In this episode, we welcome Tanner Talbot to discuss his LDS mission experience as documented in his article “The Arizona Tucson Mission Disaster: An LDS Church Cover Up?”. We begin with his upbringing in the LDS Church, as well as some of the cultural pressures and dynamics which are key to understanding the place and importance of serving an honorable full-time mission in and for the LDS church. We hear about some of the expectations and impressions communicated by the leadership and laity of the LDS church about what a mission experience will be – and then spend time hearing about what Tanner’s experience, on the ground, actually was. With dynamics such as perfect obedience leading to increased spirituality and church-growth-results being a constant message to the missionaries, we hear about what the moral state, and mental state, of many of these missionaries actually was – within what turned out to be something of a unique mission where the LDS church hid many who should not (for themselves, and for others) have been on such a mission. We hear of the mental and emotional turmoil (in addition to even physical danger) Tanner suffered as a result of what was, at best, negligence on the part of the LDS leadership – and what this did to Tanner, spiritually. We then turn to how Tanner eventually faced the full impact of his LDS mission – and how he was eventualy freed by the (Christian) Gospel and the Christ Jesus of the Bible.

Article:“The Arizona Tucson Mission Disaster: An LDS Church Cover Up?”

Also check out: A Call for Reform

- “The Great Apostasy Lie: A 2,000 Year Timeline of Saved By Faith Alone”

Other resources:

Recent LDS Statement on Translations

Check out the ESV Study Bible (also here)

Scribes and Scriptures by John Meade and Peter Gurry

Core Christianity by Michael Horton

Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Mache

The Freedom of a Christian; The Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther

Institutes of the Christian Religion; “Letter to Cardinal Sadoleto” by John Calvin

An Insider’s View of Mormon Origins; Restoring Christ: Leaving Mormon Jesus for Jesus of the Gospels by Grant Palmer

Mormon Enigma: Emma Hale Smith by Linda King Newell and Valeen Tippetts Avery

Publication of pictures of Seer Stone: here and here

“Bear Up Their Burdens with Ease” by Elder David Bednar

“The Church Impotent: The History and Theology of Dispensationalism” (Ancient Paths TV)