Mormon Discussion Podcast: Leading With Faith

Black Skin A Curse From God? Rumors have been swirling recently that the LDS Church is changing certain verses in its African language translations of the Book of Mormon; certain verses that in the English Book of Mormon talk about black skin being a curse from God. The rumor is that those verses have been changed in African language translations so as to keep Africans from knowing that the Book of Mormon calls black skin a curse. Radio Free Mormon investigates those rumors and reports the facts!

We dig into one of the lesser-known but deeply revealing historical sources from early Mormonism: the Fayette Lapham interview with Joseph Smith Sr. Lapham’s account places Joseph Smith’s father in conversation about the earliest days of the movement — before the Church had polished narratives, before later offices were cleanly defined, and before memory had decades to smooth out the rough edges. What emerges is a version of early Mormon leadership that feels far less settled and far more experimental than most members were ever taught. One claim in particular raises eyebrows: the suggestion that Joseph Smith may have i...

Join us on New Year’s Eve for a special episode of Mormonism Live. We’ll look back at the biggest Mormon news stories of the year from The Mormon Newscast and reveal the Top 5 stories you voted for. We’ll also dig into a few late-breaking developments, including the passing of Elder Holland.

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Join us this Christmas Eve for the Third Annual Radio Free Mormon Christmas Eve Party. RFM will be joined by over Mormon influencers from the Mormon and post-Mormon space, and maybe even a few surprises! Get stocked up on eggnog and gingerbread cookies! Stay up with RFM and watch the stars come out! This is going to be a blast!

Thomas murphy
https://www.dialoguejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/sbi/articles/V58N04_2.pdf
https://uofupress.com/books/unsettling-scripture/

David Whitmer is one of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, but his life after Mormonism raises some of the most challenging questions anyone serious about truth claims has to wrestle with. He broke with Joseph Smith. He rejected Brigham Young. He condemned polygamy, secret combinations, and priesthood hierarchy. And yet, for nearly sixty years, he never denied seeing the angel or the plates. In this episode of Mormonism Live, we take a careful, historically grounded look at David Whitmer’s life and testimony. We explore what he actually claimed to see, how he described the experience, wh...

WHY MORMONS HAVE TO LIE ABOUT MORMONISM. RFM and Kolby Reddish take Austin Fife out behind the woodshed yet again in this newest analysis of “The Light and Truth Letter.” The more Austin defends the LDS Church, the deeper the hole he digs for Mormonism. In Chapter 19 titled “Critical Myths,” Austin Fife proves that truth should be no obstacle in defending the Mormon Church. RFM and Kolby are right there to point out all the lies, half-truths and distortions that Austin must use to make Mormonism defensible. And then they address the real elephant in the living room: Why do Mormo...

When Radio Free Mormon says this is the show the LDS church doesn’t want you to see, he’s not kidding! The LDS church already took down the original version of this episode by lodging a copyright strike against it with YouTube. But now, what with Dallin H. Oaks being made president of the LDS church, and what with excommunications on the rise again, this message has never been more timely! Is there a connection between increasing church discipline and President Oaks’s injunction to local leaders that they need to excommunicate more members? Listen, and you decide

Radio Free Mormon and Kolby Reddish dissect chapter 17 of Austin Fife’s Light On Truth Letter. Easily the worst chapter so far, Austin inadvertently reveals a lot about himself, including the fact that the way he deals with critics of Mormonism is to “stop listening to them.” This was surprising from somebody who wrote an entire book to address their arguments, but there you have it. Austin also lets us know that he systematically mischaracterizes critics of Mormonism as the worst people on the planet so he can make Mormons look good by comparison. It is a tour de force...

Tonight on Mormonism Live we celebrate the 5th anniversary of Mormonism Live. 5 years of in depth dives into Mormon History. 5 Years of examining the theology of the LDS Church, 5 years of current events. All on a weekly live show designed to entertain you! It’s our 5th Anniversary special, and we’re turning the show over to you. Call in and tell us your favorite episodes, your favorite RFM breakdowns, your favorite Bill Reel rants, the moments that shocked you, cracked you up, or helped you see Mormonism in a whole new way. Whether you’ve been with us since...

A lot of people feel down around the holidays. So did RFM! But a few years ago, RFM stumbled across some wisdom from a guy who lived 2,000 years ago that turned everything around. And maybe it will for you, too! RFM shares how he used to be in love with Christmas as a boy, how he parted ways with Christmas in a messy break-up, and how after a long period of alienation, they finally got back together. Join RFM as he tells the wonderful stories that led him through this experience, and how he gained an unexpected insight into...

Oliver Cowdery was more than Joseph Smith’s scribe. Oliver was a co-founder of the Mormon movement, a visionary of sacred experiences with Heavenly Messengers, and one of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon’s golden plates as well as an angel. But what happens when that witness walks away? In this episode of Mormonism Live, we dive deep into Cowdery’s life, exploring his pivotal role in early Church history, his fiery fallout with Joseph, and the twists and turns of his life outside Mormonism and in the end, back in. Did he ever truly deny his te...

In this follow-up to “To Catch a Thief,” Radio Free Mormon and Bill Reel return with a deeper, wider investigation into the claims and credibility of Ward Radio’s Jonah Barnes. Last time, we showed clear evidence that Barnes lifted Eldon Watson’s Adam-God research and passed it off as his own. This time, we broaden the lens. RFM and Bill walk through a lineup of respected scholars and historians whose work directly contradicts Barnes’s narratives, exposing just how far he’s been stretching, bending, or outright stealing ideas to prop up his platform. When someone pretends to be a scholar...

