Mormonism Live! – Radio Free Mormon

One LDS couple shares their experience about how the LDS Church tries to prevent members from sharing uncomfortable truths with each other. Chapters5:00 Guest introduction15:00 The video that started it all24:00 Voting opposed 44:00 Fast & Testimony Meeting50:00 Canceling church58:00 Chatbot and circular reasoning59:30 Aftermath of the testimony meeting1:02:30 The nightmare1:05:00 Email from the Bishop1:15:15 Stake President meets him in the parking lot1:17:00 Another fast & testimony meeting1:37:25 The Cops show up at the house1:50:00 A Cowardly Letter from Kirton McConkie2:03:45 The Texts 2:17:15 In Closing2:26:00 Calls Episodes mentioned: The Rules of the Game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c4md93lOm8Why Mormons Are So Fake: Radio Free Mormon: 079: Why Are Mormons So Fake – Radio Free MormonLDS AI Chat: LDSBot.com ___________________Welcome to “Mormonism Live,” the ultimate talk show that delves into the messiness of Mormon history and theology while also tackling current events with a live call-in section at the end of every episode. Hosted by two trusted voices in the Mormon community, Radio Free Mormon (RFM) and Bill Reel, this podcast has been taking on the tough issues and exploring the nuances of the LDS faith for years. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: https://mormonismlive.org/2020/12/mormonism-live/?default_interval=mTake a look at our Merch! https://www.exmoshirts.com/collections/mormondiscussionsSign up for our (mostly) quarterly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hrnr4P Our Platforms:MormonDiscussions.org, MormonismLIVE.orgSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19LxPcTdYUeBhEqUaZNCFmApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormonism-live/id1546629841 Connect on Social Media:Private facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1307897462893835Insta: https://www.instagram.com/mormondiscussion/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormondiscussionDiscord (hosted by Mormon Stories): https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjFhttps://twitter.com/MormonDisc Contact us: [email protected] #MormonismLive #MormonDiscussions #RadioFreeMormon Mormon Discussion Inc is a 501(c)(3) and is in the arena of journalistic work and is part of a free press. Any of the awesome content or the solid opinions expressed, implied or included in Mormon Discussion Inc’s podcast lineup and production are solely those of Mormon Discussion Inc. and/or its program hosts and not those of Intellectual Reserve, Inc. or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Embark with “Mormonism Live” on a thought-provoking journey with its hosts Bill Reel and RFM in their podcast, “Is Mormonism True Or Is It A Fraud?” as they investigate the LDS Church Truth claims, how those claims run into a wall of contradictions, and how the LDS Church simply moved the goalposts so as to make Mormonism indiscernible from a fraud. This podcast sheds light on the problematic issues that have cast shadows of doubt upon the LDS faithful as Bill Reel and RFM take you on a captivating exploration of the Church’s ever-evolving framing of these issues. Discover how, when faced with the doubts and faith crises of LDS believers, the Church and its apologists have skillfully retreated on each issue, artfully crafting new narratives that blur the line between truth and potential fraud. The podcast unravels Joseph Smith and the Mormon Church’s truth claims, examining the complex history that surrounds the foundational beliefs of the LDS faith. In “Is Mormonism True Or Is It A Fraud?” you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the delicate balance between faith and skepticism within the LDS community. Join us as we navigate the intricate landscape of Mormonism, questioning the past while seeking to uncover the truth in the present.RESOURCES:  Mormon quotes about Adam God theory (mormonthink.com)

Dr. John Lundwall explains how the Book of Mormon not only contains anachronisms, but is actually an anachronism itself. Chapters 08:00 John’s intro 10:10 Orality & Literacy 11:12 Entire presentation summarized in one slide 23:00 Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man 24:00 The Medium is the message 27:15 Printing Press as Medium 32:00 Oral and Literate Mediums 41:20 Oral Imprinting Press 52:30 Secondary Orality 57:15 Metal Plates: History or Ritual? 58:00 Literate thinking 1:00:00 Mythologizing History 1:04:30 Evolution of Religion 1:07:00 Evolution of the Word 1:20:00 Joseph Smith Assumes History is Literate 1:31:30 Nephite & Lamanite Civilizations are Fully Literate Welcome to “Mormonism Live,” the ultimate talk show that delves into the messiness of Mormon history and theology while also tackling current events with a live call-in section at the end of every episode. Hosted by two trusted voices in the Mormon community, Radio Free Mormon (RFM) and Bill Reel, this podcast has been taking on the tough issues and exploring the nuances of the LDS faith for years. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: https://mormonismlive.org/2020/12/mormonism-live/?default_interval=mTake a look at our Merch! https://www.exmoshirts.com/collections/mormondiscussionsSign up for our (mostly) quarterly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hrnr4P Our Platforms:MormonDiscussions.org, MormonismLIVE.orgSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19LxPcTdYUeBhEqUaZNCFmApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormonism-live/id1546629841 Connect on Social Media:Private facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1307897462893835Insta: https://www.instagram.com/mormondiscussion/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormondiscussionDiscord (hosted by Mormon Stories): https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjFhttps://twitter.com/MormonDisc Contact us: [email protected] MormonismLive #MormonDiscussions #RadioFreeMormon Mormon Discussion Inc is a 501(c)(3) and is in the arena of journalistic work and is part of a free press. Any of the awesome content or the solid opinions expressed, implied or included in Mormon Discussion Inc’s podcast lineup and production are solely those of Mormon Discussion Inc. and/or its program hosts and not those of Intellectual Reserve, Inc. or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In this episode, we delve deep into the controversial history of the LDS (Latter-day Saints) Church’s priesthood ban, shedding light on the untold truths and deceptions that shaped this discriminatory practice. From its mysterious origins to its lasting impact, we uncover a story that challenges the foundation of faith and reveals the complex interplay of faith, culture, and racism.RESOURCES:Lester Bush’s original Article – https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V08N01_13.pdfLester Bush – https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=mormonhistory pg 229https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1013&context=arrington_stwriting  Elder Oaks “Be One Celebration” – https://youtu.be/ZXrlHULMFcE  Bruce R McConkie “All Are Alike unto God” – https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/bruce-r-mcconkie/alike-unto-god/Bruce R. McConkie April 1980 “The Coming Tests and Trials and Glory”https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1980/04/the-coming-tests-and-trials-and-glory?lang=eng Randy Bott – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_L._BottOfficial Statement of the Church https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/race-church Elder Holland – https://www.pbs.org/mormons/interviews/holland.html2007  “The Mormons” Abraham 1: 21-22, 26-27 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/abr/1?lang=eng Moses Chapter 7: 6-8https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/moses/7?lang=eng  Joseph Smith “Messenger & Advocate – pg 289 https://archive.org/details/latterdaysaintsm01unse/page/n303/mode/2up   Brigham Young  address before the legislative assembly of the Territory of Utah on January 6, 1852 https://archive.org/details/CR100317B0001F0017/mode/2uphttps://www.theroot.com/do-most-whites-have-traces-of-african-dna-as-i-do-1790874465 https://www.vox.com/2014/12/22/7431391/guess-where-white-americans-have-the-most-african-ancestry  Dr Lowry Nelson Correspondence – https://www.mormonstories.org/lowry-nelson/ Race and The Priesthood Gospel Topic Essay https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/race-and-the-priesthood?lang=eng  1969 First Presidency Letter – http://exhibits.usu.edu/files/original/aecf91ae5ab5e2af3892cd200971fd39.pdfMissed In Sunday School – https://missedinsunday.com/category/memes/race/  Brigham Young’s Prophecy – https://jod.mrm.org/2/136  Racist LDS Teacings – https://bib.irr.org/brigham-young-on-race-later-comments  ___________________Welcome to “Mormonism Live,” the ultimate talk show that delves into the messiness of Mormon history and theology while also tackling current events with a live call-in section at the end of every episode. Hosted by two trusted voices in the Mormon community, Radio Free Mormon (RFM) and Bill Reel, this podcast has been taking on the tough issues and exploring the nuances of the LDS faith for years.Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: https://mormonismlive.org/2020/12/mormonism-live/?default_interval=mTake a look at our Merch! https://www.exmoshirts.com/collections/mormondiscussionsSign up for our (mostly) quarterly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hrnr4POur Platforms:MormonDiscussions.org, MormonismLIVE.orgSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19LxPcTdYUeBhEqUaZNCFmApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormonism-live/id1546629841 Connect on Social Media:Private facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1307897462893835Insta: https://www.instagram.com/mormondiscussion/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormondiscussionDiscord (hosted by Mormon Stories): https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjFhttps://twitter.com/MormonDiscContact us: [email protected]#MormonismLive #MormonDiscussions #RadioFreeMormonMormon Discussion Inc is a 501(c)(3) and is in the arena of journalistic work and is part of a free press. Any of the awesome content or the solid opinions expressed, implied or included in Mormon Discussion Inc’s podcast lineup and production are solely those of Mormon Discussion Inc. and/or its program hosts and not those of Intellectual Reserve, Inc. or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Dismantling Brian Hales’ Book of Mormon Defense: ML: 141 In this episode, hosts RFM and Bill Reel team up with LDS scholar Dan Vogel to critically examine the arguments put forth by LDS apologist Brian Hales in defense of the Book of Mormon’s authenticity. They discuss Hales’ reasons and defenses of why the BOM can’t possibly be a work of fiction authored without God’s involvement. The conversation offers a scholarly exploration of the strengths and weaknesses of Hales’ defense, encouraging listeners to engage in thoughtful analysis of the Book of Mormon’s origins. RESOURCES: https://www.rickgrunder.com/parallels/mp193.pdfhttps://missedinsunday.com/memes/scripture/paul-vs-moroni/https://missedinsunday.com/memes/other/adamic-language/https://missedinsunday.com/memes/scripture/plagiarism-in-book-of-mormon/https://missedinsunday.com/memes/scripture/king-james-bible/http://www.fullerconsideration.com/TempleNameOracle/https://missedinsunday.com/memes/scripture/mark-16/ ___________________Welcome to “Mormonism Live,” the ultimate talk show that delves into the messiness of Mormon history and theology while also tackling current events with a live call-in section at the end of every episode. Hosted by two trusted voices in the Mormon community, Radio Free Mormon (RFM) and Bill Reel, this podcast has been taking on the tough issues and exploring the nuances of the LDS faith for years.Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: https://mormonismlive.org/2020/12/mormonism-live/?default_interval=mTake a look at our Merch! https://www.exmoshirts.com/collections/mormondiscussionsSign up for our (mostly) quarterly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hrnr4POur Platforms:MormonDiscussions.org, MormonismLIVE.orgSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19LxPcTdYUeBhEqUaZNCFmApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormonism-live/id1546629841 Connect on Social Media:Private facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1307897462893835Insta: https://www.instagram.com/mormondiscussion/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormondiscussionDiscord (hosted by Mormon Stories): https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjFhttps://twitter.com/MormonDiscContact us: [email protected]#MormonismLive #MormonDiscussions #RadioFreeMormonMormon Discussion Inc is a 501(c)(3) and is in the arena of journalistic work and is part of a free press. Any of the awesome content or the solid opinions expressed, implied or included in Mormon Discussion Inc’s podcast lineup and production are solely those of Mormon Discussion Inc. and/or its program hosts and not those of Intellectual Reserve, Inc. or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.___________________

