Latest Podcast Episode
FLDS Most Wanted Field Trip
Short Creek consists of the twin FLDS cities of Hildale, Utah & Colorado City, Arizona. Come along as Rick Bennett visits these 2 communities that were founded on the Utah-Arizona border to escape prosecution for polygamy. We’ll visit Warren Jeffs...
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Polygamy Road Trip (Rick B)
Tom Bennett invited me to visit Centennial Park, Arizona, a group that practices polygamy. It’s just south of the Utah border and about 50 minutes
Has Community of Christ Moved from Book of Mormon? (Brittany Mangelson 5 of 5)
Has the Community of Christ moved away from the Book of Mormon? We’ll ask that question to Pastor Brittany Mangelson of the Community of Christ
Sonia Johnson Is Different Kind of Lesbian (Chris Talbot 4 of 4)
Following the dissolution of her marriage, Sonia Johnson came up with her own view of gender essentialism and had some lesbian relationships. Was she bisexual,
Sonia Johnson’s Presidential Campaign 1984 (Chris Talbot 3 of 4)
Sonia Johnson ran for President of the United States in 1984 against Ronald Reagan & Walter Mondale. Did she expect to win? Dr Chris Talbot
Sonia Johnson Vs LDS Church (Chris Talbot 2 of 4)
The LDS Church didn’t like Sonia Johnson’s activism for the Equal Rights Amendment. What were the exact criticisms of her? Which figures in the LDS
Sonia Johnson Fights for Equal Rights Amendment(Chris Talbot 1 of 4)
Sonia Johnson became enraged in 1979 when the LDS Church came out in opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment. Dr Chris Talbot has written a
Best of 2024, Awards, & Looking back at 1000 episodes! Happy New Year! (GT Live)
I started Gospel Tangents almost 9 years ago and Jan 1, 2025 marks 1000 episodes! In celebration of the New Year and my 1000th episode,
Infant Baptism in BoM Historical? (Brant Gardner 4 of 4)
The Book of Mormon disparages infant baptism. Did it really happen, or is it an anachronism as Alexander Campbell claimed? Brant Gardner will tackle that
How Can 19th Century Book of Mormon Anachronisms Be Explained? (Brant Gardner 3 of 4)
What are the 19th century Book of Mormon anachronisms in the Book of Mormon? How can we reconcile them? Brant Gardner shares his perspective. We’ll
Is White & Delightsome Racist Scripture? (Brant Gardner 2 of 4)
Is White & Delightsome racist scripture in the Book of Mormon. Brant Gardner will tackle that in out next conversation. He’s the author of 2
Brant Gardner Translation of Book of Mormon (1 of 4)
Brant Gardner has put out not one, but 2 books on the Book of Mormon. The first is titled “Plates of Mormon” & is the
Heretic Movie Review (Josh Thompson 4 of 4)
Was the movie “Heretic” with sister missionaries & Hugh Grant a good movie or bad movie? Josh Thompson & Rick Bennett share their Heretic movie
Authority & Courtship for Polygamists (Josh Thompson 3 of 4)
How does a married man add another wife to his family? Is his wife involved in dating? What is courtship for polygamists like? Josh Thompson
Are LDS Temples Valid? (Josh Thompson 2 of 4)
How do Mormon fundamentalists view LDS Temples? Are LDS Temples valid in their eyes? Do they recognize the work done there, or have the temples
How Mormon Fundamentalist Views LDS Church (Josh Thompson 1 of 4)
How does a Mormon Fundamentalist view the LDS Church? Josh Thompson is the grandson of Rulon Allred, a leader of the Apostolic United Brethren (AUB),
LDS, CoC, & Bickertonite General Conference (Josh Gehly 6 of 6)
What’s the Difference between LDS, CoC, & Bickertonite General Conferences? Is it a week long like CoC? Every 6 months like LDS? A combination? Evangelist
Debunking Polygamy Skeptics Claims (Re-broadcast Mark Tensmeyer)
This is a rebroadcast of our 2022 interview with attorney & independent historian Mark Tensmeyer who will polygamy skeptics claims. We’ll discuss contemporary evidence of
Joseph Smith’s Plural Marriage Proposals
Have you studied, Joseph Smith’s plural marriage proposals? Dr Christopher Smith finds many commonalities between Emma’s marriage proposal and other wives of Joseph Smith, including
989: New Interpretation for Fanny Alger “Affair/Scrape” (Chris Smith 1 of 2)
Was Joseph Smith’s sealing to Fanny Alger and adoptive, rather than marriage sealing? Dr Christopher Smith and Don Bradley have come up with an amazing
Looking at MHA, Dialogue, JWHA, Sunstone & Mormon Studies (Michael Austin 3 of 3)
In the final part of our conversation with Dr Michael Austin, Provost at Snow College and author of “Testimony of 2 Nations,” we’ll discuss Mormon
Should BYU Be Renamed Over Slavery? (Paul Reeve/Christopher Rich)
Should BYU be renamed Over Slavery? Many argue that BYU should be renamed since slavery was legalized in Utah? Bishop Abraham Smoot also owned slaves
Was Brigham Young Wrong? (Paul Reeve/Christopher Rich 2 of 3)
Was Brigham Young wrong about the priesthood/temple ban? I’ll ask Dr Paul Reeve & Christopher Rich, and we’ll discuss the showdown between Orson Pratt and
Busting Utah’s Slavery Myths (Paul Reeve/Christopher Rich 1 of 3)
It’s time to bust some slavery myths about Utah Slavery. Dr Paul Reeve & Christopher Rich have written a book called “This Abominable Slavery.” Was
Rick Gets Feisty in Mailbag (GT Live!)
Rick Gets Feisty with some anti-vaxxers! I’m going to answer questions & give out a free book, “Writing Mormon History,” edited by Joe Geisner. Podcast:
Lost Diaries of Juanita Brooks & Michael Quinn (Geisner 3 of 3)
Where are the lost diaries of 2 of Modern Mormonism’s most famous authors: Juanita Brooks & Michael Quinn? Joe Geisner tells us. Joe also gives
Parley Pratt Murder & MMM (Joe Geisner 2 of 3)
Joe Geisner discusses the lost Orson & Parley Pratt diaries and we’ll dive deep into the Parley Pratt murder, just prior to the Mountain Meadows
Lost Book of Mormon Documents (Joe Geisner 1 of 3)
Joe Geisner gave a presentation at Sunstone in August about lost Mormon documents. Does he include the Lost Spalding Manuscript? We’ll focus on lost documents
How Kirtland Temple Sale Affects Visitors (Rick B)
Paul Debarthe from the Community of Christ asked me to comment on the sale of the Kirtland Temple, properties in Nauvoo, and other properties transferred
Movie Review – Six Days in August (GT Live!)
I’ll review the new movie “Six Days in August,” about Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, & the succession crisis. I’ll also give a podcast update. Check
New Temple in Missouri for Fundamentalist Mormons!
It’s cool to be part of history! I worked on the new Fundamentalist Mormon Temple in Bountiful, Missouri, which will be dedicated Oct 12, 2004.
Reform Mormon Ordinances with No Leaders? (Rob Lauer)
With no leadership, how do they do Reform Mormon ordinances? How do they view priesthood, sealings, endowment, sacraments, baptisms, etc? Rob Lauer discusses Reform Mormon
Love & Leave Mormons Twice! (Rob Lauer 2 of 3)
Rob Lauer left the LDS Church not once, but twice! He tells why he came back in between and why he finally decided to leave
Reform Mormon Converted LDS by Sandra Tanner & Fawn Brodie? (Rob Lauer 1 of 3)
Rob Lauer is a Reform Mormon. Before that, however, he was converted to the LDS Church by none other than Fawn Brodie & the Tanners!
Ties Between Freemasonry & LDS Temple (Cheryl Bruno 4 of 4)
What are the connections between freemasonry & the LDS Temple endowment? Cheryl Bruno discusses the latest findings in her book “Method Infinite.” Check out our
Should we Take Polygamy Skeptics More Seriously? (Cheryl Bruno)
Cheryl Bruno is making both mainstream Mormon historian & polygamy skeptics upset. On the one hand, she says polygamy skeptics are making good points about
Why Emma Denied Polygamy (Cheryl Bruno)
What’s the reason Emma denied polygamy just before her death? Was Emma Smith bound to secrecy? Was it a trauma response? Cheryl Bruno answers that
Did Joseph Renounce Polygamy? (Cheryl Bruno & John Dinger 3 of 3)
Did Joseph Smith Renounce Polygamy? William Marks said “Yes” on multiple occasions! We’ll find out more details from John Dinger & Cheryl Bruno, co-authors of
Showdown with Brigham Young & Sidney Rigdon (John Dinger, Cheryl Bruno 2 of 3)
Emma wanted William Marks to be the next prophet. What happened when Brigham Young & Sidney Rigdon had other plans? William Marks was so trusted
Almost Prophet is Nearly Forgotten? (John Dinger & Cheryl Bruno 1 of 3)
Did you know Emma Smith wanted William Marks to lead the Church following Joseph’s death? His is an “almost prophet.” Why has this important man
GT Live! Contest Winner + Chat with Amanda
In this GT Live, we’ll announce the contest winner and have a chat with Dr Amanda Hendrix-Komoto! Check it out! Podcast: Play in new
Joseph’s Magic Show with David Whitmer (Jim Lucas/Jonathan Neville)
Jim Lucas & Jonathan Neville explain why they think David Whitmer’s description of the translation process of Book of Mormon isn’t reliable. Check out our
How 1800s Law Affects Utah & Idaho Abortion Laws (Amanda Hendrix-Komoto 5 of 5)
The Comstock Act of the 1800s is still affecting us today, especially Utah & Idaho abortion laws. Dr Amanda Hendrix-Komoto from Montana State University discusses
19th Century Birth Control & Abortion (Amanda Hendrix-Komoto 4 of 5)
We’re diving into the contentious issues of birth control & abortion. Should abortion be prevented at all costs, or do Americans support it in the
Mormons Good & Bad Interactions with Native Americans
“Imperial Zions” discusses how Mormon in Utah interacted with Native Americans there. There are good stories, and there are bad stories, just like the rest
Faith Crisis & Polynesian Racism (Amanda Hendrix-Komoto 2 of 5)
We’ve talked about faith crisis and schism within the LDS Church, but we haven’t discussed Polynesian racism. Dr Amanda Hendrix-Komoto is a Methodist, and discusses
History of RLDS & LDS in Tahiti (Amanda Hendrix-Komoto 1 of 5)
We’re diving into the history of RLDS & LDS in Tahiti. I was surprised to learn that the Community of Christ has a large number
Award Winning Black Mormon Film (Mauli Bonner 3 of 3)
Mauli Bonner discusses his award-winning film, “Green Flake is His Name” at various international film festivals. The film was so successful, he was able to
GT Live! Top 20 Topics We Missed with Matt Harris
Here is a more than a top 10 list of things I didn’t have time to ask Dr Matt Harris about and his amazing book,
*What was Left Out? (Matt Harris 6 of 6)
Matt Harris told me that only 30% of his research went into his book “2nd Class Saints” due to space restrictions. What was left out?
Fired from First Presidency (Matt Harris 5 of 6)
Hugh B Brown risked literally everything to try to overturn the priesthood/temple ban in the LDS Church. For that he was dismissed from First Presidency.
Inside the Room for 1978 Revelation (Matt Harris 4 of 6)
Can you imagine being inside the room for 1978 revelation? The journals of Marion D Hanks take us there when the 1978 revelation was announced
What Lester Bush Missed (Matt Harris 3 of 6)
Are there things Lester Bush missed? Lester Bush wrote a groundbreaking 1873 article blaming Brigham Young, rather than Joseph Smith, for instituting the priesthood &
Is “White and Delightsome” Racist? (Matt Harris 2 of 6)
Is “white and delightsome” a racist scripture? Dr Matt Harris discusses the evolution of the priesthood/temple ban in the 19th century. He discusses black men
Race Ban Best Seller: 2nd Class Saints (Matt Harris 1 of 6)
Dr Matt Harris from Colorado State University-Pueblo has an amazing book called 2nd Class Saints. It’s about the race ban from World War 2 to
Tangent Trips #5 – Historic Kirtland!
Have you ever wanted to visit Historic Kirtland? Come along with Rick Bennett as he visited some of the amazing sites in June 2024. Check
GT Live! Contest Winners, Ireland, & More!
In our latest GT Live, we’ll announce the contest winner for Cheryl Bruno’s book, “Secret Covenants.” I’ll also show you some pictures from my recent
Does Skeptic See Temple? (Dave Butler 7/7)
Does a skeptic see temple in Book of Mormon?After having listened to Dave Butler discuss temple theology in the Book of Mormon, would a skeptic
Are William Clayton Journals Reliable? (Clair Barrus 4 of 4)
In our final conversation with Clair Barrus, we’ll discuss polygamy skeptics and William Clayton Journals. They are some of the most important pieces of contemporary
Pretend Husband Joseph Kingsbury (Clair Barrus 3 of 4)
What’s the story of Joseph Kingsbury being a pretend husband? We will also discuss The Happiness Letter is a letter Joseph Smith from to Nancy
John C Bennett & Nauvoo-Era Polygamy (Clair Barrus 2 of 4)
John C Bennett made allegations of non-ceremonial spiritual wifery. Did that happen? Was there a revelation for Joseph Smith to marry Fanny Alger? Does the
Earliest Polygamy Revelations (1829??? – Clair Barrus 1 of 4)
D&C 132 intro states that portions of the polygamy revelations were know to Joseph Smith as early as 1831. What possible evidence is there for
How do Land Deeds Relate to D&C 132? (Mary Ann Clements 4 of 4)
What do Land Deeds in Nauvoo have to do with D&C 132? It turns out there is a controversy where an argument is made for
3rd Sister (Mary Clift) Becomes Wife of Turley (Mary Ann Clements 3 of 4)
Mary Clift was the 3rd sister to become a wife of Theodore Turley. Mary Ann Clements explains the unusual marraige. Check out our conversation with
Sham Marriage to Theodore Turley? (Mary Ann Clements 2 of 4)
Why did 3 Clift sisters marry Theodore Turley? Mary Ann Clements tells us more! Eliza never lived with Theodore. Was it a sham marriage, or
Affair or Surrogate Mother? (Mary Ann Clements 1 of 4)
Was Sarah Clift in an affair or a surrogate motherhood arrangement in England in the 1830s? Mary Ann Clements is an amazing historian. She’s written
Secret Covenants?! (Cheryl Bruno)
Cheryl Bruno is the editor of “Secret Covenants: New Insights into Early Mormon Polygamy.” She has come up with some surprises to the polygamy narrative
Theosis in Book of Mormon (Val Larsen 5/5)
Dr Val Larsen concludes this conversation with a discussion of theosis in the Book of Mormon. We’ll also discuss his upcoming projects. Check out our
*Paul & Margaret Toscano’s Reactions to Sept 6 (4 of 4)
In our final conversation with Dr Margaret Toscano, we’ll discuss the chapter in Sara Patterson’s book, The Sept 6 & the Struggle for the Soul
Does Excommunication Work? (Margaret Toscano 3 of 4)
Does Excommunication work? It seems to have shut down both the Ordain Women movement and the Feminist Movement in 1993. What can people learn from
Events Leading up to Sept 6 (Margaret Toscano 2 of 4)
Let’s Talk about the Sept 6. We’ll turn back the clock to 1993 and discuss the events that led up to the excommunication of 6
Reaction to “Sept 6 & Struggle for Soul of Mormonism” (Margaret Toscano 1 of 4)
Dr Margaret Toscano gives a review of “The Sept 6 & the Struggle for the Soul of Mormonism by Dr Sara Patterson. We’ll learn what
GT Live! MHA Recap 2024
We’ll recap the MHA 2024 Conference with the best historians on the planet from Kirtland, Ohio! Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 42:48
GT Live! NT Conference with NT Wright!