In this episode, we break down the story of a Latter-day Saint Bishop who when he was currently serving when he officially stepped away from the Mormon Church. We’ll walk through what led to his decision, what he saw behind the curtain as a leader, and how the gap between the Church’s public messaging and its private reality became impossible for him to ignore. This isn’t just another faith transition story. It’s a rare account from someone who lived the system, moved up in the ward hierarchy, enforced the rules, and finally couldn’t keep pretending...

Radio Free Mormon is joined once again by esteemed co-counsel Kolby Reddish to take apart yet another chapter of Austin Fife’s “Light On Truth Letter.” RFM and Kolby agree this has got to be the crappiest chapter in an otherwise crappy book. But sometimes, the crappier the chapter, the longer it takes to break down. We point out numerous logical fallacies Austin Fife engages in to try to make Mormon plural marriage defensible, many of which Austin Fife mentioned earlier in his own book! That’s right! Austin Fife sets forth in the first chapter of his book a list o...

In this episode, Radio Free Mormon welcomes Bill Reel into the studio for a deep-dive investigation into a troubling pattern coming out of the Ward Radio camp. RFM walks viewers through clear, point-by-point evidence that Ward Radio’s Jonah Barnes is presenting another scholar’s research as if it were his own. Bill acts as the jury weighing the evidence and speaks to why this matters for anyone trying to do responsible Mormon scholarship. And in the end you get a front row seat as RFM attempts to catch a thief. They also explore what happens to a community when...

Mormonism Live’s Bill Reel & RFM dive deep into a recent claim by Ward Radio that the so-called “Adam God Doctrine” never existed. They sift through the documentary history, the original speeches, journal entries, and the commentary of leading Mormon scholars to see if the claim holds up. Did the doctrine ever exist? Was it a misunderstanding, a misrepresentation, or a developed belief held by some early leaders? We’ll explore all that—and what it means for a faith’s history where its apologists do everything they can to get away from the problems and contradictions of Mormonism

Thank...

I have been putting off telling this story for all nine years I have been podcasting. Beyond that, I have never shared this story publicly, and privately only with a handful of close friends. This occurrence happened in 1979, when I was nineteen years old. Nothing like this has ever happened to me before or since. It stands as a singularity in my lifetime. This is the story of how I met Satan. And yes, I instantly regretted it. So turn out the lights, gather close to whatever device you’re watching this on, and listen to this absolutely true st...

This week on Mormonism Live, Bill Reel and Radio Free Mormon sit down with researcher Kolby Reddish for a fascinating deep dive into the Dead Sea Scrolls and what they reveal about the Book of Mormon’s ancient claims. Kolby walks us through the history of the Scrolls, what they actually contain, and how they’ve transformed modern biblical scholarship. Then the conversation turns to the big question: If these are the most important ancient Hebrew and Aramaic writings ever discovered, certainly they mean something about the history, language, theology, and narrative patterns found in the Book of Mormon? Don’...

The question of whether Mormons should be called “Christian” is all the rage. But it was also a much-debated question back in the 1980s when RFM was at the height of his Mormon Apologetic career. Radio Free Mormon brings his years of experience and perspective to this question and gives the final and authoritative answer to whether Mormons are Christian. Case closed!

Everyone knows Martin Harris as one of the Three Witnesses. But few know how strange, conflicted, and revealing his story really is. Was he a man of unwavering faith in the Truth… or a man chasing every new revelation that came along? In this episode of Mormonism Live, we dig into the real Martin Harris; the devout farmer who financed the Book of Mormon, saw angels (and maybe more), then spent decades bouncing between movements, prophets, and visions. From his 1838 claim that he only saw the plates “in vision or imagination,” to his deep belief in the Shaker “Sacred Roll and...

Is it really possible that the LDS Church is removing the racist passages from the Book of Mormon? Not from the English version, but instead from the versions prepared for distribution in developing nations such as in Africa? Join RFM as he reviews the evidence and make up your own mind!

Lee Krahenbuhl returns to Mormonism Live for a fascinating deep dive into some of the strangest and most unusual aspects of Mormon history. Discover the surprising connections between Brigham Young, matchmaking traditions, spirit messages from Joseph Smith, and the most famous magician of the 19th century.

What hidden stories link Mormon leaders, spiritualism, and 19th-century magic?

How do these strange connections reshape our understanding of LDS history? Don’t miss this eye-opening episode as we uncover the bizarre, the mysterious, and the downright magical side of Mormonism’s past.

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RFM is joined by Summur Rayn and Charles (aka “Black Priesthood”) to discuss important current issues facing Black Mormons throughout the world, including Africa. You won’t want to miss this thoughtful and penetrating conversation.

Tonight on Mormonism Live, Bill Reel and Radio Free Mormon sit down with writer and blogger Sarah Steed, whose essays contain sharp insight, poetic honesty, and unflinching critique of LDS culture. Sarah’s work dives deep into the unspoken layers of Mormon life—gender, perfectionism, obedience, and the lingering ghosts of patriarchy that shape the spiritual experience of both men and women. She explores how theology becomes culture, how “sisterhood” can sometimes turn into surveillance, and how the Restoration’s original mysticism was slowly domesticated into corporate religion. This is not your typical discussion on faith. Expect intelligent dialogue, uncomforta...

In this special episode, we take a in-depth look at the life and ministry of Elder Dallin H. Oaks, who stands next in line to become President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Few leaders have been as controversial —from his time as President of BYU to decades in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. We’ll explore the major moments that have shaped his spiritual approach to the gospel and to others: the legal mind that helped define Church policy, the Speaker who spoke boldly on Church theology, and the Latter-day Saint disciple who has guid...

