Brigham Young was a rough-hewn craftsman from New York who's impoverished and obscure life was electrified by the Mormon faith. he trudged around the US and England to gain converts for Mormonism, spoke in spiritual tongues, married more than 50 women, and eventually transformed a barren desert into his vision of the Kingdom of God.
John Turner, assistant professor of RS at George Mason University is out with a new biography of Brigham Young. Turner is interested in American culture and politics, fascinated of the connections between religion and national identity, religious freedom and religious establishment. All of these themes play out in Brigham Young's life.
We'll talk about Brigham Young's legacy for the west, and religion in America. Turner is my guest for the hour.