Brian Hales & The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Book Review: ML: 140 We lost Dan due to storms affecting his internet connection, so join us next week for part 2! In this week’s episode, Mormon apologist Brian Hales enters the scene to deliver a 2-star review of “Charisma under Pressure,” the groundbreaking book by Mormon critic Dan Vogel. As the battle of perspectives unfolds, it becomes apparent that Brian’s review may not be all it seems, raising questions about intellectual honesty and genuine consideration. While giving us all pause to consider the believing mindset and church loyalty of its apologists while also considering the fine line between passionate belief and intentional misleading. Chapters09:00 The Review17:30 Brian Hales by the numbers23:25 The first paragraph28:00 Brian makes the caricatures 32:30 Second paragraph34:15 God of the (dictation) gap48:00 RFM on the revelations Joseph also got50:00 BoM a “complex” book1:08:45 Joseph’s Composition and Oratory skills1:27:45 Bill goes over proof he is a liar1:30:45 Caller: Brian, words aren’t miracles1:39:20 NaNoWriMo1:45:25 Caller: I wrote my 77,000 Master’s thesis as a mom of 5 in two months Welcome to “Mormonism Live,” the ultimate talk show that delves into the messiness of Mormon history and theology while also tackling current events with a live call-in section at the end of every episode. Hosted by two trusted voices in the Mormon community, Radio Free Mormon (RFM) and Bill Reel, this podcast has been taking on the tough issues and exploring the nuances of the LDS faith for years.Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: https://mormonismlive.org/2020/12/mormonism-live/?default_interval=mTake a look at our Merch! https://www.exmoshirts.com/collections/mormondiscussionsSign up for our (mostly) quarterly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hrnr4P Our Platforms:MormonDiscussions.org, MormonismLIVE.orgSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19LxPcTdYUeBhEqUaZNCFmApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormonism-live/id1546629841 Connect on Social Media:Private facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1307897462893835Insta: https://www.instagram.com/mormondiscussion/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormondiscussionDiscord (hosted by Mormon Stories): https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjFhttps://twitter.com/MormonDisc Contact us: [email protected] MormonismLive #MormonDiscussions #RadioFreeMormon Mormon Discussion Inc is a 501(c)(3) and is in the arena of journalistic work and is part of a free press. Any of the awesome content or the solid opinions expressed, implied or included in Mormon Discussion Inc’s podcast lineup and production are solely those of Mormon Discussion Inc. and/or its program hosts and not those of Intellectual Reserve, Inc. or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Step off the beaten path of Mormon history and venture into the realm of relics & artifacts that shed light on lesser-known aspects of the Mormon faith. Delve into the enigmatic history of handkerchiefs, coffin canes, along with other obscure artifacts that whisper compelling tales from the annals of Mormon History. Chapters: 13:00 Zelph Arrowhead24:00ish Everything Joseph trips over ends up supremely significant26:00 Masonic Apron 27:40 Joseph’s Red Silk Handkerchief31:20 Joseph Smith Nauvoo Legion Attire32:45 Joseph’s Pepperbox Pistol34:30 Hyrum’s clothing at Martyrdom and the box the plates were stored in37:10 Coffin Canes54:00 David Whitmer Chest & Martin Harris Leather Wallet54:45 John Taylor Watch57:45 Mormon Gold Coins59:00 They are substandard01:03:10 Hyrum Smith’s Sunglasses01:03:55 Book of Abraham Printing Plates01:11:10 Oliver Cowdery’s Rod of Aaron01:20:00 James Rafael update01:26:50 Caller: Captain Moroni01:32:30 Caller: Kate on Nauvoo pageant Welcome to “Mormonism Live,” the ultimate talk show that delves into the messiness of Mormon history and theology while also tackling current events with a live call-in section at the end of every episode. Hosted by two trusted voices in the Mormon community, Radio Free Mormon (RFM) and Bill Reel, this podcast has been taking on the tough issues and exploring the nuances of the LDS faith for years.Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: https://mormonismlive.org/2020/12/mormonism-live/?default_interval=mTake a look at our Merch! https://www.exmoshirts.com/collections/mormondiscussionsSign up for our (mostly) quarterly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hrnr4POur Platforms: MormonDiscussions.org, MormonismLIVE.orgSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19LxPcTdYUeBhEqUaZNCFmApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormonism-live/id1546629841 Connect on Social Media: Private facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1307897462893835Insta: https://www.instagram.com/mormondiscussion/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormondiscussionDiscord (hosted by Mormon Stories): https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjFhttps://twitter.com/MormonDiscContact us: [email protected] MormonismLive #MormonDiscussions #RadioFreeMormon Mormon Discussion Inc is a 501(c)(3) and is in the arena of journalistic work and is part of a free press. Any of the awesome content or the solid opinions expressed, implied or included in Mormon Discussion Inc’s podcast lineup and production are solely those of Mormon Discussion Inc. and/or its program hosts and not those of Intellectual Reserve, Inc. or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

RFM and Bill Reel are joined by Spencer who shares the latest from the Widows Mite Report (https://widowsmitereport.wordpress.com/) and share their latest reveal calling into question the perception that the Deseret Mutual Benefit Administration (DMBA) was at the same time Ensign Peak was being investigated, allegedly doing the same funny business as Ensign Peak was in not filing 13F forms disclosing investment assets. Spencer runs us through the data and informs us that an anonymous person has filed complaints with the SEC. He shows that Beneficial Life may have also been doing the same thing. We are informed that a familiar face was on the board of DMBA and we also learn about “Plan Z”. While the Church has considered the SEC escapade closed, it appears that these prophets may not have seen around corners. Widow’s Mite Report on the DMBA – https://widowsmitereport.wordpress.com/dmba/ LDS Charities Report showing Roger Clarke on the board – https://widowsmitereport.wordpress.com/ldsc/ SEC Report – https://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin/2023/34-96951.pdf Church’s official Response to previous infraction – https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-issues-statement-on-sec-settlement Mormonism Live covering the SEC scandal – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81zb4ZQx6gM

Join us on a captivating episode as we explore the multifaceted life of Samuel Brannan, a charismatic leader who played a pivotal role in both in Mormonism and the California Gold Rush. We trace Brannan’s journey from his membership in Mormonism, to his leading a group of Mormon pioneers on the perilous voyage of the Brooklyn, and his transformation into a savvy businessman and perhaps California’s first millionaire. Learn about the voyage of the Brooklyn as we examine the motivations behind this perilous journey, tracing it back to the religious aspirations of the Mormon community at the time. Delve into the trials and triumphs faced by the passengers, the challenges of sea travel during that era, and the subsequent impact of the voyage on the development of Mormon settlements in California. We discuss Brannan and the Mormons arrival in California, and Brannan’s subsequent involvement in the booming industry around the California Gold Rush. Discover the complex legacy of Samuel Brannan, whose actions left an indelible mark on both religious and economic landscapes. This episode uncovers the unique intersection of faith, manifest destiny, and migration in American history.RESOURCES: Voyage of the Brooklyn Saints – WikipediaMormon pioneers – Wikipedia History of Ship Brooklyn Celebrated in California (churchofjesuschrist.org) Ship Brooklyn | California Pioneer Heritage Foundation Quest to Find the Painting of the Ship Brooklyn (familysearch.org) Brooklyn, California – Wikipedia Ship Brooklyn • FamilySearch https://scholarlypublishingcollective.org/uip/dial/article-pdf/21/3/46/1959236/45228009.pdf True Community: Latter-day Saints in San Bernardino, 1851–1857 (churchofjesuschrist.org) John M. Horner – Wikipedia Ship Brooklyn Historical Marker (hmdb.org) California’s Pioneer Era 1846-1886 | California Pioneer Heritage Foundation California Beginnings: 1846 | Religious Studies Center (byu.edu) LDS Church in California | ChurchOfJesusChristWikia | Fandom Mormon Pioneers 1846 ship Brooklyn (geni.com) So. Cal. Settlers | California Pioneer Heritage Foundation Brooklyn – Oakland – LocalWiki California Beginnings: 1846 | Religious Studies Center (byu.edu) The Mormon Battalion: Recent discoveries help unravel mysteries after 175 years – LDS Living Samuel Brannan and the Gold Rush Historical Marker (hmdb.org) Samuel Brannan – Wikipedia Latter-day Scoundrel Sam Brannan (historynet.com) Thomas Rhoads | California Pioneer Heritage Foundation Clarksville | California Pioneer Heritage Foundation The San Bernardino Colony: 1851–57 | Religious Studies Center (byu.edu) When Mormons dominated Yerba Buena (sfgate.com) New Hope | California Pioneer Heritage Foundation WT-Guide-to-Mormon-Historical-Sites.pdf (museumoflocalhistory.org) The Mormon Ship Brooklyn Sailing into 1800s San Francisco – The Maritime Heritage Project Mormon Trails (churchofjesuschrist.org) California Living History | Welcome… California, Pioneer Settlements in – The Encyclopedia of Mormonism (byu.edu) Picturing history: Sam Brannan and the Brooklyn – Deseret News The Saga of the Brooklyn: 1845–46 | Religious Studies Center (byu.edu) Samuel Brannan – Mormonism, The Mormon Church, Beliefs, & Religion – MormonWiki viewcontent.cgi (byu.edu) PAGE ONE — S.F.’s Devilish Mormon Finally Gets His Due (sfgate.com) Herald of the Gold Rush: Sam Brannan on JSTOR Samuel “Sam” Brannan (1819-1889) – Find a Grave Memorial https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dKtGvl-urzU/YLxqHGhBGtI/AAAAAAAAIlA/cXCAAxPk03ACy4EiMKdoXLc5zKpF2H3AACLcBGAsYHQ/s1950/Brannan%2Bcal.jpg Samuel Brannan – The First Millionaire of the West | Econproph [U.S. Economic History]https://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/collection/NCMP1820-1846/id/9649/rec/3https://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/collection/NCMP1820-1846/id/9668/rec/3___________________Welcome to “Mormonism Live,” the ultimate talk show that delves into the messiness of Mormon history and theology while also tackling current events with a live call-in section at the end of every episode. Hosted by two trusted voices in the Mormon community, Radio Free Mormon (RFM) and Bill Reel, this podcast has been taking on the tough issues and exploring the nuances of the LDS faith for years.Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: https://mormonismlive.org/2020/12/mormonism-live/?default_interval=mTake a look at our Merch! https://www.exmoshirts.com/collections/mormondiscussionsSign up for our (mostly) quarterly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hrnr4POur Platforms:MormonDiscussions.org, MormonismLIVE.orgSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19LxPcTdYUeBhEqUaZNCFmApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormonism-live/id1546629841 Connect on Social Media:Private facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1307897462893835Insta: https://www.instagram.com/mormondiscussion/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.co