It was a super fun week. I’ll share the fun times at the NT Wright Conference and Mormon History Assoc in Kirtland. NT Wright is
*Does Christ’s Church Ordain Blacks? (Dan & Ann Hatch 6 of 6)
In our final conversation with Dan and Ann Hatch of Christ’s Church, we’ll get into whether they accept black Church members. Do they ordain blacks?
Long Endowment in Christ’s Church (Dan & Ann Hatch 5 of 6)
Christ’s Church claims to go back to the 1877 long endowment session that took hours to complete? Why are they so long? Do they do
Why Does Christ’s Church Repeat Baptisms? (Ann & Dan Hatch 4 of 6)
In the early days of the LDS Church, people often were baptized multiple times, but the repeat baptisms practice was phased out. Christ’s Church is
Is Wilford Woodruff a Traitor? (Ann & Dan Hatch 3 of 6)
When Wilford Woodruff issued the Manifesto banning polygamy in the LDS Church, supporters of polygamy called him a traitor. Is that how Christ’s Church feels?
Who Founded Christ’s Church? (Ann & Dan Hatch 2 of 6)
Who founded Christ’s Church (a polygamist group)? Ann & Dan Hatch are the matron and temple pres of Christ’s Church and detail how the church
1st Interview Inside Polygamist Temple! (Ann & Dan Hatch 1 of 6)
This is the first podcast inside a polygamist temple! Dan & Ann Hatch are the temple president & matron of the Nevada Temple for Christ’s
GT Trips #2: Look Inside Temple!
Here is our 2nd Gospel Tangents Road Trip! We’re visiting 2 temples and even get to go inside temple with our camera! Dan & Ann
How Have Intellectuals Moved the Church? (Sara Patterson 4 of 4)
Have the Sept Six & other intellectuals nfluenced LDS Church leaders with their arguments? Dr Sara Patterson weighs in on that question. If you’re not
GT Trips #1: Gilgal Sculpture Garden
Have you every wanted to go on a road trip with Rick B? Now’s your chance! This is the first in a series of Tangent
Race Ban, Word of Wisdom in Fundamentalist Mormon Groups (Cristina Rosetti 5 of 5)
In our final conversation we’ll talk about some other Fundamentalist Mormon groups and how the race ban & Word of Wisdom are viewed. To hear
Fundamentalist Mormon Theology (Dr Cristina Rosetti 4 of 5)
Fundamentalist Mormon Theology has some interesting differences with the LDS Church. Dr Cristina Rosetti says Heavenly Mothers are named, as is the Holy Ghost. We’ll
1944 & 1953 Police Raids on Polygamists (Cristina Rosetti 3 of 5)
1944 & 1953 saw Police Raids on polygamists. These were traumatic reminders that they couldn’t trust authorities. Dr Cristina Rosetti details more on these police
Joseph Musser & Post-Manifesto Polygamy (Cristina Rosetti 2 of 5)
Joseph Musser has documented Mormon fundamentalism better than nearly any other person. Dr Cristina Rosetti will discuss his post-Manifesto polygamy and his theological innovations. Check
Intro to Mormon Fundamentalism (Cristina Rosetti 1 of 5)
We’re talking Mormon fundamentalism! Joseph Musser was the first fundamentalist Mormon who wrote down the unique theology (besides polygamy) that they believe. Dr. Cristina Rosetti
Tim Ballard Controversy (Scott Vance 5 of 5)
Tim Ballard is famous for trying to rescue sex slaves with his Operation Underground Railroad. But now he has allegations of sexual impropriety himself. We’ll
Time to Dump KJV? (Joseph Spencer 3 of 3)
Since its founding, the LDS Church has used the King James Version of the Bible. Is it time to dump KJV? Many people find the
Contradictions of Nephi & Abinadi? (Joseph Spencer 2 of 3)
Are there contradictions between Nephi & Abinadi? Dr Joseph Spencer says Yes! He also makes the case that when Jesus quotes Isaiah in the Book
Is Abinadi Trinitarian? (Joseph Spencer 1 of 3)
Is Abinadi trinitarian? Joseph Spencer is one of the leading experts on the Book of Mormon. He’ll tackle that question. He’s also the incoming president
GT Live! Manti Temple, Contest Winners, & Polygamist Communities
For this GT Live! show, we’ll announce contest winners for Kurt Francom’s book, the Manti Temple, and my visit to polygamist communities on the Utah-Arizona
What’s in Gospel of Brother of Jared (Rosalynde Welch 4 of 4)
In our conclusion, we’re talking about the Gospel of the Brother of Jared, and why Rosalynde prefers reading to podcasts! Check out our conversation. Sign
*Hot Seat 2: Kurt Francom (4 of 4)
It’s always fun to put Kurt Francom on the hot seat. What does he think about girls passing the sacrament like boys? Is Christian Nationalism
Disappointed in God and/or Us? (Kurt Francom 3 of 4)
Some people trust in God, but God either leaves them hanging, or answers in a way they don’t understand. Are some disappointed in God? Others
Holy Ghost in Unclean Temples? (Kurt Francom 2 of 4)
In LDS Culture, we are constantly told to keep ourselves pure so that the Holy Ghost can dwell within us, that somehow sin separates us
Orthodox Kurt Francom on Unorthodox Topics (1 of 4)
Kurt Francom is the author of “Is God Disappointed in Me?” He says God is never disappointed in us and embraces grace. But did he
Mormons and Crime (Steve Mayfield)
We’re going to be discussing Mormons and crime. Steve Mayfield passed away on March 30, 2024. This interview is from 2018 where we discussed his
Exodus Story a Myth? (George Potter 3 of 3)
Some people think the Exodus story is more myth than real. How does George Potter explain it? Check out our conversation… Don’t miss our other
12 Springs of Moses (George Potter 2 of 3)
The Bible talks about the 12 Springs of Moses for the 12 Tribes of Israel. George Potter has found them in Saudi Arabia. Check out
Moses Fled to Arabia (1 of 3 George Potter)
Where is the real Mt Sinai? Is it in Arabia? Most believe it is not the traditional site on the Sinai Peninsula. There are at
Role of Grace in Atonement
What’s the role of grace in atonement of Christ? Dr Diedre Green & Dr Eric Huntsman will weigh in. Check out our conversation… Don’t miss
Gethsemane’s Role in Atonement (Green/Huntsman 4 of 5)
Is Gethsemane part of the atonement of Christ? Many LDS say yes, while Protestants generally say no. What do Diedre Green & Eric Huntsman say?
What is Womanist View of Atonement? (Green/Huntsman 3 of 5)
We’re going to dive into some other atonement theories, including womanist views? Is that the same thing as feminist? Check out our conversation… Don’t miss
Pros & Cons of Penal Substitution (Green/Huntsman 2 of 5)
Some people object to penal substitution as a model for atonement. Why does God require the death of Jesus? Is that part of a loving
Holy Week! 15 Years Studying Atonement (Diedre Green/Eric Huntsman 1 of 5)
It’s Holy Week! Yesterday was Palm Sunday and we’re going to talk about Christ’s Atonement with Dr Diedre Green & Dr Eric Huntsman and their
Terryl Givens Defines Atonement (4 of 5)
This is a rebroadcast of our interview with Dr Terryl Givens. Back in 2022, we discussed several atonement theories in connection with Gene England, who
910: Lehi’s Ocean Crossing Livestream
Rick held a livestream to discuss Lehi’s ocean crossing & possible routes to the Promised Land for Lehi. It seems an Atlantic Crossing is much
Ties of Tarshish, Tunisia & Mulek (Eryj Ben Sassi 2 of 3)
Tunisia has the oldest synagogue outside Israel. Does it have Book of Mormon ties? Eryj Ben Sassi discusses, Tarshish, Tunisia, & the Book of Mormon
Phoenicians Before Columbus? (Eryj Ben Sassi 1 of 3)
Eryj Ben Sassi is the Founder & President of Association Didon of Carthage in Tunisia. She believes that ancient Phoenicians came from North Africa to
Musket Fire at Hawn’s Mill (Paul Debarthe 5 of 5)
What was discovered at Hawn’s Mill? Archaeologist Paul Debarthe from the Community of Christ details musket balls, and why he refuses to find the well
Livestream: Nauvoo Q&A
Rick Bennett discusses the Q&A given by Community of Christ leaders earlier this week and shares photos from some of the properties in Nauvoo sold
Faithful Disagreement as Article of Faith? (Brittany Mangelson 4 of 5)
Unlike the LDS Church where unanimity is almost an article of faith, the Community of Christ has an official church position on faithful disagreement. The
Roles of Deacons, Teachers, Priests, & 70s in Community of Christ (Brittany Mangelson 3 of 5)
In the LDS Church it is routine to ordain teenagers to be deacons, teachers, and priests. In the Community of Christ, these roles are filled
Open Baptism in Community of Christ (Brittany Mangelson 2 of 5)
Unlike the LDS Church, the Community of Christ has open baptism from other Christian churches as long as the person was at least 8 years
Meet Pastor B from Community of Christ (Brittany Mangelson 1 of 5)
Brittany Mangelson is the Pastor for the Community of Christ in Salt Lake City. We’ll discuss her conversion to Community of Christ, the difference between
900: Livestream! Kirtland Temple History/Q&A
Rick B held a livestream video discussing the purchase of the Kirtland Temple by the LDS Church this week. Of course, there is a lot
Takeaways from 104 Churches (David Boice 5 of 5)
What takeaways does David Boice have from attending more than 104 churches? The author and host of 52 Churches in 52 Weeks will tell us,
Huge News! Kirtland Temple & JS Sites sold to LDS Church!
HUGE NEWS! Community of Christ has sold the Kirtland Temple and several Joseph Smith historic sites in Nauvoo! Here is link to official Community of
Neither Trinity nor Godhead? (Josh Gehly 5 of 6)
I was surprised to discover that the Church of Jesus Christ is neither Trinitarian nor Godhead when it comes to the nature of God? What
Attending Bickertonite Church Services (Josh Gehly 4 of 6)
What’s it like to attend a Bickertonite Church service? Rick Bennett (LDS) & Josh Gehly (Bickertonite) share their experiences attending the Church of Jesus Christ.
Female Priesthood in Church of Jesus Christ (Josh Gehly 3 of 6)
The Church of Jesus Christ based in Monongahela, PA allows for limited female priesthood ordination of women. We’ll discuss women’s roles with Josh Gehly, an
Non-LDS Defense of Book of Mormon (Josh Gehly 2 of 6)
Josh Gehly gives a non-LDS Defense of the Book of Mormon. He is an Evangelist (what LDS would call a Seventy) of the Church of
Meet Josh Gehly, Bickertonite Evangelist (1 of 6)
Josh Gehly is an evangelist from the Church of Jesus Christ. His church dates back to the days of Sidney Rigdon and is sometimes called
Butch Cassidy’s Mormon Past (Steve Lesueur 3 of 3)
We’ll find out more about the backgrounds of murder victims Gus Gibbons & Steve LeSueur. Were they Nauvoo pioneers? We’ll also find out that Butch
Utah’s Decade of Slavery (Mauli Bonner 2 of 3)
We’re going to dive into Utah’s decade of black and Indian slavery, and I’ll ask Mauli Bonner some hard questions. Should Mormons think about renaming
Grammy & Award-Winning Mauli Bonner (1 of 3)
As we close #BlackHistoryMonth here in February, I wanted to introduce you to an amazing Grammy Award-Winning artist and flimmaker Mauli Bonner. We’ll discuss his
Spirituality & Family Reactions (Lynne Whitesides 3 of 3)
As we conclude our conversation with the first member of the Sept Six, Lynne Whitesides, I asked her about her spirutality now. It’s a long
Is Alma Unreliable Narrator?
Some scholars have claimed that people like Nephi are unreliable narrators. That is Nephi makes himself look better than he probably was. Dr Michael Austin
Different Ways to Look at Book of Mormon (Michael Austin 1 of 3)
There are many different ways to approach the Book of Mormon. Dr Michael Austin is Mormon Studies scholar and Provost at Snow College. In his
DNA & Book of Mormon in Yucatan (Bob Roylance 4 of 4)
In our final discussion with Bob Roylance, he’ll discuss the kings of Tikal as another evidence of the Book of Mormon on the Yucatan. We’ll
Approaching the Veil in Matthew 7 (Dave Butler)
We’re going to dive into Matthew 7 to discuss more LDS Temple theology. Dave talks about approaching the veil in Matthew 7. Does it match
Lord’s Prayer is a Temple Text? (Dave Butler 5 of 7)
Dave Butler continues to look at the Bible for temple texts, and says the Lord’s Prayer is another example. Why does he think so? Check
Jesus said, “Don’t Make Oaths.” What about the Temple Oaths? (Dave Butler 4 of 7)
Are temple oaths consistent with Matthew where Jesus said we shouldn’t swear oaths? Dave Butler answers that question and discusses veiling at the temple for
Sermon on the Mount is Temple Ceremony? (Dave Butler 3 of 7)
Dave Butler says the Sermon on the Mount is a temple text! Are temple oaths consistent with Matthew where Jesus said we shouldn’t swear oaths?
