Martin Tanner's Religion Today

Martin describes human progress in the interior of the Salt Lake Temple, from creation at the lower level (the Telestial kingdom), through the middle level (the Terrestrial kingdom), to the highest level (Celestial kingdom), and through the veil into heaven. Martin describes the symbolism of the exterior of the Salt Lake Temple including its six towers (symbols of the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods), earthstones, moonstones, sunstones, starstones, cloudstones, constellations, and the Angel Moroni, along with their meanings.

Martin quotes Old Testament and New Testament verses which are inconsistent with the Trinitarian theory of God, believed by most of Christianity. The Trinitarian concept was first concocted in 325 AD at the Council of Nicea to keep the Christian Church from fracturing.  Eventually, Christianity fractured anyway, and the Trinitarian theory introduced false doctrine.

Martin interviews Professor Muhlestein about the Book of Abraham, where it came from, errors of critics' about it, common misconceptions, and the evidence that it is a genuine translation of ancient scripture. The discussion concludes with several facts in the Book of Abraham, unknown in Joseph Smith's day, now proven to be true.

Learn how a little known letter from Clement of Alexandra describes a "Secret Gospel of Mark" written by John Mark, the author of the Gospel of Mark, in which Jesus gives Lazarus, after risen from the dead, something like the Temple Endowment.

Martin explains why Joseph's coat "ketonet" "passim" was a garment with markings, not one of many colors. Learn about a rare book in the Oxford University library that describes how Joseph's wife Asenath, converted from her Egyptian Religion to the Jewish Faith and received a garment priesthood garment and a veil. 

Martin Tanner describes the overlap of the Jewish Passover, Christian Resurrection Sunday, Easter, and The Resurrection. He provides details about the Jewish and Christian beliefs in resurrection.  He gives examples of resurrection from the books of Matthew and Hebrews, as well as modern day examples from the Joseph Smith History and Ezekiel's famous resurrection experience in 1908 or 1909.   

Host Martin Tanner explains the details of the famous King Follett Discourse, including how it got its name, the great teachings in it, including how ex-nihilo (out-of-nothing) creation is false doctrine. How the human mind, spirit or intelligence was not created, it has always existed. One of the greatest teachings of the King Follett discourse is that we are resurrected just as we die, then we grow to perfection over a period of time long enough for mothers to raise their children who died in infancy.

Host Martin Tanner explains that the phrase, "As man is now, God once was, as God is now, man may be" is not an idea limited to Latter-day Saint belief. The Orthodox Church teaches and emphasises it. It is the doctrine of the Catholic Church, even if little known and rarely taught. Martin explains precisely what "deification" means and how this doctrine and teaching is found in scriptures, early Christianity, and many other places.

Martin Tanner explains the difference between monotheism (belief in one God) which is neither Jewish nor Christian, and monolotry (worship of only one God) which is Jewish and Christian. Martin gives examples from the scriptures which demonstrate early Jewish and first-century belief in a divine council in Heaven, comprised of deity, which meets and makes decisions. The divine council, under the direction of God (Elohim) or God (YHWH, Jehovah) convens meetings in Heaven to make decisions about,    (1) The creation of the worlds, (2) To make humans in the image and likeness of the Gods, (3) To see if Job would be faithful under stress and temptation, and, (4) To supervise the events in the world and report to the divine council.   

It is often claimed that the Spaniards brought the first horses to the Americas after the ice age. Yet there is considerable evidence horses existed in the Americas well after the ice age, and before the arrival of the Spanish. In this episode, Martin Tanner provides a few examples of the evidence.

Martin Tanner explains the misconceptions and lies told about Joseph Smith's 1826 trial. It was not a trial at all. It was a preliminary hearing. Anti-Mormon critic Wesley P. Walters stole the 1826 hearing documents from the court. A lawsuit was filed against Walters, and a court order was issued required him to return the documents, but all he returned was a docket of costs and a list of witnesses. He did not return an order of dismissal or a verdict of not guilty, one of which should exist, but mysteriously, neither is part of the court file.

Host Martin Tanner explains when the Dead Sea Scrolls were written. He explains there are 900 documents: one-third secular, one-third Old Testament books, and one-third religious books not found in the Bible. Since the Dead Sea Scrolls predate any other Old Testament manuscripts by over 1,000 years, they are useful for seeing how accurately the Bible has been reproduced over time. Hear details about forgotten Jewish prophets in the Dead Sea Scrolls that are not found in the Bible, but are found in the Book of Mormon. 

