Radio Free Mormon Archives - Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup

I went on John Dehlin’s show recently to talk about the turning points in my life that have turned me from a True Believing Mormon into Radio Free Mormon. I had to do a lot of introspection for this podcast, and as it turns out, the answers surprised even me! A must-listen for anyone who wants to know what makes RFM tick! The post Radio Free Mormon: 226: From TBM to RFM, Part 1 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

RFM sits down with Kerry Shirts, former believer, former director of research for FAIR (Formerly FairMormon, formerly FAIR), former apologist known as the Backyard Professor. Kerry discusses his time as an apologist defending The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his subsequent loss of belief. The post Radio Free Mormon: 225: Kerry Shirts Interview (AKA The Backyard Professor) appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

We did it! We finally got through all of General Conference from April 2021! Join Jonathan Streeter and me as we slice and dice the talks given in the Sunday Afternoon Session! I am exhausted! But General Conference has still never been so much fun! The post Radio Free Mormon: 224: General Conference Post Mortem, Part 6–The Sunday Afternoon Session! appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

The most controversial talk of April 2021 General Conference was likely given by President Nelson at the close of the Sunday morning session. You remember–The “Lazy Learners” talk! Jonathan Streeter and I take a full two hours to dive deeply into this talk and excavate its deeper implications. General Conference has never been so much fun!!! The post Radio Free Mormon: 223: LAZY LEARNERS OF THE WORLD, UNITE! appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

I am happy to be joined once again by the brilliant Jonathan Streeter of Thoughts on Things and Stuff for a jolly discussion of the Sunday Morning Session of April 2021 General Conference! General Conference has never been so much fun!!! The post Radio Free Mormon: 222: General Conference Post Mortem, Part 4–Sunday Morning Session appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Tonight I am joined once more by my good friend Jonathan Streeter from Thoughts on Things and Stuff for part 3 of our post mortem of the 2021 General Conference. Time for the Priesthood Session! General Conference has never been so much fun! The post Radio Free Mormon: 221: General Conference Post Mortem, Part 3–The Priesthood Session appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

RFM and Jonathan Streeter have a rollicking good time talking about the talks given in Saturday afternoon session of the April 2021 General Conference! General Conference has never been so much fun! The post Radio Free Mormon: 220: General Conference Post Mortem, Part 2 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Join Jonathan Streeter and RFM as they take apart General Conference one talk at a time! This episode covers the Saturday morning session of April 2021 General Conference. Speakers for this session include Elder (not President!) Uchtdorf, Sister Joy Jones, Elder Gong and President Eyring! GenCon has never been this much fun! The post Radio Free Mormon: 219: General Conference Post Mortem, April 2021, Part 1 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

RFM joins Jonathan Streeter to discuss how lawyers use words to deceive. Even when the lawyers are LDS Church leaders. And even when they’re not lawyers! Prepare to have your eyes opened! The post Radio Free Mormon: 218: Lying in Wait to Deceive appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

This just in! Elder Oaks has proven that he is NOT a liar! In this joint podcast with the fabulous Jonathan Streeter from Thinker of Thoughts, we dissect a 1993 talk Elder Oaks gave to the students of BYU’s law school. In his remarks, Elder Oaks demonstrates convincingly to all assembled that he does not justify lying in any form, nor is he himself a liar! Either that, or this is actually a Manifesto on why Elder Oaks believes it is fine to prevaricate and deceive for the greater good, so long as you don’t cross that increasingly fuzzy line of lying. It’s like the Unabomber Manifesto. Only it isn’t about bombing; it’s about lying. Perhaps we should call it the Unaliar Manifesto? The post Radio Free Mormon: 217: Elder Oaks is NOT a Liar! appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Was Ethan Smith’s View of the Hebrews a potential source for Joseph Smith’s Book of Mormon? That is the question RFM tackles in this important episode hosted by Dr. John Dehlin. After having heard about this allegation since the 1980s, RFM finally took the time to get View of the Hebrews and methodically work his way through it. The results are explosive! The post Radio Free Mormon: 216: VIEW OF THE HEBREWS appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Today I am joined by John Dehlin to discuss several essays (two recent!) written by Dr. John Gee criticizing the Joseph Smith Papers Project volume dealing with the Abraham Egyptian Manuscripts. Is Dr. Gee fair in his criticisms, or is he grinding a well-honed axe? You be the judge! The post Radio Free Mormon: 215: CIVIL WAR! John Gee v. The Joseph Smith Papers Project appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Jonathan Streeter and I continue our analysis of October 2020 General Conference with the Saturday afternoon session! This session may contain the worst GenCon talk I have heard in forty years! The audio is a bit sketchy toward the beginning (thanks, Zoom!) but it levels out pretty quickly! Hang in there and you will be amply rewarded! The post Radio Free Mormon: 214: General Conference Post Mortem October 2020 Part 2 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Tonight we do a deep dive into the hit-piece John Gee wrote about his former Egyptology professor Robert Ritner, ostensibly as a book review for The Journal of the Society for the Study of Egyptian Antiquities. Is there bad blood between Gee and Ritner? You bet there is! And John Gee’s hit-piece brings it into high definition! The post Radio Free Mormon: 213: BAD BLOOD appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

