“Ever wonder what it takes to challenge established narratives?” That’s a question Jerald and Sandra Tanner answered when they founded Utah Lighthouse Ministry Bookstore. This bookstore, once located at 1358 South West Temple in Salt Lake City, wasn’t just a place to buy books. It was a hub for critical research on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Utah Lighthouse Ministry Bookstore began its journey in the 1960s. The Tanners started it as a newly married couple. They were curious about early Mormon history. Their research led them to create Modern Microfilm Co. This company aimed to provide inexpensive photo reprints of historical documents.
The “parlor of their old Victorian house” transformed into a small bookstore. Over time, the Tanners realized the need to expand. In the 1990s, they bought a house next door. They remodeled it and moved the bookstore there in 1995.
Sandra Tanner explained that the goal of Utah Lighthouse Ministry was to provide information about the Mormon Church that the Church wasn’t providing themselves. The Tanners felt the Church had too tight a control on who could access which documents. By making these publications available, they aimed to open access to important information.
Utah Lighthouse Ministry offered books, research, and photocopies of original Mormon documents. The Tanners authored over forty books on Mormonism. Their extensive research made them well-known in the field. A major book they wrote was “Mormonism Shadow or Reality”. It is a 600-page research book covering changes throughout the years in Mormonism.
The Utah Lighthouse Ministry became a non-profit organization on January 1 1983. Before that it was known as Modern Microfilm Co. Jerald and Sandra Tanner both had strong Mormon family histories. Jerald was the great-great-grandson of John Tanner. John Tanner was known for his financial contributions to Joseph Smith. Sandra Tanner is a great-great-granddaughter of Brigham Young. Brigham Young was the second president of the Mormon Church.
The Utah Lighthouse Ministry Bookstore provided a space for open discussion. It became beneficial for many experiencing a faith crisis. Sandra Tanner found joy in helping those who came seeking answers.
Though the physical Utah Lighthouse Ministry Bookstore closed on February 28 2023, its legacy continues online. Sandra Tanner retired but continues to run the online portion of the ministry. The website still offers resources documenting problems with Mormonism and comparing LDS doctrines with Christianity. The Utah Lighthouse Ministry served as a beacon of independent research. It encouraged individuals to explore Mormon history with open eyes.