Bombs in Salt Lake (Curt Bench 2017 interview)

As we end 2025, I thought I’d share an old interview titled “Bombs in Salt Lake.” This is from my first year with Curt Bench. Curt actually called Mark Hofmann to warn Mark there was a bomber out there, not knowing Mark was the bomber. We’ll discuss Mark Hofmann’s forgeries and murders from 1985, the trial, and more from this 2017 interview. Check out our conversation…

Don’t miss our other conversations on the Hofmann murders & forgeries: https://gospeltangents.com/lds_people_historical/mark-hofmann/

Gospel Tangents

The late Curt Bench, owner of Benchmark Books, provides a firsthand account of the Mark Hofmann forgery and bombing saga. As a former employee of Deseret Book and a business associate of Hofmann, Bench offers a unique perspective on how a “rock star” document hunter transformed into a cold-blooded killer.

The Rise of a Master Forger

Mark Hofmann established himself by “discovering” sensational documents that seemed to overturn traditional Mormon history. Bench details Hofmann’s incredible versatility, noting he could forge the handwriting of men and women from various eras with haunting accuracy. Notable forgeries discussed include the Salamander Letter, which introduced “folk magic” elements like a white salamander into the First Vision narrative, and the Joseph Smith III blessing, which appeared to confirm RLDS claims regarding succession. Hofmann achieved this by using period paper stolen from libraries and aging his ink with chemical recipes found in forgery manuals.

Tragic Day of Bombs in Salt Lake

On October 15, 1985, pipe bombs killed Steve Christensen and Kathy Sheets. In a surreal twist of history, Bench recounts how he actually called Hofmann to warn him after the first explosion, believing his friend might be a target of a business-related attack. Hofmann feigned shock during the call, even as Bench urged him to get his family into hiding. It was only after a third bomb injured Hofmann himself the following day that investigators—and eventually Bench—realized that Hofmann was the perpetrator, not another victim.

A Shadow Over History

The fallout of the Hofmann scandal was immense. Bench explains that Hofmann’s debts, largely tied to a non-existent “McLellin Collection,” drove him to murder as his financial schemes collapsed. The scandal initially caused the Church to restrict access to its archives out of fear and suspicion. However, Bench reflects on the “renaissance” of transparency that followed, noting that the modern era of the Joseph Smith Papers and the Gospel Topics Essays represents a significant shift toward the light of day.

Lessons in Trust

Bench concludes with a deeply personal reflection on trust. Despite being “duped” along with Church leaders, experts, and Hofmann’s own family, Bench decided that he could not live his life in a state of permanent paranoia. He emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and moving forward, as exemplified by Steve Christensen’s father, Mac, who later helped outfit Hofmann’s son for a mission.

Don’t miss our other conversations on the Hofmann murders & forgeries: https://gospeltangents.com/lds_people_historical/mark-hofmann/

Gospel Tangents

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