RFM is joined by special guest Dr. Julie Hanks to respond to the scurrilous accusations made against her by Jacob Hansen! This is going to be a lot of fun!

Join Radio Free Mormon for a thoughtful (and sometimes irreverent) breakdown of the Saturday Afternoon Session of General Conference. This session often hides some of the most telling comments, and RFM is here to dissect every word, nuance, and contradiction. Expect humor, history, and a clear-eyed look behind the pulpit polish.

Traditionally the most “high-profile” session of the weekend, the Sunday Morning Session gets Radio Free Mormon’s full treatment. From prophetic posturing to carefully crafted soundbites, RFM highlights what’s said on the big stage—and what’s quietly avoided. If you want the conference decoded, this is the session to watch.

The Saturday Evening Session is often framed as a “special” gathering, but what actually got said? Radio Free Mormon brings his signature wit and insight to peel back the layers of the evening talks. Whether it’s soft rebranding or subtle shifts in doctrine, RFM helps you see what’s really going on.

Join Radio Free Mormon for a thoughtful (and sometimes irreverent) breakdown of the Saturday Afternoon Session of General Conference. This session often hides some of the most telling comments, and RFM is here to dissect every word, nuance, and contradiction. Expect humor, history, and a clear-eyed look behind the pulpit polish.

Radio Free Mormon kicks off our General Conference coverage with a deep dive into the Saturday Morning Session. From the opening talks to the themes that set the tone for the weekend, RFM brings sharp analysis, quick wit, and insider knowledge you won’t hear in Sunday School. What did the leaders say, what did they leave out, and what does it all really mean? Tune in and find out.

Mormon apologists lean on chiasmus as one of their strongest evidences for the Book of Mormon. Radio Free Mormon takes us through a fascinating exercise, demonstrating that chiasmus also appears in . . . Radio Free Mormon podcasts! If chiasmus in the Book of Mormon proves it was written by ancient Hebrews, what does chiasmus in RFM prove? This episode blows apart the myth that chiasmus is evidence for the Book of Mormon. Case Closed!

Mormonism Live uncovers the explosive history of the Reed Smoot Hearings (1904–1907)—a time when Mormon leaders, including President Joseph F. Smith, were forced to testify under oath before the United States Senate. What happens when prophets, seers, and revelators can no longer hide behind the pulpit and instead must answer blunt questions from skeptical senators under oath and penalty of perjury?

We’ll walk you through:
Why the hearings began and why the nation was riveted.
Joseph F. Smith’s shocking admissions about polygamy, revelation, and his business empire.
The contradictions between what Church leaders...

What happens when a Mormon Apostle gets asked troublesome questions about Mormonism? In this episode of Mormonism Live, RFM and Bill Reel sit down with someone who had questions —hard questions — for the LDS Apostle about Mormonism. As the conversation unfolds, we witness a fascinating dynamic: a man taking a closer look at belief, truth claims, and the stories the Church tells its members. It’s a rare opportunity to see what happens when one presses for clarity—and Elder Renlund finds himself on the receiving end of uncomfortable but essential inquiries. Don’t miss this unique episode that blends sha...

What do Mormon temples and Masonic lodges really have in common? In this episode of Mormonism Live, Bill Reel and Radio Free Mormon dig deep into the original words of LDS leaders, historians, and first-hand witnesses to uncover the startling overlap between Freemasonry and the Mormon temple endowment. From Joseph Smith and Heber C. Kimball to Brigham Young and beyond, the record is clear: Church authorities openly admitted the connection—sometimes calling Masonry “apostate priesthood” or even “corrupted endowments.” We’ll walk you through the actual quotes, the historical documents, and the missing context you won’t hear in Sunday School...

The Book of Mormon makes it clear that the gifts of the Spirit are a sign of salvation. If a church has the gifts of the Spirit, it is a true church that leads to salvation. If a church does not have the gifts of the Spirit, it is a false church that leads to damnation. How does the modern LDS Church fare when this test from the Book of Mormon is applied to it? Not well, I’m afraid. Ultimately, the Book of Mormon has the unfortunate honor of destroying modern Mormonism. Tune in for the details!

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Elder Ahmad S. Corbitt gave the keynote address at the recent FAIR apologetic conference. The theme was that we can still trust modern prophets in spite of how badly past prophets have goofed things up. RFM reviews this talk as a sort of open letter to Elder Corbitt, explaining in detail why none of the arguments in his talk are persuasive. If you want to see how Mormon leaders play word games, this show is for you!”

RFM is joined once again by his faithful lawyer sidekick Kolby Reddish as we review chapter 11 of the light on truth letter. In this episode, we show why it is that spiritual experiences are not a good way to arrive at truth, and they should probably not be used to ascertain whether any religion is correct, up to and including Mormonism. Join us on our testimony roundup, won’t you?

Join Bill Reel and Radio Free Mormon on Mormonism Live as we dig into the long and turbulent history of Joseph Smith’s run-ins with the law. From treasure digging charges in New York, to assault accusations in Ohio, to treason indictments in Missouri and Illinois, Joseph Smith’s life was marked by constant legal battles that shaped both his reputation and the future of Mormonism.

We’ll trace the key moments where courts, judges, and mobs intersected with the Mormon prophet, exploring how his actions, claims, and conflicts repeatedly brought him face-to-face with American justice—and ultimate...