In this episode of Mormonism LIVE we delve into the original research of this little known episode in Church history involving the Theatre, Temple Endowments, and a Ouija board Message leading to baptisms. RESOURCES:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ARFAX-zs-C36Wgs3GYcCO8kPpis1MnWA/viewhttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1ucVVdrjBDAJwiIns-po2_EXM7d9u_R01/view?pli=1 Welcome to “Mormonism Live,” the ultimate talk show that delves into the messiness of Mormon history and theology while also tackling current events with a live call-in section at the end of every episode. Hosted by two trusted voices in the Mormon community, Radio Free Mormon (RFM) and Bill Reel, this podcast has been taking on the tough issues and exploring the nuances of the LDS faith for years. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: https://mormonismlive.org/2020/12/mormonism-live/?default_interval=m Take a look at our Merch! https://www.exmoshirts.com/collections/mormondiscussions Sign up for our (mostly) quarterly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hrnr4P OurPlatforms:MormonDiscussions.org, MormonismLIVE.orgSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19LxPcTdYUeBhEqUaZNCFmApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormonism-live/id1546629841Connect on Social Media:Private facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1307897462893835Insta: https://www.instagram.com/mormondiscussion/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormondiscussionDiscord (hosted by Mormon Stories): https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjFhttps://twitter.com/MormonDiscContact us: [email protected] MormonismLive #MormonDiscussions #RadioFreeMormon Mormon Discussion Inc is a 501(c)(3) and is in the arena of journalistic work and is part of a free press. Any of the awesome content or the solid opinions expressed, implied or included in Mormon Discussion Inc’s podcast lineup and production are solely those of Mormon Discussion Inc. and/or its program hosts and not those of Intellectual Reserve, Inc. or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Join us as we explore the intriguing viewpoints of Professor Thomas Wayment and podcaster Rick Bennett, who present perspectives that deviate from past LDS theology regarding the King James Bible (KJV) and the Joseph Smith Translation (JST). We analyze their claims, examining the ways in which their perspectives challenge traditional understandings of these revered texts within the context of Latter-Day Saint belief. Through this exploration, we uncover the complex interplay between scholarship, personal interpretations, and the evolving landscape of Mormon theology.RESOURCES: https://youtu.be/L6kkhSHX4Okhttps://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/king-james-bible-400-years https://rsc.byu.edu/king-james-bible-restoration/latter-day-saint-edition-king-james-bible https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Mormon_and_the_King_James_Bible https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1992/08/news-of-the-church/first-presidency-statement-on-the-king-james-version-of-the-bible?lang=eng https://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Joseph_Smith_Translation_of_the_Bible_(JST) https://www.dialoguejournal.com/articles/why-the-king-james-version-from-the-common-to-the-official-bible-of-mormonism/ https://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Bible https://rsc.byu.edu/sites/default/files/pub_content/pdf/38%20The%20King%20James%20Translation%20of%20the%20New%20Testament.pdf https://youtu.be/LyhV-E79ccc?t=158 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyhV-E79ccc&t=410shttps://rsc.byu.edu/book/joseph-smith-translationhttps://rsc.byu.edu/how-new-testament-came-be/adding-taking-away-without-cause-matthew-522https://rsc.byu.edu/joseph-smith-translation/doctrinal-restoration https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V22N02_21.pdf https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/Dialogue_V36N01_171.pdf The clips from this show were used from The Gospel Tangents Podcast Episode titled“Thomas Wayment Responds to Adam Clarke Controversy (1 of 2)” https://gospeltangents.com/2023/05/thomas-wayment-adam-clarke/___________________Welcome to “Mormonism Live,” the ultimate talk show that delves into the messiness of Mormon history and theology while also tackling current events with a live call-in section at the end of every episode. Hosted by two trusted voices in the Mormon community, Radio Free Mormon (RFM) and Bill Reel, this podcast has been taking on the tough issues and exploring the nuances of the LDS faith for years.Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: https://mormonismlive.org/2020/12/mormonism-live/?default_interval=mTake a look at our Merch! https://www.exmoshirts.com/collections/mormondiscussions Sign up for our (mostly) quarterly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hrnr4POur Platforms:MormonDiscussions.org, MormonismLIVE.orgSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19LxPcTdYUeBhEqUaZNCFmApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormonism-live/id1546629841Connect on Social Media:Private facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1307897462893835Insta: https://www.instagram.com/mormondiscussion/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormondiscussionDiscord (hosted by Mormon Stories): https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjFhttps://twitter.com/MormonDiscContact us: [email protected]#MormonismLive #MormonDiscussions #RadioFreeMormonMormon Discussion Inc is a 501(c)(3) and is in the arena of journalistic work and is part of a free press. Any of the awesome content or the solid opinions expressed, implied or included in Mormon Discussion Inc’s podcast lineup and production are solely those of Mormon Discussion Inc. and/or its program hosts and not those of Intellectual Reserve, Inc. or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.___________________

Mormon Polygamy Nightmare: Mormonism Live: 134 Nightmares are scary and some nightmares are real. In this gripping episode of Mormonism LIVE, we delve into the extraordinary journey of a woman who lived within a Mormon polygamous relationship. Through an intimate and eye-opening interview, she shares her harrowing experiences, the challenges she faced, and the inspiring story of her escape from the clutches of polygamy As the conversation unfolds, listeners are transported into the center of a polygamous family that is shrouded in secrecy and patriarchal dominance. We delve into the origins of her involvement in the polygamous relationship, exploring how religious beliefs were exploited to justify the practice and perpetuate control over women. Tune in to this riveting episode and join us on an emotional and enlightening journey as we unveil the shadows that hide behind closed doors, empower survivors, and shed light on the resilience of the human spirit.Chapters: 03:15 Meet “Abby” 04:15 The hunt for a straight, single man leads to…Mormonism?11:30 “the Lord wants us in Las Vegas”14:30 Becoming bored with Mormonism28:25 Hunting for new wives34:15 “What is going through your head?”37:00 Abby’s husband “earns” his 2nd anointing but Abby refuses42:00 Trying to bring home Filipina wife 45:15 Cancer diagnosis & death57:30 21 minutes and 23 seconds ()01:02:00 Abby finally starts looks01:03:00 Mormonism LIVE is the final straw 01:06:05 Lessons learned01:21:15 Live callsMormonism LIVE & the Occult: https://youtube.com/live/ULG2Uk3ggDg___________________Welcome to “Mormonism Live,” the ultimate talk show that delves into the messiness of Mormon history and theology while also tackling current events with a live call-in section at the end of every episode. Hosted by two trusted voices in the Mormon community, Radio Free Mormon (RFM) and Bill Reel, this podcast has been taking on the tough issues and exploring the nuances of the LDS faith for years.Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: https://mormonismlive.org/2020/12/mormonism-live/?default_interval=mTake a look at our Merch! https://www.exmoshirts.com/collections/mormondiscussionsSign up for our (mostly) quarterly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hrnr4POur Platforms:MormonDiscussions.org, MormonismLIVE.orgSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19LxPcTdYUeBhEqUaZNCFmApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormonism-live/id1546629841 Connect on Social Media:Private facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1307897462893835Insta: https://www.instagram.com/mormondiscussion/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormondiscussionDiscord (hosted by Mormon Stories): https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjFhttps://twitter.com/MormonDiscContact us: [email protected]#MormonismLive #MormonDiscussions #RadioFreeMormonMormon Discussion Inc is a 501(c)(3) and is in the arena of journalistic work and is part of a free press. Any of the awesome content or the solid opinions expressed, implied or included in Mormon Discussion Inc’s podcast lineup and production are solely those of Mormon Discussion Inc. and/or its program hosts and not those of Intellectual Reserve, Inc. or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Mormonism Live crew takes a much needed break for June 21st being joined by upcoming “Mormon” comedian Ben Brown known as “The Fresh King Benjamin”. Ben’s humor deeply connects to his own journey in and deconstruction of fundamentalist Mormonism and the episode is sure to be an enjoyable entertaining evening. Ben’s Stand Up: https://youtu.be/XBx5g6FOEaM Ben’sInsta:https://www.instagram.com/thefreshkingbenjamin/Ben’s Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thefreshkingbenjaminBen’s website: https://www.thefreshkingbenjamin.com/Support Ben’s charity for families leaving polygamy: https://cherishfamilies.org/get-involved/donate.html Welcome to “Mormonism Live,” the ultimate talk show that delves into the messiness of Mormon history and theology while also tackling current events with a live call-in section at the end of every episode.Hosted by two trusted voices in the Mormon community, Radio Free Mormon (RFM) and Bill Reel, this podcast has been taking on the tough issues and exploring the nuances of the LDS faith for years. Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: https://mormonismlive.org/2020/12/mormonism-live/?default_interval=mTake a look at our Merch! https://www.exmoshirts.com/collections/mormondiscussionsSign up for our (mostly) quarterly newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hrnr4P Our Platforms:MormonDiscussions.org, MormonismLIVE.orgSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/19LxPcTdYUeBhEqUaZNCFmApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormonism-live/id1546629841Connect on Social Media: Private facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1307897462893835Insta: https://www.instagram.com/mormondiscussion/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mormondiscussion Discord (hosted by Mormon Stories): https://discord.com/invite/kuX5p6yyjFhttps://twitter.com/MormonDiscContact us: [email protected] #MormonismLive #MormonDiscussions #RadioFreeMormonMormon Discussion Inc is a 501(c)(3) and is in the arena of journalistic work and is part of a free press. Any of the awesome content or the solid opinions expressed, implied or included in Mormon Discussion Inc’s podcast lineup and production are solely those of Mormon Discussion Inc. and/or its program hosts and not those of Intellectual Reserve, Inc. or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

Dan Vogel sits down with RFM & Bill not only to talk about his new book “Charisma under Pressure: Joseph Smith, American Prophet, 1831–1839” but to also flesh out some of the incredible ideas in his recent YouTube video “Joseph Smith, the Necromancer”.RESOURCES:Twilit Grotto — Esoteric Archives – esotericarchives.com/Old Bountiful Museum – World of Urban Legends – worldofurbanlegends.com/old-bountiful-museum/Oracles and Talismans, Forgery and Pansophia: Joseph Smith. Jr. as a Renaissance Magus – General Discussions – Mormon Dialogue & Discussion Board – mormondialogue.org/topic/69738-oracles-and-talismans-forgery-and-pansophia-joseph-smith-jr-as-a-renaissance-magus/Wilford C. Wood – Mormonism, The Mormon Church, Beliefs, & Religion – MormonWiki – mormonwiki.com/Wilford_C._WoodA-Man-of-Vision-and-Determination-A-Photographic-Essay-and-Tribute-to-Wilford-C.-Wood.pdf (ensignpeakfoundation.org) – ensignpeakfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/A-Man-of-Vision-and-Determination-A-Photographic-Essay-and-Tribute-to-Wilford-C.-Wood.pdfStory behind Joseph and Hyrum Death Masks – Joseph Smith Jr and Emma Hale Smith Historical Society – josephsmithjr.org/joseph-and-hyrum-death-masks/Framing a 17th Century Work on Parchment – Bark Frameworks –

There is a raging debate within Mormon circles where those folks who are determined to maintain belief in the Prophet Joseph Smith but who abhor polygamy and the Church as ran by Brigham Young and after have found ways to dismiss the standard evidence that Mormonism’s founder was a polygamist. They interpret the evidence as made up by Brigham Young and those around him in an effort to draw Joseph Smith into a practice he never participated in. Stories of fabricating history, backdating prophesy, and discrediting witnesses. On this week’s episode Bill & RFM with a few friends take a look at the evidence and to see if one has compelling reasons to believe Joseph Smith was, in fact, a polygamist!MAIN CONCLUSIONS DRAWN FROM REASON1.) Clayton Journal Entries can be shown to be reliable2.) D&C 132 is shown to be reliable as the text of the revelation that Smith received3.) There is substantial Evidence that imposes that Smith originated and perpetuated Polygamy4.) Hyrum Smith read the revelation in a High Council Meeting and Joseph and Hyrum tried to excuse the revelation away in the Nauvoo City Council but not a the way that allows Polygamy deniers to impose a narrative of “Eternity Only Sealings” or “Dynastic Sealings”. Hence they must confront why Hyrum and Joseph don’t respond using the narrative they have created.5.) That any attempt to explain Joseph’s practice as “eternal only” and not time is irrational in light of Hyrum and Joseph’s attempt to walk back the doctrine/revelation of plural marriage by explaining it was in regards to former times and had nothing to do with the present. In other words Dynastic Sealings or relationships in the hereafter that are not binding or sexual in this life is not going to strike fear and anger and rebelliousness in Emma, along with pushback and resentment in Marks, Cowles, and Soby and can be explained without embarrassment. But when Joseph and Hyrum tip their hand by making the excuse that this revelation is about former times and not the present, we can rationally conclude this wasn’t eternal only or dynastic relationships that lacked sex or marriage in this life.(While we didn’t show it, Orange Wight’s autobiography also imposes that Smith had Flora Woodworth as a wife and he was notified that because of such, she was taken. Hence this wasn’t a eternity only relationship.)If you want to see the documents and the notes about what these documents show. Check out the three part Reddit Posts on the topic.. Part 1:https://www.reddit.com/r/exmormon/comments/144aaam/the_evidence_laid_out_that_joseph_smith_was_the/ Part 2:https://www.reddit.com/r/exmormon/comments/144ahjo/the_evidence_laid_out_that_joseph_smith_was_the/ Part 3:https://www.reddit.com/r/exmormon/comments/144aqlr/the_evidence_laid_out_that_joseph_smith_was_the/ RESOURCES:https://www.yearofpolygamy.com/year-of-polygamy/episode-94-polygamy-controversies-joseph-fought-polygamy/ Episode 139: Joseph Didn’t Fight Polygamy, Part One Episode 139: Joseph Didn’t Fight Polygamy, Part Two https://sunstone.org/e41-brigham-young-and-the-chamber-of-secrets/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZQwyhhFczU   https://www.jstor.org/stable/24243807 This link has the url’s for the Land Deeds of Joseph’s plural wives Joseph Smith acted unethically giving away Church property to plural wives in Nauvoo by u/BillReel in exmormon https://archive.org/details/history-of-the-saints-1842-john-c-bennett/page/n9/mode/2up?view=theater  – John C Bennett History of the Saints http://www.latterdaytruth.org/pdf/100526.pdf Nauvoo Expositor Joseph F. Smith Affidavits – http://mormonpolygamydocuments.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/JS0361.dochttps://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/collection/MMD/id/59430/rec/1 – Clayton Diaryhttps://archive.org/details/WilliamClaytonJournal/page/n13/mode/2up – Clayton  page 106 search for plural https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/letter-from-oliver-cowdery-21-january-1838/1 Cowdery to his brother https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/281385.William_Clayton https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/132?lang=eng https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/281385.William_Clayton https://catalog.churchofjesuschrist.org/record/915fc5f1-4f65-4131-800a-4eaee3604f3c/37a65922-1a7e-4e6c-9e5b-fa5104b53cbe?view=browse  – affidavits  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJUtmzt3fJc&t=1193s&pp=ygUQaGFwcGluZXNzIGxldHRlcg%3D%3D  – Happiness Letter Examination https://www.jstor.org/stable/43200169   – “Illicit Intercourse,” Plural Marriage, and the Nauvoo Stake High Council, 1840-1844 Gary James Bergera https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/revelation-12-july-1843-dc-132/1#historical-intro – Kingsbury 132 Revelation https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/187/oa_monograph/chapter/201655/pdf&nbsp

