Welcome to the MormonNewsRoundup where Dives ruminates on the great and spacious Beehive!

I have found it increasingly difficult over the years to maintain civil discourse with believing Latter-day Saints and with theists in general.

I’m not entirely sure whether that is something I should be embarrassed about—or something I should be proud of.

This video explores a difficult question: Should we be bridge builders, or should we recognize that some bridges deserve to be burned?

I’ve been told many times that my rhetoric is too harsh, too abrasive, and that I get too much into people’s faces online. I’ve been called toxic, hateful, arrogant, and just about every other name in the book.

But here is the issue: religious believers want their ideas to be taken seriously. Yet many religious claims are ultimately claims about invisible deities, supernatural beings, miracles, spirits, and forces that have never been demonstrated to exist.

At what point does respecting a person become confused with respecting their beliefs?

Carl Sagan explored this problem in The Demon-Haunted World, warning about the dangers of accepting extraordinary claims without sufficient evidence. Daniel Dennett likewise confronted the difficulty of challenging beliefs that people deeply identify with.

I understand that religious beliefs can be deeply meaningful. I also understand that criticizing those beliefs can feel deeply personal.

But sincerity is not evidence.

For years, I have asked believers a relatively simple question:

On what basis should I accept your claims about a supernatural realm inhabited by angels, demons, gods, and spirits?

What evidence separates those claims from the countless other supernatural beliefs humans have held throughout history?

So far, I have not heard anything remotely convincing.

I used to believe these things myself. I spent decades inside the worldview I now criticize. I understand the arguments because I once made many of them myself.

And that is why I believe what many believers need is not more reassurance. They need a serious examination of whether their beliefs are actually supported by evidence.

I respect people who are willing to admit uncertainty. I respect people who follow evidence wherever it leads.

But I do not believe unsupported supernatural claims deserve automatic respect simply because they are sincerely held.

Ideas do not deserve immunity from examination because they are old, popular, sacred, or deeply meaningful to someone.

Civil discourse has value. But civil discourse does not mean silence. It does not mean pretending every idea deserves equal treatment. And it does not mean politely accepting claims that have no evidentiary foundation.

Sometimes bridges are worth building.

Sometimes bridges are worth crossing.

And sometimes bridges should simply be burned.

This isn't about destroying people.

It's about challenging ideas.

And if an idea cannot survive honest questions, criticism, and evidence, then perhaps it was never a bridge worth saving in the first place.

#Mormonism #ExMormon #Atheism #Religion #CivilDiscourse #CriticalThinking #LatterDaySaints

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The Mormon News Roundup is NOT affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In this episode of Mormon News Roundup, I take a step away from the usual discussions about LDS history and apologetics to examine one of the most polarizing figures in modern American politics: Donald Trump.

For decades, Latter-day Saints have generally leaned Republican. Yet Donald Trump has always occupied a unique place within Mormon culture. Why did so many faithful members feel conflicted about supporting him? Why was he such an outlier compared to previous Republican nominees like John McCain or Mitt Romney?

In this episode I discuss:

• Why Donald Trump has historically struggled to win overwhelming support among Latter-day Saints.
• My own political journey and why I've voted for candidates from both major parties.
• Trump's relationship with Church leadership and his 2017 visit to Welfare Square.
• Why character and personal conduct still matter in evaluating political leaders.
• The reactions of Mormon and ex-Mormon influencers to Donald Trump.
• Why I believe we should apply the same critical thinking to politicians that we apply to religious leaders.

This isn't an endorsement of any political party or candidate. My goal is simply to explain my perspective and encourage thoughtful, consistent skepticism, whether we're discussing church leaders, media personalities, or presidents.

If you enjoy thoughtful conversations about Mormonism, history, culture, and current events, follow the show and join the discussion.

What do you think? Has Donald Trump's relationship with Mormonism been misunderstood, or do you think it reflects larger changes taking place within American politics? Please keep the comments respectful. Reasonable people can disagree.

#Mormon #LDS #DonaldTrump #Politics #MittRomney #MormonNewsRoundup #ExMormon #ChurchofJesusChrist #CurrentEvents #PoliticalCommentary

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The Mormon News Roundup is NOT affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Was I really fired by Ward Radio? Or is that simply not what happened?

In this episode, I'm setting the record straight about my time working with Ward Radio and addressing claims that I was "fired" and that I misrepresented my beliefs about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I explain how I came to work with Ward Radio, my conversations with Cardon Ellis and Jonah Barnes, the project I was hired to complete, how many shorts I produced, what I was paid, and why the working relationship eventually came to an end.

I also address the claim that I somehow deceived Ward Radio about my beliefs. The reality is that they knew I ran Mormon News Roundup, knew my perspective, and were aware of my position before I ever began working with them.

