Hemlock Knots

Despite the plethora of public condemnations of polygamy during his lifetime, some believe that Joseph Smith was still teaching in private that polygamy was a commandment from God. Did he ever teach it? Did he ever write about it? Did he ever receive a revelation about it? Since there's no first-hand material from Joseph Smith in favor of polygamy, we must closely examine the accounts and records of both those who said he did, and those that insisted that he didn't. This debate seeks to shed light on this important question, covering the key arguments in this age-old debate: Did Joseph Smith ever teach polygamy?

Live stream debate includes 2 teams:

1) Affirmative = Mark Tensmeyer & Jacob Vidrine

2) Negative = Jeremy Hoop & Leo Ebbert

Did Joseph Smith practice polygamy or didn't he? If he did, where's the evidence? How reliable is it? And why are there so many accounts stating that he did, but so few are contemporary? These are the questions that’ll polarize those who study the life and teachings of Joseph Smith. What are the strongest arguments for Joseph Smith being a polygamist? What are the best sources that suggest he wasn't? This debate will answer these questions and more, in a structured, civil conversation about a complex question.

Live stream debate includes 2 teams:

1) Affirmative = Mark Tensmeyer & Jacob Vidrine

2) Negative = Jeremy Hoop & Leo Ebbert

Some insist that the Nauvoo Expositor was destroyed because of its slanderous remarks about Joseph Smith, but what do the contemporary historical records actually say? If the workings of the press were said to bring the mob, why would a mob be outraged, given they were also against Joseph Smith and in favor of the slander being printed? Why would news of a surprise visit from Governor Ford cause cause prominent church leaders to scramble to adjust their accounting books? Why would a founding member of the Nauvoo Expositor burn the building down? Could there be something else that justified the destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor besides slander against Joseph Smith? Could the continuation of those same illegal activities after Joseph Smith's death be the catalyst for Brigham Young being forced to prematurely flee the state of Illinois in the dead of winter as a fugitive dodging federal indictments? For show notes and sources, visit https://hemlockknots.com/16 or subscribe to the Hemlock Knots YouTube channel here: https://hemlockknots.com/youtube.

Where did this concept of "baptisms for the dead" originate? Who started it? When and where were the first baptisms for the dead practiced? When was this doctrine officially added to the teachings of the scriptures? Is the idea with baptisms for the dead compatible with other scriptural teachings on the atonement? These questions and more will be explored in this interview. For show notes and sources, visit https://hemlockknots.com/15 or subscribe to the Hemlock Knots YouTube channel here: https://hemlockknots.com/youtube.

Explore the documentation behind the claim that marriage for eternity is a requirement for the celestial kingdom. What is the new and everlasting covenant? How has the new and everlasting covenant evolved in LDS church history, and was marriage part of that covenant initially? How did the saints break the covenant 12 years before it was revealed? At what point did eternal marriage become the focal point of the everlasting covenant and who was responsible for this "new" covenant? For show notes and sources, visit https://hemlockknots.com/14 or subscribe to the Hemlock Knots YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgKusVId5be_LZA81FMnQWQ.

In this interview with Michael Barrett (Restored Gospel Podcast), we discuss some theories, ideas, facts and hypotheses surrounding the Aaronic priesthood. Where did the Aaronic priesthood come from? What does the documentary hypothesis suggest about the legitimacy of the Aaronic priesthood claims? Why don't the earliest versions of the Moses story contain the parts about Aaron and his lineage having special rights? Who wrote the biblical parts of the story of Aaron, and when? Does the Book of Mormon support the concept of the priesthood of Aaron? For show notes and sources, visit https://hemlockknots.com/13 or subscribe to the Hemlock Knots YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgKusVId5be_LZA81FMnQWQ.

Part 4 of an interview with Ryan Hinckley (host of the "Mormon Theories" podcast) exploring the scriptural accounts of polygamy and monogamy as taught by a divine source. Do the scriptures justify the claim that God commanded polygamy? When in history did he ever do that? We explore in depth the questionable interpretation found in Jacob 2:30, on whether or not there's validity to the claim that God would command polygamy to "raise up seed." For show notes and sources, visit https://hemlockknots.com/12 or subscribe to the Hemlock Knots YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgKusVId5be_LZA81FMnQWQ.

Part 3 of an interview with Ryan Hinckley (host of the "Mormon Theories" podcast), exploring the origins of the alleged July 12, 1843 revelation known today as D&C 132. Was it from Joseph Smith? Who wrote it? Where was it kept and why wasn't it shared with the saints for 9 years? What doctrines did it change? Does it match the writing style, tone, syntax and communication style of Joseph Smith or the voice used in former revelations? For show notes and sources, visit https://hemlockknots.com/11 or subscribe to the Hemlock Knots YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgKusVId5be_LZA81FMnQWQ.

Part 2 of an interview between Ryan Hinckley (host of the "Mormon Theories" podcast) and Mark Curtis (Hemlock Knots), exploring the story of Fanny Alger. We discuss the quantity & quality of the 19 sources behind the story, and how they align with today's common narrative. We also address Oliver Cowdery's alleged accusations of Joseph Smith committing adultery with Fanny Alger, and how that comports with the actual records. Visit https://hemlockknots.com/10 for show notes, YouTube video and more.

Part 2 of the interview series with Justin Griffin & Steve Sorensen (directors of the documentary "Who Killed Joseph Smith?") where we take questions from a live audience, discuss the particulars of the theories in the movie. We'll also discuss personal lives of the directors, their beliefs about certain things, critiques to the movie's theories and research, and more. Leave all of your questions in the comments section below, like the best questions and we'll try to cover as many as possible. For show notes, discussion and video presentation, visit https://hemlockknots.com/9