A former seminary teacher got the opportunity to present lots of his questions to the Church Historian recently. Wait till you hear what happened! RESOURCES: Transcript – http://radiofreemormon.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/ELDER-BALLARD-BLOWS-UP-THE-CHURCH-TRANSCRIPT.pdfEpisode – https://radiofreemormon.org/2017/11/radio-free-mormon-021-elder-ballard-blows-church/ https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/prophets-and-fallibility/https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/the-mormon-truth-crisis/https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/the-mormon-paradox/Joe’s Document “In Defense of Doubt” – https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/In-Defense-of-Doubt-Final.pdfElder McKay’s Letter back to him – https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/06/Elder-McKays-Letter.pdf

In this video we delve into the history behind how the LDS Church came to have its name and how its official name has changed from its inception to today. And along the way we learn about the use and meaning of the word Mormon as well as how the Church went from “Latter Day Saints” to Latter-day Saints” and you won’t believe how much went into a hyphen and a lower case letter d. RESOURCES: https://archive.org/details/EveningAndMorningStar18321834/page/n161/mode/2up – 1834 change to Church of the Latter Day Saints https://byustudies.byu.edu/online-chapters/volume-2-chapter-5/ – History of The Church noting the 1834 Name change https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/115?lang=eng https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1990/04/thus-shall-my-church-be-called?lang=eng https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2018/10/the-correct-name-of-the-church?lang=eng https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1990/10/mormon-should-mean-more-good?lang=eng https://archive.org/details/TimesAndSeasonsVol4/page/n307/mode/2up https://www.mormondialogue.org/topic/43668-new-evidence-that-church-was-organized-at-fayette/ https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/sample-of-pure-language-between-circa-4-and-circa-20-march-1832/1 https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/book-of-commandments-1833/14 https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/revelation-march-1829-dc-5/1#source-note

This past week 60 Minutes the CBS TV Journalism Show covered the event of the Church having its finances exposed by whistleblower David Nielson. We take a look at what was said…. and what wasn’t in this weeks episode of Mormonism LIVE! “David Nielsen is a former investment manager for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who became a whistleblower regarding the church’s finances and tax-exempt status. Nielsen accused the church of hoarding billions of dollars it has not paid taxes on and asked the IRS to strip the church of its tax-exempt status. Nielsen argued that the church owes billions in taxes, and he wants a cut of that as part of a reward offered by the IRS for reporting tax-related offenses.” RESOURCES:(2038) Mormon whistleblower: Church’s investment firm masquerades as charity | 60 Minutes – YouTube60 Minutes – Bishop defends the Church’s investment fund | Facebook (60 Minutes Overtime)The Perpetual Education Fund (churchofjesuschrist.org)The Perpetual Education Fund (churchofjesuschrist.org) (Gordon Hinckley’s talk)Structure of the Corporation of The President / Bishopric (Actual LDS “Church”) | Exploring Mormonism (LDS HOLDINGS)A look at the LDS Church’s legal legacy as a corporation  (The Merging of the two corporations)https://widowsmitereport.wordpress.com/60minutes/ 

The story of Joseph Smith and Henry Caswall (Caswell) and the Greek Psalter incident is a historical event that took place in 1842 in Nauvoo Ill.. During his visit to Nauvoo, Illinois, where the Mormon Church was headquartered at the time, Caswall met with Joseph Smith. Caswall showed The Prophet a ancient document which Caswall knew to be a “Greek Psalter” or book of Psalms in the Greek language. Caswall claimed that Smith insisted the Psalter was actually a Dictionary for Egyptian Hieroglyphics book was a translation of an ancient record that he had received through divine revelation. Caswall declared that it was nothing more than an ancient Greek Psalter.  As RFM and Bill dig into this story they discover that that Mormonism fares worse than we first thought and the problems reach as high as Jacob’s Ladder. Don’t forget to like and subscribeEXMOSHIRTS – https://www.exmoshirts.com/collections/mormondiscussionsMAILING LIST SIGNUP FORM – http://eepurl.com/hrnr4P RESOURCES:http://www.olivercowdery.com/smithhome/1840s/1842Cas1.htmhttp://www.mormonthink.com/greekweb.htmhttp://www.centerplace.org/history/ts/v4n23.htmhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Greek_Psalter_Incidenthttps://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital/collection/BOMP/id/3750https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq/vol35/iss4/8/https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3085&context=byusq https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/answers/Question:_Did_Joseph_Smith_misidentify_a_Greek_%22psalter%22_as_a_containing_%22reformed_Egyptian%22_hieroglyphics%3Fhttps://lifeafterministry.com/2014/03/the-greek-psalter-incident/https://lifeafter.org/greek-psalter-incident/https://rsc.byu.edu/approaching-antiquity-joseph-smith-ancient-world/joseph-smiths-awareness-greek-latin https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/answers/Criticism_of_Mormonism/Websites/MormonThink/The_Greek_Psalter_Incidenthttp://www.sidneyrigdon.com/dbroadhu/il/sign1843.htm#1118https://web.archive.org/web/20130701182744/http://maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/display/pdf.php?table=review&id=513http://www.truthandgrace.com/The_city_of_the_Mormons.pdfhttps://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/fragment-of-book-of-breathing-for-horos-a-between-238-and-circa-153-bc/1https://archive.org/details/cityofmormonsort01casw/page/20/mode/2uphttps://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/fragment-of-book-of-the-dead-for-nefer-ir-nebu-circa-300-100-bc/1https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/fragment-of-book-of-breathing-for-horos-a-between-238-and-circa-153-bc/1https://www.agefotostock.com/age/en/details-photo/the-weighing-of-souls-chapter-125-of-the-book-of-the-dead-detail-of-the-papyrus-of-tasnakht-egyptian-civilisation-late-period/DAE-11127820

RFM and Bill sit down with Jim Bennett to discuss his recent appearances on “Midnight Mormons” and take a look at all the rhetoric around violence in Mormonism including the musket talk by Elder Holland but with an updated and focused discussion around whether such a talk is fueling the very violent threats and rhetoric that critics of Holland’s talk have suggested could be the outgrowth of the “Musket” talk and the lack of the LDS Church in official channels condemning such rhetoric. RESOURCES: 207: Nephi’s Faith Transition – Mormon Discussions Podcasts – Full Lineup (mormondiscussionpodcast.org)Radio Free Mormon: 18: Make Way For Dodos – Radio Free MormonThe Trial of Jim Bennett! – YouTubeThe Trial of Jim Bennett! – YouTubeThe Trial of Jim Bennett! – YouTubeThe Trial of Jim Bennett! – YouTubeThe Trial of Guatemax! – YouTubeRadio Free Mormon VS Midnight Mormons – The Debate – YouTubeThe Trial of Guatemax! – YouTubeThe Trial of Guatemax! – YouTubeThe Trial of Guatemax! – YouTube

When the Phrase “Ongoing Restoration” showed up around 2020 Critics paused as this seemed to be the Church saying something different as if the Church now wanted the restoration to be much earlier in its stage of development than had been intimated in the past. So Bill & RFM take long look over Mormonism’s history to see what has been said and what it might mean.RESOURCES:https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2021/01/26/mormon-land-how-lds/https://youtu.be/v43WkDalVAs?t=114https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/latter-day-saint-prophet-wife-apostle-share-insights-global-ministry?lang=eng#churchofjesuschristhttps://youtu.be/n49OhL-NbVY?t=15https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2020/04/the-ongoing-restoration?lang=enghttps://youtu.be/MvVtCKHarI0?t=62https://youtu.be/AN6e4IQBLWs?t=798https://youtu.be/AN6e4IQBLWs?t=896https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7NHQ8v-bmY&t=429shttps://youtu.be/I7NHQ8v-bmY?t=537https://youtu.be/jdUeOY-hA1c?t=388https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2006/10/the-gathering-of-scattered-israel?lang=enghttps://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2005/11/truth-restored?lang=enghttps://www.sfgate.com/news/article/SUNDAY-INTERVIEW-Musings-of-the-Main-Mormon-2846138.phphttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-ldzfaB33n8oXeI00ttom_i6WUTGeFPD?usp=share_linkhttps://speeches.byu.edu/talks/gary-e-stevenson/the-ongoing-restoration/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKH4vU1EiB4

In this week’s edition, RFM and Bill sit down with Dan McClellan, former scripture translation supervisor for the LDS Church. Dan received his bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University in ancient Near Eastern studies, where he focused on Biblical Hebrew and minored in Classical Greek. He completed a master of studies in Jewish studies at the University of Oxford in July of 2010 and a master of arts in biblical studies at Trinity Western University just outside of Vancouver, BC. His areas of specialization are Second Temple Judaism, early Israelite religion, and textual criticism of the Hebrew Bible. RESOURCES: https://rsc.byu.edu/author/mcclellan-daniel-o https://www.tiktok.com/@maklelan?lang=endanielomcclellan.com/ https://hcommons.org/members/maklelan/ https://rsc.byu.edu/vol-20-no-2-2019/far-it-translated-correctly-bible-translation-church

Years ago Jonathan Streeter wrote a blog post titled “Fix your faith crisis with this one weird trick!” that was deeply influential on Bill. So tonight we bring Streeter into the studio to discuss Wood Tools vs Steel Tools and tom recognize when wood tools are being used. RESOURCES: Fix your faith crisis with this one weird trick! 276: Fix your faith crisis with this one weird trick! – WOOD vs STEEL Tools https://thoughtsonthingsandstuff.com/

This General Conference had lots of interesting twists and turns that have now had time to ruminate in the minds of RFM and Bill Reel. And this weeks episode involves a dive into the Mormon phenomena known as the April 2023 General Conference of the LDS Church. RESOURCES OF TALKS DISCUSSED: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYdM8WyYM – Elder Ahmad S. Corbitthttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWYXk_7uLbU – Elder Vern R. Stanfillhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0jTa8FG7A8 – Elder Allen D. Hayniehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9freQw16qY – Elder Carl B. Cookhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLplozLahP4 – Elder Gerrit W. Gonghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQwObipvTJc – Elder D. Todd Christoffersonhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSmP5tnSevI – Elder Neil L. Andersenhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQghSMOOYz4 – President Russell M. Nelson