Tonight on Mormonism Live, Bill Reel and Radio Free Mormon take on the brand-new video series “An Inconvenient Faith” — a polished production where scholars, researchers, and familiar voices inside and outside the LDS Church confront the most problematic issues in Mormonism.  We’ll break down the claims, highlight what the so-called “Experts” gets right (and where it pulls punches), and talk openly about why the Church’s truth claims simply don’t hold up under scrutiny. Whether you’re curious, questioning, or already on the other side, this conversation promises to go deeper than the deflection of problems that many in the series...

RFM covered the excommunication of Brandeis Hebrew scholar David P. Wright a few weeks ago. Now we cover the paper written by David P. Wright that got him excommunicated! The paper shows how Joseph Smith used the Epistle to the Hebrews from the Bible in his creation of the Book of Mormon. Professor Wright’s paper is a tour-de-force, and the LDS Church once again shows its penchant for excommunicating the best and the brightest of its members.

Tonight on Mormonism Live, RFM and Bill Reel are joined by special guest John Dehlin of Mormon Stories to reflect on five decades of Sunstone—the symposium that has been at the heart of Mormon thought, scholarship, and counter-narratives for half a century. From its beginnings in the 1970s to its role today as a gathering place for both believers and post-believers, Sunstone has been a hub for open dialogue, difficult questions, and groundbreaking conversations. Together, we’ll explore its history, controversies, influence, and where it may be headed in the next fifty years. Join us live and add your...

RFM is joined once more by Kolby Reddish as they break down the Light and Truth Letter. In chapter 10, Austin Fife argues the LDS temple endowment ritual is better explained by links to the ancient Near East, as opposed to the contemporary Masonry going on in Joseph’s own backyard. In presenting his case, Austin Fife never tells you exactly what the correspondences are between the LDS temple and Masonry. RFM and Kolby Reddish show the connections, and once you have seen them, it is hard to believe Joseph Smith came up with the names, signs, tokens, penalties and sy...

Tonight on Mormonism Live *** LAUREN COMES INTO THE PODCAST 1/2 HOUR IN **** We’re joined by investigative journalist and podcaster Lauren Matthias about a half hour into the show, creator and host of the acclaimed Hidden True Crime podcast. Lauren has built a reputation for deep, thoughtful reporting on some of the most compelling and disturbing criminal cases in recent years, including the Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell saga. In this episode, we’ll explore Lauren’s journey into true crime reporting, the behind-the-scenes realities of covering high-profile cases, and what her investigations have revealed about human behavior, justice, and the co...

Tonight on Mormonism Live, we take a scalpel to Mormonism’s Founder Joseph Smith as He takes one to a Book of Abraham character What happens when a god loses his snout which Has Joseph Smith losing face—and why does it feel so… Mormon? In this off-the-rails episode, Bill Reel and Radio Free Mormon dive deep into the bizarre, symbolic, and surgical mutilation of Anubis, the Egyptian god of the dead, and uncover what this act might represent within Mormonism’s tangled relationship with Egyptian & The Book of Abraham We take a deep look at the potential effort of Mormo...

How Did Joseph Smith Convince So Many? Exploring Hypnosis, Visions, and the Birth of a Movement

How did Joseph Smith inspire thousands to not only believe in his prophetic gifts but also claim their own divine visions and supernatural encounters? Could hypnosis or altered states of consciousness explain part of the story? Tonight, we explore the controversial theory that Joseph Smith may have used hypnotic influence to spark spiritual experiences—and how that shaped early Mormonism. Don’t miss this mind-bending episode!

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Did David O. McKay lose his testimony of the Book of Mormon? Not as a kid or young man, but while serving as the ninth president of the LDS Church? Incredibly, the evidence actually seems to support the idea! Join Radio Free Mormon as he sets forth the case that David O. McKay, the most popular president and prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the 20th Century, did not believe the Book of Mormon to be ancient, but instead believed that Joseph Smith himself wrote it. This is one you won’t want to mi...

What happens when faith becomes a franchise? In this gripping episode of Mormonism LIVE, we sit down with award-winning filmmaker Nathan Apffel and Chris Ayoub to discuss his upcoming documentary “The Religion Business”—a hard-hitting exposé exploring the multi-billion dollar intersection of belief, power, and profit. From televangelists to temples, we’ll pull back the curtain on how modern religious empires are built, marketed, and monetized. Nathan and Chris shares behind-the-scenes insights into the making of the film, jaw-dropping moments from his interviews, and the uncomfortable truths he’s uncovered about how organized religion can exploit spiritual hunger for institution...

What If the Prophet You Trust Showed Signs You’d Warn Your Children About? We often teach our children how to recognize red flags—signs that someone might not have good intentions. But what happens when those same behaviors show up in the life of someone we revere as a prophet? In this eye-opening episode, we explore the established patterns and techniques used by predators—behaviors like isolating individuals, using spiritual authority, giving gifts, and creating undue emotional dependence. Then we take a close, respectful look at the life of Joseph Smith to see if these patterns emerge. This isn’t...

Defenders of the Book of Mormon point to the war chapters as evidence of its truth. Tonight, Radio Free Mormon reviews five important aspects of the war chapters and comes to a decidedly different conclusion. The war chapters, far from vindicating the truth of the book of Mormon, end up being the book of Mormon’s final Waterloo!