See Jesus Like Denver Snuffer? (Dave Butler 2 of 7)
In Denver Snuffer’s book “The Second Comforter,” Denver claimed he knew how to see Jesus. We also call our temples “The House of the Lord.”
Meet Dave Butler
Dave Butler has written 2 books that deal with temple theology in the Book of Mormon: “Plain & Precious Things” and “The Goodness & the
Academic Freedom at BYU? (Matthew Bowman 5 of 5)
In our final conversation with Dr Matthew Bowman, we’ll talk about the tensions between LDS Church leaders and BYU faculty. Is there academic freedom at
Mary Jane’s Favorite Relics of Restoration
Dr Mary Jane Woodger has co-written several books with Dr Casey Griffiths. She share a few of her favorite relics of Restoration. We’ll also talk
Most Wanted Man Was LDS Mission Pres? (Mary Jane Woodger)
After the Communists led a coup in Czechoslavakia and installed a friendly government there, their Most Wanted Man was LDS Mission President Wallace Toronto. While
How Czech Mormons Survived Hitler’s Invasion (Mary Jane Woodger)
How did the Church react when Hitler took over Czechoslavakia? Wallace Toronto was mission president and his biography Mary Jane Woodger details the escapate plans
Mission President or Spy? True Story of Wallace Toronto (Mary Jane Woodger 1 of 4)
Was Wallace Toronto a mission president or spy? Wallace served as mission president in Czechoslovakia during both the Nazi and Communist regimes. Dr Mary Jane
Advice for LDS Church Leaders (Janice Allred 5 of 5)
I asked Janice Allred how she views the LDS Church today, and if she had advice for LDS Church Leaders. How should ward members treat
Abish, Queen, & Heavenly Mother (Val Larsen 4 of 5)
Abish is usually seen as a minor character in the Book of Mormon, but Dr Val Larsen thinks she likely had visions of God and
Ammon, Lamoni, & Theosis in Book of Mormon (Val Larsen 3 of 5)
Dr Larsen disputes the notion that Nauvoo doctrines are not in the Book of Mormon. He says the Orthodox doctrine of theosis, or what LDS
Ammon’s Story IS Exaltation Story (Val Larsen 2 of 5)
We’re continuing our conversation with Dr Val Larsen from James Mason University. Dr Larsen says Ammon’s story is an example of exaltation or theosis. He
LDS Doctrines ARE in Book of Mormon (Val Larsen 1 of 5)
Many people claim that distinctive LDS doctrines like temple ceremonies, exaltation/theosis, and heavenly mother are not found in the Book of Mormon. But Dr Val
Fundamentalist Racial Myths Supporting Racism (Moroni Jessop 5 of 5)
I was surprised to there are a lot of racial myths among Fundamentalist groups to support a priesthood/temple ban. I was also surprised to learn
Oliver Cowdery & Seer Stone? (Scott Vance 4 of 5)
Was the seer stone or Urim & Thummim used for translating the Book of Mormon. Scott Vance tells why he thinks a seer stone was
Where LDS Adjacent Groups Get Money (Scott Vance 3 of 5)
Where do LDS adjacent groups like FAIR, Saints Unscripted, and the More Good Foundation get their money? Scott Vance recently presented his findings at the
2 Hour Church Helps or Hurts? What about Pageants? (Scott Vance 2 of 5)
A few years ago, the LDS Church switched from 3 hour church to 2 hour church. Is that helpful or hurtful to retention of members?
Tracking Funding of LDS Adjacent Groups
How are LDS adjacent groups funded? Scott Vance recently presented a paper at the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion (SSSR) in Salt Lake
Baptist Pastor in Nauvoo Pageant! (Bryan Ready 4 of 4)
Bryan Ready has visited the Nauvoo Pageant for years, and now he’s part of the cast! He’ll describe his experiences in the pageant, and how
Why Rich Countries Lose Religion (Ryan Cragun 5 of 5)
Why do industrialized countries lose religion? Dr Ryan Cragun has a very interesting theory. We’ll also talk about other projects he is working on. Check
Will Women Get LDS Priesthood Before 2nd Coming? (Ryan Cragun 4 of 5)
What role does politics play in religious affiliation? Dr Ryan Cragun gives us a few hints and discusses his upcoming book on the topic. We’ll
Why Conservative Churches Grow (Ryan Cragun 3 of 5)
We’ve talked about why people don’t identify as religious, but is it true that Conservative Churches grow at a faster rate? Is it true churches
Tracking Church Members & Rise of Nones? (Ryan Cragun 2 of 5)
LDS are legendary for tracking membership statistics. How do other religions track membership, or do they? We’ll talk about the rise of Nones, the 2nd
Why is Utah No Longer Majority Mormon? (Ryan Cragun 1 of 5)
Dr Ryan Cragun made news this week when he said that Utah is no longer a majority Mormon state. How did he come to that
Gospels of Abinadi & Samuel the Lamanite (Rosalynde Welch 3 of 4)
We’re discussing 2 of the 7 gospels in the Book of Mormon: Gospel of Abinadi and Gospel of Samuel the Lamanite. Check out our conversation….
Atonement Theology in Gospels of Mary, Mosiah, Abinadi (Rosalynde Welch 2 of 4)
Dr Rosalynde Welch discusses atonement theology & 2 of the gospels in the Book of Mormon: Gospel of Mary & Gospel of Mosiah. We’ll get
7 Gospels of Book of Mormon (Dr Rosalynde Welch 1 of 4)
Dr Rosalynde Welch is co-author with Dr Adam Miller of “7 Gospels: The Many Lives of Christ in the Book of Mormon.” We’ll discuss Christ’s
Merry Christmas!
I didn’t get my Christmas cards out this year, so here is my video Christmas card! Merry Christmas! #merrychristmas everyone! Podcast: Play in new window
Book of Mormon DNA, Hagoth, & Thor Hyderdahl (George Potter 4 of 4)
In the final part of our conversation with George Potter, we’ll talk about the sticky topic of Book of Mormon DNA. How does George respond
Were Inca Temples Built by Nephites? (George Potter 3 of 4)
Are Inca Temples in Chile & Peru remants of Nephite/Jaredite civilization? George Potter says Yes! Find out more in out next conversation… Don’t miss our
Book of Mormon Lands in South America? (George Potter 2 of 4)
George Potter makes the case that Lehi landed in modern-day Chile in South America. We’ll discuss his reasons for making the case, and anachronisms. Check
Nephi’s Voyage to New World (George Potter 1 of 4)
Which way did Nephi’s voyage come to the new world? Was it the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean? George Potter is a proponent of a South
803: Critiquing Bushman/Gospel Topics Essays (Lucas/Neville 6 of 6)
Jim Lucas & Jonathan Neville think revisions need to be made to the Gospel Topics Essays. They also critique Richard Bushman’s scholarship. Check out our
1st Bickertonite Baptism in Frigid Utah! (RB)
I had a fun time attending the first Bickertonite baptism in Utah. On a frigid 30 degree day, I witnessed a baptism in the Jordan
Sonia Johnson & ERA (Sara Patterson 3 of 4)
If we take an expanded view of the Sept Six, we’ll find others excommunicated for not being orthodox enough (or too orthodox.) Sonia Johnson, Brent
Professors Denied BYU Tenure (Sara Patterson 2 of 4)
Dr Sara Patterson discusses the tension between academic freedom and professors denied BYU tenure. While many focus on just the September Six, Dr Sara Patterson
Michael Quinn: Triumph or Tragedy? (Sara Patterson 1 of 4)
Dr Sara Patterson knew Michael Quinn, one of the Sept 6, and is the author of “The Sept 6 & the Struggle for the Soul
Who Bears Most Blame for Mountain Meadows? (Barbara Brown & Rick Turley 4 of 4)
Who bears the most blame for Mountain Meadows Massacre? Barbara Jones Brown & Richard Turley will discuss the roles of Brigham Young, John D Lee,
Star Wars Church – New Perspectives (David Boice 4 of 5)
Would you attend a church that talked about Star Wars Church (or Barbie, or Mario Brothers)? It turns out that some pastors are pulling out
Strangite, Bickertonite, JWHA Reactions (David Boice 3 of 5)
What would a Protestant think of Strangite, Bickertonite, and Community of Christ Churches? David Boice is host of 52 Churches in 52 Weeks and shares
Meeting with Mormon, Metal, & MegaChurches (David Boice 2 of 5)
What’s is like to visit a MegaChurch, a Heavy Metal Church, and a Mormon Church? David Boice is the author & host of 52 Churches
Protestant Faith Crisis Leads David Boice to Other Churches (including LDS! 1 of 5)
How is a Protestant faith crisis different than an LDS faith crisis? David Boice details how his faith crisis led him to start attending other
I’m Back! (Please Subscribe!)
I passed my class! Please help support Gospel Tangents and subscribe to the podcast! Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:00 — 1.0MB)
I Need a Break!
I’m getting a little overwhelmed right now, and I need a break. I’ve started a new MBA program and I have a hard deadline to
Where is the Promised Land? (RB 6 of 6)
We’re going to review all the theories and talk about pros and cons of the promised land from Africa, Asia, North, South, and Central America.
How Lehi Came to Promised Land (RB 5 of 6)
Did Lehi cross the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean to come to the Promised Land? We’ll talk about Philip Beale, the man who did the voyage
Simon Southerton, Ugo Perego, and Thomas Murphy Talked DNA at FIRM Foundation? (RB 4 of 6)
Can you imagine if Simon Southerton, Ugo Perego, & Thomas Murphy talked DNA at FIRM Foundation? In a way, they did! Here is my presentation
Even Hurlbut Knew Spalding Manuscript was Bunk! (RB 3 of 6)
Did you know that Doctor Philastus Hurlbut signed “Manuscript Found”! Even Hurlbut knew the book was not the source of the Book of Mormon. Find
Get Ready to Laugh! I’ll Read the Spalding Manuscript (RB 2 of 6)
Have you ever read the Spalding Manuscript? It’s hilarious! I’m going to read passages and review the plot of the Spalding Manuscript. You tell me
Debunking Spalding Theory Part 1 (RB 1 of 6)
It’s time to debunk the Spalding Theory. Some people continue to believe that Joseph Smith plagiarized the Book of Mormon from an earlier work by
Rick & Steve Get Personal! (Bennett & Pynakker)
Back in January, Rick Bennett traveled to Florida to hang out with Steve Pynakker of Mormon Book Reviews. Rick & Steve get personal! Steve interviews
1st Woman Ordained in Community of Christ (Paul Debarthe 4 of 5)
Who was the 1st woman ordained in the Community of Christ? I was surprised to find out that Paul Debarthe’s wife, Rina, was the first
Digging for the Truth at Hawn’s Mill (Paul Debarthe 3 of 5)
Monday Oct 30, 2023 will mark 185 years since the Hawn’s Mill Massacre occured in Missouri. What can an archaeologist tell us about that event?
Was Mansion House Stop on Underground Railroad? (Paul Debarthe 2 of 5)
Is the Mansion House in Nauvoo a stop on the Underground Railroad in which slaves were helped to freedom? Archaologist Paul Debarthe makes this surprising
Excavating Nauvoo (Paul Debarthe 1 of 5)
Paul Debarthe is a Community of Christ archaeologist in Nauvoo and Hawn’s Mill. 185 years ago, a Missouri mob killed 17 Mormon men and boys
Are there Book of Mormon metals in Yucatan? (Bob Roylance 3 of 4)
Are there metals for making plates found in Yucatan Peninsula? How does it compare with other models like South America? Bob Roylance will answer these
Comparing Yucatan with Heartland (Bob Roylance 2 of 4)
Last time, Bob Roylance discussed why he believes the Book of Mormon took place in the Yucatan Peninsula. This time, we’ll compare it with the
Book of Mormon on the Yucatan (Bob Roylance 1 of 4)
Many people believe the Book of Mormon took place in Mesoamerica, but Robert Roylance believes it took place on the Yucatan Peninsula. How does he
Is LDS Art Getting Better? (Part 6 of 6)
Dr’s Richard and Claudia Bushman’s latest project involves promoting LDS artists. I asked about how they got involved, and whether LDS art is getting more
Why Young Are Losing Religion (Matthew Bowman 4 of 5)
Why are young people losing religion? Are they becoming atheist or something else? Is mixing politics & religion to blame? Dr Matthew Bowman answers these
“Cults” & Brainwashing Don’t Exist? (Matthew Bowman 3 of 5)
Why is it that academics refuse to use the word “cult” to describe harmful religious groups? Dr Matthew Bowman says brainwashing doesn’t exist. He details
UFOs & Alternative Religion (Matthew Bowman 2 of 5)
Dr Matthew Bowman from Claremont Graduate University will discuss his latest book on UFOs, and we’ll dive into the 3 Nephites too. They were blessed
Mormon Bigfoot (Matt Bowman 1 of 5)
Dr Matthew Bowman is the chair of Mormon Studies at Claremont Graduate University. He’s probably best known for his writings about Mormon Bigfoot. We’ll discuss
Ordained by Joseph Smith (Part 7 of 7)
When Matthew Gill was called as prophet of the Restored Branch of Jesus Christ, he claims that Joseph Smith returned to ordain him prophet. Ordained
Attempt on Gov Boggs Life
Following the Mormon expulsion from Missouri, someone made an attempt on Missouri Gov Boggs’ life. Most people think it was Porter Rockwell. What does historian
Butch Cassidy & Other Outlaws (Steve LeSueur 2 of 3)
It was tough for Mormons growing up in the wild, wild west! Butch Cassidy & the Wild Bunch played a role in the murder of
Mormons in the Wild West (Steve LeSueur 1 of 3)
Mormons lived in the wild, wild west. Author Steve LeSueur has a tale of murder, involving his great uncle Frank LeSueur. How was Frank killed?
