In this episode we examine one of the most foundational claims in Mormonism: the translation of the Book of Mormon. Most Latter-day Saints grew up hearing a very specific story. Joseph Smith sat at a table, the gold plates were present, and he translated the ancient record through divine power. But when we turn to the actual historical eyewitness accounts, a more complicated picture appears. Multiple witnesses—including Martin Harris, Emma Smith, and David Whitmer—described a translation process where Joseph placed a seer stone into a hat, buried his face in the hat to block out light, and dictated the text while the plates were often covered, in another room, or not present at all. If the translation did not require Joseph to read the plates… why were the plates necessary?

In this episode we slow the story down and look carefully at the historical sources. We examine the original accounts, the apologetic explanations offered to reconcile them, and the logical implications of those explanations. This is not about attacking belief. It is about asking a simple question: What explanation best fits the evidence?

Book: A Logical Deconstruction of Mormonism Available at Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Logical-Deconstruction-Mormonism-Bill-Reel-ebook/dp/B0GQN4178G

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A confrontation of historic proportions happened forty-five years ago; a confrontation between an LDS apostle and a BYU professor; between Elder Bruce R. McConkie and Professor Eugene England. The subject was the nature of God. But the ramifications were more far-reaching than that. Join Bill Reel and RFM as they dig deep into this controversy and explore what it meant then, and the fallout it still has today!

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Tonight’s Mormon Newscast breaks down a wild week of headlines with the top story of ABC abruptly canceling The Bachelorette just days before its premiere featuring Mormon Taylor Frankie Paul as the lead. With her deep ties to Netflix’s Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and the MomTok world, this wasn’t just another season… and the sudden cancellation has people asking what really happened behind the scenes.

Also in this episode we cover:
* LDS women are finally allowed to serve as Sunday School presidents… in 2026
* The latest MomTok drama and why it keeps pulling Mormon culture into the spotlight
* A new LDS transgender policy update and what it means for members navigating identity and faith
* Utah moves forward with an AI regulation bill * A BYU training connected to polygamy Deniers gets canceled at the last minute—why?
* The Church endorses its first female chaplain in Canada
* A new Netflix docuseries exposes the rise of Warren Jeffs’ successor

From institutional changes to cultural moments to stories that hit a little closer to home, this episode connects the dots and asks the questions that don’t always get asked.

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Former Bishop Nathan Hinckley joins the show, together with a very special guest appearance from his wife, Amy! Together they tell us about their journey through Mormonism; a journey that ultimately led both of them out of the church just three short years ago. This is one you won’t want to miss!

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In this episode of Mormonism Live, we sit down with Ember, a Native American and former Latter-day Saint, to explore a side of Mormonism that often goes overlooked – the lived experience of Native Americans inside the Church. For many Indigenous members, Mormon doctrine didn’t just offer a spiritual framework. It reshaped identity, ancestry, and self-worth. Teachings about “Lamanites,” skin color, righteousness, and divine lineage weren’t abstract ideas—they were personal, and often deeply painful. We talk through: What it means to be labeled a “Lamanite” in a modern world with DNA evidence The psychological weight of doctrines tied to skin color and worthiness The legacy of programs like the Indian Student Placement Program Cultural loss, identity fragmentation, and the pressure to assimilate How Church narratives intersect with broader colonial and Christian history The experience of being the “token Native” in LDS spaces The tension between Indigenous spirituality and Mormon theology The long road of deconstruction, healing, and reclaiming identity This isn’t just a conversation about history—it’s about how belief systems shape identity, and what it takes to rebuild when that foundation cracks. Whether you’re familiar with these issues or hearing them for the first time, this episode invites a deeper look at the intersection of faith, culture, and personal truth.

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In this episode, we examine one of the lesser-known but revealing moments in Mormon history: the Kinderhook Plates. In 1843, a set of small brass plates covered with strange engravings were discovered in Kinderhook, Illinois and brought to Joseph Smith. Contemporary accounts record that Joseph examined the plates and began offering an interpretation of the characters, identifying them as an ancient record connected to a descendant of Ham. But decades later, the truth emerged. The Kinderhook Plates were a 19th-century hoax, created by local men to test whether Joseph Smith could truly translate ancient records. Modern metallurgical testing confirmed what the creators later admitted: the plates were manufactured in the 1800s. So what does this episode show? If Joseph had the divine ability to translate ancient languages by revelation, a modern forgery should have been immediately exposed. Instead, Joseph appeared to treat the plates as authentic and even began interpreting them. In this episode

we walk carefully through:
The discovery of the Kinderhook Plates
What Joseph Smith reportedly said about them
The later confession of the men who created them
And what this incident tells us about Joseph’s claimed translation abilities

This is part of a larger series examining the core claims of Mormonism one issue at a time.

If you appreciate this kind of careful, logical examination, my book A Logical Deconstruction of Mormonism expands this approach across thirty major issues—looking at the original claim, the evidence, the apologetic explanations, and the logical implications.

Thanks for listening. And as always, keep thinking clearly.

Book: A Logical Deconstruction of Mormonism Available at Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Logical-Deconstruction-Mormonism-Bill-Reel-ebook/dp/B0GQN4178G

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The LDS Church has announced that it spent $1.58 billion in humanitarian and welfare assistance in 2025, a number the Church says represents record-level giving around the world. But what exactly is included in that number, and how much of it represents money the Church itself donated versus funds that passed through programs like fast offerings, welfare systems, and the “Giving Machines”? Tonight we break down the announcement, what the Church says it means, and why critics say the way the number is presented deserves a closer look.

We’ll also cover several other major stories in Mormon news this week. A new update in the case of the LDS doctor arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting his wife’s friend as the legal situation continues to unfold. We also discuss leadership movement involving Apostle Ronald A. Rasband’s cousin, which some critics are already pointing to as possible nepotism, while others argue the individual’s credentials make the appointment defensible. Internationally, a LDS missionary was reportedly attacked with a machete, raising concerns about missionary safety in certain parts of the world. Meanwhile, the Salt Lake Temple open house preparations are causing concern among some nearby residents, who say the scale of the event could significantly impact their neighborhoods. The Church has also issued two public statements this week—one addressing religious freedom along with a call for a special fast, and another responding to recent violence in Michigan. And sadly, we have more disturbing news involving Mormon-connected child abuse cases, highlighting once again the ongoing concerns about how abuse allegations surface and are handled in LDS communities. Finally, we’ll take a brief look at “Mormon Easter”—how the Church continues to shape and reframe its approach to Easter observance as it emphasizes Christ-centered messaging in recent years. Join us as we break down the biggest Mormon news stories of the week.

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The post Did the LDS Church Really Give $1.58 Billion to Charity in 2025? appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Dr. Randall Bell brings fresh new research to Mormon Studies in this fascinating episode of Radio Free Mormon! Apologists claim the presence of an ancient Hebrew literary form called “chiasmus” proves the Book of Mormon to be ancient. “Not so fast,” says Dr. Bell, who shares with us a much more plausible source for chiasmus in the Book of Mormon than being put there by ancient American Jews whom DNA studies show didn’t exist. This is an episode you will want to not only watch, but share with your friends and family! The more we study the Book of Mormon, the more apparent it is a product of early 19th Century America!

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