Joseph Smith’s First Vision ushered in the restoration of the Gospel. It had Heavenly Father and His Son coming through the Heavens to visit the young boy in the spring of 1820. This vision leads to the founding of Mormonism. But what is not as well known is that in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s, everyone and their brother was having visions and many of them appear to be very similar to Joseph Smith’s. So in this week’s episode Bill and RFM do a comparative analysis on those other Visions to see what can be gleaned and its no small thing what they find. RESOURCES:https://web.archive.org/web/20180710083455/https://thoughtsonthingsandstuff.com/theophany-mine/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burned-over_districthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Great_Awakening https://archive.org/details/lifecon00smit/page/n13/mode/2uphttp://www.mormonstudiespodcast.org/joseph-smith-elias-smith-and-wilford-poulson/https://archive.org/details/TheReligiousExperienceOfNorrisStearnshttp://www.utlm.org/onlinebooks/changech6.htmhttps://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/elders-journal-july-1838/16https://www.watchman.org/articles/mormonism/piecing-together-the-first-vision/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Visionhttps://rsc.byu.edu/exploring-first-vision/significance-joseph-smiths-first-vision-mormon-thoughthttps://www.josephsmithpapers.org/site/accounts-of-the-first-visionhttps://mit.irr.org/joseph-smiths-changing-first-vision-accountshttps://www.mormonstories.org/truth-claims/joseph-smith/first-vision/https://byustudies.byu.edu/article/the-prognostication-of-asa-wild/http://boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/SChamberlain.htmlhttps://byustudies.byu.edu/article/the-visionary-world-of-joseph-smith/http://www.mormonhandbook.com/home/first-vision-plagiarized.htmlhttps://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lccn/sn83032054/1831-02-01/ed-1/seq-5/ https://archive.org/details/SketchOfExperiencesOfSolomonChamberlin/mode/2up?view=theater&q=apo http://boap.org/LDS/Early-Saints/SChamberlain.html https://hdl.huntington.org/digital/collection/p16003coll15/id/40132https://www.mormonstories.org/podcast/first-vision/ https://youtu.be/WB3iwEX8WhY?t=1306https://rsc.byu.edu/exploring-first-vision/earliest-documented-accounts-joseph-smiths-first-visionhttps://collections.library.yale.edu/catalog/2041501

Tonight RFM and Bill take a look at how both Top Church Leadership and local leaders extend pressure for dissenting voices to be silent. The episode will include individual stories along with the general instruction by top leaders to diminish dissenting voices and at times to altogether silence them. RESOURCES: Oaks “Its Wrong to Criticize Leaders” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxyiHLg59ks Oaks “Questions Are Honored, Opposition is Not” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPeIgjZ0EQg&t=746s Ballard – “Women don’t talk too much” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlQ4h6tGbnE Bruce R McConkie – Echo what I Say or be Silent – https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/mcconkie-to-eugene-england/

RFM has received the the video and audio from his second information request and report back regarding what was turned over by law enforcement. Once again we learn new details that both add clarity and complexity to this case.BONUS AUDIO: We inserted the cut up audio clips of all three witnesses that we had audio interviews of focusing only on the moment in the hotel room where the traumatic event likely occurred. Notice Bonnie’s admitting she heard the youngest kid but then struggles to answer finally stating she did not hear Derek or the parents in spite of all the yelling and screaming that both parents acknowledge along the way. After her clip are multiple clips of Hana and Nolan where Nolan stammers about what he awoke to finally imposing over multiple points in the interview that Hana was already awake and out of bed dealing with Derek when he awoke out of his sleep but juxtaposed against Hana who intimates at two different points in the interview that her and Nolan seem to have awoke together to the crying of the child and both in an escalated voice tell him to be quiet. Nolan also at one point claims he yelled at Derek to be quiet but how can such be when Hana in both her interview and her re-enactment indicates she screams at Derek in Bed that “he is not breathing”

Many are going through great lengths to justify the massive hoards of wealth the Church has accumulated on the backs of its believers, even going as far as to use scripture. But do these scriptures REALLY justify the accumulation of wealth as the Church and its members would have you believe?

In this week’s episode we discuss the recent news of the Temple Changes and just how far the original Endowment has been altered. And the Second half of the show will involve the recent legal settlement with the LDS Church and it’s Ensign Peak Advisors and culminating with RFM’s lightbulb moment sensing that the Landscape of Mormonism has changed and his novel idea around such. Temple Changes Resources: https://religionnews.com/2023/02/10/more-jesus-less-touching-14-changes-to-the-mormon-temple-endowment-ceremony/ https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2023/02/09/lds-temple-ceremonies-change/ https://www.mrm.org/revised-lds-temple-endowment-ceremony-now-includes-more-pictures-of-jesus SEC Alleged Fraud RESOURCES: SEC Report – https://www.sec.gov/litigation/admin/2023/34-96951.pdf SEC Press statement – https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2023-35 Church Response – https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-issues-statement-on-sec-settlement https://bycommonconsent.com/2023/02/21/the-church-the-investment-advisor-and-the-sec/ https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2021/09/27/heres-deeper-look-how-lds/ https://www.sltrib.com/religion/2021/09/27/heres-deeper-look-how-lds/ RFM’s Lawsuit Idea  https://youtu.be/hgUwpXSNlXM

On June 27th 1844, Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet, was martyred at Carthage Jail by a mob. Or at least that is how the generally accepted story goes. In the last 8 months, Justin Griffin (Director & Producer) and Steve Sorensen (Film Maker), have shared their research that maybe things are not what we have been told. They present their experts, their research, and their conclusions that it was in fact John Taylor and Willard Richards that in fact murdered their own prophet in cold blood. RFM and Bill take a look at their research and the testimony of their experts to see what can be seen with a critical eye. Is this research true? Was Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith killed by their friends? RESOURCES: RESOURCES: RESOURCES:whokilledjosephsmith.com https://www.youtube.com/@jgriffWKJS https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3961&context=byusq https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/john-tayl

On this week’s episode we sit down with Brent Bokovoy, Writer and Director of the upcoming film “Ronald’s Little Factory”, and we discuss all the twists and turns in Mormon Cinema including your favorites, along with movies you have likely forgotten, as well as one’s you never heard of. We finish out the episode discussing the upcoming film “Ronald’s Little Factory”. Boyd K Packer would have been proud! RESOURCES:Ronald’s Little Factory Trailer 1 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcsMBJ6kk6wRonald’s Little Factory – The Why behind the Film – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhFnlp9qjc4 EARLY MORMON CINEMA* A Mormon Maid* A Victim Of The Mormons* Brigham YoungLDS PRODUCED CINEMA* Johny Lingo* The Pump*  Legacy* The TestamentsMODERN MORMON CINEMA* Virginia* God’s Army*  Brigham City* States of Grace* The Singles Ward* The RM* Baptists At The Barbecue* Sons Of Provo* The Home Teachers* Mobsters And Mormons* The Book of Mormon Movie* The Other Side of Heaven* The Best Two Years* Saints And Soldiers* Once I Was A BeehivePOST MORMON CINEMA* Plan 10 From Outer Space* Orgazmo* South Park Episode* The Book Of Mormon Musical* Latter Days* Trapped By The Mormons* Big Love* Angels In America* September Dawn* The Book Of Zombie* Electrick Children* The Falls* Missionary* Room 104SHORT FILMS* Bad Mormons* Killer Missionaries* The Touch Of The Master’s HandDOCUMENTARIES* 8 The Mormon Proposition* Believer* TabloidRECENT* Murder Among The Mormons* Keep Sweet And Obey* Under The Banner Of Heaven* Sins of Our Mother*  Mormon No More* Abducted In Plain Sight* A Friend of the Family

RFM and Bill review the recent set of Documents and other items sent by Florida Law Enforcement in RFM as part of a Freedom of Information Request.  It is best to watch this on YouTube where the documents can be observed. ***TRIGGER WARNING***This episode will contain details of an alleged Homicide of a child. Please skip this episode if needed and please keep kids away from this episode.

The Salt Lake Tribune recently published a book review on the book “Ancient Christians: An Introduction for Latter-day Saints” published by the Maxwell Institute. Both the book and the Tribune article make note that what Latter-day Saints believed about early Christianity and the Great Apostasy may not only “overly simplistic, if not (a) completely false narrative”. But where did Latter-day Saints get these beliefs? How did Mormonism define the Great Apostasy? And more importantly if we redefine the very reasons for what a Restoration is and why it was needed, might we be undercutting the restoration itself? Maxwell Institute Book available –Ancient Christians Available Now – Neal A. Maxwell Institute (byu.edu) 1832 First Vision Account contradicting SLTRIB Claim that B. H. Roberts was the first promoted the apostasy narrative – History, circa Summer 1832, Page 1 (josephsmithpapers.org) 1838 First Vision account also contains significant apostasy narrative piecesHistory, circa June 1839–circa 1841 [Draft 2], Page 3 (josephsmithpapers.org)  The Great Apostasy by: James Talmage published 1909 by the Deseret News – Which lays out in significant ways “The Great Apostasy” – The great apostasy : considered in the light of scriptural and secular history : Talmage, James Edward, 1862-1933 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive The Church url for their pamphlet on the Great Apostasy – The Great Apostasy (churchofjesuschrist.org) While The Church is reducing the Great Apostasy to only Priesthood and Keys – They clearly have attached Doctrine, Church organization and Offices, consistency of Saving Rituals as well as imposing that Christ set up an actual Church as key components of  “The Great Apostasy” – Talks where some of those concepts are spoken Example 1Example 2Example 3 The Church teaches that part of the Great Apostasy is that rather than leading via revelation that the early Christian Church instead traqnsitioned over to “Long Conferences” and “Erudite Councils” “depending upon their own brilliant minds” (See Manual Image Below) –  and yet Elder Eyring admits that such is the very way this Church is led – Henry B. Eyring: “Forget Harvard and Stanford. We’re in another kind of thing here.” – YouTube LDS Church Shifting to More Pageantry and Colorful Presentation to satisfy everyone (which in their manual they claim is a sign of the Great Apostasy)   Example 1Example 2Example 3 The Modern Church creating a narrative of an ongoing restoration and that such has only begun to obfuscate that they are moving and shifting in every way they had previously labeled in the early Church as signs of Apostasy  (Please note how is one to discern that all shifts and changes ithin the modern Church are “Auhtorized” and all shifts and changes in the Ancient Church are “Unauthorized” 1.) Distorting the and changing the Church organization and offices (Modern Church has changed the calling of Seventies, disbanded the General Patriarch, and created and then laterdisbanded the High Priests Group 2.) Silence between the Heavens and the Earth 3.) Vast numbers who had professed membership and many who had been officers in the ministry deserted the church; while a few were stimulated to greater zeal under the scourge of persecution. 4.) Internal dissension, schism and disruption, whereby an absolute apostasy of the Church from the way and word of God was brought about” 5.) The corrupting (Changing) of the simple doctrines of the gospel of Christ by admixture with so-called philosophic systems. (Corrupting is subjective) 6.) Unauthorized (Subjective) additions to the prescribed rites and rituals of the church and the introduction of vital alterations in essential ordinances.  7.) Unauthorized (Subjective) changes in church organization and government 8.) “If the savior had come back to earth at the beginning of the fifth century A.D., i doubt whether he would have recognized the Christian church as the one that claimed descent from that which he had established, so far had it gone astray.”  VERSUS ” If Joseph Smith came back to earth  today, i doubt whether he would have recognized the LDS Church as the one that claimed descent from that which he had established, so far had it gone astray.” 9.) The power of godliness was no longer present in the Christian church.   (Is that power recognizable within the LDS Church ?) 10.) The laws were changed (Notice all the laws that have changed in the LDS Church EXAMPLES: The doing away of “Free Agency” and D&C say a Disciplinary Court requires 12 high priests but the Modern Church says not necessary) 11.) The ordinances were changed (Notice the changes to the Endowment) 12.) The everlasting co

