Ep258: The Erie Canal's Pivotal Influence on Joseph Smith and Mormonism

On this episode of Mormonish Podcast, Rebecca and Landon are joined by the wonderful Doug Vincent to discuss a much overlooked powerful influence on Joseph Smith and the origins of Mormonism itself, the Erie Canal.

During Joseph Smith's formative years, the Smith family lived in Palmyra New York. In describing Joseph's youth, there is little mention of the influence living so close to such a wonder of modern engineering, the Erie Canal, had on him.

The Erie Canal was the internet of its day. It was a super highway of goods, services, news, people, ideas, religion, ancient curiosities, and more. Joseph's family sold cakes and root beer in a stand along the canal and would have had direct contact with all of this. The canal had three stops in Palmyra so its influence permeated the entire town of Palmyra.

The Erie Canal is not only responsible for the phenomenon known as The Burned Over District, where multiple religions and movements began, but it shaped the foundational ideas of Mormonism itself and "educated" Joseph in a ways that are often overlooked in the narrative of an "uneducated farm boy."