Mormon Discussions Podcasts – Full Lineup

Jacob Hansen challenged RFM to a debate. But only if the terms of the debate are something other than the Book of Mormon’s historicity! RFM responds to this challenge by showing how Jacob’s challenge is intentionally constructed in such a way as to keep the Book of Mormon’s truthfulness from ever being scrutinized in any way. Then RFM accepts Jacob Hansen’s challenge to debate, but only if the truth of the Book of Mormon is on the line! This is one you don’t want to miss!

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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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Secondary Lawsuit Alleges LDS Church Failed Child Another disturbing child sexual abuse lawsuit has been filed against the LDS Church, and the allegations sound remarkably similar to the Wade Christofferson case. According to reporting by FLOODLIT, a woman alleges she was raped at age 11 by Jared Harding Wilson inside a Raleigh, North Carolina, LDS stake center in January 2010. The lawsuit claims Church leaders already knew Wilson had sexually abused children but failed to notify law enforcement, warn families, or prevent him from accessing Church facilities. Wilson previously pleaded guilty to six counts of indecent liberties with a child in 2011. Those convictions are separate from the allegations in this new civil lawsuit, which have not been proven in court. The complaint further alleges that Church leaders eventually restored Wilson’s membership and instructed the victim’s family to avoid Church activities rather than requiring Wilson to stay away. The parallels to the Wade Christofferson case raise serious questions: What happens when religious leaders know someone poses a danger to children? Who gets protected? Who gets warned? And why do families sometimes end up carrying the burden of protecting themselves? We’re examining the allegations, the similarities between these cases, and what they reveal about institutional accountability and child protection within Mormonism.

Also on Today’s Newscast

From child protection and institutional accountability to religious authority, LGBTQ history, and political controversy, we’re covering the stories shaping the Mormon world.

Support independent Mormon journalism and commentary:

Subscribe, share your perspective in the comments, and help us keep asking the questions that deserve answers. The civil lawsuit discussed in this episode contains allegations that have not been adjudicated. All defendants are entitled to respond and contest those allegations.

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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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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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An Explosive Investigation Into the Church’s Data Center Deals BREAKING NEWS: Is the LDS Church quietly entering the booming artificial intelligence industry while its apostles warn members about the dangers of AI? In this special edition of The Mormon Newscast, we investigate a proposed billion-dollar data-center development in rural Texas and uncover official county records connecting the project to land owned by an investment affiliate of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For decades, the LDS Church has owned Triangle Ranch, a massive agricultural property spanning approximately 147,712 acres in north-central Texas. Now, a major data-center development is taking shape in Cottle County, raising questions about Church investments, artificial intelligence, environmental stewardship, and financial transparency. In this episode, we examine: The Mormon land connection: Official Cottle County documents identify Farmland Reserve Inc., a Church-affiliated agricultural investment organization, as the owner of multiple parcels involved in a proposed data-center development, with RS 70 Land Holding, LLC identified as leaseholder. A billion-dollar development: Plans for a 96-megawatt data center, a 180-megawatt on-site power plant, and an estimated $1.113 billion in investment. Aetheris: The data-center development company identified in connection with the project, its executives, its AI infrastructure business, and the questions surrounding its relationship with Church-owned property. The Church’s warnings about AI: We examine statements by apostles David A. Bednar, Gerrit W. Gong, and Quentin L. Cook, including Bednar’s warning that overreliance on artificial intelligence could unintentionally help Lucifer accomplish his purposes. The environmental contradiction: The Church’s General Handbook encourages members to preserve the earth for future generations. What does that responsibility mean when Church-owned agricultural property is connected to large-scale industrial development? Texas drought concerns: Cottle County has experienced significant drought conditions. We examine the project’s projected water consumption and the environmental questions surrounding data centers and power generation. The political controversy: Texas residents and elected officials are debating data-center development, electricity demand, water consumption, tax incentives, and the rights of rural communities. The November 9 county meeting: Cottle County commissioners are scheduled to consider a tax-abatement agreement involving the proposed project. The central question: If Church leaders are warning members that artificial intelligence can compromise moral agency, create deception, and even interfere with spiritual growth, how should members evaluate the Church’s involvement in commercial infrastructure supporting that same industry? Is this a contradiction, a reasonable distinction between using AI and providing infrastructure for it, or another example of the Church applying different standards to its business operations than to its members? We examine the documents, distinguish confirmed facts from unanswered questions, and invite viewers to draw their own conclusions.

PRIMARY SOURCES AND DOCUMENTS

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Halloween marks the 100th anniversary of Harry Houdini’s tragic and untimely death. For years thereafter, Houdini’s surviving widow held annual séances on this anniversary to see if the greatest escape artist of all time could escape the clutches of the grave long enough to pass to his wife a special prearranged password to prove it was he. All the séances ended in failure, causing his widow to ultimately discontinue them. Now, one hundred years later, on the anniversary of Houdini’s death, a small band of intrepid Houdini-aficionados hold one more séance to see if they can make contact! Because Dr. Bell is one of these aficionados, and owns the largest collection of Houdini-memorabilia in the world, he was invited to take part in this historic occasion. Dr. Bell will sit in the circle of the séance on Halloween afternoon, at the exact time of death of Houdini on the 100th Anniversary. Afterward, Dr. Bell will join us live to relate to us exactly what happened at the séance, and whether there was any manifestation from Houdini, the greatest escape artist of all time! This is one you won’t want to miss!

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A former Mormon missionary, a 15-year-old girl, and a controversial court decision that raises serious questions about accountability and justice. Tonight on the Mormon Newscast, we’re covering the disturbing criminal case involving Krew Zaugg, a Mormon missionary, his guilty plea, and a sentencing decision that has generated significant controversy. But that’s only the beginning. We’re also examining troubling developments involving a polygamist pastor, the death of an LDS missionary, a scandal involving Syracuse High School, and growing backlash surrounding the proposed Cody Wyoming Temple. We’ll also cover controversy involving BYU’s quarterback and a fine connected to religious chanting, along with several major developments inside the LDS Church.

Tonight’s stories include:

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