Episode 303

Ep303: Morehouse Students Speak Out on Controversial Joseph Smith Painting Honored in Chapel Gallery

Students at Morehouse College recently raised concerns over a newly unveiled painting of Joseph Smith to be displayed in the Martin Luther King International Chapel gallery on campus. The artwork, intended as part of an interfaith partnership highlighting individuals who champion racial equality, quickly became the center of a student-led pushback and dialogue about representation, historical memory, and institutional values. Some students questioned why Smith—founder The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—was selected for prominent display at a historically Black college, particularly given the LDS Church’s racist past, restrictions on Black members holding the priesthood prior to 1978, and Smith's own views and writings. For most students, the issue was not merely about a single painting, but about the broader symbolism of honoring religious figures whose institutions and they themselves have complicated histories regarding race. Mormonish Podcast is joined by Alonzo Brinson, 40th President of the Martin Luther King International Chapel Assistants Program to discuss the developing situation at Morehouse College.



This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

About the Podcast

Show artwork for Mormon.ish
Mormon.ish
Living a Joyful Life on the Other Side of Mormonism

Listen for free

About your hosts

Profile picture for Rebecca Bibliotheca

Rebecca Bibliotheca

Rebecca Bibliotheca is a mother or three boys, co-founder of "The Good Book Club," a virtual reading group for post and nuanced Mormons, cohost of "Mormon Media Reviews," and leader of the "Mormon Stories Book Club." She has a Masters of Library and Information Science from BYU and worked for many years at the BYU Library. She and her husband, Tom, also founded a youth theater program that is in its 19th year. Rebecca loves the theater, reading, film, spending times outdoors, church watching and iced coffee!
Profile picture for Landon Brophy

Landon Brophy

Landon Brophy is the proud father of four children, two grandchildren, three ATVs and a boat. He's a former military officer, the co-founder of The Good Book Club, a reading group for post and nuanced Mormons, ann international manager for a global defense contractor, and a worldwide traveler. He and his wife founded "Utah Wanderers," an online travel guide to exploring Utah. Landon loves the outdoors, ATVing, boating, flying, reading, observing the "ongoing restoration" and second Saturdays!