Radio Free Mormon

Here is the half-hour presentation I gave at Thrive in St. George, Utah, on February 26, 2023! I had a fantastic time meeting friends old and new! Thanks to all the people involved in making Thrive a wonderful reality for so many of us!

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… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 117: Changes To The Temple & The Ethics of Ensign Peak Advisors

What if the liability of the LDS Church has changed this week by the very acts it admitted this week?  What a novel and deeply true idea.  Imagine the church losing a class action sort of legal action. It’s one of those rare moments to affect more than normal where an added segment of people… Read More »Radio Free Mormon: 268: RFM Has Lightbulb Moment About A New Lawsuit Idea

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… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 116: Who Really Killed Joseph Smith?

RFM, John Dehlin, Nemo and Mike from LDS Discussions team up to discuss the age-old tradition of backdating prophecies, and how Joseph Smith appears to have made use of this same technique. Bottom Line–It’s easier to predict the future when it is actually in the past!

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… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 115: Mormon Cinema

Included here is the complaint OSF filedhttps://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/OSF-Complaint-filed-copy.pdf & Jenn Kamp’s Complaint Filedhttps://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/Jenn-Kamp-Lawsuit-Against-John-Dehlin-and-OSF-REDACTED-A.pdf

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… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 114: The Derek Cordon Homicide Investigation

Former Open Stories Foundation employee Jenn Kamp has gone public recently about the lawsuit she has filed against John Dehlin and the OSF. Now John Dehlin and OSF have filed a countersuit against Jenn Kamp. Included here is the complaint OSF filedhttps://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/OSF-Complaint-filed-copy.pdf & Jenn Kamp’s Complaint Filedhttps://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/Jenn-Kamp-Lawsuit-Against-John-Dehlin-and-OSF-REDACTED-A.pdf

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… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 113: What Ever Happened To The Great Apostasy?

A new apologetic technique has arisen in recent years of trying to prove the Book of Mormon true by proving all naturalistic theories false. RFM analyzes this methodology and shows it to be fundamentally flawed in a number of ways. Brian Hales, the current proponent of this apologetic, isn’t going to like this episode!

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.… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 112: Tithing – What’s In A Word

Radio Free Mormon and his faithful sidekick, The Backyard Professor, complete their dismemberment of Elder Bednar’s recent two-part talk titled, “That Ye May Believe.” Nothing about Elder Bednar has ever been this much fun!

The running narrative within Mormonism is that Joseph Smith was an uneducated backwoods farm boy and that his lack of sophistication leaves the the Restoration as a miracle that no country bumpkin could have pulled off. But what happens when, with critical thinking skills, we take a look at the the Education he did have… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 111: Joseph Smith’s Secret Education – The Dartmouth Connection

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, I wanted to revisit the letter he wrote April 16, 1963 while imprisoned in the city jail of Birmingham, Alabama, as a result of the nonviolent actions Dr. King spearheaded to bring national attention to the injustices of the segregationist South. Not only is this letter a… Read More »Radio Free Mormon: 263: Letter from Birmingham Jail

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/1 https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/145852385/francis-gladden-bishop https://atom3.lib.byu.edu/mormonbib/11107/. https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/chd/individual/francis-gladden-bishop-1809 https://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.jpg https://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.jpg https://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=8-1 https://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-1843/1 https://mormonpolygamydocuments.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/JS0428.pdf

RFM is joined once again by fellow attorney Kolby Reddish for the concluding installment of their investigation of how Mormonism fares when compared with the rules governing admissibility of evidence in a court of law. This is one you don’t want to miss!

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 ORAL SEX… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 109: The LDS “Mormon” Church’s Teachings on Sex

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… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 108: Is The Book of Mormon Unique?

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… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 107: Sheri Dew You Know – A Not So Christmas Special

Christians traditionally believe Jesus was the Son of David, or in other words, a literal descendant of King David. But did the earliest Christians share this belief? Join RFM as he takes a deep dive into the New Testament texts that surprisingly suggest the earliest Christians may have believed that Jesus was NOT descended from… Read More »Radio Free Mormon: 261: Jesus! Who’s Your Daddy?

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/DezNat DezNat Twitter – https://twitter.com/DeseretNation DezNat Exposed… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 106: DezNat Exposed

RFM and fellow attorney Kolby Reddish continue their discussion of what Mormonism looks like when viewed through the Rules of Evidence applicable in courts of law!

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… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 105: When Mormon Leaders Encourage Violence

I am joined by fellow attorney Kolby Reddish to discuss the Rules of Evidence that apply in courts of law and see how the LDS Church would fare if compelled to abide by those same rules! Spoiler Alert! It doesn’t end up well for the LDS Church!

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… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 104: Captain Nemo VS The LDS 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 –… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 103: Thomas Murphy on the Third Convention

Elder David Bednar recently completed a landmark address in two parts, seeking to defend the LDS Church against its critics. RFM is joined by the Backyard Professor in breaking down the first part of Elder Bednar’s talk titled, “That Ye May Believe.” After deconstructing Elder Bednar’s talk, a better title might be, “That Ye May… Read More »Radio Free Mormon: 258: The Unreasonable Elder Bednar, Part 1

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… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 101: The Third Convention

RFM has a free-for-all with the gang at Mormon News Roundup! Keeping up with Mormonism in the news has never been so much fun!

To celebrate our 100th episode, we invite all of you to join us as we take a look back at the past 99 episodes and share which have been most meaningful and which are our favorites and we will be taking calls from you our listeners and letting you share with us which ones meant… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 100: 100th Episode Super Show

Is it possible a prophet of God would steal someone else’s miracle story for themselves? Check out this podcast for a famous miracle story of Wilford Woodruff where he may have just done that very thing!

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… Read More »Mormonism LIVE: 099: The 1826 Trial of Joseph Smith The Glass Looker

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.