He Was Too Honest About Mormon Scripture—So They Made Him Pay!  David P. Wright, a brilliant scholar of the Hebrew Bible, once taught at BYU—until his academic integrity put him at odds with LDS orthodoxy. In 1989, he was fired for holding views deemed incompatible with Church doctrine. But the campaign against him didn’t stop there. After securing a position at Brandeis University, a General Authority issued instructions to excommunicate him—all triggered by a scholarly paper showing literary parallels between the Book of Mormon and the New Testament. In this episode, RFM walks you through the evidence—...

Lila Tueller, Daughter of LDS General Authority, Shares Untold Stories of Pain and Faith in “Shattered Trust” What happens when loyalty to the Church comes at the expense of the individual? Lila Tueller, daughter of well-known LDS General Authority Hartman Rector, Jr., has spent a lifetime inside the heart of Mormonism. In her powerful new book, Shattered Trust, she opens the door to stories rarely acknowledged—firsthand accounts from members and former members who found themselves caught between personal suffering and institutional silence. In this episode of Mormonism Live, we explore Lila’s perspective and the deeply moving narratives she shar...

Radio Free Mormon shows six places where Joseph Smith used Josephus, a two thousand year old historical source, to supplement Smith’s scriptural productions. By this method among others, Joseph Smith fulfilled the Book of Mormon prediction that he would restore ancient truths that had become lost.

Mormonism uses many thinking errors to promote its message. RFM sits down with Dr. Randy Bell and Kolby Reddish, Esq., to identify the top twelve logical fallacies, together with examples from Mormon sources! This will be a lot of fun!

Who really was Joseph Smith? When one peels back the layers of legend and legacy to explore the life of Mormonism’s controversial founder, a far more complex and human figure emerges—part visionary, part rebel, and entirely unlike the sanitized version told in Sunday School. From buried golden plates and seer stones to secret plural marriages and clashes with the law, this conversation reveals the man behind the movement. Was he a prophet inspired by God—or a charismatic charlatan driven by ambition? Whether you’re a faithful Latter-day Saint, a curious seeker, or someone wrestling with LDS beliefs...

Of all the misleading tactics used by Latter-day Saint apologists, this one might just take the crown. It’s sneaky, it’s calculated—and even after being called out repeatedly, they still keep doing it. Why? Because when it comes to defending Mormonism and the LDS Church, it seems the ends justify any means. But not this time. We’re calling it out publicly—and you need to see it for yourself.

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The Nephite monetary system is a weak spot in the Book of Mormon narrative. It rarely gets discussed because it is so infrequently studied. RFM is going to change all that with this episode, in which he takes a deep dive into the Nephite monetary system, only to find that it has more problems than solutions.

In this episode of Mormonism Live, Bill Reel and Radio Free Mormon dive headfirst into the Church’s newest official Gospel Topics entry on the Book of Abraham, dissecting its language, implications, and apologetic framing. With surgical precision (and just a bit of satire), they explore how the Church attempts to repackage decades of controversy surrounding Joseph Smith’s translation claims, the missing scroll theory, and the pivot to the “catalyst theory.” Listeners will be taken through the subtle rhetorical maneuvers in the essay—how it avoids hard declarations, redefines “translation,” and leans on ambiguity to keep belief afloat. The hosts also...

Attorneys RFM and Kolby Reddish tackle chapter 8 of the Light on Truth Letter titled, “Fruits of the Church.” The entire chapter is a logical fallacy!

In this powerful episode of Radio Free Mormon, six bold and insightful women join RFM to dissect the explosive “Women in the Church” chapter from Austin Fife’s controversial Light and Truth Letter. With raw honesty and lived experience, these women share how the Church’s teachings on gender have shaped—and in many cases, harmed—their spiritual journeys, relationships, and sense of self. Together, they expose the psychological toll of patriarchy dressed up as revelation, confront long-standing cultural assumptions, and offer a window into what true spiritual autonomy looks like. This isn’t theory—this is real Mormon women, telling t...

Discovered by accident in a desert cave, the Dead Sea Scrolls have become one of the most significant archaeological finds of the last century. But what do they actually say—and why do they matter? In this episode, we explore the strange, surprising, and deeply revealing world of the scrolls: hidden prophecies, rival messiahs, priesthood power struggles, sacred meals, and apocalyptic expectations. Whether you’re fascinated by ancient scripture, curious about early religious movements, or wondering how it all connects to Mormonism, this episode pulls back the curtain on one of history’s greatest textual mysteries.

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EXPOSED: LDS Church & Tax Filing Fraud?
In this special edition of Mormonism Live, we uncover stunning new evidence that suggests the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints may have violated U.S. tax laws—intentionally.

From questionable filings to shell entities and hidden assets, this episode lays out what we’ve found, why it matters, and what legal consequences the Church could face if the IRS takes action.

We follow the paper trail, examine public records, and reveal the patterns that point to a systemic problem far beyond “clerical error.”

Is this fin...

Is the Book of Abraham based on papyrus we no longer have? In this episode, we explore the Missing Scroll Theory—the idea that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Abraham from a long roll of papyrus that has since been lost or destroyed. We’ll examine the historical records, including firsthand accounts from early Saints like Lucy Mack Smith, who described a distinct long scroll separate from the surviving fragments. Apologists argue this missing roll may still vindicate Joseph’s translation. Critics say the theory is a modern invention meant to rescue a narrative that doesn’t fit the evid...

