Fresh from presenting at the Mormon History Association, Jonathan Neville returns to give us a report on how his paper was received. On this special episode of Mormon Book Reviews, the process of translating the Book of Mormon is also discussed. Was the Seer Stone merely a diversion for the plates and the spectacles (aka the Urim & Thummin)? Jonathan makes a very bold proposal that the spectacles were the main vehicle used to translate the BOM! He also previews a project he is starting to work on called "The Myth of the Mound Builder Myth". It is a response to Thomas Murphy's Mound Builder hypothosis, first discussed on this channel. Whether you are a skeptic or a believer, I think you'll find this discussion fascinating. #jonathanneville #thomasmurphy #moundbuildermyth #lds #mormon

On the latest episode of Mormon Book Reviews, I want to welcome to the show Anthony Miller. Anthony recently gave a TEDx Talk in Billings Montana about having a Mormon Faith crisis. Join us as we discuss the first half of the presentation he gave.

Billings Mormon Spectrum group

Link to the full TEDx Talk

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On the latest Under the Banner of Heaven Aftershow we are excited to have on Lindsay Hansen Park! She worked as a consultant for the Under the Banner of Heaven series and she is the Executive Director of Sunstone. On a very special "behind the scenes" episode Lindsay details how she got involved in the project, the role she played in the temple scene, and interacting with Andrew Garfield along with the cast and crew! Lindsay then shares with Rebecca Bibliotheca and Steven Pynakker her overall thoughts about the series. She acknowledges and understands some of the criticisms directed toward the program, but she also shares some "off the record" information that shows how much UTBoH got right. We then discuss "Revelation", the 6th episode of the series. This is probably the best episode so far and it was a real delight to get Lindsay's take. To cap off our program Lindsay gives a sneak peek of this year's Sunstone Summer Symposium "Many Mansions". Steven is then officially appointed to be the umpire for the annual kick ball tournament between the Ex-Mo's and the Fundamentalists! This has been a really enjoyable time having these converstions about the show. Next week I'll be at the Mormon History Association Conference so there may be a slight delay in taping for the finale. I am thinking of having on all of my previous aftershow guests (Jim Bennett, Benjamin Shaffer, Linsay as well as Thomas Murphy) back on for a special panel discussion. Stay Tuned!

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On the latest episode of Mormon Book Reviews I am excited to welcome on religious studies sociologist, Allison Biggers. This is the first time Allison has ever publicly shared her journey. Raised as a Protestant in Tennessee, she encountered Mormonism at a young age through a friend. From there her interest grew and she has since been studying the LDS Church’s history, doctrines, policies and procedures for decades now. Allison lived in Nashville and worked in country music radio for many years. She even was a radio DJ as a teenager. Aside from her studying Mormonism, she has extensively studied Holiness Pentecostal snake handlers in the Appalachia region and was acknowledged in the book, “In the House of the Serpent Handler” by Julia Duin. She’s got some incredible stories from her life thus far, one including Alice Cooper. She and her husband moved to Utah in 2019 with the sole purpose of establishing unconditional friendships with those around them. We talk Utah Christian culture and those who have made a lasting impact on her life and her personal ministry of simply “listening.”

Resources: In the House of the Serpent Handler: A Story of Faith and Fleeting Fame in the Age of Social Media

Mormon Stories episodes w/ Clay Christensen and Matt Elggren #616 &617

Mormon Expression podcast with John Larsen

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Matthew Gill returns to Mormon Book Reviews to discuss the history, doctrine, and practices of his church the Restored Branch of Jesus Christ. Did you know that women have the Aaronic Priesthood in this church?

Matthew also discusses suffering from Meniere's disease and why he loves Florida so much!! I want to thank Matthew for coming on my program. These series of interviews have been fascinating for both me and the audience.

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On a groundbreaking episode of Mormon Book Reviews, Denver Snuffer joins Steven Pynakker to discuss a variety of topics. Denver describes his childhood in which his Baptist grandmother had a major influence on his early religious development. He talks about how many evangelicals had an impact on him including Billy Graham and Hal Lindsay, author of "The Late Great Planet Earth". The conversation then turns to an encounter he had with an angel shortly after being baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Denver, for the first time publicly, shares some new details of what it is like to have encounters with Jesus. I think many will find these revelations very eye-opening. We then discuss the nature of his movement and whether it is a church or not. The Last Days, building a Temple, Masonry and Mormonism, and how the monarch butterfly is an allegory of Christ are contemplated. At the very end Denver shares why he decided to come on this program and give the details of his experiences with the supernatural. He gives a very kind compliment to the show and to me. It was very touching and I appreciate Denver for coming on.

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I am very excited to welcome back Paul DeBarthe, lead Archaeologist of the Joseph Smith Historic Site in Nauvoo, to Mormon Book Reviews. Did you know every year there is an archaeological dig of Mormon sites in Nauvoo that you can volunteer for? Did you know that the 2nd location for the the Times & Seasons may have been housed in a pre-Mormon structure? This years expedition aims to provide the data that will enable the dating of the original site. Paul gives us a behind the scenes "live" report from the dig itself! Please check out the website https://idignauvoo.legacyshare.org/ to get information on how to sign up as a volunteer this year.

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Mormon Fundamentalist Benjamin Shaffer, who is also a Freemason, returns to Mormon Book Reviews to give his perspective of the Hulu series "Under the Banner of Heaven". On this special Aftershow which covers episode 5 titled "One Mighty and Strong" Benjamin gives his unique insights of the series. Did you know that Benjamin has participated in the "original" and "modern" Mormon Temple Endowment ceremonies? He also has performed the Masonic Temple Rituals as well! Benjamin actually really appreciated how respectful the Temple Endowment was portrayed in episode 3. He explains why on today's program. It was so cool to have back on Rebecca Bibliotheca as a co-host. I found it fascinating to have a Post-Mormon and a Fundamentalist interacting with each other. Benjamin was able to give some much needed clarification to how Mormon Fundamentalism has been portrayed on the program. I want to thank him for coming on!

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Link to Christ's Church website

My good friend Anthropologist Dr. Thomas Murphy returns to Mormon Book Reviews to discuss some stories he's never told publicly about growing up in an abusive LDS household. When the new limited Hulu series "Under the Banner of Heaven" was released, it caused Thomas to reflect on his childhood. There are many similar events that take place in the book and series that he experienced as well. This has to be one of the most powerful interviews I've ever been a part of. We talk about some topics that some sensitive viewers should be aware of. Domestic violence, beatings, murder, religious extremism, temple trauma, and the coercive nature of toxic masculinity and patriarchy. Do high demand religions cause such behavior? As an Evangelical I can say that I have seen and experienced some of these things as well. This can be a cautionary tale for those both in and out of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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From Heaven's Gate, to Sandy Hook, to the WTC, to the OJ Simpson Trial, to Auschwitz Dr. Randy Bell has seen the face of evil at all of these places. How is he able to have a Faith in God? On the latest episode of Mormon Book Reviews I am excited to welcome to the program Randy Bell. Born and raised LDS, Randy had a faith crisis after reading the Gospel Topics Essays. In this interview we discuss the many books and writings that he engaged to discover what is true. He studied many topics and different worldviews including Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Atheism, Christianity, Critical Thinking, Physics, and Science . In the final segment Randy relates some powerful thoughts and experiences he had that led him back to faith in God and into Christianity.

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Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking

The Physics of God