Rick Bennett and Kurt Francom announce the launch of the Gospel Tangents Network and its new community forum, LDS Faith Journeys.org, designed to support members looking for support with history, doctrine, social issues, etc. The hosts discuss reframing the concept of a “faith crisis” into a “faith journey” to remove shame, with Kurt offering his “scuba gear on a bicycle” analogy to explain how personal trauma or baggage can hinder religious practice. The conversation covers Kurt’s experience as a bishop with a counselor who left the Church, his involvement in Warrior Heart boot camps, and the dangers of publicizing polygamy denial or the book Visions of Glory. Finally, Rick pays tribute to the late podcaster Troy Ables and previews upcoming guests for the network, hopefully including Janice Allred.

https://youtu.be/5PayNjM0y1s

Rick Bennett welcomes Kurt Francom, host of the Leading Saints podcast, to announce the launch of the Gospel Tangents Network. Rick introduces the network’s 2nd website, LDSFaithJourneys.org, a forum designed for members to discuss history, doctrine, social issues and other issues where members needs support.

Rick and Kurt discuss the terminology used for those struggling with the Church. Kurt argues that the term “Faith Crisis” carries a heavy, negative connotation of brokenness, whereas “Faith Journey” suggests a natural evolution of faith. Kurt emphasizes that avoiding the “crisis” label helps remove shame, which is often a tool of the adversary. Rick hopes people don’t stay in crisis very long and move onto more productive faith journeys.

Kurt introduces a metaphor for religious struggle: imagining the Gospel as a functional bicycle that some members try to ride while wearing heavy “scuba gear” (trauma, baggage, or specific upbringing.) He suggests that for some, stepping away or “hitting the reset button” is necessary to remove the gear before they can successfully ride the bike again.

Kurt shares a personal story from his time as a bishop regarding his second counselor, an attorney and capable leader. After reading Richard Bushman’s Rough Stone Rolling in a BYU religion class, the counselor struggled with the “raw and real history” of Joseph Smith and eventually removed his name from Church records. This experience taught Kurt that just because the “standard formula” works for him, it does not mean it works for everyone.

Responding to a listener question, Kurt discusses his involvement with Warrior Heart, a non-denominational Christian men’s retreat. He describes it as a place to “strip away all of the baggage” of faith tradition and allow men to focus solely on their relationship with God.

Rick asks Kurt about the trend of members being excommunicated for claiming Joseph Smith did not practice polygamy. Kurt argues that while people are free to believe what they want, using a public platform to claim Brigham Young was a liar while Joseph was innocent creates a movement the Church must address. Rick adds that D&C 132 and the sealing power are so intertwined that rejecting Joseph’s polygamy creates a massive theological problem. Rick doesn’t agree with polygamy revisionists and encourages leaders to avoid taking away membership. He shares a conversation with a Jewish friend who said it is impossible to be excommunicated from the Jewish religion, even for murder. “Let God be the judge.” Rick wishes the LDS Church moved closer to that admonition.

A listener asks about the book Visions of Glory. Is it helpful or harmful? Kurt describes it as harmful because it creates unhealthy narratives about the “mechanics of heaven” and end-times obsession. He notes that it consistently sells well, alongside Under the Banner of Heaven, which shows a cultural fascination with these topics.

Rick hopes to have a future episode involving the Succession Crisis, featuring figures like James Strang and William Bickerton. They conclude by encouraging listeners to register at the new website https://ldsfaithjourneys.org to ask questions and find support.