There was no dramatic firing. No secret controversy. No terminated employment contract. I was hired as a contractor for a specific project, completed that project, and Ward Radio eventually decided to produce its shorts internally.

So why is the story being told differently? Listen and decide for yourself.

If you enjoy Mormon commentary, ex-Mormon perspectives, LDS Church analysis, and behind-the-scenes stories from Mormon YouTube, follow the show and check out the YouTube channel.

#WardRadio #MormonNewsRoundup #ExMormon #MormonYouTube #LDS

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Corbin Allred is the man who played Mormon Lucifer, and then left the LDS Church. In this episode, we count down his top 10 moments.

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The Mormon News Roundup is NOT affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Dan McClellan is one of the most knowledgeable and consistently informative voices discussing the Bible, religion, and the sociology of religion today. As a Latter-day Saint scholar with extensive academic training, he has built an enormous audience by responding to bad arguments, challenging biblical apologetics, and engaging directly with both believers and non-believers.

But what does Dan McClellan actually believe?

In this video, I give my honest thoughts on Dan, his scholarship, his approach to social media, his relationship with the Latter-day Saint faith, and the things I admire—and occasionally criticize—about his content.

I have tremendous respect for Dan's knowledge and intellectual honesty. He's willing to engage with people who disagree with him, acknowledge mistakes when he makes them, and correct the record. His willingness to tackle claims rather than simply deliver lectures is a big part of what makes his content so compelling.

I also discuss one thing I find particularly interesting: Dan deliberately avoids discussing his personal religious beliefs. While I understand his reasoning, I think there's something valuable about publicly stating and defending your own worldview. I take a very different approach to that question.

Is Dan a critic of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Is he an advocate for Mormonism? Is he secretly an atheist? Or is he simply a believer who doesn't want his personal faith to become the focus of his platform?

And yes, we have to talk about "Debunking Dan McClellan"—the satirical video I once made that apparently fooled a few people into thinking I was actually trying to debunk him.

Ultimately, this is a very positive assessment of someone whose scholarship I genuinely admire. Whether you agree with Dan or not, he's one of the most interesting voices in the modern discussion about the Bible and religion.

Thanks for watching!

#DanMcClellan #Mormonism #LatterDaySaints #BibleScholar #BiblicalScholarship #ExMormon #MormonNewsRoundup

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The Mormon News Roundup is NOT affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In the early 1990s, a rather bizarre Mormon missionary-training video series was produced called Manners for Missionaries.

Dating from around 1994, the series was designed to teach LDS missionaries something that apparently went far beyond gospel teaching: how to present themselves, how to dress, how to sit, how to shake hands, how to eat, how to interact with other people, and essentially how to project the “right” image.

And here’s the interesting part: the series wasn’t officially produced by the LDS Church or Brigham Young University. However, its creators were faculty and instructors associated with BYU and the Provo Missionary Training Center, and the videos were reportedly shown in missions around the world.

The series consists of multiple installments, including The Power of Credibility, Building Credibility, and the particularly memorable Visual Poise for Sisters. That installment is devoted specifically to how female missionaries should carry themselves—including how they pick things up, enter and exit vehicles, and physically present themselves.

And this is where things get especially interesting from a modern perspective.

Some of the material is simply dated 1990s etiquette. But some of it gets into very gender-specific ideas about how women should move, look, behave, and present themselves—making portions of the series come across as remarkably sexist by today’s standards.

So, rather than watching these as isolated clips scattered around the internet, I’ve collected the surviving installments and assembled them into one complete compilation.

It’s a fascinating time capsule of missionary culture in the 1990s, and an extraordinary look at just how much emphasis was placed on beauty, appearance, social behavior, credibility, and gender roles.

Please enjoy watching Manners for Missionaries!

#Mormonism #ExMormon #LDS #MormonMissionaries #MannersForMissionaries #LDSHistory #MormonHistory #MissionaryTraining #ExMormonContent

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The Mormon News Roundup is NOT affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Welcome to the Mormon News Roundup, where we take a deep dive into the history and evolution of Mormon theology.

In this episode, we examine some of the most dramatic developments and contradictions in LDS teachings about God, the Godhead, human exaltation, and the nature of the divine.

• The Evolution of the Godhead — How early Book of Mormon teachings about one God compare with Joseph Smith’s later teachings about a plurality of gods.
• Heavenly Mother — Why the doctrine of an eternal female counterpart to God became an important part of LDS theology.
• The Virgin Birth — Brigham Young’s controversial teachings about the literal physical parentage of Jesus Christ.
• Changes to Sacred Texts — The evolution of passages in the Book of Mormon and the removal of the Lectures on Faith from the Doctrine and Covenants.
• The Holy Ghost Paradox — How the LDS concept of a spirit-only Holy Ghost creates some fascinating questions about exaltation, physical bodies, celestial marriage, and eternal progression.

