Jerald & Sandra Tanner - Despised and Beloved Critics of Mormonism | MSP Book Club | Ep. 1693

The Tanners' Legacy: How Two Mormon Critics Shaped the Conversation About LDS History

For decades, Jerald and Sandra Tanner operated in the shadows of Salt Lake City, photocopying documents, circulating research, and asking uncomfortable questions about Latter-day Saint history. Their work as despised and beloved critics of Mormonism remains one of the most consequential yet misunderstood chapters in contemporary religious scholarship. A new biography, discussed extensively on the Mormon Stories Podcast, reveals how this husband-and-wife research team became central figures in reshaping how both members and outsiders understand the LDS Church's historical record.

The Tanners' influence extended far beyond what most observers realize. They weren't simply anti-Mormon activists, they were methodical archivists who forced the institutional Church to confront contradictions it had long concealed. Understanding their story matters because it illuminates a fundamental tension: the gap between official Church narratives and documented historical evidence.

Background: From Faithful Members to Persistent Questioners

Sandra Tanner came from a prominent Salt Lake City Mormon family. Her grandmother and mother held unconventional views about Church history, they were genuinely interested in understanding what had actually happened, not what institutional narratives claimed. When Sandra met Jerald Tanner, he was already absorbed in early Mormon documents, convinced that significant problems existed in the Church's foundational accounts.

Their courtship itself was unconventional. Rather than typical dating, Sandra and Jerald spent time reviewing his research and photocopies of historical documents. This shared intellectual project became the foundation of their partnership and their life's work.