Know Your "American Zion"! (w/ Benjamin Park)

You're tired of the bombardment of info. "Just give me the fast facts, chief!" The brilliant Mormon historian Benjamin Park joins me to discuss his new book "American Zion" which details all the facts, context, and characters to provide a brief but in-depth look at the history of Mormonism in America.You don't know Mormonism until you explore the development and evolution of Mormon traditions over its 200 years and how internal and external conflicts have influenced it. In this episode we get into the religious fervor and experimentation of Joseph Smith's time, the dark legacy of racism, divisions, and culture war over issues like gender equality, LGBTQ rights, and religious liberty, including pivotal moments in Mormon history, such as the introduction and eventual abandonment of polygamy, the struggles for women's rights and racial equality within the church, and the impact of the church's alignment with the Republican party and conservative politics.

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