Don Wildman

To help tell us more about this important event, we welcome Professor Peter Coviello of the University of Illinois.

His book, Make Yourselves Gods, Mormons and the Unfinished Business of American Secularism, was a finalist for the John Whitmer Historical Association Award for Best History Book.

Hello, Peter.

Welcome back.

Nice to see you again.

Don, it's a pleasure to see you.

Thank you for having me.

You were last with us in 2023, another world ago.

300 episodes ago.

Yeah.

Check the archives for episode 86, Mormons and the founding of Salt Lake City, in which we discussed, Peter and I, the origins and Western migrations of those people called Mormons through the 1830s and 40s.

Today, we dive more into the 1850s.

after the establishment of Utah as a territory of the United States, all a consequence of the victorious Mexican-American War.

Adherents to this highly controversial religion have now set up shop in Utah.

That's what we're going to be talking about today.

Three years is a long time ago, Peter.

I'm a bit rusty.

Let's briefly review those origins, shall we?

We'll be quick about this.

1830, Mormonism is founded by Joseph Smith when he happens upon the golden plates in western New York State, undergoes a spiritual transformation.