Recently Bill did a solo episode away from Mormonism LIVE walking members into the historical analysis of the initial Doctrine of tithing as 10% of one’s Surplus or Interest to help believers sense they had an option backed by historical documentation that allowed them to save themselves Thousands of Dollars a year while remaining faithful. After that episode a listener sent Bill and RFM an image of a vintage Church Handbook of Instruction that got their wheels turning and this week’s episode seeks to to delve into a historical analysis of how Surplus or Interest became Gross. And YES, You will be disgusted. Here is the pdf presentation of the outline – https://mormonismlive.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Tithing-Whats-In-A-Word.pdf The Introduction of Tithing to the Saints and “What is in a word” D&C 119 VS 1-4 (Given in 1838) – This law was imposed by God as a “Standing Law Forever” and came after the Law of Consecration had failed. Strange that Heavenly Father seems unable to see that this “Standing Law Forever” was about to be anything but consistent and eternal. Tithing has always meant a tenth. History of tithing in the world generally But a tenth of what? is the crux Verse 1 – Verily, thus saith the Lord, I require all their surplus property to be put into the hands It seems the original commandment required ALL Surplus property be given to the Church upon entry into the faith. Verse 4 – Intimates that once one has entered the faith giving all their surplus property, they there after “shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually” INTEREST = #3 “Regard to private profit” #4 “Any surplus advantage” What does Surplus mean = “What is above and beyond after the necessities are taken care of” “that which remains when use is satisfied” What does all this mean The law of tithing when taken on face value without any manipulation of the words seems to mean “When one enters the Church they are to hand over all Surplus property (any property above and beyond what is a necessity of life), and to then pay 1/10th of their “interest” or “surplus advantage” annually It also says that this shall be a standing law forever hence meaning it is DOCTRINE and can’t be changed (Without additional revelation). “Settled; established, either by law or by custom, etc.; continually existing; permanent; not temporary” Since it is the Church who is about to muddy the waters the question is being begged if “Interest” means something other than how the word is literally why wasn’t God more clear? Examples of how it was interpreted in early Church history JST Genesis 14:39 vs the original verse Genesis 14:20 that Joseph seems to be modifying (between June 1830 and July 1833) Original – “And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.” Joseph Smith’s Adaptation – “Wherefore, Abram paid unto him tithes of all that he had, of all the riches which he possessed, which God had given him more than that which he had need.” Joseph seems to be modifying this narrative about Melchizedek so as to have it conform with D&C 119’s reasonable interpretation of tithing as 1/10 of surplus. What he adds should be assumed to be altering the meaning otherwise why adapt it at all. Bishop Partridge “If a man is worth a $1000, the interest on that would be $60, and 1/10 of the interest will of course be $6.— thus you see the plan.” Bishop Edward Partridge letter to Newel K. Whitney, July 24, 1838 Bishop Partridge, the first Bishop in the Church is instructing Newel K Whitney (I believe the second bishop in the Church) on the definition of tithing and his responsibility to collect it Bishop Partridge seems to be interpreting tithing literally based on the verse “shall pay one-tenth of all their interest (increase) annually” and is suggesting that one pay 10% of the interest earned on one’s net worth invested at 6% Lastly Steven Harper seems to agree when he says “Bishop Partridge understood “one tenth of all their interest” annually to mean 10 percent of what Saints would earn in interest if they invested their net worth for a year” Millennial Star 1847 (Orson Hyde Editor) – “The celestial law requires one-tenth part of all a man’s substance which he possesses at the time he comes into the church (See D&C 119:1), and one-tenth part of his annual increase ever after(See D&C 119:4). IF IT REQUIRES ALL MAN CAN EARN TO SUPPORT HIMSELF AND HIS FAMILY, HE IS NOT TITHED AT ALL. The celestial law does not take the mother’s and children’s bread, neither ought else which they really need for their comfort. The poor that have not of this world’s good to spare, but serve and honor God according to the best of their abilities in every other way, shall have a celestial crown in the Eternal Kingdom of our Father.” – quotes comes post end of consec

Bill & RFM take a look at the Life of Francis Gladden Bishop, another Latter-day Saint who claimed to be the rightful heir to Joseph Smith after the martyrdom as part of the Mormon Succession Crisis.RESOURCES:https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/license-for-gladden-bishop-14-april-1840-extract/1https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/145852385/francis-gladden-bishop https://atom3.lib.byu.edu/mormonbib/11107/.https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/chd/individual/francis-gladden-bishop-1809https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladden_Bishop, https://wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/subjects/francis-gladden-bishop https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/bc-jsp/content/jsp/images/1168/1168_ms155_3_05_001_med.jpghttps://archive.org/details/addresstosonsdau01bish https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/history-1838-1856-volume-c-1-2-november-1838-31-july-1842/215, https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/bc-jsp/content/jsp/images/1168/1168_ms155_3_05_001_med.jpghttps://smile.amazon.com/Ensign-Shepherd-Remembrance-Classic-Reprint/dp/1333273819/ref=sr_1_1?crid=VOHXKME6OJK6&keywords=%22francis+gladden+bishop%22&qid=1672953250&sprefix=francis+gladden+bishop+%2Caps%2C128&sr=8-1https://smile.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AFrancis+Gladden+Bishop&s=relevancerank&text=Francis+Gladden+Bishop&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1 https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/letter-from-francis-gladden-bishop-26-september-1843/1https://mormonpolygamydocuments.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/JS0428.pdf

Bill and RFM take a deep look at how sex and sexuality were presented within the LDS Church over the last 200 years. What was taboo and sin and to what degree did Leaders impose what could and could not go on the Bedroom. RAPE & VIRTUE A.) BOM teaching – Moroni 9:9 implemented into Gospel Principles (David O McKay, Heber J Grant, Spencer W Kimball) Restated by Marion G Romney Then by Mark E Petersen ( soundbite) And then the Church seems to distance itself from the teaching …. Sort of Still in scriptures No documented way for believers to grasp they are distancing themselves from it. Elizabeth Smart – led to the distancing Neil Anderson ( video is here ) Doctrine is taught by all 15 members of the First Presidency and Q of the 12. I would challenge believers to show me where I can find any teaching that has been held up and taught by all 15 of the top leadership.  That list would be so small that there should be no barrier to listing them because if 14 men taught it and one didn’t by this standard it is not Doctrine (Remember God is not a God of Confusion) So I am left to assume Neil meant that so long as it is taught generally among the Leaders? Was this teaching in its day taught generally among the leaders?  YES It is not hidden in an obscure paragraph of one talk. Was this hidden in an obscure paragraph of one talk?  NO It (That Virtue and chastity can be taken from you by an abusive act committed against you and that one is better off dead than having lost their virtue) was taught By President, Prophet, seer and Revelator David O McKay By President, Prophet, seer and Revelator Heber J Grant Marion G Romney Counselor in the First Presidency  (Prophet Seer and Revelator) By President, Prophet, seer, and Revelator Spencer W Kimball By Apostle Mark E Petersen (Prophet Seer and Revelator) In the past correlated curriculum in Gospel Principles In the Book of Mormon one of the standard works This is the very reason for which old white men claiming to be moral authorities simply aren’t.  Because not only do they collectively struggle to grasp what healthy morality is and seem to collectively follow each other down the path of perpetuating abusive and unhealthy ideas, but because they also can’t define doctrine in any way that is actually useful to the Church. ORAL SEX AS AN UNHOLY AND UNNATURAL ACT A.) Unholy & Unnatural Act THE OLD DEFINITION OF CHASTITY (Old Handbook 21.4.5 Chastity and Fidelity)  “The Lord’s law of chastity is abstinence from sexual relations outside of lawful marriage and fidelity within marriage. Sexual relations are proper only between a man and a woman who are legally and lawfully wedded as husband and wife. Adultery, fornication, homosexual or lesbian relations, and every other unholy, unnatural, or impure practice are sinful. Members who violate the Lord’s law of chastity or who influence others to do so are subject to Church discipline.” THE NEW DEFINITION OF CHASTITY  – The Lord’s law of chastity is: Abstinence from sexual relations outside of a legal marriage between a man and a woman. Fidelity within marriage. Not in Gospel Principles either But Still on the Church’s site in other forms Teachings of President Kimball Guide to the Scriptures Intimacy in Marriage President Kimball seemingly contradicting himself as he is the one who took up this cause B.) Oral Sexcapades Spencer W. Kimball and the First Presidency naming it in official letter Retracting it in a second letter BIRTH CONTROL  (I want to be extremely brief here.  I am going to present these quotes in passing) A.) PAST TEACHINGS . . . there is a certain class of Latter-day Saints that have come to think as the gentile world does—that it is not stylish, not nice to have large families; and therefore we find, much to our sorrow, that in some instances steps are being taken “to prevent these spirits being tabernacled by them. .. . Apostle Abraham O. Woodruff, 1900 Speaking about Birth Control and Abortion Joseph F Smith said “Possibly no greater sin could be committed by the people who have embraced this Gospel than to prevent or to destroy life in the manner indicated.” The Church statistical report for 1901 (possibly the earliest reporting a Church birth rate). “There is something wrong,” reported the Juvenile Instructor, “either with ourselves or with our statistics—possibly with both; but we trust it is with the statistics, as that is the lesser evil.” Not only had the marriage rate declined, but “our average birth rate, if we can believe our statistical reports, is far too low. It is below that of the nations of modern Christendom to whose birth rate we have been able to obtain access. Ours, as reported, is a little over thirty-five per annum in each thousand souls.”54 The reaction to this discovery was predictable. A charge was given to review the statistics and to keep more accurate record

RFM and Bill take a deeper look at the “Book of Mormon” and compare what we know about it with what we know about other books to see if it is as un unique as believers claim it to be and we even get Mormon Scholar, Brian Hales opinion on the matter. This past week on Mormonism LIVE we covered “Automatic Writing” in the episode, Mormonism LIVE: 108: Is The Book of Mormon Unique? A Great Article to read that delves into this in regards to its connection to Mormonism is here – https://sunstone.org/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/050-16-26.pdf Here are the connections between Smith’s “Translation” of the Book of Mormon and the data behind automatic writing. 1.) Some of the Authors within “Automatic Writing” seemed to have a serious lack of education 2.) Their writings contained details that indicated antiquity that the author couldn’t of known ( [O]ne time while he [Joseph] was translating he stopped suddenly, pale as a sheet, and said, ‘Emma, did Jerusalem have walls around it?’ When I answered ‘Yes,’ he replied ‘Oh! I was afraid I had been deceived.’ He had such limited knowledge of history at that time that he did not even know that Jerusalem was surrounded by walls.”) 3.) Able to discern things about the foreign lands and times that had a degree of accuracy to them. 4.) many “Automatic Writing” examples contained significantly less anachronisms than the book of Mormon 5.) “Automatic Writing” authors used a peep stone or crystal 6.) “Automatic Writing” authors moved away from a peep stone which they needed at first to being able to translate without one. 7.) Many of the significant “Automatic Writing” productions were Christian themed 8.) Some contained the voice of Christ 9.) Many were done by dictation 10.) At Least one stated its purpose was to answer three big questions “Where did we come from”, “Why are we here”, and “Where are we going”? 11.) Many of these productions were significantly longer than the “Book of Mormon”. 12.) many proposed to claim they were being given by voices of ancient people from antiquity 13.) several “Automatic Writing” authors were able to stop and take breaks and pick up exactly where they left off without being reminded where they were. ( According to Emma, when she and Joseph were interrupted during his translating, Joseph would later resume on the very sentence from which he had left off ) 14.) numerous others found the “”Automatic Writing” to be believable 15.) numerous people found the “automatic writing” productions to be of a high quality of writing. For example Jane Eyre is believed to have been written this way. 16.) numerous others found some of the “”Automatic Writing” productions to be inspiring and worth basing one’s lived spirituality on. 17.) some of the “”Automatic Writing” productions were written to a world audience with revealed knowledge important to Salvation 18.) some of the “”Automatic Writing” productions seemed to pass the tests of appearing to be from antiquity and contained little to no contemporary material. (compare to the amount of 19th Century material in the Book of Mormon). 19.) much of the “Automatic Writing” productions claim to be channeling a divine source. (Gift and Power of God) 20.) Many “Automatic Writing” productions seemed to be beyond the competency of the person performing the “Automatic Writing”. 21.) some “Automatic Writing” productions were not only done by dictation but also had many words spelled out specifically 22.) many “Automatic Writing” productions contained really deep gems that were thought provoking. Poems, and passages that seem inspiring generally. 23.) reading “Automatic Writing” productions caused awe and wonder in their readers. (they essentially felt the spirit reading them) 24.) many “Automatic Writing” productions get a ton of things onto paper quickly such as 5000 words in a single evening ( Starting on April 7th, 1829, Joseph Smith began translating the Book of Mormon. He completed his translation on July 1st of that year—just 90 days! That makes for an average of about 8 pages per day. ) Hence Joseph Smith as an “Automatic Writer” makes incredible sense and has significant overlap and suggests that the Translation of the Book of Mormon is both NOT Unique, and NOT even that good compared to other examples of “Automatic Writing” such as these * The Sorry Tale – https://archive.org/details/sorrytaleastory01currgoog/page/n6/mode/2up * The Urantia Text – https://www.urantia.org/urantia-book/read-urantia-book-online * The Course in Miracles – https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4