John Dehlin and I discuss the history and merits of the ongoing class action lawsuit against the LDS Church. As special bonus, the lawyer suing the LDS Church phones in and shares some startling behind-the-scenes information on how the LDS Church used strong arm tactics to try to get her to drop the case! The post Radio Free Mormon: 212: Class Action Lawsuit Against LDS Church appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Join Sue as she tells the rest of her harrowing tale; how she escaped from the polygamy compound in Mexico, made her way back to the United States, and finally made her way back into the good graces of the LDS Church. As it turns out, all the hoops the LDS Church made her jump through in order to be rebaptized and have her temple blessings restored ended up pushing her out of the Church . . . again! The post Radio Free Mormon: 211: Escape from Polygamy Mountain Part 2 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Tonight I have the distinct honor of interviewing Dr. Simon Southerton, whose 2004 book, “Losing a Lost Tribe,” made headlines around the world and sent shockwaves through the Mormon Community! The reason this book made such a splash is because it demonstrated beyond a reasonable doubt that a Semitic tribe such as depicted in the Book of Mormon did not exist in the New World. And it was all right there in the DNA! Dr. Southerton talks about his early years that led up to his writing, “Losing a Lost Tribe,” and how advances in DNA studies since that time continue to corroborate the original conclusion. We even take a crack at the LDS Gospel Topics essay on DNA and the Book of Mormon! Come along for the ride! The post Radio Free Mormon: 210: DNA and the Book of Mormon appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Peter Bleakley, a life-long Latter-day Saint from across the pond, is actively engaged in calling out current church leadership on their gaslighting, distortions, and dissembling. In this interview, Peter is equal parts brilliance and bravura! RFM finds out what makes Peter tick, why the current state of Mormonism infuriates him so much, and what Peter thinks is the only hope left for the LDS Church to continue as a viable Christian institution into the 21st Century. It’s the Christians versus the Pharisees! And so far, the Pharisees seem to be winning hands down! The post Radio Free Mormon: 209: Christians v. Pharisees appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Join RFM today as his good friend, Sue, tells about her escape from polygamy! Sue was a happily married TBM until her husband became converted to the fundamentalist practice of plural marriage, converted Sue after a year-long emotionally abusive indoctrination, and began taking new wives. The family moved down to Mexico to continue the practice where Sue lived with her husband and sister wives for two years before finally getting fed up with it and making her escape! This is one you won’t want to miss! The post Radio Free Mormon: 208: Escape from Polygamy Mountain, Part 1 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

RFM interviews John Kirk Williams, author of “Heaven Up Here,” a memoir of his two-year LDS church mission to Bolivia! John talks about his mission, his time working for the church curriculum department, and the events that led him to lose belief in Mormonism! The post Radio Free Mormon: 207: “Heaven Up Here” appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

RFM makes several important announcements involving the direction of the podcast, an update on the #GiveThanks episode from last week, and revealing a big secret about what has been going on behind the scenes at Radio Free Mormon! This is a must-listen! The post Radio Free Mormon: 206: IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS!!! appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

During this Thanksgiving season, global faith leader Russell M. Nelson has given the world the revelation direct from God that we should . . . wait for it . . . give thanks! Bill Reel, together with Allan and Kattie Mount join me for a fun dissection of President Nelson’s Message of Hope and Healing! #givethanks The post Radio Free Mormon: 205: #GiveThanks appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Philip McLemore joins us again to share his fascinating experiences with LDS General Authorities including Ezra Taft Benson, Vaughn Featherstone, Paul Dunn, Marion Hanks, and more! Philip McLemore tells it all! The Good, the Bad and the Ugly! The post Radio Free Mormon: 204: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Former CES Director Philip McLemore pulls back the curtain to give us a look behind the scenes at what really goes on in the Church Educational System. As a bonus, we also get to hear about the strange happenings on his mission to Brazil in the early 70s. Finally, Philip shares the untold story of how he was asked by top CES leadership to write up a thorough debunking of anti-Mormon criticisms back in the heyday of The Godmakers. And why it was that project never saw the light of day. This is one you don’t want to miss!!! The post Radio Free Mormon: 203: Confessions of a CES Director appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Professor David Bokovoy and RFM dig deep into the third chapter of the Book of Abraham. What does all this material about astronomy really mean? And what can it tell us about the actual author? These questions, along with a host of others, are delved into in this fascinating discussion! The post Radio Free Mormon: 202: The David Bokovoy Interview Part 3 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Today RFM is joined by Jonathan Streeter of Thoughts on Things and Stuff to dissect the Saturday morning session of October 2020 General Conference! General Conference has never been so much fun!!! The post Radio Free Mormon: 201: General Conference Post Mortem, Part 1 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Dr. David Bokovoy brings his formidable knowledge of Bible studies and textual analysis to bear on the Book of Abraham! How does the Book of Abraham hold up? This is one you don’t want to miss!!! The post Radio Free Mormon: 200: The David Bokovoy Interview, Part 2 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

