Radio Free Mormon

RFM delves into four fascinating items related to Mormonism he has only recently discovered. You won’t want to miss this one!

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… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 098: Gold Gifts, Deeds, & Harsh Measures

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!

One General Conference. Five Sessions. Ten hours. Thirty-Six Talks. ALL IN UNDER SIXTY MINUTES!!!

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… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 096: Mormonism & Masonry

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.

Evidence has recently come to my attention that the LDS Church is currently engaged in removing miraculous elements from some of its cherished stories in Church History. This episode presents that evidence. Let me know what you think in the comments section below!

In Mormon parlance, the Tar and Feathering of Joseph Smith is a faith promoting story about a mob of mean men punishing Joseph Smith for being a prophet. But it doesn’t take one long when their ears are to the ground in non-correlated circles to hear rumblings that the tar and feathering is connected to… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 093: The Tar and Feathering of Joseph Smith

I had a blast doing some magic at the 2022 Sunstone Symposium! Even though this is just the audio, I was pleased to find it entertaining to listen to. I hope you enjoy it!

RFM and Bill sit down with Movie Director Richard Dutcher to explore his career directing the movies God’s Army, Brigham City, & States of Grace. We take a look at these films through the perspective of Richard’s faith journey and take an evening to get to know the man who kicked of Mormon cinema. RESOURCES:… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 092: Mormon Movie Maker

Throughout multiple talks including one released just a few days ago, Sister Bonnie Cordon, Young Women general president, has spoke about the loss of her Grandson, Derek within Church approved channels. What she doesn’t say is that the death of this child is surrounded by horrific details that contradict witness statements that involve allegations of… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 091: Bonnie Cordon & The Breath of Life #HearHim

The LDS Church has appointed a new Church Historian named Elder Kyle S. McKay. True to form, the new Church Historian is a lawyer. What makes Elder McKay different is that he was also my missionary companion in Japan from January to February of 1980! Join me as I talk not only about old times,… Read More »Radio Free Mormon: 251: Meet the New Church Historian!

This week RFM and Bill sit down with the creator and musical artist known as Weird Alma. Weird Alma has brought us musical parodies such as Gaslighting, S.C.M.C., Tapirback Rider, You’re (Several Months Shy of) Fifteen, and many more. Weird Alma shows us firsthand that humor and music can play a role in our processing… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 090: Weird Alma Strikes Again

Mormonism LIVE: 089: Manipulation, Money, & Mormon Sex Abuse On this Episode Bill 7 RFM take a look at the recent Sex Abuse Scandal trying to explore the legal process and try to better understand the LDS Church’s perspective. We look at the Arizona Law, talk about the when , how, and why about the… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 089: Manipulation, Money, & Mormon Sex Abuse

A USAF sergeant explains how the strict demands of Mormonism broke him as a young man, making him feel completely alone and unaccepted by God, even causing eating disorders. After every solution the Church offered failed, he finally found healing through secular means.

Today we dive deep into the idea that Mormonism grooms compliance. We start by showing it is the baseline of our theology and belief system. We show how it is reinforced by our stories and songs, show all the pervasive ways it shows up in our faith system. And even how the Leaders impose such… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 087: Mormonism Grooms Compliance

Major News in Mormonism happened this week when a photograph surfaced alleging to be the Prophet Joseph Smith. So Bill and RFM dug into the story and followed the trail examining the Photographs, Portraits, Daguerreotypes, and other depictions both known to be Joseph for certain and also alleged to see if we could get to… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 086: Would the Real Joseph Smith Please Stand Up?

RFM and Bill sit down with Ronald Huggins, author of the new book “Lighthouse: Jerald and Sandra Tanner, Despised and Beloved Critics of Mormonism” & Sandra Tanner who is featured in the book to discuss some of the interesting stories that went into the published work. And towards the end of the show we discuss… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 085: Lighthouse – The Story of Tanners

When RFM and Bill Reel joined Mormonism, they heard rumors that Early LDS Leaders had taught that Mary was impregnated by Heavenly Father via a sexual act. But the Church and its apologists insisted that such idea was a misconstrued out of context assumption and with a sleight of hand the problem was gone…. Or… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 084: Did God Have Sex With Mary?

