Don Wildman

You know, it still gives everybody the heebie-jeebies.

But back then we're talking about a time of greater religion and, you know, established religions that really mix up with the politics, just as they do today, of course.

But back then it was a big deal.

When the wider U.S.

found out about polygamy in the 1850s, they were horrified.

Mormons became a huge debating point in the 1956 presidential election of James Buchanan.

They did.

Major, major point.

So after the break, we'll come back and talk about how those tensions reached their peak in Utah.

Welcome back.

We're discussing the Mormon religion with Professor Peter Covielo.

So we've established, Peter, some of the Mormon beliefs and why tensions began growing between them and eventually the federal government.

First, the state government of Illinois, of course, was really on them.

Events to keep in mind as we get further into Utah.

1847, Brigham Young, who was a lieutenant of Joseph Smith, takes over after Joseph Smith's assassination and they head west.

They go by way of Missouri, of course, like everybody does.

Important to keep in mind, at this point, 1847, where they will end up, Utah is still part of Mexican territory.

The Mexican-American War hasn't been fought yet.

That's an 1848-49 kind of time.

The land becomes U.S.