When historian John Turner decided to write a book about Mormonism, it didn't take him long to settle on Brigham Young as his object of study. Turner says that the LDS Church's second leader was a colossal figure not just in American religion, but also in the history of politics and westward expansion. His new biography reveals a complicated man: blunt, aggressive and sometimes profane, but also charismatic and a fierce protector of his people. Thursday, Turner joins us to talk about the "Pioneer Prophet."
On Saturday, October 20th, John Turner will be in Salt Lake City as part of the Utah Humanities Book Festival. He's part of a panel discussion on Brigham Young. It will be moderated by Floyd O'Neil, Director Emeritus of the University of Utah's American West Center. Other panelists include Craig L. Foster
of the Family History Library, former state archivist Jeff Johnson. It's at 12:30 at the Salt Lake City Public Library [map]. For details on that and other Book Festival events, click here.
John G. Turner is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at George Mason University. His book is called Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet. He's also the author of Bill Bright and Campus Crusade for Christ.
Music from Today's RadioWest:
- Sufjan Stevens, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
- Matthias Gohl, Come, Come Ye Saints (Instrumental)
- FiddleSticks, Hickory Sticks
