This week we have a little fun as we take a lighthearted look at Joseph Smith's loyal companion, friend, and pet—Old Major.

Dr. Alexander L. Baugh shares the tenuous nature of historical sleuthing. Often disparate references are all that scholars have to reconstruct the past. In this case, they include a library collection found, a newspaper clipping remembered, a memoir referenced, and letters written, coupled with Dr. Baugh’s expert knowledge of the Missouri period. Each item provides an important piece of the puzzle.

Dr. Baugh hopes his work uncovering the footprints of Old Major will help listeners gain insight into the personality of Joseph Smith and his time in Liberty Jail with his loyal companion. The story of Joseph’s English Mastiff paints a relatable human picture of the Prophet that we don’t often hear, read, or talk about.

This podcast is the first episode in our special Triplecast in remembrance of the Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. If you like what we are doing at LDS Perspectives, be sure and like our Facebook page in order to keep informed of the ongoing work of our scholar-guests.

About Our Guest: Alexander L. Baugh is a professor and chair of the Department of Church History and Doctrine at BYU where he has been a full-time faculty member since 1995. He received his BS from Utah State University and his MA and PhD degrees from Brigham Young University. He specializes in researching and writing about the Missouri period of early LDS Church history (1831–1839). He is the author, editor, or co-editor of eight books. In addition, he has published over eighty historical journal articles, essays, and book chapters. He is a member of the Mormon History Association and the John Whitmer Historical Association, having served as president of that organization in 2006–2007. He is also the past editor of Mormon Historical Studies and past co-director of research for the BYU Religious Studies Center. He also serves as an editor of three volumes of the Document series for the Joseph Smith Papers and is current chair of the department of church history and doctrine at BYU. He is married to the former Susan Johnson and they are the parents of five children. He and his wife reside in Highland, Utah.

Extra Resources:

Episode 84 Transcript

"Joseph Smith's Dog, Old Major"

"Documents Tell of Joseph Smith's Dog"

LDS Perspectives Podcast

Episode 85: Old Major with Alexander L. Baugh

(Released June 27, 2018)

This is not a verbatim transcript.

Some grammar and wording has been modified for clarity.

Laura H. Hales: This is Laura Harris Hales, and I’m here today with Alex Baugh, who is the chair of the Department of Church History at BYU. Can you tell our listeners a little bit about your training and your areas of research focus?

Alex Baugh: Well, it’s good to be with you Laura, and I’m always excited to talk about historical subjects associated with Mormonism. Believe it or not, I went to Utah State and majored in marriage and family studies. I was teaching seminary for the LDS Church in Bountiful when they came out with a master’s degree in western American history. And I thought, “Well, that would be kind of neat.” I got my degree in that, a masters, and then went for a PhD at BYU in American history with an emphasis in Mormon and western American history.

Laura H. Hales: You’re also known as the Missouri guy now with your expertise on the Missouri War and that period of time. You’re one of the editors of a couple of volumes from the Joseph Smith Papers on the Missouri era. But recently you wrote an article for BYU Studies Quarterly (volume 56, issue 4) that we’re going to talk about. It’s on a topic a little bit lighter than the topics you usually write about.

Alex Baugh: I probably ought to tell you how I even came to writing this.

Laura H. Hales: That’s the next question I was going to ask you. Why did you decide, “I’m going to go from writing about the Missouri War to Joseph Smith’s pet”?