Michael Quinn: The Full Interview
As we conclude the month of September, I wanted to conclude with the full interview of Dr. Michael Quinn. He passed away unexpectedly April 21,
Allow Multiple Views, Even Non-Historical (Jonathan Neville)
Here is one from the archives. We released this episode with Jonathan Neville back on April 8, 2022. Jonathan Neville is a big-tent proponent when
“Not the Church I thought it was” (Lynne Whitesides 2 of 3)
Lynne Whitesides is a convert to the LDS Church and has a different perspective on things than a lifelong member. We’ll talk about her perspective
First of the Sept Six: Lynne Whitesides
Lynne Whitesides was the first person punished in the September Six. She shares her story of why she wasn’t excommunicated, who was involved, and where
Toscano: From BYU to Utah (Part 1 of 8)
This originally appeared Feb 4, 2020. Dr. Margaret Toscano is the Dept Chair at the University of Utah, but she got 2 degrees from BYU
30 Years Later: The Sept Six (1 of 2)
Here’s a throwback episode with Paul Toscano. I thought it would be great to re-visit our previous interview from January 9, 2023 since we discusses
Scarlet Letter of Apostasy (Janice Allred 4 of 5)
It appears that the LDS Church brands the scarlet letter A for apostasy on the chest of those guilty of apostasy in order to make
From Probation to Excommunication (Janice Allred 3 of 5)
Janice Allred was given the most severe probation from Church leaders one can get. It soon led to her excommunication. Janice discusses her writings, speeches,
Apostasy or Insubordination? (Janice Allred 2 of 5)
Was Janice Allred excommunicated for apostasy or insubordination? What do you think? I was surprised to learn that Janice Allred still attends the LDS Church
Theology of God the Mother (Janice Allred 1 of 5)
Janice Allred wrote about God the Mother back in the late 1980s and early 1990s. While she wasn’t excommunicated in 1993, Janice Allred had a
The Anachronism Gap in Book of Mormon? (Part 6 of 6)
Here is a throwback episode from Oct 29, 2021. Many critics point out that there are anachronisms in the Book of Mormon. Native Americans didn’t
Researching Priesthood Ban Leads to DNA Tests (Moroni Jessop 4 of 5)
Many Fundamentalist Mormons think polynesians carry black blood. This led Moroni Jessop to find out more. Moroni did a DNA test on his children and
Excommunicated “Lovingly” Over AUB Racism
A dispute with AUB (Apostolic United Brethren) leaders led to Moroni Jessop’s excommunication from a second church (which was done “lovingly.” So, he left for
Encountering Independent Mormon Racism (Moroni Jessop 2 of 5)
A big, little-discussed problem in polygamist communities is Mormon racism. Moroni Jessop was surprised to encounter this among independent Mormon fundamentalists in the Salt Lake
Growing up & Causing LDS Trouble (Moroni Jessop)
September marks the 30th anniversary of the September Six. Before we get to them, we’ll talk to Moroni Jessop, who was excommunicated as a teenager
Black & Indian Slavery in Utah
The Act in Relation to Service legalized slavery in Utah in 1852. (Please note that Paul Reeve and Christopher Rich dispute this characterization in their
From Fraud to Prophet (Bryan Ready 3 of 4)
A former Baptist pastor tells how he changed his mind on Joseph Smith from fraud to prophet. How did he deal with polygamy? And what
What Does Baptist Pastor Think of LDS Temples? (Bryan Ready 2 of 4)
What does a former Baptist Pastor think of LDS temples? Bryan Ready will tell us! We’ll also find out why he set 4 baptismal dates
Osmonds Lead Baptist Pastor to LDS Church (Bryan Ready 1 of 4)
This is my 3rd interview with a Baptist Pastor this year, but this time I’m excited to introduce a convert. Bryan Ready is the author
Internet Temple Worship (Part 4 of 4)
Have you ever wanted to do internet temple worship? It turns out David & Kristine Ferriman of the Church of Jesus Christ in Christian Fellowship
Why Book of Mormon Translation Matters! (Lucas/Neville 5 of 6)
Does Book of Mormon translation method matter? Many people don’t care whether Joseph used a seer stone or a Urim & Thummim to translate the
Is Oliver Cowdery Best Witness Against Seer Stones? (Lucas/Neville 4 of 6)
Oliver Cowdery is famous for trying to translate the Book of Mormon in D&C 8 and 9. Did he try to use a dowsing rod
Why Emma Smith Isn’t Reliable? (Lucas/Neville 3 of 6)
Emma Smith served as Joseph Smith’s scribe for most of the Lost 116 pages and likely knew how Joseph translated better than almost anyone. Yet
Picturing Translation (Tight vs Loose – Jim Lucas/Jonathan Neville 2 of 6)
Have you ever tried picturing translation of the Book of Mormon? Did Joseph Smith read the words off the stone or Urim & Thummim directly
Is David Whitmer a Hostile Witness? (Lucas/Neville 1 of 6)
David Whitmer says Joseph used a seer stone to translate the Book of Mormon. LDS Historians believe Joseph Smith used a seer stone to translate
Get Peer Reviewed! (Part 10 of 10)
Polygamy skeptics complain that their work isn’t taken seriously. I’m going to issue a challenge to them to get peer reviewed. We’ll also talk about
Blood Atonement’s Role in MMM (Barbara Brown/Rick Turley 3 of 4)
Blood Atonement has long been attributed as a reason a hundred Arkansas immigrants were killed in the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Did it play a role
What Juanita Brooks & Will Bagley Got Wrong? (Barbara Brown/Rick Turley 2 of 4)
“Vengeance is Mine” is the sequel to “Massacre at Mountain Meadows.” Rick Turley & Barbara Jones Brown discuss what Juanita Brooks and Will Bagley got
John D Lee’s Sham Trial (Barbara Brown/Rick Turley 1 of 4)
The Mountain Meadows Massacre is the worst event in Mormon History. John D Lee was the only man convicted. For a century, the LDS Church
Special Announcement! Daily Podcasts + More!
That’s right! Tired of waiting for the next segment? Gospel Tangents will now post Monday-Friday with the newest segments. Plus I’m simplifying the tiers! Sign
CoC Prophet Sustains LDS Prophet! (Mark Scherer 4 of 4)
We’ll hear about an amusing episode where the CoC prophet sustained the LDS prophet in our final conversation with Dr Mark Scherer, retired Church Historian
Emma Smith’s Surprising 2nd Marriage (Mark Scherer 3 of 4)
Few people in the LDS Church know that Emma Smith married again. This time it was a non-Mormon man by the name of Lewis Bidamon.
Civil War Prophecy Downplayed?
The Civil War Prophecy & Baptism for the Dead are 2 of Joseph Smith’s most famous revelations. While important to the LDS, the Community of
Was First Vision Embellished? (Mark Scherer 1 of 4)
Did Joseph embellish the First Vision accounts? Dr Mark Scherer is the retired Church Historian from the Community of Christ. He’s written a 3-volume work
Hot Button Issues: Women & Priesthood/Polygamy/Sexism/LGBT/Evolution (Part 2 of 2 Terry Patience)
We’re continuing our conversation with Remnant Prophet-Pres Terry Patience. I’m going to put him on the spot with several hot button issues: evolution, women &
Prophet in Zion (Terry Patience 1 of 2)
I’m excited to have another prophet on the show, this time a prophet in Zion! Terry Patience is the prophet-President of the Remnant Church of
Execution & Trial of John D Lee (Janiece Johnson)
We’re looking at the trial and execution of John D Lee. How reponsible was Brigham Young? How did the trials affect public opinion against the
Mountain Meadows Massacre (Janiece Johnson 1 of 2)
148 years ago this week, John D. Lee stood in his trial for his role in the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Dr Janiece Johnson has studied
Nephite Temple Near Nauvoo? (Jay Mackley 2 of 2)
There is a claim that there is a Nephite Temple across the Mississippi River from Nauvoo. Does Jay Mackley think there is evidence? In our
Limited Geography Heartland (Jay Mackley 1 of 2)
I’m excited to have Jay Mackley on the show. You probably didn’t know there is more than 1 Heartland Theory out there. A lot of
Great & Abominable Church? (Part 4 of 4 Cristina Rosetti)
Bruce R McConkie is famous for advocating that the Catholic Church is the “Great & Abominable Church” mentioned in the Book of Mormon. Is that
Intro to Mormon Polygamists (Part 3 of 4 Cristina Rosetti)
How did Catholic scholar Cristina Rosetti get interested in Mormon polygamists? Did she really attend an LDS Young Single Adult Ward? We’ll find out more
How Mormon Studies Converted to Catholicism (2 of 4 Cristina Rosetti)
How did a Born Again Christian convert to Catholicism while studying Mormonism? Dr Cristina Rosetti answers. Check out our conversation… Copyright © 2023 Gospel Tangents
Cristina’s Born Again Faith Crisis (1 of 4)
Dr Cristina Rosetti grew up pretty uninterested in religion, and had a sort of born again faith crisis. She converted both to the Pentecostal Church
Satan is Fruit of Tree of Knowledge? (3 of 3 Val Larsen)
Is Satan the Fruit of Tree of Knowledge? Is Divine Mother in the Temple ceremonies? We’ll talk about these and other issues like why Christ
Temple is Great & Spacious Building? (2 of 3 Val Larsen)
Is the Jerusalem Temple the Great & Spacious Building mentioned in the Book of Mormon? Is Divine Mother, theosis/exaltation in the Book of Mormon? Dr
Was Lehi a Polytheist? (Val Larsen 1 of 3)
Dr Val Larsen thinks Lehi was a polytheist! That’s quite a statement! Val holds two Ph.D. ‘s, one in English and the other in Marketing.
Pros/Cons of Delmarva Theory (Laura Hathaway 2 of 2)
Last time we discussed the pros of the Delmarva Theory of the Book of Mormon. This time we’ll dive into the skeptics questions. How does
Delmarva Peninsula: Book of Mormon Lands on East Coast? (Laura Hathaway 1 of 2)
Laura Hathaway has a relatively new Book of Mormon Geography Theory. She thinks the Book of Mormon lands encompass the Delmarva Peninsula on the east
Did Everyone Mistranslate Paul? (Thomas Wayment 2 of 2)
There are many epistles attributed to the Apostle Paul in the New Testament. Did everyone mistranslate Paul? What mistranslations are in these letters? Did Joseph
Thomas Wayment Responds to Adam Clarke Controversy (1 of 2)
We’ll discuss the controversy of Thomas Wayment’s recent paper about the Joseph Smith Translation & Adam Clarke. What do people get wrong? We’ll also discuss
Rick Attends World Conference for CoC! #CoCWC23
I visited the weeklong World Conference in April 2023 and gave a daily recap of events. Here’s what I thought in realtime! Check out my
Difference Between LDS & CoC General Conference (Deb Luce 3 of 3)
What’s the difference between LDS General Conference & Community of Christ World Conference? A LOT! Deb Luce says not everyone attends CoC Conference, there is
Female Pastor? Evangelist (Deb Luce 2 of 3)
Deb Luce’s life was transformed following the 1984 revelation giving women priesthood in the Community of Christ. She became female pastor of the same congregation
Miracle Healing Leads to Conversion! (Deb Luce 1 of 3)
Following a car accident, Deb Luce couldn’t feel her legs or toes. She received a blessing by a Community of Christ chaplain, and a miracle
Comparing Baptist Views on LGBT (Kyle Beshears 3 of 3)
Many churches are struggling with how to handle LGBT members. The United Methodist Church is splitting over the issue of gay clergy. What are the
Can Women Hold Priesthood in Baptist, LDS? (Kyle Beshears 2 of 3)
Can women hold priesthood? The LDS Church doesn’t allow females to hold the priesthood. Is it similar in the Baptist Church? Is confession of sexual
Are Mormons Christian? Baptist Pastor Answers! (Kyle Beshears 1 of 3)
Kyle Beshears returns to Gospel Tangents, and we’re going to cover some difficult topics. Are Mormons Christian? How does he justify his answer? I think
Translation of Caracters Document (2 of 2 Jerry Grover)
Is there a translation of the Caracters document? Jerry Grover says yes! He’ll tell us how he translated this reformed Egyptian, which is a combination
What were Golden Plates Made of? (Jerry Grover 1 of 2)
What were the Golden Plates made of? Probably not 100% gold, because that would be too heavy. Could it have been a copper alloy? Jerry
Can Evangelicals & Mormons Get Along?
Can Evangelicals & Mormons get along? If they are Steve Pynakker & Rick Bennett they can! Steve & Rick switch sides. This time Rick asks
Reviewing Murder Among the Mormons (3 of 3 Diane Smith/Michelle Stone)
What the family of Mark Hofmann think of the documentary “Murder Among the Mormons”? Mark’s cousins Diane Smith & Michelle Stone give their takes on
Family Reactions to Mark Hofmann’s Injuries (2 of 3 Michelle Stone/Diane Smith)
How did Mark Hofmann’s family react to his injuries from a bomb? Diane Smith & Michelle Stone are two of Mark’s cousins and they share
My Cousin is Serial Killer Mark Hofmann (1 of 3 Diane Smith/Michelle Stone)
What did Mark Hofmann’s family think when a bomb went off? Did they think he was guilty? What was he like growing up? Michelle Stone
Wise Men From Iran? (Dan McClellan 4 of 4)
Where did the Wise Men come from? In our final conversation with TikTok star Dr Dan McClellan, we going to discuss the birth of the
Book of Mormon’s Isaiah Problem (Dan McClellan 3 of 4)
Many scholars believe multiple authors wrote the Book of Isaiah, and some claim it was after 600 BC when Nephi left Jerusalem. Is there an
Did Israel Worship Baal? (Dan McClellan 2 of 4)
We’re continuing our discussion about Israelite/Canaanite religion with TikTok star Dan McClellan. Did Israel worship Baal? Is it true God had a wife? When did
Was Abraham a Monotheist?
Dr Dan McClellan is an Old Testament TikTok star! Was Abraham a monotheist? We’re going to take a deep dive into the Bible, and find
Tour of Independence (Rick Bennett)
Rick Bennett went on a walking tour of Independence, MO with Matthew Turner. They found 14 Mormon historical markers ranging from the first landowner in
Winner Announced! Plus Upcoming Conferences!
Congrats to Janine Bean for winning “Let’s Talk about Race & Priesthood!” Also register for the upcoming conferences. JWHA Business Meeting is actually April 21,
How 1978 Revelation Affected Black Women
As we conclude our conversation with Dr Paul Reeve, he tells how the 1978 revelation affected Black Women as well. We’ll briefly review Jane Manning
One Drop Rule/Problem (Paul Reeve 2 of 3)
The One Drop Rule was used to justify slavery and segregation in America. Unfortunately, it seeped into the LDS Church in the form of a
Earliest Black Mormons (Paul Reeve 1 of 3)
I’m happy to have Dr Paul Reeve back on the show! We’ll talk about the earliest black Mormons who did and did not hold the
Bonus Episode! Winner Announced!
