Ep 159 – Mormon-Native Relations 1830-1840 w/Christopher C. Smith Pt.1

06/13/19 • 58 min

On this episode, we sit down with Mormon historian Chris Smith to discuss part 1 of a 2-part series on Native and Mormon relations during Joseph Smith’s ministry. We begin with discussing the Book of Mormon being written explicitly to the Natives and describe Joseph’s mindset in allying with the Natives to overthrow the U.S. Government. Then we broach the utility of the Council of Fifty and jump into a few important emissaries Joseph called to forge trading and military relations with various Native tribes. Lewis Denna (Dana, Denny), and his work with church leadership, are of particular import as he was a Native convert to the church. We try to put the plight of the Natives in broader context throughout America. Then we wrap with the work of Jonathan Dunham (J. Dunham ‘Lamanite’) and his work with various Native groups.

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Website http://nakedmormonismpodcast.com Twitter @NakedMormonism Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Naked-Mormonism/370003839816311 Patreon http://patreon.com/nakedmormonism Music by Jason Comeau http://aloststateofmind.com/ Show Artwork http://weirdmormonshit.com/ Legal Counsel http://patorrez.com/

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Previous Episode

Ep 158 – The Very Walls Had Ears

On this episode, we dive into the ubiquity of Nauvoo polygamy. Much has been made about Joseph Smith having multiple wives, but he wasn’t the only Nauvoo elite with more than one. Just how prevalent was the practice? How many participated? How many knew about the doctrine? How many plural marriages were formed prior to D&C 132 being committed to paper? What conclusions can we draw from the available data? Gary James Bergera’s article is a masterpiece in helping to understand the complexity of the tangled web of Nauvoo Polygamy.

Identifying the Earliest Mormon Polygamists by Gary Bergera https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V38N03_13.pdf

James Adams https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/person/james-adams

Ezra T. Benson https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/overlandtravel/companies/65/ezra-t-benson-company

Reynolds Cahoon https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/person/reynolds-cahoon

Joseph Coolidge https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/person/joseph-wellington-coolidge?l=papers

Howard Egan https://majorhowardegan.com/howard-egan/overview-of-major-howard-egans-life/

William Felshaw https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/overlandtravel/pioneers/7955/william-felshaw

Deed to William Felshaw https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/deed-to-william-felshaw-30-june-1836/1

William Huntington biography by Andrew Jensen https://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/logout?targetUrl=/collection/BYUIBooks/id/3154

Joseph Kelting https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/person/joseph-andrew-kelting

Isaac Morley https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/person/isaac-morley

Joseph Bates Noble https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/person/joseph-bates-noble https://keeperoftheprophetssword.net/

John Edward Page https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/person/john-edward-page

Uncle John Smith https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/person/john-smith https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Smith_(uncle_of_Joseph_Smith)

Theodore Turley https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/person/theodore-turley

Lyman Wight https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/person/lyman-wight

Edwin Woolley https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/person/edwin-woolley

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Next Episode

Ep 160 – Mormon-Native Relations 1840-1857 w/Christopher C. Smith Pt.2

On this episode, we get into part 2 of our discussion with Mormon historian Chris Smith. Part 1 was the primer with a heavy focus on early Mormon emissaries. Part 2 dives into how these Mormon-Native relationships were explored and leveraged to hasten the Mormon theodemocracy with dictatorial prophecies of war and bloodshed. Chris reads a letter from James Arlington Bennett that minces no words about the impending Mormon military campaign. Then we bring things back around to Alpheus Cutler to discuss his Native emissary missions and settlement. We wrap the conversation with Native-Mormon relations in Utah under Brigham Young and discuss Walkara. Chris opines on what lessons we can take from this snapshot of history.

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