Today, we're investigating a particularly chaotic period in LDS Church history, marked by significant religious turmoil and historical violence. The context of the Mormons' time in Missouri is a key part of the story to fully understand the people who later became involved in polygamy and what shaped their psyches to influence their controversial actions and beliefs. The roots of Blood Atonement, a secret vigilante group known as The Danites, and Mormon hostility towards the government (that would lead to an even bigger war years later) all stem from this time period.
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Before diving into the jaw-dropping personal stories tied to polygamy in Mormon history, we’re stepping back to lay the groundwork. This episode breaks down the key events: from the Church's founding in 1830, through the rise of plural marriage, to its official end in 1904 when the LDS Church declared polygamists would be excommunicated.

But there’s more: we’ll also trace how these events splintered the movement, leading to the creation of major offshoots like the LDS, RLDS, and FLDS churches. If the history of Mormon polygamy feels confusing or fragmented, this episode will connect the dots—and probably surprise you in the process.

This is the origin story for polygamy in Mormonism and where our jorney begins...
Sadly, we do not have any records from Fanny herself, but quite a number of people had things to say about her and Joseph Smith and we are diving into the sources that have been relied upon most heavily in their narrative. Was this the start of a holy practice sanctified by religion? Was it a scandalous affair? Or was it something else entirely?
Let's talk about it!