will go to Dr. Turner for as long as he is participating in the series.
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