Sheri Dew recently gave a Devotional Talk titled “Prophets Can See Around Corners” at BYU Hawaii on Nov 1st 2022. Bill and RFM take a deep look into this talk to see if what sort of apologetic tricks and absurd claims Sheri Dew makes this time around. Make some hot chocolate, grab a slice of fruitcake, and sit down by the fire, because Reel and RFM are going to fill your stockings with some Christmas Tidings and Apologetic Fallacies and Yuletide Cheer. RESOURCES: Sheri Dew’s Talk – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqFKbnzuF-M Gordon B Hinkley’s 1998 Priesthood Talk – https://youtu.be/J2mcY_SkZSI President Nelson Not Knowing about Covid Coming – https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/04/11nelson?lang=eng President Nelson’s Stated Impetus vbehind the #HearHim – https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/inspiration/the-story-behind-my-global-prayer-of-gratitude?lang=eng

This week we explore DezNat or a loosely connected group of folks who claim to be Deseret Nationals. We explore their violent rhetoric and their problematic ideology and we even have a former DezNat follower to help us add context to this story. #DezNat  RESOURCES:Wiki DezNat – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DezNatDezNat Twitter – https://twitter.com/DeseretNation DezNat Exposed – https://exposedeznat.noblogs.org/ DezNat Exposed Twitter – https://twitter.com/exposedeznat REFERENCES IN THE SHOW:The Corbridge Manuever Part 1 – https://radiofreemormon.org/2019/03/radio-free-mormon-057-the-corbridge-manuever-part-1/ The Corbridge Manuever Part 2 – https://radiofreemormon.org/2019/03/radio-free-mormon-058-the-corbridge-manuever-part-2/ Wrong Roads – https://radiofreemormon.org/2017/05/extra-radio-free-mormon-wrong-roads/Nancy Rigdon & The Happiness Letter – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJUtmzt3fJc

Since 1830 Mormonism has, as likely a part of it’s persecution complex, used violent rhetoric and has taught its members to use violent means. That rhetoric either leads to further violence or at least creates safer spaces for violence to occur. Today we look into Mormonism Past and Present to expose a history wide pattern of Mormon Leaders Encouraging Violence.RESOURCES: Boyd K Packer “To Young Men Only” – https://archive.org/details/ToYoungMenOnly/page/n15/mode/2up?view=theaterWiki Temple Penalties – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endowment_(Mormonism)#The_Nauvoo_endowment_and_FreemasonryChurch acknowledge Joseph Smith Approved the Danites – https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays/peace-and-violence-among-19th-century-latter-day-saints?lang=engOath of Vengence – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oath_of_vengeanceJournal of Discourses Brigham Young encouraging Murdering adulterers & “Blood Atonement” – https://www.josephsmithfoundation.org/journalofdiscourses/speakers/brigham-young/instructions-to-the-bishops-men-judged-according-to-their-knowledge-organization-of-the-spirit-and-body-thought-and-labor-to-be/Wilford Woodruff Journal Where Brigham Approves of the “Mountain Meadows Massacre” – https://wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/documents/d3d712e1-2719-4efa-8d2d-b2dfda74f9fb/page/7f604d11-2494-4a3b-9497-35b60e0149b0The Bishop Warren Snow castration story – https://mormonismlive.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Castration-2.pngMarion G Romney suggesting it better for one to come home in a casket rather than lose one’s virtue – https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1981/09/we-believe-in-being-chaste?lang=engMark E Peterson repeating Romney’s sentiments – https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/SacrificeYourLife.mp3Elder Holland suggesting defenders of the faith pick up muskets and aim them at those who oppose the Church – https://youtu.be/tg36L1989Ss?t=1223Year of Polygamy Podcast “Culture of Violence” – https://www.yearofpolygamy.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Quinn-The-Culture-of-Violence-In-Joseph-Smiths-Mormonism-w-notes.pdf

What happens when a Member of the LDS Church stands opposed in a sustaining vote of Church leaders, follows the process the Church has laid out around “common consent”, and shows conclusively that current LDS Prophets, Seers, and Revelators have lied to the members. Well, you are about to find out, because Nemo does just that. RESOURCES: President Nelson lying about his flight – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz4iQk1M9l4 Elder Ballard’s being dishonest about hiding things – https://radiofreemormon.org/2017/11/radio-free-mormon-021-elder-ballard-blows-church/ 1832 First Vision Account – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGSKhHQttrs Elder Oaks Electroshock Hoax – https://youtu.be/0m5qRse2K5M Elder Holland lying on repeated occasions including prop 8 – https://youtu.be/QyFsy2zQf04 Adam God – https://youtu.be/neaa9rw9ySs Gaslighting from LDS Leadership including Ballard on not knowing where inviting to be baptized at the 1st discussion came from – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TVGzjEd5GE Additional Lies How Leaders repeatedly compromise themselves – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxidgOPpAxM Past Leaders lying repeatedly over polygamy – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VZFzK4jBZE OTHER RESOURCES Common Council – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Council_of_the_Church

As a follow-up to episode 101 on the Third Convention, Thomas Murphy joins us to add clarity and context to all the ground we covered and to add details that make this story even more interesting.   RESOURCES: The First Part – Video Version – https://youtu.be/Gmjk3Kht0S8 Slide Show used by Prof Murphy in this episode – https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/11/Third-Convention_-Other-Stories.pdf Thomas W Murphy | Edmonds Community College – Academia.edu Reinventing Mormonism: Guatemala as Harbinger of the Future? – Dialogue Journal Zapotec Natural History | UAPress (arizona.edu) (PDF) ‘Stronger than Ever’: Remnants of the Third Convention. | Thomas W Murphy – Academia.edu (PDF) Fifty Years of United Order in Mexico | Thomas W Murphy – Academia.edu (PDF) From Racist Stereotype to Ethnic Identity: Instrumental Uses of Mormon Racial Doctrine | Thomas W Murphy – Academia.edu (PDF) Other Mormon Histories: Lamanite Subjectivity in Mexico. | Thomas W Murphy – Academia.edu (PDF) Lamanite Genesis, Genealogy, and Genetics | Thomas W Murphy – Academia.edu (PDF) Decolonization on the Salish Sea: A Tribal Journey back to Mormon Studies | Thomas W Murphy – Academia.edu The Spiritual Evolution of Margarito Bautista – Elisa Eastwood Pulido – Oxford University Press (oup.com) Dr Elisa Pulido discusses Margarito Baustista, Nahua Mormon, with Dr Thomas Murphy – YouTube The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Mexico | SpringerLink Unboxing the Fernando R. and Enriqueta Gomez Mormon Mexican History Collection (Exhibit Extended!) – The Claremont Colleges Library NEH Summer Institutes Program – Claremont Mormon Studies (cgu.edu) Conferences – Mormon Studies – The University of Utah (PDF) An Insufficient Canon: Popol Wuj, Book of Mormon, and Other Neophyte Scriptures | Thomas W Murphy – Academia.edu

What is the greatest problem in the LDS Church? That question is at the heart of this week’s episode. Jim Bennett is our guest this week on Mormonism LIVE, as we explore this question and some of the territory surrounding it.

Apostasy is something the LDS Church show serious concern over. And why shouldn’t they knowing James Strang, Lorin C. Wooley, Denver Snuffer, Julie Rowe all have led Splinter Factions of one sort or another that have had influence over segments of Latter-day Saints. The idea that a few voices or even a single voice can sway large groups of people into disaffection has the Brethren always on guard. But often the heart of the issue is the lack of listening on the part of the Leaders themselves who can in fact be their own worst enemy. We dive into one such story where LDS Leadership and those they call to preside often become their very own stumbling block as we discuss “The Third Convention”. Rey Lucero Pratt  Born October 11 1878 PRATT’S PARENTS Pratt was born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory, the fourth child of Helaman Pratt and Emmeline Victoria Billingsley Pratt. When Rey was nine, the Pratts moved to Mexico to help settle Colonia Dublán, a Mormon colony in the northern state of Chihuahua. His father was settling in Mexico to escape being prosecuted by the United States federal government for practicing polygamy (Note to the audience that Helaman is a polygamist and has more than one wife). Rey grew up in Mexico, learning to appreciate its history and people. Somewhere along the way he and at least some of his siblings became mexican citizens REY PRATT & ORSON F WHITNEY & Hyrum Harris Apostle Orson F. Whitney set Pratt apart as a missionary on 4 October 1906. On 1 November, Pratt arrived by train in Mexico City and reported to the mission home. He served for nearly a year under mission president Hyrum S. Harris, during which time he presided over the Toluca conference for seven months. Then, on 25 August 1907, Harris announced that Pratt would replace him as president of the Mexican Mission. Pratt was set apart by Harris on 29 September and the Pratts moved to Mexico City shortly thereafter. Pratt started as president of the Mexican mission in 1907.  Church membership in Mexico more than doubled during Pratt’s first six years as mission president. By 1911, over a thousand church members lived in the Mexican Mission. THE CRISTERO REBELLION [ Cristero Rebellion, a peasant uprising from 1926 to 1929, pushed Mexico to the brink of political chaos. The Cristeros generally saw the conflict as a religious war against the anticlericalism of the Mexican government. This anticlericalism originated in northern Mexico, where North American-style entrepreneurs, Protestant converts, and ambitious politicians built a movement to transform their traditionally Catholic nation into a center of secular economic expansion. The movement’s leading proponent, Plutarco Elías Calles (president of Mexico, 1924–1928), placed rigid regulations on the church, including required registration of priests and the closing of church schools. The church responded with a strike—the cessation of religious services—which caused a panic among the faithful. In Jalisco and the surrounding states of central Mexico, this panic sparked a peasant rebellion. Government claims that the rebels were superstitious tools of scheming priests were largely propaganda. Only about 45 of the 3,600 priests in Mexico supported the rebellion. The Cristeros were indigenous and mestizo peasants whose motives for rebellion were mixed. Most acted to defend their faith against an expansive secular state, while others seized the opportunity to demand more extensive land reform] – https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/cristero-rebellion  The Cristero rebellion of 1926 had disrupted the religious atmosphere in Mexico for nine years and forced all foreign clergy out of Mexico. (The rebellion was instigated as a response to an executive decree by Mexican President Plutarco Elías Calles to strictly enforce Article 130 of the Constitution, a decision known as Calles Law. Calles sought to eliminate the power of the Catholic Church in Mexico, its affiliated organizations and to suppress popular religiosity.) However, Mexico’s political climate gradually worsened. Porfirio Diaz, Mexico’s longtime dictator, lost control of the government and revolution ensued. Shortly after serious fighting began in Mexico City in 1913, the church’s First Presidency authorized the Pratts and the American missionaries to return to the United States. The Pratts moved to Salt Lake City in September 1913. Two years later, the First Presidency again instructed the Pratts to move, this time to Manassa, Colorado, and establish missionary work among Mexicans in the United States. After five years, in November 1918, church leaders moved the mission headquarters to El Paso, Texas, making it closer to the center of the vast mission territory. In March 1921, Pratt reopened missionary work in Mexico with eight missionaries. In November, jurisdiction of the Juárez Stake in Chihuahua was