If one is finally at a place where they really want to understand both sides, really want to wrestle with their faith, what are the books that best introduce the believer to the complex history, the fallibility of prophets, and the trauma of Mormon influence? Bill and RFM seek to lay out a list of… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 083: The Best Books for Diving into the Messiness of Mormonism

RFM is joined once again by Scott from Rameumptom Ruminations to review the controversial series about Warren Jeffs and the FLDS Church, “Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey“! I had a wonderful time producing this review with Scott and hope you enjoy it, too!

We sit down with Former BYU Professor, and author of the book “This Is My Doctrine: The Development of Mormon Theology”, Charley Harrell to dive into several important assumptions Mormonism and its leaders and members impose in order to cleanly define doctrine. But do these really hold up? Can the word Doctrine as used within… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 082: Charley Harrell & Contemplating Mormon Doctrine

Aleesha Franklin, daughter of Ponzi-scheme magnate Gaylen Rust, returns to Mormonism LIVE to share her personal story of how a catastrophic failure of Priesthood Leadership, both local and general, led to her disaffection from the LDS Church

RFM concludes his Biblical analysis of the perennial argument concerning the roles of grace and works in salvation. Mormon apologetics has never been this much fun! This is a recording of an Institute Class taught by RFM at the University of Texas at Austin Institute Building in the spring semester of 1989.

I want to commemorate Fathers’ Day by playing some stories told by my father back in 2009 before his passing in 2011. And it’s not my fault if the majority of his stories seem to center around me. I love you, Dad. I miss you. And I’m glad I got to have you for my… Read More »Radio Free Mormon: 248: A Fathers’ Day Special Episode

What happens when a Patriarch gives a blessing with serious ramifications to LDS Church leadership? Quite a bit, as it turns out! Tune in and find out what happens in this amazing but true story of a patriarchal blessing gone amok!

RFM and Bill take a look at Patriarchal Blessings looking at what these are and what they are not and even take a look at multiple Patriarchal Blessings from the same patriarchs attempting to untangle inspiration from the rote and mundane. RFM and Bill take a look at Patriarchal Blessings looking at what these are… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 080: The Patriarchal Blessing Connection

Tonight I am joined by my good friend Scott, the host of Rameumpton Ruminations, to review the Hulu series, “Under the Banner of Heaven.” RFM and RR–Putting the fun back into fundamentalism!

Bill & RFM take a look at Mormonism’s Holy Garments. We look at the history, doctrine, and disavowed theories and spiritual speculation around them. Are they a magical spiritual protection? Were they allowed to have their design changed? Must they be worn all day every day? What super secret sacred details will Bill and RFM… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 079: Mormonism’s History of The Holy Garments

RFM sits down with John Dehlin of Mormon Stories to discuss how RFM graduated from Mormonism after spending forty-years as a member.

RFM & Bill take a look at Affinity Fraud in Utah and that which seems to have a root in taking advantage of unhealthy boundaries of trust within Mormonism. Affinity Fraud is a type of investment fraud in which a con artist targets members of an identifiable group based on things such as race, age,… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 078: Mormon Affinity Fraud

In July of 2000, on the sixteenth anniversary of the double-murders of Brenda and Erica Lafferty, Utah radio host Tom Barberi arranged an interview with Dan Lafferty who was, and continues to be, serving a life-sentence in prison. Dan Lafferty relates in horrific detail the events leading up to the murders, as well as the… Read More »Radio Free Mormon: 244: The Dan Lafferty Interview

Bill and RFM review a handful of clips from LDS Apologist, Jared Halverson. The discussion revolves around the games apologists play. These often include creating a framework and solutions to problems that to the believer seem tenable but when closely examined often hinge on fallacies or irrational thinking. The Apologist sees creating plausibility as a… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 077: Jared Halverson & The Games Apologists Play

RFM gets interviewed by Steven Pynnaker of Mormon Book Reviews. Steve is an Evangelical Christian and a scholar of all things Mormon, to boot! Both Steve and RFM touch on a number of interesting subjects in this two-hour interview.

Mormon Scholar Dan Vogel comes on the show once more to discuss last week’s episode of Mormonism LIVE as well as to discuss other new insights surrounding the Book of Abraham that seem to close the door on the “Missing Scroll Theory” and the Catalyst Theory”.

