Last Podcast On The Left
Last Podcast On The Left
"The reason why we say it's like Scientology is that Mormonism began as a cult of personality. With one man at the top performing his own unique brand of religious improv that somehow resulted in an established, concrete belief system." — Marcus Parks
"Mormonism is what UCB wishes could happen. They wish they could get that much, I mean, they are deeply entrenched, but they really, really believe that improv can take you all the way to the top." — Henry Zebrowski
"The difference here, though, is that we don't have testimony from Jesus' next-door neighbor. Nor do we have accounts of Luke or Mark fucking over people in treasure hunting expeditions or marrying young teenagers when they were in their late thirties." — Marcus Parks
This episode marks the commencement of a deep dive into Mormonism, starting with its founder, Joseph Smith. The hosts establish a framework comparing Mormonism to Scientology, emphasizing its origins as a cult of personality driven by Joseph Smith's unique brand of "religious improv." They explore Smith's familial background, highlighting a lineage marked by storytelling and a questioning of mainstream religion, referencing his mother's indecision on which church to join and his grandfather's mystical experiences. The narrative then shifts to Smith's challenging childhood, including a severe bout with typhoid fever that left him bedridden for an extended period, a time the hosts suggest fostered his imagination and storytelling abilities.
The discussion delves into the Smith family's financial struggles, their failed investment in ginseng, and their subsequent move to Palmyra, New York. It is during this period that Joseph Smith Jr. became involved in "money digging," a practice common at the time, using tools like seer stones. This era is characterized by the hosts as a "trickster phase" where Smith engaged in fraudulent activities, even being arrested for being a "disorderly person and an imposter." Despite a claimed renunciation of money digging after his arrest and elopement with Emma Hale, the episode posits that this period was crucial for developing his skills in manipulation and storytelling, setting the stage for his later religious claims.
The episode concludes by introducing the angelic visitation of Moroni, a pivotal event in Mormon theology. The hosts present the traditional Mormon account of this visitation, detailing the appearance of the angel and the revelation of golden plates containing the "everlasting gospel." They contrast this with historical research, particularly Fawn Brody's work, which finds no contemporary accounts of such a vision, suggesting the story was later developed. The narrative sets up the next installment, which will focus on the translation of the Book of Mormon and the further development of Mormon doctrine.