On this week’s episode we take a deeper look at the 1826 trial in Bainbridge, NY. We examine what led to the trial, what witnesses claimed, what we know about the trial proceedings, how Smith and Stowell got introduced to each other, and a few other interesting facts along the way that make this such an interesting episode in Church history. This outline was used in preparation for Mormonism LIVE: 099 : The 1826 Trial of Joseph Smith, The Glass Looker – https://youtu.be/A2JxyoOtNlM On this week’s episode we take a deeper look at the 1826 trial in Bainbridge, NY. We examine what led to the trial, what witnesses claimed, what we know about the trial proceedings, how Smith and Stowell got introduced to each other, and a few other interesting facts along the way that make this such an interesting episode in Church history. A.) SET THE STAGE Spring of 1825, Joseph Smith is at Simpson (Simeon in some records) Stowell’s home in palmyra when Simpson’s father Josiah Stowell visits him and Joseph Smith uses his seer ability, presumably the stone in the hat and proceeds to amaze those in attendance with a couple of “Remote Viewing” performances such as describing Josiah’s house and outhouses correctly while all of them are at palmyra and Stowell’s property for which presumably Joseph Smith had never seen, is located in Bainbridge NYJosiah Stowell, so amazed at the Prophet’s ability, hires him to both work the farm and to lead treasure digs near Stowell’s property in NY (SLIDE 1)Several Members of Stowell’s family, Joseph Smith Jr. and Sr., Isaac Hale and other members of the Hale family and a few others make a “mining” agreement on Nov 1st 1825 (SLIDE 2 & 3) and the Church agrees it is Authentic Joseph Smith is living on Stowell’s property for about half a year working the farm and doing these treasure digs but they are finding absolutely nothing and these digs are failing at every turn.Members of Stowell’s family along with others in the community perceive that Stowell is being taken advantage of and on March 20th 1826 Joseph Smith is brought before the court on charges of being a “disorderly person and an imposter”The trial is first printed in Fraser Magazine February 1873 Edition and then reprinted again in the Utah Christian Advocate January 1886 Edition (SLIDE 4 & 5)Frasers Magazine 12 July 1873 http://www.fullerconsideration.com/images/frasersmagazine08unkngoog_0243-0244.jpg (Document page 229 [pdf 248])https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/appendix-docket-entry-20-march-1826-state-of-new-york-v-js-a/1 B.) Where does the author in Fraser’s Magazine locate this trial record? In Bainbridge? Nope. From enemies? Nope. Rather from an old lady in Salt Lake City who kept records of Joseph Smith’s altercations with the Law. (SLIDE 6)It gets worse though because the Utah Christian Advocate says this was taken directly from the record books of a bainbridge justice of the peace by a daughter or niece (suspicion since he doesn’t know) who tore the record out of the books and the author claims he verified. (SLIDE 6) C.) Capt’n Kidd W.D Purple is in 1877 in the Chenango Union is giving us info about these treasure Digging activities and implies that Stowell is looking for Capt’n Kidd’s treasure.Notice the implication that Stowell knows the story of Capt’n Kidd – hence we should expect that Joseph is informed about said stories too. Not appropriate to start with the assumption he may not have known them. More rational to start with he did. (SLIDE 7)According to J. H. Kennedy, Joseph “made confession” that the autobiography of Captain Kidd “made a deep impression upon him.” Kennedy does not say in what context Smith made this “confession.” Palmyra native Philetus B. Spear recalled in an 1873 interview that as a boy Joseph “had for a library a copy of the ‘Arabian Nights,’ stories of Captain Kidd, and a few novels.”89 Pomeroy Tucker also mentions Joseph’s youthful fascination with Captain Kidd, Stephen Burroughs the counterfeiter, and others, noting that such stories “presented the highest charms for his expanding mental perceptions.”90 Ellen E. Dickinson similarly wrote: It is said that Joseph at an early age could read, but not write; and when quite young committed these lines to memory from the story of Captain Kidd, the notorious pirate, which seemed to give him great pleasure: “My name was Robert Kidd, As I sailed, as I sailed; And most wickedly I did As I sailed, as I sailed.”91 D.) The Proceedings themselves Living w/ Stowell (5 Months) most of the time and a small part of time out looking for mines. But mostly farm work and going to schoolSome quotes indicate that Smith used treasure digging as a way to get out of farm work while still bringing in the needed income.Had been employed to work at the farm part time E.) Joseph Smi

In this Episode Bill and RFM will go into a story few members know about in regards to the Prophet Joseph Smith and one of his young plural wives. It involves some re-gifting, a land deal, and Harsh Measures T-Shirt Contest Voting takes place here – https://forms.gle/MzBroWzRvk7EFEpQ9 A.) Lucien Woodworth born April 3rd 1799 becomes a close associate of Joseph Smith around the year 1841  a.) Appointed aide-de-camp in Nauvoo Legion, May 1841 b.) Member of Nauvoo Masonic Lodge c.) Admitted to Council of Fifty, 11 Mar. 1844 d.) Traveled to Texas to negotiate with Sam Houston for possible Latter-day Saint settlement, 1844. e.) Sent by JS to deliver letter explaining Latter-day Saint difficulties to Illinois governor Thomas Ford, 22 June 1844. Married Phebe Watrous in 1825 and had at least 3 children (seen in 1850 Census) The oldest of those children is Flora Ann Woodworth born June 12, 1826 according to one genealogy site and November 14, 1826 according to Brian Hales B.) The Interactions between The Woodworth family and the Smiths generally March 31, 1843 ~ Friday On the 31 friday I spent the afternoon at Mr Lucian Woodworth’s in company with Joseph Smith, Hiram Smith, Heber C. Kimball Orson Hyde, a Br Chase with our wives we had a feast of a fat turkey & had a good time (Before her Sealing to JS most likely) –   C.) Strange Interactions with potential suitor nineteen-year-old Orange Wight (Son of Lyman Wight) pursued Flora Ann and is interrupted and offered a ride by Joseph Smith He wrote, “[Having just returned from a mission] I concluded to lo[o]k about and try to pick up one or more of the young Ladies before they were all Gone, so I commenced keeping company with Flora Woodworth… [We were walking near Joseph’s home when he (JS) rode up in a carriage and invited us to take a ride]  D.) William Clayton records multiple visits by the Prophet to see young Flora Ann Woodworth March 31, 1843 ~ Friday On the 31 friday I spent the afternoon at Mr Lucian Woodworth’s in company with Joseph Smith, Hiram Smith, Heber C. Kimball Orson Hyde, a Br Chase with our wives we had a feast of a fat turkey & had a good time (Before her Sealing to JS most likely) May 2nd: “Joseph rode out today with Flora W.”   June 1st: “Evening Joseph rode in the carriage with Flora.”   August 26th: “Hyrum and I rode up to my house and Joseph met Mrs. Wdth and F[lora] and conversed some time.”   August 28th: “President Joseph met Ms Wdth at my house.”   August 29th: “A.M. at the Temple. President Joseph at my house with Miss Wdth.”  E.) Joseph Smith seems to be in the picture a lot but this is because 16 year old Flora Ann has by the Spring of 1843 become a plural wife of the Prophet Joseph Smith 1.) In the spring of 1843 Joseph Smith was sealed to 16 year old Flora Ann Woodworth According to Brian Hales “A March 4, 1843, entry in the Prophet’s diary appears to have been written “Woodworth,” which is crossed out and is difficult to discern. The name “Woodworth” appears interlineally above in shorthand, so it is possible they were sealed that day.” Those visits by Smith to Flora recorded by Clayton – they have already been sealed/married by then  2.) That story w/ Orange Wight…  here is the rest of the story “I was walking along the street with Flora near the Prophet’s residence when he, Joseph, drove, up in his carriage, stopped and spoke to I and Flora and asked us to get in the carriage and ride with him. He opened the door for us and when we were seated opposite to him he told the driver to drive on. We went to the [Nauvoo] temple lot and many other places during the afternoon and then he drove to the Woodworth house and we got out and went in. After we got in the house Sister Woodworth took me in another room and told me that Flora was one of Joseph’s wives. I was aware or believed that Eliza R. Snow and the two Partridge girls were his wives but was not informed about Flora. But now Sister Woodworth gave me all the information necessary, so I knew Joseph believed and practiced polygamy…Now as a matter of corse I at once—after giving her Flora/ a mild lecture left her and looked for a companion in other places, and where I could be more sure. I was now called on a mission to go up the river 5 or 6 hundred miles to make lumber for the Nauvoo house and Temple.” Mild Lecture Joseph gets him out of town sending him on a mission 500 to 600 miles away….   F.)  The Gift Giving of a Gold Watch Emma somehow becomes aware that Flora Woodworth has on her person a Gold watch which she comprehends is the Gold Watch of her Husband and the Prophet Joseph Smith (RFM to give most rational explanation).  We know this because William Clayton records the following “President Joseph told me that he had difficulty with E[mma] yesterday. She rode up to Woodworths with him and called while he came to t

A listener was able to have a candid chat with Elder Bednar recently and agreed to share with us how it went! This is part 2 of that conversation. Join us live!

RFM and Bill Reel will sit down with author Cheryl Bruno to discuss her book “Method Infinite: Freemasonry and the Mormon Restoration”. Synopsis of her book – “While no one thing can entirely explain the rise of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the historical influence of Freemasonry on this religious tradition cannot be refuted. Those who study Mormonism have been aware of the impact that Freemasonry had on the founding prophet Joseph Smith during the Nauvoo period, but his involvement in Freemasonry was arguably earlier and broader than many modern historians have admitted. The fact that the most obvious vestiges of Freemasonry are evident only in the more esoteric aspects of the Mormon faith has made it difficult to recognize, let alone fully grasp, the relevant issues. Even those with both Mormon and Masonic experience may not be versed in the nineteenth-century versions of Masonry’s rituals, legends, and practices. Without this specialized background, it is easy to miss the Masonic significance of numerous early Mormon ordinances, scripture, and doctrines. Method Infinite: Freemasonry and the Mormon Restoration offers a fresh perspective on the Masonic thread present in Mormonism from its earliest days. Smith’s firsthand knowledge of and experience with both Masonry and anti-Masonic currents contributed to the theology, structure, culture, tradition, history, literature, and ritual of the religion he founded.” Resources: Cheryl’s Book – https://www.amazon.com/Method-Infinite-Freemasonry-Mormon-Restoration/dp/1589587537 http://www.skirret.com/archive/misc/misc-m/mormonsmasonryandthemorganaffair.html Mormon Discussion: 363: Signs, Tokens & Penalties – The LDS Mormon Temple Ceremony 139: Greg Kearney: Mormonism & Masonry https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/masonry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormonism_and_Freemasonryhttps://www.mrm.org/masonry-and-the-mormon-temple-endowment-ceremony

A listener was able to have a candid chat with Elder Bednar recently and agreed to share with us how it went! Join us live!

Dan Vogel joins RFM to discuss the Occult in the Life of Joseph Smith and his family.