 In this episode of Mormonism Live, Radio Free Mormon (Bill is on vacation) dives headfirst into the growing tension between scientific discovery and Mormon doctrine. When it comes to mormonism in the modern world, science keeps raising its hand with uncomfortable questions. The LDS Church, meanwhile, continues to insist it has the answers… or at least that it’s “not official doctrine” when the answers don’t hold up. Tune in as we put the truth claims of Mormonism under the microscope.
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RFM and Kolby Reddish continue their decimation of Austin Fife’s Light on Truth Letter. This episode covers a litany of Mormon “proofs” in chapter seven titled, “How Did Joseph Smith Know?” The short answer is that Joseph Smith didn’t really know much at all, and this episode shows why!

Kolby Reddish and I continue our in-depth debunking of Austin Fife’s Light on Truth Letter. Tonight is Chapter Six’s turn on the chopping block. In it we show how obviously it is that the Book of Mormon was created in the early nineteenth century. As in, there’s no doubt about it!

What happens when a celebrated war hero, beloved by both Congress and the LDS Church, turns out to be living a lie? In this episode of Mormonism Live, we investigate the incredible true story of Douglas Stringfellow — a Utah congressman, decorated veteran, and rising star in postwar America… until it all came crashing down. Join us as we uncover a decades-old scandal that raises timeless questions about truth, trust, and the power of a really good story. You won’t believe how far this deception went — or who may have looked the other way. Help support Bill Reel & Radio Free Mor...

Every Mormon alive can tell you without hesitation about the Godhead; how there are three members in the Godhead, the Father and the Son, with bodies of flesh and bones, and the Holy Ghost with a body of spirit. What most Mormons are not aware of, however, is that Joseph Smith taught a radically different doctrine of the Godhead before this version. And on top of that, Joseph Smith taught that you had to believe in the earlier version of the Godhead in order to be saved. Which would seem to mean that any Mormon who believes in a...

In this eye-opening episode of Mormonism Live, hosts Bill Reel and Radio Free Mormon are joined by author and theologian Charley Harrell to explore his powerful Dialogue Journal article, “John Taylor on the ‘Dark Ages’.” Together, they take a deep dive into how third LDS Church President John Taylor challenged the traditional narrative of the Great Apostasy—offering a radically different view of the Middle Ages, where spiritual gifts and divine revelation still thrived. Was there really a total apostasy after the death of Christ, or have we misunderstood what “spiritual darkness” means? Harrell examines Taylor’s 1873 discourse, revealing that the LDS pro...

What do you get when you mix Mormon folklore, an angelic visitation, and a supposed Nephite treasure buried in a Utah hillside? You get one of the strangest, most persistent sagas in LDS history: the story of John Hyrum Koyle and the Dream Mine. In this episode, we dig into the bizarre and fascinating tale of a humble Mormon bishop who claimed Angel Moroni showed him an ancient gold cache meant to rescue the Church in the last days. From visions and prophecies to excommunication and conspiracy, the Dream Mine became a battleground between grassroots revelation and institutional control—an...

The Book of Mormon tells of a group of giant people named the Jaredites who came to the Americas long ago, direct from the destruction at the tower of Babel. Several extra-biblical elements are mentioned relating to the tower of Babel story, and surprisingly, these stories exist in ancient legends unavailable to Joseph Smith. Well, the original documents were unavailable to Joseph Smith. But Joseph did have access to a certain book in which those legends were written down. Stay tuned! This one you won’t want to miss!

This episode of Mormonism Live, we dive into a forgotten battlefield of Utah history — the Black Hawk War — a brutal and devastating conflict between Mormon settlers and Native American tribes that has been largely buried under pioneer myths and whitewashed storytelling. Far from a few isolated raids, the Black Hawk War (1865–1872) was Utah’s deadliest and most destructive conflict, costing hundreds of lives, displacing entire tribes, and forcing Mormon settlements to be abandoned across southern Utah. We’ll explore how this violent chapter unfolded, why the LDS Church worked so hard to minimize it, and the staggering story of Antonga Bl...

A fake email account bearing Bill Reel’s name was used to manipulate and deceive—an incident that has raised serious questions about digital ethics, privacy violations, and personal targeting within the post-Mormon space. In this episode, we break down what happened, how the deception unfolded, and why the details point in a very specific direction. From curious inconsistencies to insider-level knowledge, the clues reveal more than the perpetrator may have intended. We’ll walk you through the timeline, the evidence we’ve collected, and the larger implications for trust and accountability in our community. This isn’t just a personal...

When Joseph Smith died in 1844, the Restoration shattered like a glass dropped from heaven. What followed was a century-spanning explosion of rival prophets, breakaway churches, polygamist kingdoms, angelic messages, and more than one self-crowned king.

In this episode of Mormonism Live, Bill Reel and Radio Free Mormon take you on a deep dive into the wild and fractured world of LDS splinter groups. From the well-known Community of Christ and FLDS to obscure sects like the Cutlerites, Strangites, Bickertonites, and Church of the Firstborn of the Lamb of God, we explore who these groups are, what they...

The more research that comes out, the less the Book of Mormon looks like an ancient historical document, and the more it looks like a modern composition. Join Radio Free Mormon as he explodes yet another apologetic argument in favor of the Book of Mormon!

[Mormonism Live: 227] Welcome to the alternate reality where Joseph Smith never practiced polygamy, the angels with swords were just metaphors, and dozens of wives—including teenagers and already-married women—somehow just… didn’t exist. In this week’s episode of Mormonism Live, Bill Reel and Radio Free Mormon are joined by Mormonism Historian Dan Vogel as they dive headfirst into the bizarre and baffling claims of the “Polygamy Deniers”—a fringe group, but growing number of Mormon defenders who insist, against overwhelming historical evidence, that Joseph Smith was monogamous. Armed with logic, primary sources, and just the right amount of snark, we dis...

