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Top 5 Craziest Things in the Joseph Smith Papers: Ryan Wood Read Them ALL!

WARD RADIO

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Have YOU Read ALL of the Joseph Smith Papers?
Ryan Wood ‪@Amateur_LDS_Historian‬ is one of the very few people (possibly the only amateur historian) who has read the entire Joseph Smith Papers collection — all 26+ volumes of primary documents, journals, revelations, and letters.
In this episode, he shares:

The craziest things he discovered in the raw records
Oliver Cowdery counterfeiting money (the 1800s banking wild west)
Why the Kirtland Temple was more like the first chapel
How common “magic” and folk beliefs were in Joseph Smith’s time
Why reading the raw history made him both more understanding and more faithful

This is a rare, deep-dive conversation about growing up with church history and letting the primary sources speak for themselves.

#JosephSmithPapers #ChurchHistory #LDS #BookOfMormon

Chapter Markers / Timestamps (Revised for Full 49-Minute Coverage)

00:00 - Intro: Ryan Wood Read the Entire Joseph Smith Papers
01:54 - Oliver Cowdery Counterfeiting Money (Technicality in 1800s Banking)
05:09 - The Kirtland Temple: First Chapel, Not a Full Temple
08:28 - Superstition, Seer Stones & Folk Magic in Joseph Smith's Time
11:24 - Joseph Smith as a Flawed Human Being
14:45 - Growing Up About Church History (Letting Go of the Disney Version)
18:10 - Miraculous Events Confirmed Across Multiple Accounts
21:51 - The Restraint of Church Leaders in Preserving History
25:33 - Why Primary Sources Matter More Than Secondary Narratives
29:48 - The Council of 50, Nauvoo Legion & Other Administrative Records
34:12 - What the Joseph Smith Papers Reveal About Early Church Culture
38:44 - Dealing with Scandalous or Difficult Stories
43:15 - Final Thoughts: Reading the Raw Data Changed Everything

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20 Comments

@carrielawooto9933 1 month ago

I firmly believe that if we went back in time and saw and experienced the prophets in the Bible, we'd almost lose our testimony of God. Because I guarantee they weren't what we think they were like. They were just humans like us and we're very much a product of the culture. We'd be shocked if we found out their weaknesses. This knowledge actually gives me hope for myself and helps me understand my own journey.

@aaroniusmaximus1129 1 month ago

Pretty sure Chandler is preaching to or debating with John Calvin right now…❤

@juliachanel-tbh 1 month ago

“I just did it because I happened to be alive “ 🤣. Way to go! Thanks for giving me hope that I’ll get there someday 😂

@Drew-fu8fc 1 month ago

Loved hearing about Joseph crumpling that revelation and throwing it at the guy he was mad at. I thought of chuck, a few other guys on those lives, and a really any of us who get frustrated with someone over theology. We are all human. I absolutely believe any prophet or apostle we read from in the scriptures would have moments like that.

@xitheris1758 1 month ago

Joseph Smith got riled up, dictated a revelation, crumpled it up, and threw it at the guy who angered him while saying "Take that."

That has to be one of the most based things I've ever heard. I love it.

@jasonwooden 1 month ago (edited)

After Rough Stone Rolling came out, I was talking to a couple of guys at work who had read it too. Both were serving in Bishoprics at the time. One said "After reading that book, I'm really uncomfortable with how imperfect Joseph was." The other replied "I know! Isn't it great?! That means there's hope for the rest of us!". Totally agree with that latter sentiment.

@DenaCreek 1 month ago

Chandler will be an incredible teacher in the spirit world

@jinjahh 1 month ago

Ryan must've been inspired to do this project just for me. I'm already his biggest fan and I've only seen this interview so far! 😂 I'm so excited that my ADHD brain will have a format of this material that I can grasp.

@brookandroad 1 month ago

"To say I didn't learn this in Primary is a really stupid argument - so drop it please!"
AMEN!!!
Fascinating guest and discussion. Thank you.

@looseseal324 1 month ago

The more I study Joseph the more it is clear to me he likely experienced PTSD on some level. He had plenty of events in his life that would certainly constitute severe trauma. When considering his occasional relatively aggressive and impulsive behavior from that lens I think it helps perceive him more charitably.

@jpt1205 1 month ago

Gem of an episode! I’m grateful our church embraces its history—the good/bad/ugly! Makes everything more real and relatable IMHO

@benpassey6509 1 month ago

I love Cardon. Thanks bro for all you do, and you're testimony, and passion. Love you bro.

@brycedixon6559 1 month ago

This episode justifies Cardin and Ward Radio. Well done, brothers.

@KarliChambers4Elect 1 month ago

I really appreciate your honest approach. Giving us the good, the bad, and the ugly the way the Joseph Smith Papers actually lay it out is refreshing, and I loved your point that some topics just take a little growing up. Joseph Smith was a man, and imperfect as he was he was still a prophet. Imperfect people really are all the Lord has to work with, and that lands for me.

Thank you for giving us the cliff notes of everything you have read over the years. Your recall of what you read is incredible.

I make neurological videos tied to spirituality when I can, and you just sparked an idea for my next one. I already sent your channel to my husband, and I would love for you to follow mine for support too.

@Deaf-PaH 1 month ago

We need this song….

@ScripturesMadeSimple 1 month ago

Way to go in reading those series of books! Ive read Hugh Nibble's complete work and the Teachings of all of the prophets myself. Started Journal of discourses but have been distracted by other books so have not finished it yet.

@warrensmith2902 1 month ago

I grew up in a day past when you could pass Hugh Nibly, Truman Madson, and other church scholars walking across the quad at BYU. Nor was it uncommon to have read thye History of the Church or the Journal of Discourses.

@iamanempoweredone 1 month ago

Very good interview

@rkwatchauralnautsjediparty7303 1 month ago

45:20 - I’ve only recently, after learning more nitty gritty history, really thought about this. A 14 year went to pray for guidance, met The Most High God and The Lord, was told unexpected advice, then proceeded to only tell those closest to him. And that’s it.

“Neat!”

Until Moroni shows up.

As a kid, you might be under the impression that these events were a few weeks or months apart. Nope. YEARS.

When did he do the treasure digging and commit the follies of youth? Oh, yeah. It was the years between meeting The Supreme Being(s) and when he was commanded to start receiving instruction.

@PierzStyx 1 month ago

What is interesting about the 1833 revelation referencing Oliver's gift (D&C 8) is that it was Joseph himself who changed it. Which suggests it wasn't changed because Oliver worked with dousing rods as that was still widely accepted in 1835.