Host Martin Tanner explains that the concept of the "Trinity" is not found in the Bible. The idea that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are of one undivided substance is not found anywhere in the Bible. The only verse in the Bible which seems to support the idea of the Trinity is 1 John 5:7.  But as Martin explains, 1 John 5:7 is not a genuine Bible verse. A scribe mistakenly first added it in the early Fourth Century. Hear the details in this episode.

Martin Tanner provides references to the sources supporting the authenticity of the Tower of Babel account in Genesis 11:1-9, from the Book of Jubilees, the Historian Flavius Josephus, and the Sibylline Books of ancient Rome. The location of the actual ruins of the Tower of Babel, which was named "Etemenanki" when it was built, have been found, 56 miles south of Baghdad, Iraq. It was a Ziggurat, or stepped pyramid built between 3,500 and 3,000 BC, approximately 650 feet tall, was the tallest man made structure until the Eiffel Tower was built. Hear all of the details in this episode of Religion Today.

Genesis 1:26 and 5:3 are explained to demonstrate humans look like the Gods - men and women, and have the qualities and traits of the Gods, including the ability to reason, all of the human emotions, and God-like intellect in embryo. Next, we examine evidence for the Garden of Eden location in the Middle East versus in Missouri. 

Critics use a "red hearing" (untrue fact) to try to discredit the Book of Abraham. Critics say we have the papyri from which the Book of Abraham text was translated, which is factually incorrect. Egyptologists have translated it and it is not the Book of Abraham. The true facts are that we do have 11 papri fragments recovered from the New York Metropolican Museum of Art, which Egyptologists have translated. But the rest or the papyrus scrolls, according to contemporary descriptions, about 100 feet, on at least two long, were burned up in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The scrolls which were burned up, according to contemporary witnesses in Nauvoo, contained the Book of Abraham.

Martin describes 15 modern English Bible translations, their translation style and the pros and cons of each. Starting with the pros and cons of the King James Bible (KJV) he points out the often overlooked fact that current KJV Bible has undergone over a dozen revisions, most of which have made it decidedly Protestant leaning in its theology. Martin goes on to discuss the Contemporary English Bible (CEV), New Revised Standard Verson, updated edition (NRSVue), English Standard Version (ESV), Good News Bible (GN), New Jerusalem Bible (HJB), The Living Bible (TLB), the currently popular version The Message (MSG), New American Standard Bible (NASB), the also popular New Internation Version (NIV) which is a very slanted Protestant translation, New King James Version (NKJV), the often overlooked Names of God Bible (NOG) which Martin gives a high recommendation, and others. 

Martin Tanner describes the contents and origins of the books in the Old Testament. Next he describes the ancient Jewish model of creation found in Genesis 1, and compares it with other, later creation models, including the earth as center of the universe, the sun as the center of the Universe, the Big Bang theory, and others. Next, the creation and location of the Garden of Eden is discussed. Finally, the creation of Adam and Eve were discussed, and how literal or figurative elements of Genesis 1 and 2 are discussed.   

Host Martin Tanner lists famous and infamous predictions of the Second Coming of Jesus from the Apostle Paul, a Catholic Pope, Psychics, Theologians, Scientists, Clergy, and many others, who let Matthew 24:36 slip their minds, which says, "No one knows the day or hour of the Second Coming, not the Angels or even the Son, but the Father only."

Have you wondered why we know the exact date of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, but not the date Jesus was born? Who is the Angel Gabriel? Why did Joseph want to divorce Mary, before they were married? Who were the Wise Men? Martin Tanner answers these and other questions about the birth of Jesus.

The planetariums have it wrong - the Star of Bethlehem could not be a conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. It also could not have been a supernova or other natural star. Host Martin Tanner explains why the Bethlehem Star could only have been either a supernatural event or the 5 BC comet.  You will also learn details about who the "Magi" were, where they came from, and why they came to see Jesus. 

While the King James Bible is widely regarded as the most-read book in the world, especially during the Christmas season, let us also remember William Tyndale. He translated the vast majority of the text of the King James and all other modern English translations of the Bible. 

Galatians 1:8-9 condemns those who preach another, different Gospel from that preached by Paul and other New Testament writers. Host Martin Tanner demonstrates why the critics, not the LDS Church, have changed New Testament teachings on God, Jesus, salvation, scripture, and other doctrines. Evangelicals, not Latter-day Saints, are preaching another, different Gospel in violation of Galatians 1:8-9. 

Host Martin Tanner explains why the "Cambrian explosion," the Punctuated Equilibria theory, the age of the oldest star, DNA, ocean mammals, and the "fine tuning" of the universe, all demonstrate the existence of God.

By reference to the Articles of Faith, 1 Corinthians 7:14 and other scriptures, and, statements of General Authorities, host Martin Tanner explains why wayward children are not lost and will be saved in the Kingdom of God.

