180. John Turner on Joseph Smith: American Prophet

In this interview, we welcome Dr. John Turner to discuss his book Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet. Who was Joseph Smith, the founding prophet of Mormonism – and how should we understand him both in his own historical context, as well as in terms of his significance in American religious history? Dr. Turner takes us into the Smith family home to discuss some of the factors that impact the trajectory of Joseph’s religious entrepreneurship and innovation. How does Joseph Smith fit within the cultural-Christian discussions and debates of his time and place? What is the Book of Mormon, and how should it be seen categorically relative to other (genuine) ancient texts? Who was Fanny Alger, and should we understand her as Joseph Smith’s first polygamous wife – or rather, as some close to him seemed to think, simply an extramarital affair? We ask Dr. Turner about the origins of Joseph Smith’s polygamy, how Joseph Smith went about practicing it, and how he both hid it from his wife, Emma, and then later tried to involve her. How did Joseph’s secret Nauvoo practice of polygamy compare and contrast with the later Brighamite public practice? We also ask about the place of this biography in the scholarly conversation of the notable biographies that have been previously written, such as Fawn Brodie, Richard Bushman and Dan Vogel.

Book: Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet

Some other resources by Dr. Turner:

- Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet (also here)

- The Mormon Jesus: A Biography

- They Knew They Were Pilgrims (also here)

Other resources:

The American Religion by Harold Bloom

The Mound Builder Myth: Fake History and the Hunt for a “Lost White Race” by Jason Colavito

Inventing Mormonism by H. Michael Marquardt and Wesley P. Walters

No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith by Fawn Brodie

Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet; Charisma Under Pressure: Joseph Smith, American Prophet, 1831-1839 by Dan Vogel

Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling by Richard Bushman

Mormonism and the Magic World View by D. Michael Quinn