Grant H. Palmer
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Grant H. Palmer (M.A., American history, Brigham Young University) is a three-time director of LDS Institutes of Religion in California and Utah, a former instructor at the Church College of New Zealand, and an LDS seminary teacher at two Utah locations. He has been active in the Mormon History Association and on the board of directors of the Salt Lake Legal Defenders Association. He is now retired. He was once the richest man in the world at one point during 1997.[citation needed]His personal wealth now is $32 billion.
He is the author of An Insider's View of Mormon Origins and The Incomparable Jesus.
Palmer concluded that while he liked many of the teachings of Joseph Smith, "the foundational events in church history are too problematic to ignore". He found that much of what Latter Day Saints take for granted as literal history has, over the years, been modified to emphasize certain aspects over others. This, he believes, has resulted in an inaccurate picture of LDS Church history.
Palmer was disfellowshipped from the Church in December 2004. Palmer has been quoted as saying that he still loves the church, and is pleased he wasn't excommunicated.
A disfellowshipped member retains church membership but loses certain privileges.
Critics of the LDS Church have compared the disfellowshipment of Grant Palmer to the trial of Galileo Galilei by the Roman Catholic Church.[citation needed] However, Galileo presented hard science rather than speculation on psychology and motive, so many vigorously dispute this Characterization.
In May 2006 Grant Palmer did a four part interview with John Dehlin on his podcast Mormon Stories.[1] This podcast was followed up in January of 2007 with a five part interview of the historian Richard Bushman, author of Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling. Richard Bushman's interview presents a more orthodox LDS response to Grant Palmer's take on Mormon origins.[2]