Child abuse is rampant in the Mormon Church. You can’t go a week without seeing a new case reported in the Utah newspapers. Austin Fife devotes a whole chapter to the issue in his LIght and Truth Letter. Now, RFM and his faithful attorney companion, Kolby Reddish, demolish these lame excuses, with the help of a special guest. Together they dismantle the Light and Truth Letter point by point!

Mormonism & The Charles Anthon Affair

The Strange Meeting That Shaped a Scripture In this episode, we unravel one of the most curious and consequential moments in early Mormon history: the mysterious encounter between Martin Harris and Professor Charles Anthon. Was it a miraculous fulfillment of prophecy… or a carefully staged attempt to lend scholarly credibility to Joseph Smith’s golden plates? We dive into: The origins of the Anthon Transcript and the infamous “Caractors” document Conflicting accounts: Harris’s prophetic tale vs. Anthon’s fraud accusation The strange mix of languages alleged on the Book of Mormon—Egyptian, Chal...

Coverage of the April 2025 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Sunday Afternoon General Conference Session. The talks are over, the applause has faded, and the teleprompters have gone to sleep. Now it’s time for something unscripted.

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In this episode of Radio Free Mormon, we take a deep dive into the April 2025 Sunday Afternoon LDS General Conference — exploring the messages, the moments, and the meaning behind the words. If you watched with faith, frustration, or just morbid curiosity, we’ve got you covere...

Coverage of the April 2025 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Sunday Morning General Conference Session. The talks are over, the applause has faded, and the teleprompters have gone to sleep. Now it’s time for something unscripted.

PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING RADIO FREE MORMON BY DONATING HERE – https://donorbox.org/radio-free-mormon

Coverage of the April 2025 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Sunday Morning General Conference Session. The talks are over, the applause has faded, and the teleprompters have gone to sleep. Now it’s time for something unscripted.

PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING RADIO FREE MORMO...

Coverage of the April 2025 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Saturday Evening General Conference Session. The dust has settled, the teleprompters are cooling down, and the Tabernacle has gone quiet once more. Now it’s time for the real analysis.

PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING RADIO FREE MORMON BY DONATING HERE – https://donorbox.org/radio-free-mormon

In this episode of Radio Free Mormon, we take a deep dive into the April 2025 Saturday Evening LDS General Conference — exploring the messages, the moments, and the meaning behind the words. Whether you found comfort, confusion, inspiration, or a raised eyebrow, this is...

Coverage of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Saturday Afternoon General Conference. The dust has settled, the teleprompters are cooling down, and the Tabernacle has gone quiet once more. Now it’s time for the real analysis.

PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING RADIO FREE MORMON BY DONATING HERE – https://donorbox.org/radio-free-mormon

In this episode of Radio Free Mormon, we take a deep dive into the April 2025 Saturday Afternoon LDS General Conference — exploring the messages, the moments, and the meaning behind the words. Whether you found comfort, confusion, inspiration, or a raised eyebrow, this is the plac...

Coverage of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Saturday Morning General Conference. The dust has settled, the teleprompters are cooling down, and the Tabernacle has gone quiet once more. Now it’s time for the real analysis.  In this episode of Radio Free Mormon, we take a deep dive into the April 2025 Saturday Morning LDS General Conference — exploring the messages, the moments, and the meaning behind the words. Whether you found comfort, confusion, inspiration, or a raised eyebrow, this is the place for thoughtful, unflinching, and occasionally humorous commentary that goes beyond the headlines.

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[Mormonism Live 225] What if one of the most foundational parts of the Book of Mormon wasn’t ancient at all—but lifted from a 19th-century Methodist Bible commentary? In this episode, Mormonism Live dives into what may be the most significant academic finding in Mormon studies in decades: compelling evidence that Joseph Smith used Adam Clarke’s biblical commentary—a massive, scholarly work from the early 1800s—as a source while “translating” Isaiah into the Book of Mormon. Based on Colby Townsend’s stunning new paper, we break down direct textual connections, show how Smith edited Isaiah using Clarke’s scholarly notes...

What happens when your faith tells you that your identity is a flaw to be corrected? In this episode, we sit down with Sam Nieves, a conversion therapy survivor, board member of the Conversion Therapy Survivor Network, and a clinically trained therapist with a background in Cognitive Psychology. Sam takes us deep into his lived experience growing up in Mormonism, where his sexuality and even his skin color were framed through a toxic theology of righteousness. In a LDS/Mormon belief system where “becoming white and delightsome” was once literal doctrine, Sam learned early on to associate purity with whit...

When Jacob Hansen got called out for his sleight-of-hand tactics, he didn’t offer a defense—he offered a diagnosis: Kolby Reddish and RFM are “psychotic.”

But if anyone’s losing touch with reality, it might be the guy slicing and dicing evidence like a Benihana chef trying to make Book of Mormon logic sizzle.

In this episode, RFM and Kolby turn the tables on Jacob’s latest attempt to revise reality. Watch as the apologetic illusionist gets exposed for doing what he always does: cutting out inconvenient facts, spinning what’s left, and hoping nobody notices...

Have you ever heard of the Book of Mormon Challenge? It is a way Mormons have of trying to prove the Book of Mormon is true, by challenging a non-believer to write a comparable book in the same amount of time as Joseph Smith used on the Book of Mormon.

Well, it looks like RFM may have done that very thing. Can you imagine what will happen to the apologists if it turns out Radio Free Mormon is the one who beat the Book of Mormon challenge??? They’ll be like those Nazi guys at the end of...

