This week Mormonism and the world (basically) have been captivated by the new Netflix Documentary "Murder Among the Mormons" - which covers the Salt Lake City bombings of 1985, and is currently #2 in the USA on Netflix. (SPOILER ALERT!!!) While reactions to the documentary (produced & directed by friends Jared Hess and Tyler Measom) have been universally SUPER positive, many progressive and post-Mormons have expressed a wish that the documentary would have spent more time discussing the role of the Mormon church in: a) creating the environment that gave rise to the bombings, b) attempting to cover up/hide its problematic history, and c) obstruct or hinder the investigation of the bombings.
I this epic, 2-part, 6 hour interview with Mormon/Ex-Mormon legend Sandra Tanner, we cover many of the questions/topics/issues that progressive and post-Mormons have been wanting to know about the Mormon church, Mark Hofmann, the bombings, and the investigations, such as:
What do we know about Mark Hofmann's childhood?
When and how did Hofmann loose his Mormon faith?
What are the similarities between Joseph Smith and Hofmann?
What can we ascertain about Mark Hofmann's possible motives for forgery?
What role did the church play in hiding or covering up Hofmann's forgeries and contributing to the environment that led up to the bombings?
Perhaps most importantly, Sandra recounts the inspiring story of her husband, Jerald Tanner, discovering that Hofmann's Salamander Letter was a forgery a FULL YEAR before the bombings.
All this, and so much more.
Part 1 (4 hours) talks mostly about Sandra's memories during and after the bombings.
Part 2 (2 hours) focuses more on Sandra's direct reactions to the documentary Murder Among the Mormons.
We hope you enjoy, and a HUGE thanks to Sandra (and Jerald) Tanner for sharing with us their historic insight. For me, this was a true honor. MORE TO COME!
P.S. If you value Sandra and her contributions to Mormon history, please support Sandra Tanner and Utah Lighthouse Ministry with your donations!!!
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00:01:32 - Sandra’s impressions of “Murder Among the Mormons”
00:14:39 - How the LDS church was portrayed in the documentary - positive vs. negative
00:21:06 - Could this documentary pose a challenge to some member’s faith?
00:23:16 - Truly’s role in the documentary & lawyers as church “historians”
00:30:20 - Was it smart for it not to be a “hit piece” in the LDS church?
00:42:11 - How the story is being revived
00:51:15 - Could Hofmann had any accomplices’?
00:54:44 - Heroes & villiain of the story
01:00:35 - Culpability of the LDS church & their obstructing of justice
01:04:13 - Sandra’s recommendations for books on this subject
01:10:47 - Legacy of the Hofmann scandal & its impact on Mormonism
01:22:56 - “Lying for the Lord” & how Joseph Smith set a president of dishonesty within the church
01:28:04 - Why people stay in the church after they have lost their faith
01:32:21 - Could there be another event like this that threatens the church?
01:34:35 - Sandra’s predictions for the future of Mormonism
01:39:48 - Upcoming biography on Jerald & Sandra Tanner
01:43:41 - Sandra’s experiences from Mormon Stories Podcast
01:50:07 - Reflections on Jerald Tanner
01:54:21 - Closing remarks
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