Mormon Stories Podcast

Baptism for the Dead, Re-Baptism and John C. Bennett - John Turner Pt. 26 | Ep. 2100

Dec 27, 2025
Guest
John G. Turner
Historian John G. Turner, author of a biography on Joseph Smith, shares insights on Nauvoo's transformative period. He delves into the origins of baptism for the dead and how it became a comforting ritual for the grieving. The discussion explores re-baptism as a way for members to renew their commitments and its significance to early Mormon identity. Turner also introduces John C. Bennett, a controversial figure whose ambitions sparked tensions and shaped Nauvoo's political landscape, setting the stage for future struggles.
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INSIGHT

Ritual Answer To Death Anxiety

  • Baptism for the dead answered a deep theological anxiety about unsaved loved ones who died before proper baptism.
  • John G. Turner argues this ritual provided a practical, emotionally powerful solution that attracted thousands.
INSIGHT

River Ritual Before Temple Practice

  • Early baptisms for the dead happened in the Mississippi River before the Nauvoo temple existed.
  • Turner notes the ritual's physicality made it viscerally compelling to participants.
ANECDOTE

Multitudes Baptized For Famous Dead

  • Early Nauvoo members enthusiastically baptized for famous dead figures, even George Washington.
  • Phoebe Woodruff reported saints going "forward in multitudes" to perform river baptisms.
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