How do U.S. churches take advantage of tax exemptions, and should this be allowed? These and other issues are How do U.S. churches take advantage of tax exemptions, and should this be allowed? These and other issues are investigated by filmmaker Nathan Apffel in his upcoming documentary series, “The Religion Business.” And why does Nathan consider the LDS Church to be “the most terrifying” of them all? Join us and find out! [Mormonism Live 223]

RESOURCES:

Instagram: @religionbusiness

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/controversial-documentary-sheds-light-on-lack-of-accountability-within-religion-301955128.html

https://www...

Mormons are taught not to lie. And for the most part, they don’t. One of the only times Mormons will consistently lie to you is when talking about their religion.

Any time a Mormon has to lie (or stretch the truth) to make Mormonism look good, it is completely permissible. I know this may be hard to believe. But we have proof.

We take as an example a Mormon apologist named Jacob Hansen sitting down with non-Mormon Alex O’Connor to discuss Mormonism. We clock Jacob Hansen using deceptive techniques over twenty times with Alex...

[Mormonism Live 222] Faith, Finances, and Fraud? Buckle up, because this episode dives into one of the wildest financial moments in Mormon history! (And that’s saying a lot) What happens when a prophet ventures into banking? In the 1830s, Joseph Smith and other early Mormon leaders launched the Kirtland Safety Society, a financial institution built on faith, community trust, and a vision of economic independence. But within just a year, the bank collapsed, leaving behind lawsuits, financial ruin, and a crisis of leadership that sent shockwaves through the early Church. In this episode, we explore: Why Joseph Smith and hi...

When a Mormon apologist accidentally broadcasts damning evidence against Joseph Smith, RFM just has to do a show about it! The story is made only the more remarkable when the apologist actually calls the evidence he presents against Joseph Smith “damning.” What apologist would do such a thing? None other than our good friend, Jacob Hansen. Join RFM and Kolby Reddish for an astonishing and hilarious episode!

One correction and one clarification: 1. Jacob’s re-uploaded video is back up now—We couldn’t see it when we recorded yesterday. We encourage people to go watch for themselves. As someone...

INSIDE THE LDS CHURCH: CONFIDENTIAL RECORDS & THE SCMC EXPOSED! In this bombshell episode, a former Mormon Church employee who worked with confidential records and the Strengthening Church Members Committee (SCMC) comes forward to expose the behind-the-scenes machinations of the LDS Church. From secret surveillance of members to how the Church tracks and manages dissent, to how the Church handles those who ask their names to be removed, this insider reveals shocking details that the Church doesn’t want you to know.

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[Mormonism Live 220] Bill Reel and RFM sit down with LDS Author Carrie Sweet to discuss her new book “Goodbye Magic Undies” and the journey that brought her to writing it. Book on Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Goodbye-Magic-Undies-High-Control-Relationships/dp/B0DV7GPKH3/ref=sr_1_1 Help support Bill Reel & Radio Free Mormon in making informative entertaining content that shines a light on truth and leads with transparency.

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RFM presents a recently revealed telephone call recording from Jenn Kamp to a couple of post-Mormons trying to dig up dirt on John Dehlin! You won’t believe it! This you have got to hear with your own ears!

[Mormonism Live 219] Join RFM and Bill Reel in this riff-filled episode of Mormonism Live as they dive into the world of Ward Radio’s recent rhetoric, with special guest “Cultch” from The Cultural Hall Podcast tagging along for the ride. Channeling the playful yet biting tone of Mystery Science Theater 3000, the trio sets up shop in their virtual “theater” and watches as the recent work of Ward Radio rolls in. With a sharp sense of humor and insight, they offer hilarious commentary, deconstructing the often bizarre and troubling language used in the discourse surrounding Mormonism and its critics. Together, they disma...

RFM and Kolby Reddish do a deep-dive analysis of Mormon apologist and author of the Light and Truth Letter, Austin Fife.

The Huntsman tithing lawsuit against the LDS Church has now been dismissed by the entire 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

A seasoned lawyer takes you through the ins and outs of the opinion, explaining what happened, why it happened, and what happens next!

[Mormonism Live 218] Is the Latter-day Saint community a safe community? We take a look at that very question and investigate what it would mean and what would it look like if the LDS Church took seriously the Safeguarding of the Latter-day Saints. What can Mormonism learn from accepted Safeguarding practices and what is one group doing to raise awareness of here the Church falls short. https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/21st-Century-Saints-Info-Pack-Final-Print-Copy-4-1.pdf Help support Bill Reel & Radio Free Mormon in making informative entertaining content that shines a light on truth and leads with transparency.

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In the long and winding court battle between John Dehlin and Jenn Kamp, the trail may be finally coming to a close after three years. RFM has covered this story from the start, and leads you through the final resolution of the matter in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Tacoma. Additionally, we take a somewhat lighthearted tour through the high-points and low-points of this case from its inception. RFM throws in several “behind-the-scenes” stories for the first time for added interest.

For almost 2 centuries, whispers of a deep connection between the Mormon Church and UFO phenomena have circulated, but now, shocking new revelations are coming to light. — Investigative journalists, UFO experts, and ex-intelligence officers such as Ross Coulthart, Steven Greer, and David Grusch— have exposed the global UFO cover-up along with the Government’s Alien technology retrieval effort named the “Legacy Program”. Tonight, a recent discovery takes us deep into the connection of the Mormon Church and the Government Alien Coverup. From Joseph Smith’s celestial visions to secretive modern-day involvement in the UFO disclosure movement, could the Mormon Church be more enta...