Mormon Discussion Podcast

RFM and Bill Reel do a deep dive into the recent worldwide devotional given by Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Our intrepid duo dig deep to find out the real meaning behind this devotional. You won’t find their insights anywhere else!

Don’t miss it!

RESOURCES:

1. Marin Healthcare District v. Sutter Health (2002) — California Court of Appeal

https://law.justia.com/cases/california/court-of-appeal/2002/c034127.html

Establishes Cook’s overlapping legal representation of the public district and private nonprofit, the 1985 hospital transfer, and the subsequent conflict-of-interest allegations. Explains that the lawsuit was dismissed because it was filed too late, without determining whether Cook violated the law.

2. Yoffie v. Marin Hospital District (1987) — California Court of Appeal

https://law.justia.com/cases/california/court-of-appeal/3d/193/743.html

Documents the restructuring of Marin General Hospital and establishes that the new private nonprofit was not subject to California’s Brown Act public-meeting requirements. Lists Quentin L. Cook among the attorneys representing the defendants.

3. Sutter’s Empire Strikes Back — SF Weekly, January 21, 1998

https://web.archive.org/web/20071222202427/http://www.sfweekly.com/1998-01-21/news/sutter-s-empire-strikes-back/

Contemporaneous investigative journalism examining lawsuits involving Marin General and Mills-Peninsula hospitals, Cook’s dual representation, and allegations that hospital privatization favored private operators over public interests. Includes perspectives from critics and defenders of the transactions.

4. California Government Code § 1090 — Official California Legislature

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=1090.&lawCode=GOV

Provides the statutory prohibition against public officials and employees having financial interests in government contracts they participate in making. This was the central legal provision underlying the hospital district’s allegations against Cook and Buhrmann.

5. Yoffie v. Marin Hospital District (1987) — Additional Reference

https://law.justia.com/cases/california/court-of-appeal/3d/193/743.html

Duplicate of Resource #2, included because it appeared twice in the supplied source list. Establishes the legal consequences of transferring public hospital operations to a privately governed nonprofit.

6. Marin General Hospital Update — Coastal Post, August 2004

https://web.archive.org/web/20040901181847/http://www.coastalpost.com/04/08/25.htm

An account by physician Norman Carrigg criticizing the 1985 transfer, subsequent limitations on public oversight, and financial arrangements involving Sutter Health. Provides historical criticism from opponents of privatization, rather than judicial findings.

7. California Supreme Court Archival Exhibits — Volume V

https://supreme.courts.ca.gov/sites/default/files/supremecourt/default/documents/17-s260209-apps-exhs-vol-v-of-vi-091520.pdf

Contains contemporaneous documents from the 1985 Marin General controversy, including legal filings, correspondence, allegations concerning the transfer of more than $11 million in assets, and statements attributed to Cook about public-meeting requirements. Particularly useful for reconstructing the controversy as it unfolded, while distinguishing sworn allegations from established facts.

8. Quentin L. Cook’s Privatization of Marin Hospital — WasMormon.org

https://wasmormon.org/quentin-l-cooks-privatization-of-marin-hospital/

A critical examination of Cook’s role in the hospital restructuring, collecting historical reporting, legal references, and allegations about financial interests and public accountability. Useful as a secondary overview and source guide, although its stronger accusations require independent verification.

9. Marin Healthcare District v. Sutter Health (2002) — FindLaw

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/ca-court-of-appeal/1464984.html

An alternative publication of the same 2002 appellate decision listed in Resource #1. Confirms the documented overlapping employment, allegations under Government Code § 1090, and dismissal based on the statute of limitations.

10. Yoffie v. Marin Hospital District (1987) — NeoChart

https://www.neochart.com/catalog/cases/cal-app-3d/volume_193/0743_01/index.html

An additional publication of the same 1987 appellate decision listed in Resources #2 and #5. Details the hospital’s transition from elected public governance to private nonprofit operations and the court’s conclusion that the Brown Act did not govern the nonprofit’s board meetings.

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What happens when asking honest questions about your faith feels like risking your eternal salvation? In this episode of Mormon Discussion, Bill Reel sits down with Lindsey Johansen, author of the book “Risking Heaven”, to explore her journey from devout Mormon belief to religious deconstruction, self-discovery, and rebuilding a meaningful life beyond religious certainty. Lindsey’s story begins with a question many Latter-day Saints are afraid to ask: What if the beliefs I’ve built my entire life around aren’t true? Drawing on her experience in emergency medicine, Lindsey explores the tension between evidence-based thinking and religious faith, and why discovering an uncomfortable truth can feel more frightening than remaining in a familiar belief system.