Greg Louder is our winner of “The Burning Book!” Plus I have a few announcements about upcoming guests and me speaking in April! Podcast: Play
Jason Olson’s View of Prophets (4 of 4)
Since Dr Jason Olson is a religious studies major, I couldn’t wait to ask him some Bible questions. Is he a literalist? Are some prophets
Navigating LDS/Jewish Dating (Jason Olson 3 of 4)
As Jason Olson returned from his mission, he was still conflicted on LDS/Jewish dating. He decided to return to BYU to finish his studies, and
Baptism & LDS Mission (Jason Olson 2 of 4)
We continue our conversation with Dr. Jason Olson. He details his baptism and LDS mission, and how he continues to wrestle over his dual Jewish
LDS Convert From Judaism (Jason Olson 1 of 4)
Dr Jason Olson is author of a new memoir called “The Burning Book.” He details his Jewish upbringing, and how he became interested in the
Strang’s Death/Succession Crisis (Vickie Speek 4 of 4)
In our final conversation with historian Vickie Speek, she’ll talk about the James Strang’s death, and how the role of prophet & apostle did not
Strangite Temple & Polygamy (Vickie Speek 3 of 4)
Vickie Speek is here to talk about Strangite temple ceremonies, and the introduction of polygamy among the Strangites. Check out our conversation… Copyright © 2023
Famous Strangites (Vickie Speek 2 of 4)
Vickie Speek continues our conversation about James Strang, an early rival to Brigham Young. Strang gained some famous Strangites to his movement. He was successful
Intro to Prophet James Strang (Vickie Speek 1 of 4)
Vickie Speek is the premier expert on the life of James Strang, an early Mormon leader. We’ll talk about Strang’s vision, calling as a prophet,
19th Century Cross-Dressing Polygamist (Kyle Beshears 2 of 2)
Dr Kyle Beshears dives into James Strang’s wives and concubines. We’ll learn about a cross-dressing polygamist wife, and about James Strang’s life. Check out our
What Does Baptist Pastor REALLY Think of Book of Mormon? (Kyle Beshears 1 of 2)
Mormons & Baptists often clash, but Dr Kyle Bashears is one of those cool Baptist Pastors you don’t run across every day. It turns out
Adam’s Thoughts on Giants, Heartland (Adam Stokes 4 of 4)
We’re switching gears and talking about an interesting topic: biblical giants! Did they come to America? Adam Stokes is an apostle for the Assured Way
Biblical Scholarship vs Literalism (Adam Stokes 3 of 4)
Adam Stokes is not only an apostle for Church of Jesus Christ – The Assured Way of the Lord, but he has a divinity degree
Otto Fetting Visions/Revelations (2 of 4 Adam Stokes)
We’re going to learn about the Church of Jesus Christ – The Assured Way of the Lord, and it’s first leaders, Otto Fetting and William
Adam Stokes, Apostle for the Assured Way (1 of 4)
Adam Stokes is a convert to the Elijah Message Movement and has met with Bickertonites and Community of Christ prior to joining the Church of
Explaining Book of Mormon Star (2 of 2 Jerry Grover)
We’re continuing our conversation with Jerry Grover. This time we’re looking to the stars. The Book of Mormon star is unique because when night came,
Book of Mormon Geology (1 of 2 Jerry Grover)
One of the big differences between the Heartland & Mesoamerican Theories of the Book of Mormon deals with volcanoes. Very few people have studied Book
Paul Toscano’s Role in Hofmann Case (2 of 2)
Paul Toscano had a minor role in the Hofmann Case. Paul was good friends with Steve Christensen, the first man killed by Mark Hofmann over
Edwards Phrases in Book of Mormon (Jonathan Neville 2 of 2)
We’re continuing our conversation with Jonathan Neville discussing similarities between theologian Jonathan Edwards and the Book of Mormon. What are some of these Edwards phrases
Jonathan Edwards Influence on Book of Mormon (Neville 1 of 2)
Jonathan Neville believes Joseph Smith often used words and ideas from 18th century theologian Jonathan Edwards. Who is Jonathan Edwards? Neville claims Edwards was sort
Deep Dive Mormon Schisms (John Hamer 2 of 2)
We’re going to take a deep dive into modern Mormon schisms, from the ones dating to Joseph Smith’s death to modern ones. Last time we
Succession Crisis (John Hamer 1 of 2)
Following the death of Joseph Smith, a succession crisis enveloped the Church. Several vied for leadership. While most people recognize Brigham Young and Joseph Smith
Amazing International Mormons: LDS Cricket in Pakistan/Armenian Artist (Casey Griffiths 2 of 3)
Christmas Bonus! I accidentally cut out a short segment about an LDS Cricket team in Pakistan, as well as LDS Armenian artists, and some artifacts
Joseph Merrill, the Science Apostle (Casey Griffiths 3 of 3)
Joseph Merrill was an apostle who died in the 1950s. He advocated strongly that science & faith need not be in conflict. A former VP
50 More Relics of the Restoration (Casey Griffiths 1 of 3)
I’m excited to have Dr Casey Griffiths back on the show. He’s a Church History professor at BYU and we’re going to talk about 2
Are Gospels Historical? (Trevan Hatch 2 of 2)
We’re continuing our conversation with Dr Trevan Hatch, a Jewish studies scholar at BYU. We’ll dive deeper into Jesus relationship with the Pharisees. Dr Hatch
Real New Testament History (Trevan Hatch 1 of 2)
We’re diving deep into New Testament history. I’m excited to have Dr. Trevan Hatch on the show. He’s a Jewish Studies scholar! Trevan works at
Book of Jasher & Enoch (David Hocking 2 of 2)
We’re continuing our conversation with David Hocking, author of LDS Annotated Scriptures. This time we’re going to focus on his amazing scriptures with the Book
Annotated Book of Mormon
Have you ever wanted to get more resources for the Book of Mormon? David Hocking has put together an amazing resource, the Annotated Book of
Restoring Lehi’s Ship (Mike Stahlman)
Originally scheduled for a museum in England, the COVID pandemic changed things. Ship Captain Phillip Beale had the Phoenicia ship cut into pieces. Half of
Buying Lehi’s Ship (Mike & Betty LaFontaine)
We’re continuing our discussion about the Phoenicia Ship. Heartlanders think Lehi’s ship was built similarly. Mike & Betty LaFontaine were instrumental in purchasing the ship
Brazilian Filmmakers Sail Lehi’s Voyage (Yuri & Vera Sanada)
Yuri & Vera Sanada are experienced sailors. Hailing from Brazil, they contacted Philip Beale to join his journey aboard a 600 BC Phoenician ship to
Modern Columbus Follows Lehi’s Voyage (Philip Beale)
Philip Beale is a former sailor in Her Majesty’s Navy. Hailing from the U.K., Philip always had the desire to re-create the voyages of ancient
Starting Heartland Research Group (John Lefgren)
I discovered that Dr Lefgren is the president of the Heartland Research Group. The group has recently purchased a replica of an ancient Phoenician ship
John Lefgren on First Vision
When did the First Vision take place? Dr John Lefgren and Dr John Pratt worked together to come up with a date: March 26, 1820.
Brant Gardner Reviews Other Geography Theories (2 of 2)
We’ve just reviewed the Mesoamerican model for the Book of Mormon with Brant Gardner. Now I’m going to ask Brant to review other geography theories,
Book of Mormon Case for Mesoamerica (Brant Gardner 1 of 2)
I’m excited to have a Mesoamerican expert on the show. Brant Gardner is an antropologist, and he tells why he thinks the Book of Mormon
Surprising Kirtland History (2017 interview with Mark Staker)
This is a re-release of our interview from 2017 with Dr. Mark Staker. We’re going to talk about Kirtland history. While I knew there was
Breaking Down Restoration Walls (Patrick McKay)
Patrick McKay is an apostle for the Joint Conference of Restoration Branches (JCRB.) He’ll discuss breaking away from the RLDS Church, and his attempts to
3 Theology Pillars of Mormon Fundamentalists (Joe Jessop 2 of 2)
We’re continuing our conversation with Joe Jessop, LDS grandson of AUB leader Rulon Allred. This time we’re going to get into sticky Mormon Fundamentalists topics.
Close Look at Apostolic United Brethren (Joe Jessop 1 of 2)
I’m excited to introduce Joe Jessop. He’s the LDS grandson of polygamist leader Rulon Allred. Joe will talk about growing up in the Apostolic United
Controversial Cases of Polygamy (Todd Compton 2 of 2)
As we continue our conversation with Dr. Todd Compton, we’ll discuss some of the more controversial marriages of Joseph Smith. Fanny Alger was just 16
Accidental Historian Becomes Polygamy Icon (Todd Compton 1 of 2)
Dr. Todd Compton is the author of a couple of books, both of them called In Sacred Loneliness, but the new one is subtitled, The
LDS Temple Worship Evolution (Re-Release 2017 Dick Bennett interview)
This is a re-release of our interview from 2017 with BYU professtor Dr. Richard E Bennett, my name twin. We’re going to talk about temples,
Newest Harold B Lee Biography (2022 Interview Newell Bringhurst)
I’m excited to have Newell Bringhurst back on the show. Newell’s latest book is the short biography of Harold B Lee. Lee had one of
Mississippi Mob Murders (2 of 2 Mary Ann Clements)
We’re continuing our conversation with Nauvoo Crime expert Mary Ann Clements. Up to now, we’ve been discussing counterfeiting, but now Nauvoo’s crime families are getting
Were Nauvoo Leaders Counterfeiters? (1 of 2 Mary Ann Clements)
Sometimes I feel like I discover an amazing talent in Mormon history. You probably haven’t heard of Mary Ann Clements. She calls herself a stay-at-home
Takeaways from Secret 1922 Meetings (Shannon Caldwell Montez 2 of 2)
We’re continuing our conversation with Shannon Caldwell Montez, the author of The Secret Meetings of 1922. We’ll learn more about people who attended these secret
Intro Secret Mormon Meetings of 1922 (Shannon Caldwell Montez 1 of 2)
Shannon Caldwell Montez has written an amazing thesis on the Secret Mormon Meetings of 1922. BH Roberts was an influential Seventy at the turn of
Paul Reeve Discusses the Race Ban
Here’s another classic from the archives. This is the first time we’ve released the entire interview of Dr. Paul Reeve. The interview occurred back in
Fun Tour of the Restoration (Mormon schisms)
Did you know there are over 500 Mormon Denominations?! Rick Bennett won’t cover them all but will give a guided tour of some of the
Discussing the Life of Jane Manning James (Margaret Young)
This is a re-broadcast from my very first podcast from January of 2022. I’m excited to interview Margaret Young. She’s a professor of English and
Mormon Violence & Peace (Patrick Mason)
Patrick Mason holds the Leonard Arrington Chair in Mormon Studies at Utah State University. He’s written a couple of books on Mormon violence & peace.
Discussing Modern-Day Polygamists (2 of 2 Newell Bringhurst/Craig Foster)
We’re continuing our conversation with Craig Foster & Dr Newell Bringhurst. We’re going to dive deeper into modern-day polygamists beliefs, including their continued ban on
Mormon Polygamy & Quest for the Presidency (Newell Bringhurst/Craig Foster 1 of 2)
I’m excited to have a newcomer and an old-comer on the show. This is Newell Bringhurst’s 3rd time on the show and Craig Foster’s first!
Fowler Stages of Faith Overview (Jesse James 2 of 2)
Dr Jesse James discusses the Fowler Stages of Faith, and whether the spirit can be manipulated. We also discuss a good definition of evangelicals, and
Scientific Explanation for Spiritual Experiences? (Dr. Jesse James 1 of 2)
Dr Jesse James is a research psychologist and assistant professor at Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa. He gives a scientific explanation for spiritual experiences. We’ll
RLDS Views on Apostasy, Mass Murder, & Hofmann (Bill Russell 2 of 2)
We’re continuing our conversation with Bill Russell, a former professor at Graceland University. We’ll talk about RLDS views of apostasy as well as the breakup
Bill Russell: Unorthodox RLDS Historian (1 of 2)
Bill Russell is one of my favorite Community of Christ historians. He taught at Graceland University, and told Bruce Jenner to train hard for the
Is This the Face of Joseph Smith? (daguerreotype with Lachlan Mackay)
Lachlan MacKay is one of the historians who helped authenticate the Joseph Smith daguerreotype that appears to be the prophet Joseph Smith. Lach is not
Contest Winner + Special Announcement
I’m excited to announce that Trevor Miller is the contest winner for Visions of a Seer Stone by Dr. William Davis. I also want to
Perspectives on LDS Women’s Ordination & Abuse
We don’t usually discuss current events on Gospel Tangents, but we’re going to make an exception. Jennifer Roach is a former Anglican pastor, and experienced
Re-evaluating Translation Timeline for Book of Mormon (2 of 2)
Dr. William Davis takes exception to the traditional timeline for Book of Mormon Translation. He says Joseph knew about it as early as 1823. He
Shakespeare Used Chiasmus too? (1 of 2)
Dr. William Davis uses his training in Shakespeare (and chiasmus) and applies it to the Book of Mormon. Is chiasmus less unique that some claim?
Rev Grills on Atonement Theories (Part 2)
We’ve been talking a lot about the different atonement theories lately. I put together this 30 min clip of Rev Willie Grills and I discussing
Why is a Lutheran Pastor Interested in Mormons?
I get requests to talk to people outside of Mormonism. I’m excited to introduce a non-evangelical, run of the mill Lutheran pastor, Reverend Willie Grills
John Dehlin Part 2: Constructive or Destructive Mormon Critic?
In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. John Dehlin of the Mormon Stories podcast, we’ll get into his criticism of the LDS Church. Is
John Dehlin: The Early Years (Part 1 of 2)
I’ve got the biggest fish in Mormon podcasting! In this first episode, we’re going to talk to Dr. John Dehlin about his dating an Oscar-winning
Special Announcement! More & Longer Interviews!
There are going to be some changes here at Gospel Tangents. I’m hoping you’re going to like them better! Please listen to my special announcement,
Crossing the Brethren’s Line (Part 5 of 5)
Eugene England seemed to one of those crossing the brethren’s line with some of theological musings. Recently, Fiona Givens did as well with her discussion
Explaining Atonement Theories (Part 4 of 5)
Why did Jesus die for us? Was he a moral teacher, or did his death substitute for our sins? Why does God require someone to
Is it OK to Ask Hard Questions at Church? (Part 3 of 5)
Gene England was one who liked to ask the hard questions at Church. It definitely caused Gene trouble with Church leaders. Has it gotten any
Eugene England at BYU, Dialogue (Part 2 of 5)
Following a stint at St. Olaf’s College in Minnesota, Eugene England sought employment at BYU. He also helped start a Mormon history magazine called Dialogue.