From the 1830 Book of Mormon to later teachings from Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, Orson Pratt, Bruce R. McConkie, and other LDS leaders, this episode explores how Mormon ideas about God and the universe developed—and sometimes dramatically changed—over time.

What happens when doctrines about God, exaltation, and eternal progression evolve? And what questions are left unanswered?

Keep asking questions. Keep examining the history.

#MormonNewsRoundup #Mormonism #LDS #ExMormon #MormonHistory #JosephSmith #LDSChurch #MormonDoctrine #HeavenlyMother #HolyGhost #ExMormonTok

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The Mormon News Roundup is NOT affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

What did early Mormon leaders actually teach about blood atonement?

In this episode of the Mormon News Roundup, we examine some of the most disturbing teachings surrounding blood atonement in 19th-century Mormonism—and the later attempts to explain, minimize, or deny them.

Brigham Young taught that certain sins could not be forgiven through the blood of Christ alone, but required the sinner's own blood to be shed. Other early church leaders expanded on the doctrine with horrifying examples involving adultery, theft, apostasy, broken covenants, and other offenses.

We examine:

– Brigham Young's teachings about sins beyond the reach of Christ's atonement

– Heber C. Kimball's graphic rhetoric concerning Judas

– The proposed use of javelins and other forms of execution

– Jedidiah M. Grant's argument that spilling someone's blood could actually be an act of spiritual love

– The relationship between blood atonement and early Mormon racial laws

– Historical accounts involving Rasmus Anderson and other alleged cases of blood atonement

– Claims by later LDS leaders that blood atonement was theological but never actually practiced

– The relationship between Mormon theology and early Utah's capital punishment laws

– Why Utah offered execution by hanging, firing squad, or beheading

– The later historical legacy of blood atonement and Utah's firing-squad executions

The central question is one of historical memory and institutional truth:

If early church leaders preached blood atonement as the law of God—and later church leaders insisted that the doctrine was merely theoretical—how should we understand the conflicting versions of Mormon history?

This episode examines the historical record and lets the evidence speak for itself.

Mormon News Roundup

Historical analysis – Mormonism – LDS Church history – Mormon Reformation – Blood Atonement

#Mormonism #LDS #BloodAtonement #MormonHistory #BrighamYoung #LDSHistory #MormonNewsRoundup

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BYU professor Kerry Muhlestein has produced a series of videos defending Joseph Smith’s claim that he translated the Book of Abraham from ancient Egyptian papyri.

But how well does that defense actually hold up?

In this video, we fact-check Muhlestein’s arguments and assumptions against the historical record, the surviving papyri, and the available Egyptological evidence. We’ll also examine what other Egyptologists have said about the arguments being used to defend Joseph Smith’s translation.

Does Muhlestein have a compelling case—or are we watching an elaborate attempt to rescue a translation that simply doesn’t match the evidence?

You decide.

🎥 Original video:

https://youtu.be/_KLa8HYsfpM?is=fRPAyb7RG-p4zunw

#BookOfAbraham #JosephSmith #Mormonism #KerryMuhlestein #Egyptology #ExMormon

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What happens when loyalty to a religious institution becomes more important than telling the truth?

In this dark historical explainer, we examine the controversial concept historian D. Michael Quinn described as “theocratic ethics”—the idea that deception could be morally justified when used to protect what believers considered a higher religious purpose.

Drawing from the source material, we explore allegations and historical controversies surrounding early Mormonism, including:

• Joseph Smith's evolving accounts of the First Vision

• The changing story surrounding Moroni, Nephi, and the translation of the Book of Mormon

• Joseph Smith's secret plural marriages, including polyandrous relationships

• The coded language allegedly used to conceal plural marriage

• The 1835 public denial of polygamy versus the private practice

• The 1890 Manifesto and the controversy over post-Manifesto plural marriages

• The Reed Smoot Senate hearings of 1903–1907

• Joseph F. Smith's testimony before Congress

• Claims of perjury and institutional loyalty during the hearings

• The development of modern teachings emphasizing unquestioning loyalty to prophetic authority

• The controversial treatment of historians and members who challenge sanitized versions of Mormon history

The central question is unsettling:

What happens to truth when an institution convinces its leaders that protecting the institution is itself a higher moral obligation?

This video presents the source's interpretation of these events and the historical arguments surrounding them. The goal isn't simply to provide another list of shocking facts, but to examine the underlying psychology: when does religious loyalty become a justification for deception?

Keep questioning. Keep investigating. And keep looking beyond the official story.

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