This is thinking in public, a program dedicated to intelligent conversation about

frontline theological and cultural issues with the people who are shaping

them. I'm Albert Moyle, your host and president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville,

Kentucky.

He's been described as an American Moses, Brigham Young, perhaps the second most famous figure in the history of the Mormon Church,

and one of the most important figures in American religious history.

We're going to be talking about him today, Professor John Turner, Assistant Professor

of History at George Mason University.

He earned his PhD in history from the University of Notre Dame.

His first book, Bill Bright and the Campus Crusade for Christ, explores the history of American

Evangelicalism since 1945, specifically using Campus Crusade

as a lens through which to analyze evangelical efforts to restore American politics and

education to their Christian roots.

His second book, Brigham Young Pioneer Prophet, is a biography of the

second president and prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Published by Harvard University Press, I'm pleased to say today my guest on Thinking in Public is Professor

John Turner. Professor Turner, welcome. Thank you. I'm happy to be on with you.

I think the obvious question to ask someone who did a PhD at the University of

Notre Dame and is a graduate also

over Presbyterian Theological Seminary, has written a book on Bill Bright, is, how in the world did you

get to Brigham Young?

Well, my study of Bill Bright and evangelicalism was an attempt to explore my own religious

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