Together, Bill and Lindsey examine:

This conversation goes beyond whether Mormonism is true. It explores the deeper psychological questions that arise when the framework through which we’ve understood ourselves, our relationships, and the universe begins to collapse. How do we learn to trust ourselves again? How do we distinguish genuine freedom from rebellion? And how do we build a meaningful life when we no longer believe the answers we were given? Whether you’re questioning your faith, navigating a religious transition, supporting someone who is, or simply interested in the psychology of belief and identity, Lindsey’s story offers insight into the courage it takes to question—and the freedom that can come from learning to live without certainty.

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How did a man with a known history of child sexual abuse continue to hold positions within the LDS Church and maintain access to children? Who knew about his history, when did they know, and why weren’t more people warned? In this episode of Mormon Discussion, Bill Reel sits down with Robert Herguth, veteran investigative journalist with the Chicago Sun-Times, to examine his reporting on Wade Christofferson, the brother of prominent LDS Apostle D. Todd Christofferson. Herguth has spent decades investigating institutional misconduct, including sexual abuse scandals within the Catholic Church. Now his reporting raises troubling questions about how The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints handled allegations against Wade Christofferson over several decades.

Among the questions we explore:

Robert also discusses the challenges of investigative journalism, the LDS Church’s responses to his reporting, and why institutional transparency matters when children’s safety is at stake. This conversation isn’t simply about one perpetrator. It’s about the systems that are supposed to protect children, the decisions that may have allowed abuse to continue, and the responsibility religious institutions have to place human safety above institutional reputation. Some allegations and questions discussed remain unresolved. We distinguish documented findings, survivor accounts, and unanswered questions throughout the interview.

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Is Mormonism growing, shrinking, or somewhere in between? And what do the actual numbers tell us about people joining, leaving, and remaining in the LDS Church? In this episode of Mormon Discussion Podcast, Bill Reel sits down with Alex Bass, researcher behind Mormon Metrics and Bass Empirical, to take a closer look at the data surrounding Mormon membership, retention, conversion, and religious disaffiliation. Alex brings a background in political science, a master’s degree in Data Science, and professional experience in polling and survey research. Together, we explore what the research actually demonstrates—and where believers, critics, and even researchers may be drawing conclusions that go beyond the evidence. Topics include: Is the LDS Church actually growing or shrinking? How many people are joining Mormonism versus leaving? Why strong retention rates can coexist with more people leaving than joining. The difference between official Church membership, religious identity, and active participation. What longitudinal surveys reveal about changing religious beliefs and affiliations. Why U.S. membership trends may differ significantly from international trends. How reliable are the statistics, and what are the limitations of the available research? What both Mormon apologists and critics get wrong when interpreting Church growth statistics. Whether you’re a believing Latter-day Saint, a former Mormon, or simply interested in the changing landscape of American religion, this conversation offers an evidence-based examination of one of Mormonism’s most important questions: What do the numbers really tell us about the future of the LDS Church?

RESOURCES Mormon Metrics: https://mormonmetrics.com/

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The post LDS Church: Growing or Shrinking? What the Data Reveals ! appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

In 1838, Joseph Smith answered 20 questions about his beliefs and the new church in the Elders’ Journal. The questions touched on everything from the gold plates and polygamy to prophecy, salvation, slavery, and whether everyone outside the Church would be damned. In this episode, we examine Smith’s answers alongside the historical context—and the interesting connections RFM draws between those answers and other moments in early Mormon history. Some responses are direct; others get more complicated in the follow-up. What do they reveal about Joseph Smith’s teachings, his public claims, and how Mormon ideas were developing? Join us for a close look at one of the most revealing Q&As in early Mormon history.

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Samuel Brunson: Between the Temple & the Tax Collector What happens when religious freedom, tax law, and the financial practices of the LDS Church collide? In this episode of Mormon Discussion, Bill Reel sits down with Samuel Brunson, a professor of law at Loyola University Chicago and author of Between the Temple and the Tax Collector, to explore the complicated relationship between Mormonism, money, and the American tax system. Brunson brings a unique perspective as both a legal scholar specializing in tax law and someone deeply familiar with the LDS tradition. Together, we examine the intersection of church finances, religious institutions, government oversight, and the legal privileges afforded to tax-exempt organizations.

What responsibilities come with those privileges?