This is Lecture 10 in my twelve-lecture Institute class on Defending the Faith taught at the University of Texas at Austin in the spring semester of 1989. In this class I show how to use the Bible to confute Born Again Christians who believe salvation is by grace alone! The post Radio Free Mormon: 198: Defender of the Faith, Lecture 10, Grace v. Works appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Tonight we sit down with Born Again Mormon superstar Shawn McCraney and find out what makes him tick! This interview packs a lot into 90-minutes! (***Listener Warning for some mildly salty language–Shawn is a bad influence on me.) The post Radio Free Mormon: 197: The Shawn McCraney Interview appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

RFM gives a rundown of the fallout apologists have been experiencing due to the Robert Ritner interviews! On top of that, three examples are given of the games apologists play in defending the Book of Abraham! The post Radio Free Mormon: 196: The Games People Play appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Many Latter-day Saints are leaving the Church over issues relating to the Book of Abraham. In this special fireside, I talk about the most commonly heard criticisms of the Book of Abraham, and how faithful LDS scholars respond to them. This fireside is a must-listen for anyone with questions about the Book of Abraham. The post Radio Free Mormon: 195: Book of Abraham Fireside appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Dr. Kerry Muhlestein, BYU Egyptologist apologist for the Book of Abraham, has finally responded to our invitation to have him and Dr. John Gee on the podcast to show Dr. Robert Ritner where he is wrong. Unfortunately, Dr. Muhlestein and Dr. Gee have declined the invitation. Not because they are scared, mind you, but because that is not the way “true scholars” discuss things. Sit back and enjoy a delightful dismembering of Dr. Muhlestein’s non-response response, as only RFM can! The post Radio Free Mormon: 194: Brave Sir Kerry (Muhlestein) appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

In a stunning reversal of events, John Gee publicly announces he no longer believes a long-touted evidence for the Book of Abraham is valid! This raises the question, how long has John Gee known this, and why has he been the major proponent of this evidence for decades? After a thorough examination of the evidence, RFM concludes we have to be cautious about taking at face value anything John Gee says about the Book of Abraham. The post Radio Free Mormon: 193: John Gee Comes Clean! appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

The amazing Rock Waterman drops by RFM’s underground bunker to talk about what he’s been up to recently, and share some laughs. Fortunately, Rock is a good sport about RFM’s incessant ribbing! Two hours never went by so fast! The post Radio Free Mormon: 192: Rock Waterman Unplugged! appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

John Dehlin and I conclude this historic three-part podcast interviewing Dr. Robert K. Ritner, world famous Egyptologist and former professor of Dr. John Gee of BYU. We cover a lot of ground in this 5 1/2 (!) hour episode, and before we are done, Dr. Ritner gets to finally give his version of the famous (and apparently apocryphal) story circulated by Dr. John Gee as to how Dr. Ritner was “removed” from Dr. Gee’s dissertation committee at Yale. Fasten your seat-belts; it’s going to be a bumpy night! The post Radio Free Mormon: 191: Dr. Robert K. Ritner on the Book of Abraham part 3 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Now that new research has established the dependency of Joseph Smith’s Bible translation on the Adam Clarke Bible Commentary, RFM launches into a spate of new and additional ideas and inferences that can be drawn from this conclusion. RFM shows how the Adam Clarke Bible Commentary may not only have influenced the JST, but also the Book of Mormon and even the Book of Abraham! That’s the sign post up ahead! Your next stop, The Adam Clarke Connection! The post Radio Free Mormon: 190: The Adam Clarke Connection appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