Turning Down, Accepting Eugene England (Terryl Givens 1 of 5)
I just finished a biography of Eugene England called “Stretching the Heavens” by Dr. Terryl Givens. I loved it and felt a real kinship to
Atonement Theories in Book of Mormon (Part 6 of 6)
Why did Christ die for us? That has been a topic of debate among Christians for centuries. We’re going to delve into Atonement theories. Was
Paul Critiques LDS Apostles (Part 5 of 6)
Paul Toscano has some opinions on LDS Apostles, and he’s not going to hold anything back! Paul: I know that some of them do love
Paul’s Thoughts on Polygamy/Adam-God Theory
Polygamy has been tightly intertwined with the Adam-God Theory. Some say that’s the reason the Adam-God Theory is no longer a doctrine in the LDS
Christ’s Role Reversal (Part 3 of 6)
The scriptures concerning God the Father and Jesus Christ are quite confusing. Even protestant explanations of the trinity are confusing. Paul Toscano notes the Book
Why Book of Mormon Isn’t Trinitarian (Part 2 of 6 Paul Toscano)
In a recent interview with Pentecostal theologian Dr. Christopher Thomas, he said the Book of Mormon is quite trinitarian. Paul Toscano disputes that assertion. Paul
Paul Toscano Explains Scripture Symbolism (Part 1 of 6)
Scripture symbolism is tough. So is LDS Temple symbolism. Paul Toscano has a book, “The Serpent & the Dove” that explains temple symbolism. That may
Anti-Polygamy Stance, Book of Rayaneck (Part 6 of 7 Matthew Gill)
Matthew Gill is prophet of the Restored Branch of Jesus Christ. He tells why he thinks Joseph didn’t practice polygamy. Anti-Polygamy Stance GT: I’m going
Sued by LDS Church/Restored Branch Scriptures (Part 5 of 7)
I was surprised to learn the LDS Church sued Matthew Gill, essentially to shut down his church. Matthew tells more about the suit. Sued by
Pre-Jewish Christian Religious Practices (Part 4 of 7 Matthew Gill)
Matthew Gill is a prophet of the Restored Branch of Jesus Christ. He claims to have translated an ancient record of the people of Stonehenge.
Jaredites & Book of Jeraneck (Part 3 of 7 Matthew Gill)
Matthew Gill claims to have translated an ancient record of the people of Stonehenge. We’ll learn more about them. Are they related to Book of
Leaving LDS Church, Translating Plates (Part 2 of 7 Matthew Gill)
Matthew Gill is prophet of the Restored Branch of Jesus Christ, based in the UK. We’ll learn about his growing up in the LDS Church,
Brass Plates of Stonehenge (Part 1 of 7)
I’m excited to introduce Matthew Gill. He’s a prophet in the UK for the Restored Branch of Jesus Christ. We’ll learn more about his scriptures.
Meet me! Camp Nauvoo! 6pm CT June 8!
We have a meet and greet today at 6pm. If you’re in the area, I’d love to meet you. Sorry for late notice! Podcast:
Liberty Jail Hearing & Escape (Part 8 of 9)
Joseph Smith spent about six months in Liberty Jail following the Mormon-Missouri War of 1838. Historian Steve LeSueur talks more about the court hearings, and
Hawn’s Mill Massacre/Joseph’s Surrender (Part 7 of 9)
The darkest chapter in Mormon-Missouri history occurred when 17 Mormon men and boys were killed at the Hawn’s Mill Massacre. Hostilities between Mormons and Missouri
Battle of Crooked River/Extermination Order (Part 6 of 9)
Apostle David Patten was the first LDS martyr, killed in the Battle of Crooked River trying to rescue LDS hostages from a Missouri militia. Exaggerated
Was Joseph Responsible for Danites? (Part 5 of 9)
Many faithful LDS scholars have tried to distance Joseph Smith from the Danite raids that took place in Missouri. But how responsible was Joseph for
When Did Missourians Worry about Danites? (Part 4 of 9)
As we mentioned before, the Danites were initially aimed at dissenters within Mormonism. When did they turn outward toward Missouri troubles? Historian Steve LeSueur answers
Vigilantes & Danites? (Part 3 of 9)
Following the Kirtland Bank failure in Ohio, Joseph Smith fled Kirtland and came to Missouri. Then things started to fall apart there as well. Historian
Peace in Caldwell County Compromise (Part 2 of 9)
After Joseph Smith declared that the New Jerusalem would be built in Jackson County, Missouri, the saints were kicked out of the county. How much
Mapping Mormon History in Missouri (Part 1 of 9)
I’m excited to introduce historian Steve LeSeuer. Back in 1987, Steve wrote an amazing book called The 1838 Mormon War in Missouri. It won the
Why Do Some Scholars Get in Trouble (Part 5 of 6)
Some LDS scholars get in trouble with Church authorities: Michael Quinn, Maxine Hanks, Lester Bush, to name a few. Yet others like Dr. Richard &
Claudia’s Focus on Women in History (Part 4 of 6 Claudia Bushman)
We’re continuing our conversation with Dr’s Richard & Claudia Bushman. I asked Claudia more about her writings on women in church history. Women in History
Scuttled Church History (Part 3 of 6 Richard Bushman)
Saints Volume 3 is coming out soon, part of the first update of Church history in almost 100 years. But did you know that back
Exponent II
Dr. Claudia Bushman helped re-start a Mormon women’s publication called Exponent II. She was the first editor of Exponent II. She will talk about how
Talking Mormon History with the Bushmans (Part 1 of 6)
I’m excited to introduce a pair of amazing historians: Dr Richard Bushman, and his wife, Dr. Claudia Bushman. We’ll learn more about their backgrounds in
Indian & Black Slavery in Utah (Part 7 or 7)
The Act in Relation to Service legalized slavery in Utah in 1852. Dr. Sally Gordon tells more about how the statute affected both Indian &
Advice to Religious Leaders (Part 6 of 7)
Dr. Sally Gordon spoke at BYU for the Religious Liberty conference in March. I asked her to give any advice to religious leaders. Advice to
Scalia’s Polarizing Religious Decision (Part 5 of 7)
Antonin Scalia’s polarizing religious decision in 1993 seems ready for the chopping block. The Supreme Court justice wrote a decision that limited the free exercise
School Prayer Ban Led to Religious Studies! (Part 4 of 7)
In 1962, the Supreme Court banned school prayer. It was a controversial decision to be sure, but Dr. Sally Gordon says that opinion paved the
Kody Brown’s Polygamy Case (Part 3 of 7)
Kody Brown is the polygamist and star of the tv show Sister Wives. He sued the state of Utah to remove the polygamy prohibition in
Legal Complications of Polygamy (Part 2 of 7)
What are the legal complications of polygamy? Kody Brown recently filed a lawsuit to make polygamy law legal. While interracial marriage and even gay marriage
Twin Relics of Barbarism (Part 1 of 7)
The Republican Party platform of 1856 was founded to eradicate the “twin relics of barbarism: slavery & polygamy.” Why would they link the two together?
David’s Angelic Ordination (Part 3 of 4)
We’re going to learn more about David’s angelic ordination in our next conversation with David & Kristine Ferriman, co-presidents of CJCCF. We’ll learn more about
Wide Open Canon & Revelations (Part 2 of 4)
David & Kristine Ferriman lead the Church of Jesus Christ in Christian Fellowship as co-presidents. We’re going to learn more about their wide-open canon. They
Spiritual PTSD/Offending Everyone (Part 1 of 4)
I’m excited to introduce Kristine & David Ferriman from the Church of Jesus Christ in Christian Fellowship. It’s really kind of a unity movement, and
Jonathan Edwards’ Influence on Book of Mormon (Part 10 of 11)
Jonathan Edwards was an early preacher in Joseph Smith’s Day, kind of like a Billy Graham of the time. Jonathan Neville has discovered passages in
“Evidence of Composition is Evidence of Translation” (Part 9 of 11)
Is the Book of Mormon a translation, or complete fiction? Heartland expert Jonathan Neville says that evidence of composition is evidence of translation. What does
Explaining Mormon DNA-Archeology (Part 8 of 11)
The biggest problem with the Book of Mormon deals with DNA and archaeology that doesn’t seem to match Native Americas. How does Jonathan Neville, an
The Final Battle (Part 7 of 11)
The Book of Mormon ends with a great battle with millions killed near a hill called Cumorah. Yet no bones were found near the Hill
Pros & Cons of Vague Geography (Part 6 of 11)
Critics of the Book of Mormon say the vague geography means that it could take place anywhere, or no where. Jonathan Neville weighs in on
Why Limited Geography Theory is Wrong? (Part 5 of 11)
When the Book of Mormon was first published, and even for a century onward, most Mormons believed the Book of Mormon covered the whole of
Lehi’s Atlantic Crossing? (Part 4 of 11)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 14:48 — 13.7MB) | EmbedSubscribe: Email | RSS | More
M2C Citation Cartel (Part 3 of 11 Jonathan Neville)
What is the M2C Citation Cartel? One of Jonathan Neville’s biggest issues is with the traditional Book of Mormon scholars is what he calls the
Was Joseph Smith Really Editor? (Part 2 of 11)
Joseph Smith was listed as the editor of many newspapers in his day. Some people attribute things about Book of Mormon geography to him in
Neville’s Church History Background (Part 1 of 11)
I’m excited to introduce Jonathan Neville. He is an expert on the Heartland geography theory of the Book of Mormon. In this first episode, we’ll
Is D&C 132 a Forged Revelation? (Part 9 of 10)
Polygamy skeptics love to claim that D&C 132 is a revelation forged by Brigham Young, and note the revelation wasn’t written in Joseph Smith’s handwriting.
Why So Few Children of Polygamy in Nauvoo? (Part 8 of 10)
Polygamy skeptics love to point out that DNA evidence has ruled out Joseph as the father of several possible polygamous unions. But is there no
Kirtland-era Polygamy Evidence (Part 7 of 10)
Joseph Smith was involved with Fanny Alger in some type of “girl business” probably around 1836, and Oliver Cowdery referenced this in 1838. What other
3rd Party Polygamy Evidence (Part 6 of 10 Mark Tensmeyer)
The LDS and RLDS Churches have fought about Joseph Smith’s polygamy for a century. Is there 3rd party polygamy evidence that could settle this? Mark
Nauvoo-Era Polygamy Evidence (Part 5 of 10 Mark Tensmeyer)
What polygamy evidence is there in the Nauvoo period? Mark Tensmeyer will tell us about the Sarah Pratt case, Hyrum Smith before the high council,
4 Types of Polygamy Evidence from Nauvoo (Part 4 of 10)
I think most people agree that polygamy was practiced secretly in Nauvoo. Polygamy skeptics like to blame it on Brigham Young, but even if that
Did Cochranites Start Mormon Polygamy? (Part 3 of 10)
Polygamy skeptics claim that a religious group out of Maine introduced LDS apostles about spiritual wifery, and those apostles (not Joseph) introduced polygamy into the
RLDS positions on Joseph’s Polygamy (Part 2 of 10)
The RLDS Church has historically claimed Joseph Smith never practiced polygamy. We’ll talk about Joseph Smith, III’s views on the topic, as well as modern-day
Examining Polygamy Skeptics Claims (Part 1 of 10 Mark Tensmeyer)
In a conversation with Denver Snuffer, he claimed that if we threw out all evidence after Joseph Smith died, there is little evidence Joseph practiced
Worship Services & Church Structure (Part 5 of 5)
The House of Aaron is a group of Messianic Christians. What are their worship services like? What is their church structure, and how large is
House of Aaron Scriptures (Part 4 of 5)
What scriptures do they use in the House of Aaron? Does it include the Book of Mormon or other scriptures? Dr. John Conrad is chief
House of Aaron Views on Polygamy & LGBT (Part 3 of 5)
Last time we discussed the story of Abraham and Isaac, a troubling story in the Bible. This time I’ll ask Dr. John Conrad about polygamy.
LDS/House of Aaron Relations (Part 2 of 5)
The House of Aaron is on the Utah-Nevada border. LDS are practically everywhere. How do they get along with their LDS neighbors? Do they consider
Founding the House of Aaron (Part 1 of 5)
I’m excited to introduce you to the House of Aaron, located on the Utah-Nevada border that practices the Law of Consecration, and celebrates many Jewish
Corrected Church Organization (Part 8 of 8)
Joseph Smith’s revelations outline the size of each priesthood quorum. Did you know the Kirtland Temple had assigned seats for each person in these quorums?
Making Diamonds out of Coal! (Part 7 of 8)
David Hall’s father Tracy was the man who invented synthetic diamonds. We’ll learn more about David and his father Tracy, founder of Hall Labs, and
Purifying Water, Transportation, & People (Part 6 of 8)
Joseph Smith planned for 100,000 people packed into a small area. David Hall tells how he would keep people healthy with water purification systems and
Keeping Saints Healthy with Multi-purpose Temples (5 of 8)
Joseph Smith’s plans for a temple could house an NBA basketball court, an Olympic size swimming pool, and still allow important temple rites to be
Building Future Cities of Joseph (Part 4 of 8)
Joseph’s visionary city of Independence was well ahead of its time. In fact, it is probably ahead of our time. David Hall, Chairman of Hall
Tyndale’s 1530 English (Part 3 of 8)
A lot of people think Joseph used King James English in the Book of Mormon. However, David Hall, Chairman of Hall Labs says that Joseph
24 Temple Presidents in Kirtland? (Part 2 of 8)
Did you know Joseph’s original plans for Kirtland and Independence was to have 24 temples? David R. Hall, chairman of Hall Labs will tell us
Engineering Joseph’s Visionary City (Part 1 of 8)
We’re going to get acquainted with David R. Hall, Chairman of Hall Labs in Provo, Utah. He’s an amazing inventor and gets his ideas from
Richie T’s 3 Questions (Part 6 of 6)
I stepped into The Cultural Hall with Richie T. Steadman, and he asked me his 3 questions and my thoughts on The Cultural Hall. Richie:
Mormon History Groups (Part 5 of 6)
Richie Steadman of The Cultural Hall Podcast asked me more about some Mormon history groups. We’ll talk not just about some old Mormon groups, but
Rick’s Family History (Part 4 of 6)
Back in Nov 2019, I sat down over Zoom with Richie T Steadman of The Cultural Hall Podcast. He asked about my background. Richie: Rick
BoM: South America, Heartland, Meso (Part 3 of 6)
We’re into part 3 of our look at Book of Mormon geography theories. This time, we’ll cover 3 of the more popular theories: South America,
BoM: Malay, Baja, New York (Part 2 of 6)
We’re continuing our series on Book of Mormon geography theories. This time we’ll hit Malay, Baja, and New York geography theories. GT: The next theory
BoM Geography: From Middle East to Africa (Part 1 of 6)
Where did the Book of Mormon take place? There are probably more theories out there than you know. I’m going to share a Zoom presentation
Remembering Will Bagley (Part 5 of 5)
We lost Will Bagley Sept 28, 2021, due to complications from a stroke. As we end 2021, we’ll look back at our 2020 interview where
Remembering Shannon Flynn (Part 4 of 5)
As 2021 winds down, we’re looking back on the life of Shannon Flynn. Shannon earned a degree in history from the University of Utah. He
Remembering Curt Bench (Part 3 of 5)
Curt Bench was one of the most beloved members of the Mormon history community. As we look back at those we’ve lost in 2021, I
Remembering Michael Quinn (Part 2 of 5)
On April 21, 2021, we lost an amazing historian, Michael Quinn. As we end 2021, I wanted to look back at those we lost. This
Remembering Armand Mauss (Part 1 of 5)
As we wind down 2021, I wanted to remember those we’ve lost. Armand Mauss died Aug 1, 2020, but had a chapter published posthumously in
*Intro to Reborn LDS Church (Part 9 of 9)
So far, we keep referring to this group as “The Brazil Group.” But what is the official name of this church? John: So, the short
Three Churches of Mormonism (Part 8 of 9)
The late Dr. John Pratt says there are 3 churches of Mormonism. He’ll talk about the purpose that each church fulfills. John: The restoration branches.