Martin Tanner describes details about the horribly difficult life of the Prophet Jeremiah and his little-known messages about the following: (1) What happened to the Ark of the Covenant, (2) The Restoration of the Gospel in the latter-days, (3) Jewish belief in a Queen of Heaven, or Mother-in-Heaven, (4) God has a physical body, (5) pre-existence of spirits, and, (6) the Latter-day "New Covenant" foretold in Jeremiah 31:31-34.

Host Martin Tanner provides a description and details about the Jewish, Early Christian and Latter-day Saint ideas of a War in Heaven, as found in Isaiah 14:12-20; Revelation 12:7-9; D&C 29:36-38; Abraham 3:24-28; and Moses 4:14. The war was over free will, agency and the ability to act without coercion. This is also the underlying scriptural basis for the idea that Jesus and Satan are "spirit brothers" which is often distorted by Church critics. The fundamental difference of opinion over whether people should be able to choose or should be coerced is played out in many settings throughout the world every day. The "War Scroll" in the Dead Sea Scrolls contains an incredibly detailed account of the final battle between good and evil, between freedom and coercion.

Although critics and anti-Mormons try to suggest the Kinderhook Plates demonstrate Joseph Smith was not a true prophet, the opposite is true. Joseph detected them to be fakes and never translated them. Critics also try to claim the Zelph incident shows Joseph Smith was a false prophet. During the Zion's Camp march, Joseph Smith received revelation about a large skeleton that was unearthed, saying the person was "Zelph," a Lamanite (Native American) prophet. The statements of Joseph Smith must be taken on faith as true by those who believe he was a prophet, or disbelieved by skeptics due to their lack of faith. There is no scientific evidence to prove or disprove Joseph Smith's statements about Zelph.

Host Martin Tanner explores the origins of the ideas believed by many that:   (1) The Genesis flood covered the top of every mountain, including Mt. Everest;   (2) The Genesis flood was the baptism of the earth, because the earth needed baptism;   (3) The earth is female, and is alive.    He concludes that although some General Authorities and members take these ideas literally, there is not enough water on the earth to cover all of the mountain tops, and the idea the earth was baptised and is female, are figurative, not literal. The earth did not sin and could not need baptism. These ideas should be taken figuratively, like we use the phrases "mother nature" and  "father time."

In this podcast, host Martin Tanner gives just a few of the many, many indisputable evidences that the Book of Mormon is a genuine ancient work, and that its contents demonstrate that the events described within its pages happened in Central America, not North America. 

The life and legacy of Prophet, Seer and Revelator, Russell M. Nelson are summarized by host Martin Tanner.

An non-denominational Evangelical Christian, who had a burglary conviction, two DUIs, and was a heavy meth user, who had a bad break-up with a Latter-day Saint woman years earlier in Park City, Utah drove his vehicle into an LDS Church in Michigan. He then entered, shot and killed two, shot and wounded eight others, doused the chapel with gasoline and burned it down. He was killed in a shoot-out with law enforcement. What motivated the shooter? Host Martin Tanner gives the likely sources.  

In this podcast, host Martin Tanner explains why capitalism, toleration, discussion, debate and correct information are all part of God's plan of salvation, while socialism, communism, censorship, intolerance, wokeism, and cancel culture are not part of God's plan.

Martin Tanner describes the duties and stewardship of the archangel Raphael, one of the seven great archangels. Raphael's unique function is healing. Raphael was the angel who healed those with diseases and infirmities in the Pool of Bethesda, in the New Testament. In D&C 128, in Temple dedications, and the dedicatory prayer of the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Raphael is invoked to heal those who enter the baptismal font with illness, defects and infirmities, including blindness.

Although not widely known, in this episode of Religion Today, Martin describes how in Jewish and Christian tradition and belief, God the Father is seen as being a person in form, with an actual physical body. God is usually depicted in Jewish and Christian scripture and art as a man with a white beard. Early Jews and Christians believed, as do Latter-day Saints today, that God the Father is not alone, but has a wife. 

Critics claim Jesus was just an impressive man, who over time, was turned into a God by the Christians. In this episode, Martin proves this is not true.  Martin shows Jesus was understood to be deity from the beginning, by a newly deciphered mosaic in an Early Christian church in Megiddo, Israel, which describes Jesus as a God. Martin also demonstrates that non-Christian historians of Jesus' time acknowledged Jesus to be a miracle worker, and someone who was crucified, at which time there was darkness with earthquakes, and that Jesus then rose from the dead and was seen by many people.

