Last Podcast On The Left
Last Podcast On The Left
"If the people will let us alone we will preach the gospel in peace. But if they come on us to molest us we will establish our religion by the sword. We will trample down our enemies and make it one gore of blood from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean." — Joseph Smith (as recounted in the episode)
"It's weird though, because he was doing it. If it came such an institutionalized part of early Mormonism, but he had the wherewithal to know, this is an inside thing. Like you just kind of have to be on the inside, which is a part of also his basic understanding of the secret schools. And that we have secret privilege knowledge." — Marcus Parks
"The idea of just like no condoms, no problem. Everybody's pumped out as many babies as you can because then that's followers, but it also puts towards the symbolic idea of the heavenly father and mother, the male and female, Hachma and Bina, right? God's first emanated forms from the ultimate like back God, the DOS version of God." — Henry Zebrowski
The episode continues its exploration of Mormon history by focusing on Joseph Smith's establishment of the Kirtland Temple and the financial challenges that accompanied it, including the founding of a bank that ultimately failed due to questionable practices like circulating unbacked currency. This period was marked by increasing external scrutiny and internal dissent, exacerbated by rumors of Joseph Smith's personal conduct and the eventual, though initially clandestine, introduction of polygamy. The narrative traces the forced migrations of Mormons from Ohio to Missouri, detailing conflicts with local populations and the establishment of new settlements like Far West, which further escalated tensions.
A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the controversial practice of polygamy, examining its scriptural justifications, its implementation within the church hierarchy, and its impact on both men and women within the community. The podcast highlights the inherent contradictions and hypocrisies in Joseph Smith's actions, particularly his seduction of young women while simultaneously claiming divine revelation to sanction such practices. The episode also touches upon the formation of the Danites, a militant group within the Mormon community, and the escalating violence that culminated in the Missouri Mormon War and the brutal Haun's Mill Massacre, leading to the eventual expulsion of Mormons from the state.
The narrative then shifts to the establishment of Nauvoo, Illinois, a more prosperous period where Mormonism began to take on a more formalized ritualistic structure, heavily influenced by Masonic practices. The episode details the controversial endowment rituals, including oaths of secrecy with severe penalties and the introduction of sacred temple garments. Finally, the episode chronicles Joseph Smith's escalating pursuit of power, his presidential campaign, his crowning as king, and his eventual assassination in Carthage Jail, directly following the destruction of an anti-Mormon newspaper, the Nauvoo Expositor, which had exposed the church's secrets.