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There’s the Mormon history you do know … and the Mormon history you don’t. Join Lindsay Hansen Park (Year of Polygamy) and historian Bryan Buchanan as they gossip about their ancestors and dig into all aspects of Mormonism’s astonishing 200-year past—uncovering the little-known stories that chronicle how a six-person church grew into a multi-billion-dollar religion. Episodes for this podcast are released every other week.

This podcast is heavily researched. For information on sources, and for additional reading for each episode's topic, click here.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or stream episodes right here on Sunstone.org.

E38: Scribe Me to the Moon

May 7, 2021

After messing around for two episodes, Bryan and Lindsay finally discuss what William Clayton’s journals contain. From messy plural marriage to the nuts and bolts of the city, you can’t …

E37: William Clayton and Mr. X

April 23, 2021

This is part-two of our curious case of the William Clayton diaries. In this episode, Bryan and Lindsay reveal the identity of Mr. X, the other important person to view …

E36: The Curious Case of William Clayton’s Diaries

April 9, 2021

William Clayton was the scribe of Joseph Smith and had arguably the best access to the dirty deets of church history, which is probably why his journals have become politically …

E35: Oh What a Relief it is!

March 26, 2021

Ever wonder how the Mormon women’s Relief Society got started? The beginnings of the organization touted by the LDS as “the largest women’s organization in the world,” is fraught with …

E34: Temple Developments, Part 3

February 26, 2021

In part three of our temple development episodes, Bryan and Lindsay discuss the changes to the LDS temples in the 20th century. From garment pattern alterations to less oaths and …

E33: Temple Developments, Part 2

February 12, 2021

Last episode, we talked about the development of the Mormon temple in the Nauvoo era. As the Saints move to Utah, the temple ceremony and structure slowly changes. In part …

E32: Temple Developments: Part 1

January 29, 2021

Mormon temples are often steeped in mystery and intrigue for outsiders. Join Bryan Buchanan and Lindsay Hansen Park as they dive into the fascinating history behind the development of temple …

E31: Before They Were Famous: John D. Lee and Bathsheba W.B. Smith

January 15, 2021

Ever wonder about how prominent Mormon church leaders got their start? Lindsay and Bryan discuss the experiences of John D. Lee and Bathsheba W.B. Smith in Nauvoo, before they made …

E30: Innovations ‘n’ Alterations in Nauvoo

January 1, 2021

The Nauvoo period and the last few years of Joseph Smith’s life shaped Mormon doctrine in some remarkable ways. Lindsay and Bryan discuss the theological developments that came from this …

E29: No Paperwork, No Crime

December 18, 2020

Bryan and Lindsay continue their dive into the messiness of Nauvoo polygamy. Grace

About Our Hosts

Lindsay Hansen Park is host of the Year of Polygamy podcast and executive director of the Sunstone Education Foundation. A single-mom of three kids by day, and nerd researcher by night, Lindsay lives in Salt Lake City, Utah where she interacts with hundreds of different restoration branches, Latter-day Saints and Mormon fundamentalists. Her adventures have led her to some of the most isolated fundamentalist compounds in the America West where she interacts with modern day outlaws, inlaws and everything in between. Her goal is to widen the conversation about common and shared heritages within the larger Mormon diaspora.

Lindsay
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Bryan Buchanan works at Benchmark Books, surrounded by Mormon history. At night, he herds small children and works on umpteen book projects, some of which might even be published.