181. Sandra Tanner on the Character ofJoseph Smith

In this episode, we welcome Sandra Tanner of Utah Lighthouse Ministry to discuss Joseph Smith and the origins of Mormonism – based on parts of her books Mormonism: Shadow or Reality? , Archaeology and the Book of Mormon, and Joseph Smith’s Plagiarism of the Bible in the Book of Mormon. What do we know about Joseph Smith’s involvement in magic, and why does it matter? How did we learn (and verify) the 1826 Bainbridge Trial, in which Joseph Smith was identified as a “glass-looker”? Is there a way to separate Joseph Smith’s use of seer stones for treasure-digging and the “translation” of the Book of Mormon? Was there actually a Palmyra Revival in the spring of 1820, and how did we find out? We also ask Sandra about her own struggle with the Book of Mormon and whether or not it is actual history? Was Fanny Alger Joseph Smith’s first polygamous “wife,” or is it evidence of the immorality that likely led to Joseph Smith’s later development of the doctrinal basis justifying his own behavior. Listen in as Sandra teaches us about history, how we first discovered some of that history – as well as why it should matter. Along the way, we hear some contributions that have been made along the way by Christian ministers M.T. Lamb and Wesley Walters, as well as her late husband - the heroic one and only Jerald Tanner.

Books: Mormonism: Shadow or Reality? (also here)

Joseph Smith’s Plagiarism of the Bible in the Book of Mormonism (also here)

Archaeology and the Book of Mormon (also here)

Utah Lighthouse Ministry

Note: the many books as free PDF’s on the website.

For physical copies of many of the books by Jerald and Sandra Tanner (as well as better prices), check out the Utah Christian Research Center.

Lectures:

“The Book of Mormon’s Plagiarism of the KJV Bible”

“Mormon Prophets I Have Known”

Other resources:

No Man Knows My History by Fawn Brodie

An Insider’s View of Mormon Origins by Grant Palmer

The Palmyra Revival and Mormon Origins by Rev. Wesley Walters (also here)

Inventing Mormonism: Tradition and the Historical Record by H. Michael Marquardt and Rev. Wesley Walters

The Golden Bible by Rev. M.T. Lamb

Thank you to Bradley Campbell of GLM for helping make this happen, and sharing it with his audience. Check out his YouTube channel here.