Mormon Discussion Podcast

Mormon Discussion Inc

An Honest Search For Truth

  1. 1D AGO

    History of Mormonism’s “Word of Wisdom” Health Code

    In this episode of Mormonism Live, we walk through the full evolution of the Word of Wisdom—from its origin in 1833 to how it functions today as a requirement for temple worthiness. We start in Kirtland, where the School of the Prophets was filled with tobacco smoke, chewing, and spitting—and where Emma Smith’s frustration becomes part of the story behind the revelation. From there, we zoom out and examine the broader 19th-century health movements already shaping ideas about diet, stimulants, and self-control. Figures like Sylvester Graham and the growing temperance movement weren’t fringe—they were mainstream. And their fingerprints are all over the Word of Wisdom. We then track how the revelation was originally given “not by commandment,” how early leaders—including Joseph Smith and Wilford Woodruff—continued to drink alcohol, and how enforcement slowly tightened over time. What began as counsel eventually became a defining boundary marker of Mormon worthiness. Along the way, we tackle the contradictions and gray areas: Why coffee and tea are prohibited while caffeine is not How “mild drinks of barley” disappeared from the conversation The shifting stance on medical marijuana Cultural gray zones like kava And how modern application often depends more on tradition than a consistent principle By the end, the question isn’t just what the Word of Wisdom says—but how it became what it is today. Donate to Mormonism Live: https://donorbox.org/mormonism-live Get Bill Reel’s book “The Logical Deconstruction of Mormonism”: https://www.amazon.com/Logical-Deconstruction-Mormonism-One-Book/dp/B0GQQ4CJ2S The post History of Mormonism’s “Word of Wisdom” Health Code appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

    2h 42m

  2. MAR 26

    Book of Mormon Translation

    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 Thanks so much for watching! Please like, subscribe, and leave a comment! Visit our Channel to find everything Mormonism! https://www.youtube.com/c/MormonDiscussionsInc or @MormonDiscussion The post Book of Mormon Translation appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

    9 min

  3. MAR 26

    Bruce R. McConkie Lays Down The Law

    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! Join the conversation live or catch the replay Like, Subscribe, and Share to help broaden the discussion Support Mormonism Live https://donorbox.org/mormonism-live If you need support navigating faith transitions or spiritual trauma, 1-on-1 coaching and support groups are available at: https://awakenandthrive.org/ The post Bruce R. McConkie Lays Down The Law appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

    2h 31m

  4. MAR 20

    Lamanite to Self: A Native Reckoning with Mormonism

    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. Join the conversation live or catch the replay Like, Subscribe, and Share to help broaden the discussion Support Mormonism Live https://donorbox.org/mormonism-live The post Lamanite to Self: A Native Reckoning with Mormonism appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

    2h 19m

  5. MAR 19

    The Kinderhook Plates: A Joseph Smith Translation?

    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 The post The Kinderhook Plates: A Joseph Smith Translation? appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

    14 min

  6. MAR 12

    Sam Young: Protector of Mormon Children!

    Sam Young is the legend who did amazing things almost a decade ago to protect children in the Mormon Church. Of course, the Mormon Church didn’t appreciate Sam’s efforts to protect the children, so they excommunicated him. This is Sam’s story! And for the first time, Sam will speak publicly about what happened during his excommunication proceeding! This is a show you won’t want to miss! If you enjoy Mormonism Live and want to support the show, please consider donating: https://donorbox.org/mormonism-live If anyone needs support dealing with spiritual trauma, 1-on-1 coaching and support groups are available at: https://awakenandthrive.org/ The post Sam Young: Protector of Mormon Children! appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

    2h 47m

  7. MAR 12

    The LDS Label Machine

    Why Do People Leave the LDS Church? In this episode of Mormonism Live, Bill Reel and Radio Free Mormon examine a topic that has been discussed inside Mormonism for nearly two centuries: why do people leave the Church? From early sermons by Brigham Young to modern General Conference addresses, Latter-day Saint leaders have offered explanations for why members lose their faith. These explanations often frame departure as the result of deception, pride, sin, offense, or the influence of Satan. Tonight we take a careful look at those teachings. We explore what Church leaders have said historically, how those ideas continue to appear in modern instruction, and how these narratives shape the way believers understand those who leave. We’ll also look at the human side of the conversation: how these labels affect real people, real families, and the possibility of honest dialogue between those who stay and those who step away. This episode is not about attacking belief. It’s about understanding the stories we tell about each other — and asking whether those stories leave room for compassion, curiosity, and honest conversation. RESOURCES: https://faenrandir.github.io/a_careful_examination/how-those-who-leave-are-viewed/ Glen Pace memo – https://www.scribd.com/document/105967728/Memo-Bishop-Glenn-L-Pace-to-LDS-Church-Members-Committee-Ritualistic-Child-Abuse-7-19-90 If you enjoy Mormonism Live and want to support the show, please consider donating: https://donorbox.org/mormonism-live If anyone needs support dealing with spiritual trauma, 1-on-1 coaching and support groups are available at: https://awakenandthrive.org/ The post The LDS Label Machine appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

    1h 28m

  8. MAR 12

    The Book of Abraham: Can Joseph Translate Egyptian?

    In this episode, we examine one of the clearest translation claims in Mormon history: the Book of Abraham. Joseph Smith said he translated ancient writings of Abraham from Egyptian papyri. Those papyri were displayed, studied, and described as the source of the text. Today, we still have fragments of those papyri. And Egyptologists can read them. They do not say what Joseph said they say. So what happened? We carefully walk through the original claim, what the surviving papyri actually contain (including the Breathing Permit of Hôr), and the major apologetic responses: the Missing Scroll theory, the Catalyst theory, and other reinterpretations. Then we ask the logical question: do these explanations preserve the original claim — or redefine it? This isn’t about mockery. It’s about clarity. If Joseph could translate Egyptian by divine power, this episode matters. And if he could not, that matters even more. If you appreciate this structured, respectful approach to examining Mormon truth claims, my book A Logical Deconstruction of Mormonism expands this method across thirty core issues — one claim at a time. 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 Visit our Channel to find everything Mormonism! https://www.youtube.com/c/MormonDiscussionsInc or @MormonDiscussion Our mission at Mormon Discussion is to be a beacon of support for those who are questioning the truth claims or renegotiating their relationship with faith. Our podcasts like “Mormonism Live,” “Radio Free Mormon,” and “Mormon Discussion” offer a safe space for Discovery and healing. But we need your help. Your donations power our work – expanding outreach, improving content, and creating new initiatives. Visit https://donorbox.org/umbrella-entity or https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/please-consider-donating-today/ and make a difference today. Your support empowers us to empower others. We are a 501C3 Non-Profit and your donation is tax deductible inside the United States https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/please-consider-donating-today/ Thank you for being part of the change. Together, we’re making a real impact. The post The Book of Abraham: Can Joseph Translate Egyptian? appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

    12 min
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4.3
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