The Nauvoo Temple: A Joseph Smith Papers Podcast

Sep 16, 2023

Episode 0: Series Introduction

This podcast presents the story of the Nauvoo Temple, explaining why Latter-day Saints in the 1840s sacrificed time, labor, and a sizeable portion of their meager possessions to bring about the promised blessings of the temple.

Unfinished Nauvoo Temple on the hill. The city of Nauvoo is layed out below. In the foreground are several covered wagons pulled by horses passing a man standing by the road to the city.

Sep 16, 2023

Episode 1 — A New City, a New Temple

This episode explains why the Latter-day Saints came to Nauvoo, established a city, and built a new temple. Guests: Brent Rogers, Matthew Godfrey, Alex Smith

David Hyrum Smith, son of Emma and Joseph Smith, painted this Nauvoo, Illinois, scene sometime before 1869. It’s titled Bend in the River.

Jun 26, 2024

Episode 2 — Revelations, Designs, and Quarries

This episode describes the purpose of temples, the inspiration behind the design of the Nauvoo Temple, and the arrangements that Joseph Smith and others made to acquire sufficient building materials. Guests: Brent Rogers, Matthew McBride, Alex Smith

Black and white architectural drawing of the front and side facades of the Nauvoo Temple.

Nov 12, 2023

Episode 3 — A Welding Link

This episode explores Joseph Smith’s revelations on proxy baptisms for deceased relatives as well as the lasting impact of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles’ mission to Great Britain. Guests: Alex Baugh, Brett Dowdle

Rendering of Joseph Smith's baptismal font in the Nauvoo Temple.

Sep 16, 2023

Episode 4 — Obstacles

This episode explains how the principle of tithing enabled the impoverished Latter-day Saints to build the Nauvoo Temple and overcome external obstacles, including the attempted extraditions of Joseph Smith to Missouri. Guests: Jeffrey Mahas, Elizabeth Kuehn

Twelve or so old silver coins that have gathered grime over the years, stacked on top of one another against a white background.

Jun 26, 2024

Episode 5 — Looking Toward Eternity

This episode considers the ways that Joseph Smith prepared church members to receive the endowment and sealing ordinances in the temple, including through the founding of the female Relief Society of Nauvoo. Guests: Sharalyn Howcroft, Alex Smith, Jenny Reeder, Sister Jean B. Bingham

Many seated women face a man holding a book.

Dec 5, 2023

Episode 6 — Martyrdom, Dedication, and Exodus

This episode explains how the murder of Joseph and Hyrum Smith coupled with hostility towards the Saints affected the construction and dedication of the Nauvoo Temple and forced the Saints to prepare to leave the city—possibly even the country. Guests: Jeffrey Mahas, Matthew McBride, Alex Smith, Brent Rogers

LDS pioneer Thomas E. Ricks depicted as a teenage boy leaving Nauvoo, Illinois with his family. The pioneers are depicted crossing the frozen Mississippi river. The Nauvoo Temple is depicted in the background.

Sep 16, 2023

Episode 7 — The Return to Nauvoo

This episode describes the gradual return of the Latter-day Saints to Nauvoo, exploring the various efforts of churches and governments to designate the “City Beautiful” as a historic site. Guests: Alex Smith, Benjamin Pykles, Lachlan Mackay, Steven Olsen

Sep 16, 2023

Episode 8 — An Old City, a New Temple

On April 4, 1999, President Gordon B. Hinckley stunned Latter-day Saints with an announcement that the Nauvoo Temple would be reconstructed. This episode considers what it means today to know that a temple once again stands in Nauvoo. Guests: Emily Utt, Steven Olsen, Elder Dale G. Renlund