In this episode of Mormonism Live, we walk through the full evolution of the Word of Wisdom—from its origin in 1833 to how it functions today as a requirement for temple worthiness. We start in Kirtland, where the School of the Prophets was filled with tobacco smoke, chewing, and spitting—and where Emma Smith’s frustration becomes part of the story behind the revelation. From there, we zoom out and examine the broader 19th-century health movements already shaping ideas about diet, stimulants, and self-control. Figures like Sylvester Graham and the growing temperance movement weren’t fringe—they were mainstream. And their fingerprints are all over the Word of Wisdom. We then track how the revelation was originally given “not by commandment,” how early leaders—including Joseph Smith and Wilford Woodruff—continued to drink alcohol, and how enforcement slowly tightened over time. What began as counsel eventually became a defining boundary marker of Mormon worthiness.

Along the way, we tackle the contradictions and gray areas:

By the end, the question isn’t just what the Word of Wisdom says—but how it became what it is today.

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The post History of Mormonism’s “Word of Wisdom” Health Code appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Tonight on The Mormon Newscast, we lead with a major development: John Dehlin and Mormon Stories have officially walked away from mediation with the “Mormon” Church over trademark threats tied to the word “Mormon.”

This is one of those episodes where the surface stories point to something deeper underneath—authority, control, identity, and where the Church is heading next.

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The post Mormon Stories Ends Mediation With “Mormon” Church Over Trademark appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Joseph Smith was a treasure seeker in his youth. But it didn’t end there. The religion he founded, and the book he dictated into existence, also bear unmistakable signs of his treasure-seeking activities, specifically the process he used to locate buried treasure. Dr. John Lundwall shares his new theory that the Book of Mormon fits best within the framework of performative spell-casting by a treasure-seeking Joseph Smith. Radio Free Mormon shares his perspective on how this framework also fits astonishing well when laid alongside the LDS Temple endowment ceremony. Joseph Smith’s ceremonial magic is with Mormonism late and soon, as it turns out. You won’t want to miss this show!

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In this episode we examine one of the most foundational claims in Mormonism: the translation of the Book of Mormon. Most Latter-day Saints grew up hearing a very specific story. Joseph Smith sat at a table, the gold plates were present, and he translated the ancient record through divine power. But when we turn to the actual historical eyewitness accounts, a more complicated picture appears. Multiple witnesses—including Martin Harris, Emma Smith, and David Whitmer—described a translation process where Joseph placed a seer stone into a hat, buried his face in the hat to block out light, and dictated the text while the plates were often covered, in another room, or not present at all. If the translation did not require Joseph to read the plates… why were the plates necessary?

In this episode we slow the story down and look carefully at the historical sources. We examine the original accounts, the apologetic explanations offered to reconcile them, and the logical implications of those explanations. This is not about attacking belief. It is about asking a simple question: What explanation best fits the evidence?

Book: A Logical Deconstruction of Mormonism Available at Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Logical-Deconstruction-Mormonism-Bill-Reel-ebook/dp/B0GQN4178G

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A confrontation of historic proportions happened forty-five years ago; a confrontation between an LDS apostle and a BYU professor; between Elder Bruce R. McConkie and Professor Eugene England. The subject was the nature of God. But the ramifications were more far-reaching than that. Join Bill Reel and RFM as they dig deep into this controversy and explore what it meant then, and the fallout it still has today!

Join the conversation live or catch the replay

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The post Bruce R. McConkie Lays Down The Law appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Tonight’s Mormon Newscast breaks down a wild week of headlines with the top story of ABC abruptly canceling The Bachelorette just days before its premiere featuring Mormon Taylor Frankie Paul as the lead. With her deep ties to Netflix’s Secret Lives of Mormon Wives and the MomTok world, this wasn’t just another season… and the sudden cancellation has people asking what really happened behind the scenes.

Also in this episode we cover:

From institutional changes to cultural moments to stories that hit a little closer to home, this episode connects the dots and asks the questions that don’t always get asked.

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If you need support navigating faith transitions or spiritual trauma, 1-on-1 coaching and support groups are available at: https://awakenandthrive.org/

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Former Bishop Nathan Hinckley joins the show, together with a very special guest appearance from his wife, Amy! Together they tell us about their journey through Mormonism; a journey that ultimately led both of them out of the church just three short years ago. This is one you won’t want to miss!