What’s in Sealed Book of Mormon? (Part 7 of 9)
What’s in the sealed Book of Mormon? The late Dr. John Pratt tells us what is in the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon
Hofmann Question on Brazil Plates (Part 6 of 9)
In a previous conversation with Dr. Casey Griffiths, Casey said that a South American group used a Hofmann forgery to authenticate the sealed portion of
Brazil Golden Plates (Part 5 of 9)
Have you heard about the Brazil Plates? The late Dr. John Pratt is going to tell us more about them! GT: Okay, so, tell us
John Pratt’s Spiritual Journey with Snuffer (Part 4 of 9)
The late Dr. John Pratt grew up a member of the LDS Church for decades, but recently has joined with some other restoration movements. He
Dating Problems in First Vision (Part 3 of 9 John Pratt)
Critics of the Joseph Smith claim that there are anachronisms in the First Vision. I asked the late Dr. John Pratt about how he handles
Dating the First Vision (Part 2 of 9 John Pratt)
When did the First Vision take place? The late Dr. John Pratt says it was March 26, 1820. That calculation is based on the Enoch
Dating Birth of Christ (Part 1 of 9 John Pratt)
Thanksgiving is the unoffical start to the Christmas season. I’m both excited and sad to share this episode with our listeners. I’m excited to introduce
*Comparing Mormons & Pentecostals (Part 8 of 8)
Dr. Christopher Thomas of the Pentecostal Theological Seminary discusses similarities and differences with Mormon Culture. We also learn about the structure of the various Pentecostal
Pentecostals in Book of Mormon (Part 7 of 8 Chris Thomas)
As we’ve mentioned before, publication of the Book of Mormon pre-dates the Pentecostal movement by almost 8 decades. What are some examples? Dr. Christopher Thomas
Troubling Stories in Scripture (Part 6 of 8 Chris Thomas)
There are lots of troubling stories in scripture: the sacrifice of Isaac, the banishment of Hagar. I’m going to get personal and share some of
Protestant Theology in Book of Mormon? (Part 5 of 8)
Should evangelicals be scared of the Book of Mormon? Pentecostal scholar Dr. Christopher Thomas says most of the theology in the Book of Mormon is
Tongue-Speech in Book of Mormon (Part 4 of 8)
One of the things that attracted Pentecostal scholar Dr. Chris Thomas to the Book of Mormon were the many episodes of speaking in tongues. It
Pentecostal View of Book of Mormon Theology (Part 3 of 8)
What do evangelical scholars think of Book of Mormon theology? We’ll find out when Dr. Chris Thomas gives the book a serious, scholarly treatment. Chris:
Is Book of Mormon a Pacifist Text? (Part 2 of 6 Chris Thomas)
The Book of Mormon is known for talking about lots of wars, eventually ending in the extermination of Nephites. But is the central message a
Pentecostal Theologian Gives Book of Mormon the Bible Treatment (Part 1 of 8)
Lots of people would like outsiders to look at the Book of Mormon in serious ways. I’m excited to introduce Dr. Christopher Thomas. He teaches
Wordprint Studies (Part 5 of 6)
Wordprint or stylometry studies try to identify the author of a text. Studies have tried to prove ancient as well as modern authorship. What does
What Skills Were Needed to Write Book of Mormon? (Part 4 of 6)
What skills were needed to write the Book of Mormon? Brian’s going to dig into Joseph Smith’s background. Did Joseph have the education and oral
Automatic Writing/Bill Davis’s Visions of Seer Stone
We’re continuing our conversation with Dr. Brian Hales on Book of Mormon authorship. What are some naturalistic explanations are there to explain how Joseph Smith
Looking at Spalding & Collaborator Theories (Part 2 of 6)
Ever since the Book of Mormon was first published, critics have tried to figure out its authorship. Did Joseph Smith plagiarize the book from other
Reviewing Polygamy Criticisms (Part 1 of 6 Brian Hales)
It was 8 years ago that Brian Hales published his 3-volume set on Joseph Smith’s Polygamy. How does he feel about polygamy criticisms of his
LDS Church in Pacific (Part 3 of 3 Devan Jensen)
Micronesia, Guam, Truk. You may have heard of these islands, but what do you really know about them? Devan Jensen is writing an LDS History
Improving Conversation on Divisive Topics (Part 2 of 3 Devan Jensen)
It’s incredibly easy to get into arguments on social media on topics like masks, vaccines, immigration, guns, politics. How do we talk to those with
LDS Publishing & Media Assoc (Part 1 of 3 Devan Jensen)
Devan Jensen is the president of the LDS Publishing & Media Association. What is it exactly, and who is it for? Devan will introduce us
*Phelps From Nauvoo to SLC (Part 8 of 8)
W.W. Phelps was editor of the Times & Seasons in 1844 when Joseph Smith was killed. He not only gave the funeral sermon for Joseph
Phelps Role in Book of Abraham Civil War (Part 7 of 8)
W.W. Phelps assisted with the translation of the Book of Abraham. Amongst believing scholars, there is a bit of a civil war over the Book
Phelps Role at Times & Seasons (Part 6 of 8 )
W.W. Phelps was one of the best writers in Mormonism. It should come as no surprise that he assisted Joseph Smith in the First Vision
Danites in Missouri (Part 5 of 8 )
The Danites were a Mormon vigilante group who tried to fight back against Missouri mobocracy. Were they good guys or bad guys? W.W. Phelps &
Mormon-Missouri War of 1838 (Part 4 of 8 )
The years 1836-1838 were some of the most tumultuous in Church history. Events included the Kirtland Banking Crisis, the Fanny Alger affair, excommunication of high
Cleaning House in Kirtland: Phelps vs Marsh (Part 3 of 8 )
Following the Kirtland Banking Crisis, many were disillusioned with Joseph Smith’s leadership. Thomas Marsh was among those who helped Joseph clear out the disaffected, and
Were Phelps Missouri Troubles Self-inflicted? (Part 2 of 8 )
W.W. Phelps was deeply involved in editing a political newspaper prior to joining the Church and was no stranger to partisan political fights. When he
Jailed Before Joined (Part 1 of 8)
W.W. Phelps is one of the best known leaders in early Mormon history that wasn’t an apostle. Dr. Bruce Van Orden is the author of
*Mormon Doctrine in Battlestar Gallactica? (Part 8 of 8)
I hope you have enjoyed our conversation with Steven Pynakker, evangelical host of Mormon Book Reviews. In our next conversation, Steve will tell us some
Gutting Pioneer Temple History (Part 7 of 8)
Recently the LDS Church announced the seismic improvements and removal of the beautiful murals in the Salt Lake Temple. Steve Pynakker is the evangelical host
Mormon Historians’ Community (Part 6 of 8)
Steve Pynakker, evangelical host of Mormon Book Reviews and I got together again on August 27 to celebrate his 50th video on his podcast. Steve
Future of Mormon History (Part 5 of 8)
What does the future of Mormon history look like? Steve Pynakker is the evangelical host of Mormon Book Reviews. He and I sat down to
Are Faith and Intellect Compatible? (Part 4 of 5)
Some people don’t like the academic study of the Bible and think the two are incompatible. That’s not the case with Steve Pynakker, evangelical host
Why Start Gospel Tangents? (Part 3 of 5)
Steven Pynakker is the evangelical host of Mormon Book Reviews. He and I sat down to discuss why I started Gospel Tangents. GT: When I
Differences between Evangelicals and Protestants? (Part 2 of 5)
Mormons, myself included are often clueless, about protestants and evangelicals? What’s the difference? I asked that question to Steven Pynakker, host of Mormon Book Reviews,
Mormon & Evangelical Discuss Mormon History (Part 1 of 5)
I’m turning over the interview microphone to an evangelical! Steven Pynakker is the host of Mormon Book Reviews, and he wanted to learn more about
*Are Church Leaders Scared of Heavenly Mother? (Part 9 of 9)
Fiona Givens recently resigned her position at BYU’s Maxwell Institute under pressure from Church leaders over her speculation that the Holy Ghost might be Heavenly
6 Counterpoints to Women & Priesthood Essay (Part 8 of 9)
Dr. Margaret Toscano gives a summary of her essay in the “Gospel Topics Series” book edited by Dr. Matt Harris & Dr. Newell Bringhurst. Toscano
Women’s Spiritual vs Ecclesiastical Priesthood (Part 7 of 9)
LDS Priesthood encompasses both spiritual and ecclesiastical aspects. Dr. Margaret Toscano compares and contrasts her position on female priesthood with that of Dr. Jonathan Stapley.
Priests or Priestesses? (Part 6 of 9)
Given the mixed-gender makeup of the Quorum of the Anointed, if LDS women were granted priesthood office, would they be priests or priestesses? Should they
Quorum of the Anointed (Part 5 of 9)
The Quorum of the Anointed was a special quorum founded by Joseph Smith just prior to his death in 1844. It was unusual in the
Keys of the Priesthood (Part 4 of 9)
The Gospel Topics essay on women and priesthood references a 2014 talk by Elder Dallin Oaks. Dr. Jonathan Stapley said this talk was groundbreaking by
Joseph’s Statements on Women & Priesthood (Part 3 of 9)
In a previous interview with Dr. Jonathan Stapley, he stated that when early Mormon women healed, it wasn’t through Priesthood. Dr. Margaret Toscano disagrees with
Critiquing Women & Priesthood Essay (Part 2 of 9)
In our last conversation, Dr. Margaret Toscano explained what she liked about the Gospel topics essay on women and priesthood. This time, Margaret will look
Strengths of Women & Priesthood Essay (Part 1 of 9)
We’re continuing our series on the “Gospel Topics Series” book, edited by Dr. Matt Harris and Dr. Newell Bringhurst. Dr. Margaret Toscano is back to
*Further Thoughts on Malay Theory (Part 6 of 6)
We got acquainted with the Malay Theory last time, and we’re going to continue on with KC Kern and Greg Pavone to find out some
Intro to Malay Hypothesis (Part 5 of 6)
Where did the Book of Mormon take place? Most people think it is in Central or South America, or maybe North America. However, we’re going
Clearing out the Mormon Cave (Part 4 of 6)
As you know, KC Kern and Greg Pavone hit pay dirt and found the Mormon Cave. Now we’re going to talk about the dig inside
Finding the Mormon Cave (Part 3 of 6)
KC Kern & Greg Pavone feel like they have enough evidence to find the Mormon Cave. But how will the property owner react? GT: So,
History of the Mormon Cave (Part 2 of 6)
KC Kern and Greg Pavone are amazing researchers. They dug into the historical records to find out more about the legend of the Mormon Cave.
Raiders of the Lost Mormon Cave (Part 1 of 6)
We’re continuing our archaeological excavations of Joseph Smith Senior, this time in New York. I’m excited to introduce KC Kern and Greg Pavone, a couple
*Staker Weighs in on First Vision (Part 5 of 5)
In a previous conversation with historian Dan Vogel, he indicated visions of Jesus were common among Methodists in Joseph Smith’s day and questioned why a
Lucy’s Dreams, Joseph Sr’s Rational Religion (Part 4 of 5)
Lucy Mack Smith had dreams that were very similar to some mentioned in the Book of Mormon. Joseph Smith Sr., on the other hand, was
Smith Farmers Were Spiritual Not Religious (Part 3 of 5)
What was Joseph Smith Jr’s religious upbringing like? It turns out his parents were quite different. Joseph Sr, might be describes as spiritual but not
When Joseph Met Lucy (Part 2 of 5)
Dating in the late 1700s wasn’t quite the same as today. In our next conversation with Dr. Mark Staker, author of “Joseph & Lucy Smith’s
Smith Family Farm in Vermont (Part 1 of 5)
Joseph Smith was born in Vermont before his family fell on hard times financially and move to New York. What is known about the Smith’s
*Should LDS Church Apologize for Racism? (Part 5 of 5)
The LDS Church prohibited black men and women from receiving priesthood rites in the temple until 1978. Should the Church apologize for past racism? Emmy
Can White People talk about Racism? (Part 4 of 5)
Let’s face it. Race is a tough subject to bring up. Is there ever pushback from black people when white people talk about racism? We’ll
Films Combating Racism Directed by a Mormon (Part 3 of 5)
The LDS Church has had a rough history when it comes to race, so it may surprise you to find out that one of its
Son of a Civil Rights Icon (Part 2 of 5)
Joan Trumpauer Mulholland began protesting for civil rights in the early 1960s and was part of many of the important civil rights protests of the
End of Slavery (in Utah???) Part 1 of 5
Did you know slavery was still legal in Utah until 2020? We’ll talk about the drive to remove this provision in the Utah Constitution with
*The Chicago Experiment (Part 9 of 9)
What is the Chicago Experiment? Back in the 1930s, LDS Church leaders sent employees to be trained in theology. They came across some sticky theology
Future of Church History
Historians don’t usually talk about the future, because they are historians! In our next episode with Dr. Casey Griffiths, he will talk about what he
Orson Pratt’s Unsung Hero in Church History (Part 7 of 9)
Orson Pratt is less famous than his older brother, apostle Parley P. Pratt. But it could be argued that he has had a bigger impact
From Word of Wisdom to World Faith (Part 6 of 9)
We’re continuing to discuss some of The 100 Most Important Events of Church History. We will talk about how observance of the Word of Wisdom
Entry-Level Church History (Part 5 of 9)
What is the best beginner book to learn Mormon history? Back in 2016, Dr. Casey Griffiths said there really wasn’t a book, so he set
CSI: Carthage Jail (Part 4 of 9)
Not many people know that Joseph Smith not only had a pistol in the Carthage Jail. Did you know he fired at the mob? Some
Swimsuits, Gold Medals, & Blacks (Part 3 of 9)
Did you know there was an official swimsuit of the Los Angeles Temple? Casey: The temple swimsuit, which like I said, those two things seem
Recycling Hofmann Forgeries (Part 2 of 9)
There is a group in South America that claims to have access to the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon. What proof do they
Mormon Interfaith Council (Part 1 of 9)
It seems like most lay members of the Church don’t hear much about the LDS Church working on interfaith councils. Fewer know about Mormon schismatic
Orson Pratt’s First Vision Influence (Part 5 of 5)
Early Mormon apostle Orson Pratt probably did more to keep the memories of the First Vision alive in the LDS Church more than any other
Malay Theory of Book of Mormon
Hey everyone, I’m working on a presentation on the various Book of Mormon geography theories, and will be presenting on May 10, 2021 at 7
Comparing the Primary Accounts (Part 4 of 5)
What are the main differences between the First Vision accounts? Why are they different, and are these differences significant? Dr. Steven Harper is the author
Did Methodist Minister Scold Young Joseph?