In this episode, Dr. Ritner goes through Facsimiles Two and Three and shows how the actual Egyptian translations do not match those provided by Joseph Smith. We also go into depth on two of the apologists’ favorite arguments; (1) The practice of human sacrifice in ancient Egypt; and, (2) The translation of the four sons of Horus as representing the earth in its four quarters. Facsimile 3 rings the death knell on Joseph Smith’s ability to translate Egyptian. IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT! As you know, Dr. Ritner needs a kidney because his is failing. If you can help, call Dana McClain, Northwestern Medicine Transplant Coordinator, at 312-695-0828. Donors will be given an application asking for Dr. Ritner’s date of birth. It is 05-05-1953. Thanks so much!!! RFM The post Radio Free Mormon: 189: Dr. Robert K. Ritner on the Book of Abraham part 2 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Dr. Robert K. Ritner is a world renowned Egyptologist and professor of Egyptology at the prestigious Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago. I am honored to have been invited by John Dehlin to engage in a multi-part interview with Dr. Ritner to explore his views on the Book of Abraham; a subject he is uniquely qualified to address. This is part one of that interview. IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT! As you know, Dr. Ritner needs a kidney because his is failing. If you can help, call Dana McClain, Northwestern Medicine Transplant Coordinator, at 312-695-0828. Donors will be given an application asking for Dr. Ritner’s date of birth. It is 05-05-1953. Thanks so much!!! RFM The post Radio Free Mormon: 188: Dr. Robert K. Ritner on the Book of Abraham part 1 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

In their long anticipated and recently released research paper, Haley Wilson-Lemmon and BYU Professor Thomas Wayment demonstrate beyond a reasonable doubt that Joseph Smith used Adam Clarke’s Bible Commentary in his production of the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible. RFM walks us through each and every one of the seventeen examples set forth in their groundbreaking article! This one is a game changer! The post Radio Free Mormon: 187: “Borrowed Robes”–The JST’s Reliance on the Adam Clarke Bible Commentary appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

RFM shares his first experience going through the LDS temple endowment! The post Radio Free Mormon: 186: The Temple and Me appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

RFM has a lot of experience teaching at church over the past four decades! He presented some great stories and thoughts on the subject to a special gathering of Denver Snuffer followers in Europe! The post Radio Free Mormon: 185: Teaching at Church appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Professor Brian Hauglid is recently retired from BYU where he spent 21-years as Professor of Ancient Scripture. The extensive work he has done on the Book of Abraham manuscripts has led him to state publicly that the “scholarship” of Book of Abraham apologists such as John Gee and Kerry Muhlestein is “abhorrent.” Professor Hauglid explains the research that has led him to this conclusion and a changing in his views on the Book of Abraham. The post Radio Free Mormon: 184: The Brian Hauglid Interview appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Carol Lynn Pearson, the Poet Laureate of Mormonism, drops by RFM’s underground bunker to chat about her life, her loves, and her latest projects! Prepare yourself for a very special experience! The post Radio Free Mormon: 183: An Evening with Carol Lynn Pearson appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Paul and Matt are former Mormons who have gone on to become Born Again Christians. RFM talks with them about their journey, answers their questions, and poses some questions of his own. A few of RFM’s questions get somewhat pointed, but Paul and Matt take it in stride and a good time is had by all! The post Radio Free Mormon: 182: Born Again Mormons appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

RFM dissects the world-wide young adult devotional given on May 3, 2020 by Elder And Sister Gay. This devotional is a classic study in how the LDS Church gives its members freedom to choose with the right hand while simultaneously taking it away with the left. The post Radio Free Mormon: 181: The Illusion of Agency Part 2, The Gay Devotional appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Today is the big day when the Utah State Records Committee issued its ruling on RFM’s public disclosure request for the emails directing BYUPD to withhold information relating to the Joseph Bishop rape investigation! The post Radio Free Mormon: 180: Ruling of the Utah State Records Committee appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

How do LDS Church leaders get the members to do what they are told, while at the same time telling them they are free to choose? RFM digs into the heart of this fascinating subject! The post Radio Free Mormon: 179: The Illusion of Agency appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

RFM interviews the hosts of Marriage on a Tightrope, Kattie and Allan Mount. Kattie and Allan are in a mixed-faith marriage. Their podcast seeks to help others navigate the sometimes stormy waters of mixed-faith marriages. The post Radio Free Mormon: 178: Marriage on a Tightrope—Without a Net! appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

RFM compares a personal experience he had in 1985 with the way Joseph Smith practiced plural marriage. It’s hard to escape the fact Joseph abused his power. Badly. The post Radio Free Mormon: 177: Abuse of Power appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

RFM reveals for the first time the contents of an unpublished manuscript. In it, RFM seeks to answer six questions raised by the fact the Book of Mormon teaches salvation by grace! Several surprising discoveries are made along the way! The post Radio Free Mormon: 176: Born Again Book of Mormon Part 2 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.