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In this episode of Mormonism Live, we sit down with Ember, a Native American and former Latter-day Saint, to explore a side of Mormonism that often goes overlooked – the lived experience of Native Americans inside the Church. For many Indigenous members, Mormon doctrine didn’t just offer a spiritual framework. It reshaped identity, ancestry, and self-worth. Teachings about “Lamanites,” skin color, righteousness, and divine lineage weren’t abstract ideas—they were personal, and often deeply painful. We talk through: What it means to be labeled a “Lamanite” in a modern world with DNA evidence The psychological weight of doctrines tied to skin color and worthiness The legacy of programs like the Indian Student Placement Program Cultural loss, identity fragmentation, and the pressure to assimilate How Church narratives intersect with broader colonial and Christian history The experience of being the “token Native” in LDS spaces The tension between Indigenous spirituality and Mormon theology The long road of deconstruction, healing, and reclaiming identity This isn’t just a conversation about history—it’s about how belief systems shape identity, and what it takes to rebuild when that foundation cracks. Whether you’re familiar with these issues or hearing them for the first time, this episode invites a deeper look at the intersection of faith, culture, and personal truth.

Join the conversation live or catch the replay

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In this episode, we examine one of the lesser-known but revealing moments in Mormon history: the Kinderhook Plates. In 1843, a set of small brass plates covered with strange engravings were discovered in Kinderhook, Illinois and brought to Joseph Smith. Contemporary accounts record that Joseph examined the plates and began offering an interpretation of the characters, identifying them as an ancient record connected to a descendant of Ham. But decades later, the truth emerged. The Kinderhook Plates were a 19th-century hoax, created by local men to test whether Joseph Smith could truly translate ancient records. Modern metallurgical testing confirmed what the creators later admitted: the plates were manufactured in the 1800s. So what does this episode show? If Joseph had the divine ability to translate ancient languages by revelation, a modern forgery should have been immediately exposed. Instead, Joseph appeared to treat the plates as authentic and even began interpreting them. In this episode

we walk carefully through:

This is part of a larger series examining the core claims of Mormonism one issue at a time.

If you appreciate this kind of careful, logical examination, my book A Logical Deconstruction of Mormonism expands this approach across thirty major issues—looking at the original claim, the evidence, the apologetic explanations, and the logical implications.

Thanks for listening. And as always, keep thinking clearly.

Book: A Logical Deconstruction of Mormonism Available at Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/Logical-Deconstruction-Mormonism-Bill-Reel-ebook/dp/B0GQN4178G

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The LDS Church has announced that it spent $1.58 billion in humanitarian and welfare assistance in 2025, a number the Church says represents record-level giving around the world. But what exactly is included in that number, and how much of it represents money the Church itself donated versus funds that passed through programs like fast offerings, welfare systems, and the “Giving Machines”? Tonight we break down the announcement, what the Church says it means, and why critics say the way the number is presented deserves a closer look.

We’ll also cover several other major stories in Mormon news this week. A new update in the case of the LDS doctor arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting his wife’s friend as the legal situation continues to unfold. We also discuss leadership movement involving Apostle Ronald A. Rasband’s cousin, which some critics are already pointing to as possible nepotism, while others argue the individual’s credentials make the appointment defensible. Internationally, a LDS missionary was reportedly attacked with a machete, raising concerns about missionary safety in certain parts of the world. Meanwhile, the Salt Lake Temple open house preparations are causing concern among some nearby residents, who say the scale of the event could significantly impact their neighborhoods. The Church has also issued two public statements this week—one addressing religious freedom along with a call for a special fast, and another responding to recent violence in Michigan. And sadly, we have more disturbing news involving Mormon-connected child abuse cases, highlighting once again the ongoing concerns about how abuse allegations surface and are handled in LDS communities. Finally, we’ll take a brief look at “Mormon Easter”—how the Church continues to shape and reframe its approach to Easter observance as it emphasizes Christ-centered messaging in recent years. Join us as we break down the biggest Mormon news stories of the week.

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The post Did the LDS Church Really Give $1.58 Billion to Charity in 2025? appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.