{"podcast":{"title":"Mormon Stories Podcast","slug":"mormon-stories-podcast-975797","podcast_index_feed_id":975797,"rss_url":"https://anchor.fm/s/f7ccb224/podcast/rss","website_url":"http://www.mormonstories.org","image_url":"https://d3t3ozftmdmh3i.cloudfront.net/staging/podcast_uploaded_nologo/41473873/41473873-1774439842873-4051333073691.jpg","author":"Dr. John Dehlin","episode_count":2202,"summary":"Mormon Stories Podcast is the longest-running and most successful podcast in Mormonism. At Mormon Stories we explore, celebrate, and challenge Mormon culture through in-depth stories told by members and former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mormon Stories is a product of the Open Stories Foundation - a 501c3 non-profit dedicated to supporting Mormons in religious transition. Mormon Stories is not affiliated with or sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-08T08:17:24.229711+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/mormon-stories-podcast-975797"},"episode":{"title":"Emma Goes to War with Joseph Smith over Polygamy - John Turner Pt. 36 | Ep. 2133","slug":"emma-goes-to-war-with-joseph-smith-over-polygamy-john-turner-pt-36-ep-2133","published_at":"2026-04-03T18:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/mormon-stories-podcast-975797/emma-goes-to-war-with-joseph-smith-over-polygamy-john-turner-pt-36-ep-2133","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/mormon-stories-podcast-975797","url":"https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mormonstories/episodes/Emma-Goes-to-War-with-Joseph-Smith-over-Polygamy---John-Turner-Pt--36--Ep--2133-e3hcn7s","audio_url":"https://traffic.megaphone.fm/APO4065467961.mp3","summary":"Welcome to Part 36 of our Joseph Smith Podcast series with Dr. John Turner covering his new book “Joseph Smith: Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.” Today we are covering Chapter 28: "Anointed" that covers 1843. In this episode, we explore one of the most explosive and painful chapters in early Mormon history –Emma Smith’s direct opposition to Joseph Smith over the practice of polygamy. As tensions rise within Nauvoo, Emma confronts the growing reality of plural marriage, leading to deep personal conflict, secrecy, and division. We examine Joseph Smith’s controversial marriages, including his sealing to Helen Mar Kimball, and the broader system that introduced young women into polygamy –often through pressure, family influence, and religious framing. Through firsthand accounts, journals, and later testimonies, we unpack the human cost of these relationships and the theological justification behind them. This episode also dives into Doctrine and Covenants 132 –the pivotal revelation on plural marriage –exploring its origins, its impact on Emma, and the broader implications for Mormon theology and authority. We discuss questions surrounding consent, power, sexuality, and the role of women, alongside the cultural and religious environment that allowed polygamy to take root. As the conflict escalates, Emma begins pushing back –publicly and privately –while Joseph attempts to solidify the practice doctrinally. The episode culminates in one of the most controversial and secretive ordinances in Mormonism: the Second Anointing. If you’d like to help keep this project going, please consider donating to support this series here . Your support makes long-form, in-depth historical discussion like this possible! Purchase John Turner’s book here . Let us know your though…","meta_description":"Welcome to Part 36 of our Joseph Smith Podcast series with Dr. John Turner covering his new book “Joseph Smith: Rise and Fall of an American Prophet.” Tod…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":10969,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/mormon-stories-podcast-975797/episodes/emma-goes-to-war-with-joseph-smith-over-polygamy-john-turner-pt-36-ep-2133/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/mormon-stories-podcast-975797/emma-goes-to-war-with-joseph-smith-over-polygamy-john-turner-pt-36-ep-2133.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}