This conversation moves beyond simplistic arguments about church wealth to explore the historical, legal, and ethical questions that deserve serious attention. Whether you’re a believing Latter-day Saint, a former Mormon, or simply interested in religious freedom and financial transparency, this is a conversation worth having.

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RFM and Bill Reel are joined this week by Meggan Hayes from “Generally Unquotable” to break down several of the talks from this past FAIRMormon Apologetics conference. Many budding apologists came to hear some of the worst talks on defending Mormonism ever given! Apologetics wasn’t that great in the 1980s. But in the past forty-years, it has done nothing but go downhill! Come join us as we show the logical fallacies in how FAIRMormon defends the LDS Church. Mormon Apologetics has never been so much fun!

The post Mormon Apologists DEBUNKED! appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

LDS Church Burying Zelph Under Data Center? | Mormon Newscast | October 19, 2026 Is the LDS Church preparing to build a massive data center over a significant piece of Mormon history? Tonight on The Mormon Newscast, we’re looking at the proposed development at Arthur Plantation in Missouri, a site connected to Zion’s Camp and the discovery of the bones Joseph Smith reportedly identified as belonging to Zelph, a “white Lamanite” warrior. What happens when modern development collides with Mormonism’s historical claims? And what does this project tell us about how the church values and preserves its own history? Also on tonight’s Newscast: BYU Football Chaos: A dramatic showdown with Notre Dame brings religious controversy, Pat McAfee reading the Book of Mormon, a quarterback with a grudge, and questionable officiating. Racist Book of Mormon Lawsuit: A legal controversy involving the Book of Mormon and allegations of racism. BYU Medical School Takes Major Steps Forward: New developments in the church’s ambitious medical education plans. Julie Hanks on Soft White Underbelly: Our friend Dr. Julie Hanks shares her Mormon experience with a massive new audience, sparking pushback from faithful LDS commentators. Two Missionary Deaths: Tragic news involving two Latter-day Saint missionaries. Half a Million New Converts? LDS leaders anticipate potentially record-breaking convert baptisms in 2026. But what about retention? The Evangelical/LDS Trad Wife Trap: Exploring the cultural and religious expectations surrounding women, marriage, and traditional gender roles. Priest Killed by Falling Cross: A tragic accident in Ecuador raises interesting questions about religious symbolism and whether crosses might eventually appear inside Mormon chapels. Join us as we examine the news, challenge assumptions, and explore what’s happening in the world of Mormonism, with the context, critical thinking, and occasional humor you’ve come to expect.

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Radio Free Mormon’s 10 year celebration –

An Evening Celebrating 10 Years of Radio Free Mormon – Dinner, Roast & Karaoke!

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Are Mormons Raising Their Kids Wrong? | Audra Phelps on Mormon & Post-Mormon Parenting What happens when you leave Mormonism and realize you must rethink not only what you believe, but how you raise your children? In this episode of Mormon Discussion, Bill Reel sits down with Audra Phelps for an honest conversation about Mormon parenting, religious conditioning, and raising emotionally healthy children beyond the framework of the LDS Church. Together, we explore how obedience, shame, fear, and rigid expectations can shape parent-child relationships—and how parents can replace those patterns with trust, autonomy, emotional connection, and critical thinking. We also discuss navigating mixed-faith families, teaching children about sex and modesty without shame, managing our own emotional triggers, and learning to give children the freedom to make mistakes. At the heart of this conversation is a powerful question: Are we raising children to obey and conform, or helping them become healthy, independent adults who trust themselves? Whether you’re Mormon, ex-Mormon, or simply questioning how you were raised, this conversation offers practical insights into breaking generational patterns and becoming a more intentional parent.

Watch the full conversation with Audra Phelps: https://youtu.be/WpATtluH3lg

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00:00 Introduction: Are Mormons Raising Their Kids Wrong?

Resources:

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The post Audra Phelps: Mormon (And Post-Mormon) Parenting appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.

Bill Reel and RFM take a look at the recent FAIRMormon apologetic conference that took place last August. The amazing thing is that Mormon apologetics isn’t getting better with age. If anything, Mormon apologetics is getting worse. And that’s saying something! It’s like they’re not just trying to fool nonbelievers, anymore. They’re trying to fool each other! But rest assured, no matter the tricks they try, they won’t get much past our intrepid pair, RFM and Bill Reel!

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The post FAIRMormon Conference Dissection! Part 1 appeared first on Mormon Discussion by Bill Reel.