I am often asked the question, “Why is it that some Mormons will avoid negative information about the LDS Church at all costs, while other Mormons will research the negative information regardless of where it may lead?” This is the very issue dealt with in “Under the Banner of Heaven” as well as in the… Read More »Radio Free Mormon: 242: “Under the Banner of Heaven” and Greek Tragedy

Bill and RFM tell the story of the Kinderhook Plates episode in Mormon history in Mormonism Live fashion. From original Documents to Conspiracy Theories to a honest transparent conversation around the facts.  We discuss the history, the tests done to attempt to discern their dating and method of inscription, the Church’s commentary around them, and… Read More »Mormonism Live: 075: Fugate’s Kinderhook Fugazi

RFM gives a live presentation in American Fork, Utah. The subject is how Mormonism went from being a highly unorthodox religious sect to a worldwide religion with its own established orthodoxy. Through this understanding we can gain insight on how this affects our personal relationship with Mormonism, whether past, present or future.

RFM and Bill sit down with Sandra Tanner, a well known writer and researcher, on the critical side of Mormonism. We sit down with Sandra to discuss her impact within Mormonism and to touch on a few stories that viewers may find interesting.

In this week’s episode, Bill and RFM take a look at instances in Mormon History where LDS Leadership seem to be giving a stamp of approval to Leaders and Members to be dishonest, to lie, and to deceive. Once we understand the instruction and permissions given to be dishonest we can going forward see their… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 073: Lying For The Lord

We sit down with American anthropologist and Author, Thomas Murphy to discuss the Book of Mormon within the context of Native American History. We explore the legends and history of the indigenous people to see if there are connections there that help us examine the historicity of the Book of Mormon and the claims of… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 072: Neophytes & Lamanites In The Book of Mormon

Did the original Christians expect Jesus to be crucified for the sins of the world? Or did they expect something else? Something very different? And if so, how did Jesus become the Savior worshipped by Christians today? These and other fascinating questions are explored in depth by RFM in this episode.

Bill and RFM dive into the apocryphal book of Judith and point out the many similarities between that apocryphal story and the Book of Mormon’s story about Nephi and his encounter and eventual beheading of Laban. RESOURCES: debunking-cesletter.com/book-of-mormon-1/view-of-the-hebrews-joseph-smith-sr-dream/ http://jur.byu.edu/?p=21296 https://rsc.byu.edu/doctrine-covenants-revelations-context/joseph-smith-emanuel-swedenborg-section-76-importance-bible https://i.redd.it/uckai9n1qyn81.jpg https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/section-91-the-apocrypha?lang=eng https://www.ksl.com/article/11790001/joseph-smith-family-bible-goes-on-sale https://i.redd.it/71fpzs9h69x01.png http://wordtree.org/thelatewar/ https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/answers/Question:_Did_Joseph_Smith_create_the_story_of_Nephi_and_Laban_by_plagiarizing_concepts_and_phrases_from_the_story_of_Judith_and_Holofernes_in_the_Apocrypha%3F https://ebible.org/pdf/eng-kjv/eng-kjv_JDT.pdf

I went to the Saturday evening session of Stake Conference April 9th. So many of you wanted to know why I went and what happened, I decided to do a podcast about it!

RFM is back to his old tricks, breaking down and analyzing General Conference as only he can!

RFM and Bill sit down once again with Dan Vogel and Brent Metcalfe to examine the problems with the Book of Abraham as a translation of an ancient document in a sacred text for Mormonism generally and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints specifically. Dan and Brent share their scholarship and help us… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 070: Critical Scholarship and Book of Abraham Historicity

Bill Reel and RFM will dive into Mormon Gaslighting. They will discuss the psychology of gaslighting, discuss its origin, and then delve into a handful of examples among the hundreds that could be explored and conclude discussing the harm that comes to the one being gaslit. RESOURCES: https://mormonismlive.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Gaslighting-Examples.pdf Movie Gaslight – https://youtu.be/UYmtzaHwCKo?t=828 Elder Ballard not… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 069: Gaslighting From Mormon Leadership

Tonight I do a deep dive on how the LDS Church has misled its members to believe that top church leaders are not paid. Then we go into the January 2017 leak that blew the lid off this myth to the tune of six-figure base salaries for General Authorities. The amazing thing is that, in… Read More »Radio Free Mormon: 237: The Mormon Myth that Wouldn’t Die-UNPAID MINISTRY!

RFM and Bill Reel sit down with special guests to discuss what The LDS Church looks like in Africa and how its membership upon this continent is affected uniquely.