As we mentioned in a previous conversation with Dan Vogel, Joseph Smith’s First Vision was quite similar to Methodist visions of Christ of the day.
Were Revivals in Palmyra in 1820?
Dr. Wesley Walters was one of the first people to question Joseph’s Smith’s account of the First Vision, saying there were no reports of revivals
Memory Problems with First Vision (Part 1 of 5)
Critics of Joseph Smith’s First Vision account claim that Joseph changed his accounts over the years, resulting in contradictions between the four primary accounts. Could
*Apology to Dorie (Part 13 of 13)
There are many people who wondered how Mark Hofmann hid his secret life of forgeries from his own wife Dorie. Brent Ashworth was among those.
Emily Dickinson Forgery (Part 12 of 13)
The Emily Dickinson forgery was briefly touched on in the Netflix documentary. It turns out that Brent Ashworth played a critical role in identifying that
Hofmann’s Court Mistake (Part 11 of 13)
Brent Ashworth tells about his testimony at the preliminary hearing to decide whether Mark Hofmann should be bound over for trial. Was it effective testimony?
Tragedy Before Hofmann Trial (Part 10 of 13)
After the bombings, Brent Ashworth left town to avoid becoming a target. To his dismay, his 7-year-old son was involved in a serious accident and
Catching More Hofmann Fakes (Part 9 of 13)
The Salamander Letter wasn’t the only forgery caught by Brent. He will describe a few other forgeries of Mark that he caught, including one with
Brent Called Salamander Letter Fake (Part 8 of 13)
Many people are well aware that Jerald Tanner called out the Salamander letter as a forgery, but did you know that Brent Ashworth beat him
Hofmann’s Motive Against Church (Part 7 of 13)
Mark Hofmann wanted to bring down the LDS Church. Why? What was his motive? Brent Ashworth lays out his theory for why Mark had a
Why 3rd Bomb Wasn’t Suicide Attempt (Part 6 of 13)
In the recent Netflix documentary, “Murder Among the Mormons,” Mark Hofmann is heard on a prison recording that he was trying to commit suicide with
McLellin Collection Offers (Part 5 of 13)
Mark Hofmann was trying to sell the McLellin collection to the LDS Church and Al Rust at the time the bombs exploded in 1985. It
Bonus: Ask Me Anything March 26
Now is your chance! I will be available on Reddit for an AMA (Ask Me Anything) starting at 10 am on March 26, 2021. Sign
Lucy Mack Smith Forgery (Part 4 of 13)
Brent Ashworth purchased a faith promoting letter from Mark Hofmann and then toured the state of Utah bearing testimony about this wonderful letter. Problem was,
Mark’s Unknown Half Million$ Deal (Part 3 of 13)
One thing missed in the recent Netflix documentary, “Murder Among the Mormons,” as well as nearly every other treatment of the Hofmann dealings is an
Hiding from Hofmann (Part 2 of 13)
What was it like to go into hiding when those pipe bombs went off in Salt Lake City in 1985? Brent Ashworth will tell us
Meeting Serial Killers (Part 1 of 13)
If Netflix brought you here for more, welcome! In October 1985, 3 pipe bombs exploded in Salt Lake City, Utah, killing 2 and injuring the
*Reflecting on Gospel Topics Essays (Part 5 of 5)
As we mentioned previously with our interview with Dr. Matt Harris, the Swedish Rescue was instrumental in leading Church leaders to release the Gospel Topics
New York Times Interview (Part 4 of 5)
In the Summer of 2013, the New York Times came out with a front-page article with Hans Mattsson discussing his loss of belief. Hans will
Hans’ View of Swedish Rescue (Part 3 of 5)
High profile church leaders flew to Sweden in 2010 to try to answer difficult church history questions to Swedish Latter-day Saints. How did the meeting
First Doubts on Church History (Part 2 of 5)
Hans Mattsson first began to question LDS Church history while serving as an area authority in the 3rd Quorum of Seventy. We’ll talk about some
Becoming 1st Swedish General Authority (Part 1 of 5)
I’m excited to introduce Hans Mattsson. Hans will talk about his calling as the first Swedish General Authority and growing up in the LDS Church.
Black Lives Matter (Part 7 of 7)
If you think racism is no longer a problem, think again. In our final conversation with Joseph Freeman, he outlines continued problems he has personally
Enduring Systemic Racism (Part 6 of 7)
While Joseph Freeman was the first person to break through the racial priesthood barrier in the LDS Church, he has experienced a lot of racism
Genesis Group & Black Spirituality (Part 5 of 7)
The Genesis Group was founded in the early 1970s to help keep black members active even though they couldn’t hold the priesthood. Joseph became a
Instant Celebrity (Part 4 of 7)
Following his ordination in June 1978, Joseph Freeman became an instant celebrity. He was asked to be interviewed on prominent news networks and was a
Joseph’s Baptism (Part 3 of 7)
What does it feel like to be an adult convert to the LDS Church? Joseph Freeman describes those vivid feelings as he rose up out
Meeting Mormons at PCC (Part 2 of 7)
Joseph Freeman was a Holiness preacher when the U.S. Army stationed him in Hawaii. He made what turned out to be a life-changing decision to
Holiness Preacher Joins Army (Part 1 of 7)
February is #BlackHistoryMonth, and I’m excited to kick of the month with a race-barrier breaker! Joseph Freeman was the first black man ordained following the
Darren’s Relationship to Bear River Massacre (Part 9 of 9)
In our final conversation with author Darren Parry of the Bear River Massacre, we’ll tie up some loose ends and trace his family history back
Why Indian Headdress Shouldn’t be Sports Mascots (Part 8 of 9)
Darren Parry, author of the Bear River Massacre tells why the Indian Headdress shouldn’t be used as a sports mascot. We’ll talk about why teams
Monument in the Killing Fields (Part 7 of 9)
158 years ago today, hundreds of Shoshone Indians were massacred on this site. Author Darren Parry takes us to the killing fields where many of
Turning Massacre into Model for Peace (Part 6 of 9)
Hundreds of Shoshone Indians were killed in January of 1863. Despite what happened, many of the survivors joined the LDS Church just a few short
Idaho Monument to Shoshone Massacre (Part 5 of 9)
The state of Idaho donated land for a monument so the Shoshone Tribe could tell the story of the Bear River Massacre. Author Darren Parry
How a Battle Changed to a Massacre (Part 4 of 9)
The first monument to what happened on January 29, 1863 appeared in 1932 in southern Idaho. Author Darren Parry of the Shoshone Tribe describes how
How Mormon Pioneers Changed Native Life (Part 3 of 9)
Shoshone Indians didn’t have fences. They shared everything. Imagine what it was like when Mormon pioneers started shooting deer and buffalo that Native Americans used
Native Life Before Pioneers (Part 2 of 9)
The Shoshone Tribe numbered just a few hundred when thousands of Mormon pioneers started to settle in what is now southern Idaho and northern Utah.
Getting to Know Darren Parry (Part 1 of 9)
I’m excited to have my first congressional candidate on the show, Darren Parry. We’ll talk about Darren’s unsuccessful bid to become congressman in Utah’s 1st
Church History Library (Part 5 of 5)
The Church History Library is one of the most state-of-the-art libraries in the world. Historian Richard Turley shepherded the construction of the new building, where
Saints (Part 4 of 5)
It’s been about 100 years since the LDS Church published a history of the Church. Richard Turley thought it was about time to update it
Opening Doors for LDS Female Historians (Part 3 of 5)
Over the past 30+ years, Richard Turley has worked hard to promote women in the Mormon History field. Barbara Jones Brown sat down with Rick
Want Full Video Interviews? Become GT Insider!
Wanna see full video interviews? Become Gospel Tangents Insider for just $8/month! Once you’re a member at $8/month or higher, (1) be sure to “Like”
Turley on Mountain Meadows Massacre (Part 2 of 5)
Richard Turley’s book “Massacre at Mountain Meadows” was published in 2011. The book ends at the massacre in 1857. He and Barbara Jones Brown are
Hired After Hofmann (Part 1 of 5)
Richard Turley retired in 2020 after working in various roles for the LDS Church. This will be a special treat, because I’m turning the microphone
How Americas were Populated (Part 8 of 8)
We’re concluding our conversation with Dr. Thomas Murphy. Last time we talked about why modern Egyptians don’t match current Egyptians. Dr. Murphy says a similar
Possible to Lose DNA? (Part 7 of 8)
According to the Gospel Topics essay, the reason why Middle Eastern DNA isn’t found among Native Americans is because the Nephite/Lamanite DNA was dwarfed by
Who Killed the Indians? (Part 6 of 8)
It is well-known that Europeans wiped out many Native Americans. The Book of Mormon claims that darker skinned Lamanites killed the white-skinned Nephites. Is it
Strengths & Weakness of DNA Essay/ Comparing Indian & BoM Stories (Part 5 of 8)
Dr. Thomas Murphy describes the strengths and weaknesses of the Church’s DNA essay. Thomas: To the credit of the Church, the DNA essay acknowledges, basically,
Behind the Scenes on DNA Essay (Part 4 of 8)
Following his brush with Church discipline, Dr. Thomas Murphy was surprised to get an invitation to discuss his DNA research at BYU! Tom tells more
Untold Story of Indian Slavery (Part 3 of 8)
Did slavery exist among Native Americans prior to the arrival of Christopher Columbus? Yes. Did Europeans make slaves out of Indians? Also yes. In our
Religious Fights over DNA (Part 2 of 8)
To say Dr. Thomas Murphy’s research about DNA and the Book of Mormon raises eyebrows among LDS Church leaders is an understatement. Not only did
Native American DNA Scholarship (Part 1 of 8)
We’re continuing our Gospel Topics Series. This time, we’re going to talk about DNA and the Book of Mormon. I’m excited to introduce Dr. Thomas
White Horse Prophecy
Many people have heard about the White Horse Prophecy, but few people understand the details. Did you know it has been disavowed by LDS Leaders?
Chad Daybell & Zombie Apocalypse
Chad Daybell has been in the news over the past year over the suspicious disappearance and deaths of his new wife Lori Vallow’s children and
Bo, Rowe, & Pontius: LDS Apocalypticists
We’re moving into modern day apocalypticism. We’re going to talk about 3 main figures: Bo Gritz, Julie Rowe, and John Pontius. Bo was former army
Apocalyptic World Wars (Part 4 of 7)
Wars bring death, and with it, apocalyptic thought. In our next conversation with Dr. Christopher Blythe, we’ll talk about how World Wars 1 and 2
Civil War Prophecy & Joseph’s Apocalyptic Death
One of the most famous prophecies of Joseph Smith is the Civil War prophecy, in which Joseph predicted the Civil War would start in South
Mormon History of Apocalypse (Part 2 of 7)
Apocalyptism has been important to Latter-day Saint theology and is why we’re called Latter-day Saints. In our next conversation with Dr. Christopher Blythe, we’ll get
Maxwell Institute: A Religious Thinktank
What is the Maxwell Institute exactly? I’m excited to introduce Dr. Christopher Blythe of the Maxwell Institute. We’ll get acquainted with him, learn more about
*Remembering Armand Mauss (Part 7 of 7)
Dr. Armand Mauss is a well-known LDS scholar that wrote the conclusion of the LDS Gospel Topics Series by Dr. Matt Harris and Dr. Newell
How to Access Full Interviews at Patreon
Some of you are subscribers to Patreon, but haven’t heard the full, uninterrupted interviews. Here is a short tutorial on how to access on your
Race, Priesthood, & Randy Bott (Part 6 of 7)
During Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign for president BYU professor Randy Bott made headlines in a Washington Post article discussing racial teachings. It turns out that
Racism in Mormon Scripture (Part 5 of 7)
Mormonism is unique in the fact that there is racism in Mormon scriptures. These scriptures have been used to enforce the priesthood and temple ban
Pros & Cons of Race Essay (Part 4 of 7)
We’re moving on to a critique of the Race and Priesthood essay on the LDS Church website. What are the strengths and weaknesses? Is it
Critiquing Polygamy Essays & Sources (Part 3 of 7)
One of the thorniest issues in the LDS Church is justifying the past practice of polygamy. In fact, there are 3 Gospel Topics essays devoted
Are Gospel Essays Hidden or Public? (Part 2 of 7)
The LDS Church began publishing the LDS Gospel topics essays in 2013, but are they hidden or public? Many church members don’t know about them.
Swedish Rescue & Gospel Topics Essays (Part 1 of 7)
In 2013, the LDS Church sent Elder Marlin Jensen and Richard Turley to Sweden to answer tough questions about church history. This was a pivotal
*Bear River Massacre (Part 9 of 9)
The Mountain Meadows Massacre killed around 100 immigrants from Arkansas in the Utah Territory. But did you know that a massacre of 2-3 times more
Kingdom of the West (Part 8 of 9)
Historian Will Bagley has contributed to several volumes of western History called Kingdom of the West. He’ll introduce us to the set. Will: Let me