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“Why Brigham Young Makes Us Uncomfortable,” and Other Stuff

“Why Brigham Young Makes Us Uncomfortable,” and Other Stuff

Last updated on: February 12, 2026 at 9:06 pm by Dan Peterson

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“Why Brigham Young Makes Us Uncomfortable,” and Other Stuff 2026-02-12T21:06:49-07:00 Dan Peterson

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Sidney Rigdon listens as Brigham Young takes charge of the pivotal meeting in Nauvoo, Illinois, on 8 August 1844, regarding succession in the leadership of the Church (Photo by James Jordan, from the set of Six Days in August)

The podcast Let’s Get Real with Stephen Jones and Scripture Central has just posted an interview with me and, at nearly two hours and twenty minutes in length, it’s massive: “Why Brigham Young Makes Us Uncomfortable.”

The prophet Brigham Young did not become controversial because he was simple. He became controversial because we stopped allowing complex people from the past to be understood as human beings. In this conversation, Dr. Dan Peterson, noted Latter-day Saint scholar and historian, helps us follow one question from beginning to end: What do we lose morally, culturally, and spiritually when we replace understanding with judgment? Brigham Young is often reduced to labels. Authoritarian. Racist. The “fall guy.” A symbol to argue over. But history is rarely that tidy. As the discussion unfolds, Brigham shifts from being a lightning rod in modern debates to a real human life shaped by faith, pressure, frontier leadership, blind spots, loyalty to Joseph Smith, and deep devotion to building Zion. But this conversation is not only about Brigham Young. It is about us. About how we judge. About how we interpret the past, and what’s lost when we’re quicker to judge than to understand. Watch Dr. Peterson’s new docuseries, “Becoming Brigham,” on YouTube.

By the way, all three of the currently-available episodes of Becoming Brigham can be viewed here, along with other relevant materials that you might enjoy: becomingbrigham.com. And a video recording of our 31 January Becoming Brigham fireside is also accessible for viewing online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEPfJWrtdbk

We’re trying to get the word out, and we hope that you’ll help us. We don’t have a big advertising budget for Becoming Brigham. Truth be told, we don’t even have a small advertising budget for the project. (We have no advertising budget at all.) What we’re relying upon, what we’re hoping for, is that people will watch the series and, we hope, like it, and that they will then share it with others. Will you join us?

Near the summit of Jabal Musa (Mount Moses), the traditional location of Mount Sinai
(Wikimedia Commons public domain image)

A new interview has been posted on the Interpreter Foundation website: The Interpreter Insights Podcast — February 12: President Oaks’ First BYU Devotional, Noel Reynolds and His Work, and Mark’s Interpreter Article about Moses Chapter 1, with Mark Johnson

In the February 12, 2026 episode of The Interpreter Insights Podcast, our host Terry Hutchinson and his guest Mark Johnson discuss President Oaks’ first BYU devotional, Noel Reynolds and his work, concluding with Mark’s comments about his Interpreter article about Moses Chapter 1 and its similarities to ancient Hebrew literary techniques as they are found in Genesis.

The Helena Montana Temple (Intellectual Reserve image [Fair Use, I hope]).

You might find this of interest: “Abraham’s Hidden Temple Ordinances,” a 35-minute interview with Jeffrey M. Bradshaw of the Interpreter Foundation’s board of directors by Stephen Smoot, Neal Rappleye, and Jasmin Rappleye on the Informed Saints podcast

The Temple Was Always There. We Just Missed It.

The restored gospel didn’t “start” in 1830, it’s ancient, and Abraham’s story is one of the clearest windows into the covenant pathway and temple worship. In this conversation with Jeff Bradshaw (senior research scientist and leading Latter-day Saint temple scholar), we explore how the Abraham narratives in Genesis (and the restoration through the Joseph Smith Translation and the Book of Abraham) point to: • The Abrahamic Covenant as the New & Everlasting Covenant (and the Oath & Covenant of the Priesthood) • How Abraham’s life models obedience, sacrifice, consecration, and promised blessings • Melchizedek and what “king and priest” can mean spiritually • The sacrament as a renewal of all our covenants (not just baptism) • New names (Abraham/Sarah) and initiatory connections • Sealing “welding links,” messy family stories, and God’s power to heal and gather If you’ve ever wondered why Abraham’s story matters for your discipleship and temple worship today—this episode is for you.

Incidentally, for whatever little it may be worth, I myself recorded an interview with Steve, Neal, and Jasmin last night. It focused upon Brigham Young and our Becoming Brigham series, and it will probably go up sometime in March.

Many American cemeteries still have plenty of space available, so federal policies shouldn’t really be a problem in that regard, at least. (Wikimedia Commons public domain image)

This matter concerns me. Perhaps you’ll be able to access the articles:

An aerial view of the East Campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Charles River, facing Back Bay and central Boston. The Harvard Bridge is at the bottom right.
(Wikimedia Commons public domain photo by Nick Allen)

Finally, though, some selected horrors from the Christopher Hitchens Memorial “How Religion Poisons Everything” File™:

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