Martin Tanner answers the question, "How accurate and reliable are the Old Testament books?"  He points out that Genesis Chapter One was written to be a testimony that God created everything, not a precise scientific narrative. (No one believes the earth, light, oceans and plants were created before the sun, moon and stars). Martin provides an array of evidence, and sources, that verify the Exodus happened, Moses was a real person, Israelites were known to have established the land of Israel by at least 1,400 BC, and other facts in the Old Testament often thought to be myth or legend. 

In this Religion Today episode, Martin Tanner explains why Baptism for the Dead (not of the dead) was taught by the Apostle Paul and practiced by Early Christians. He explains how its accurate practice by Latter-day Saints solves an enormous dilemma of Christianity: How could God be just if the vast majority of people who have ever lived are somehow doomed to Hell only because they never heard of Jesus?

Martin Tanner addresses the illogical, self-contradictory, false claims made by a nameless Evangelical Christian podcaster against the LDS Church and Joseph Smith. 

Martin Tanner describes the nine known first-personal accounts of Joseph Smith's First Vision.  One was in Joseph Smith's own handwriting. Three others were dictated by Joseph Smith. Five are the notes individuals made contemporaneously as they heard Joseph Smith describe his First Vision. Each account offers an emphasis not found in the other accounts. None of the accounts are self-contradictory, or contradict the other accounts.

In this episode of Martin Tanner's Religion Today, Martin examines the alleged false prophecies of Joseph Smith often made by critics. Each example of a purported false prophecy is debunked by exposing the flaws in each claim. The correct facts are presented and the difference between a prophecy, a conditional prophecy, and a prediction, is described.

In celebration of Pioneer Day, Martin shares some little known detail about the Latter-day Saint pioneer trek to the Salt Lake Valley.

Martin Tanner interviews his friend of over 35 years, Howard Storm, who shares his near-death experience (NDE) in great detail, and then answers questions about it. Howard Storm's NDE is widely considered one of the most profound, because when he died, he was initially led by evil spirits of the dead to Spirit Prison, or Hell. But when Howard cried out for help, Jesus took Howard out of there, and healed him. From there, Howard was shown many things about Heaven and earth by Jesus, who answered many questions Howard had. Hear the details in this amazing interview.  

In June 2025, an 1886 John Taylor Revelation on plural marriage was published. Critics and fundamentalists say it means polygamy should never have ended, the 1890 Wilford Woodruff Manifesto should never have been issued, the LDS Church is self-contradictory and has been hiding the 1886 revelation.  Host Martin Tanner explains why this is not true, for example: The 1886 John Taylor revelation says nothing that was not revealed much earlier, in 1843 in D&C 132. The 1890 Manifesto should have been written and is binding. Martin provided several proofs the 1886 revelation was not hidden, but was knows from the day it was written, mentioned by many General Authorities, and even  used in a court case. 

The phrase "wall of separation" is not in the Constitution. It comes from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist Association, in which Jefferson congratulates the Baptists, and by implication all Christians, and people in other religions, on their ability to freely run for office, and participate in all governmental activities in the United States. Host Martin Tanner provides many proofs that religion was not prohibited, but encouraged in the U.S. government. Examples: The Supreme Court in several opinions said the U.S. is a Christian Nation. Congress always opens and closes sessions with a prayer. Benjamin Franklin wanted the Bible to be a textbook in public schools. 

Evangelical Christians, other Protestants, and also Catholics, say God is a Spirit only, quoting John 4:24 "God is spirit[,]" and, John 1:18 "No man hath seen God at any time[.]" In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner goes through many Bible passages which which say not only is God a man, he has been seen many times. 

Why does Matthew's Gospel begin with Jesus's genealogy, traced through Joseph, who is not Jesus's biological father, and includes an adulterer, a gentile and two prostitutes. Other options for tracing Jesus's genealogy were available. Why start a Gospel with a genealogy? Why trace Jesus's genealogy through a gentile, an adulterer and a prostitute? Martin Tanner gives the explanation, which makes perfect sense. Next, Martin tackles Matthew 22:44, in which Jesus says about the promised Messiah, "The Lord said to my Lord, 'Sit at my right hand .  .  .  ." Who are the Lord's spoken of, Jesus, God the Father, the Messiah? Martin explains who the Lords are and why this comment baffled his critics. Next, Martin explains what "Hell" in the New Testament translated from the word, Gehenna, actually means. Jesus's surprising comparison of sin and Hell to a garbage dump. What does the phrase "abomination of desolation" in Matthew 24:15 actually mean? Martin explains.

Host Martin Tanner describes a few of the many ways the often neglected Dead Sea Scrolls are a treasure trove for all Christians, and especially Latter-day Saints. The DSS show there were ancient writings on metal which were hidden in the ground for future generations. The DSS show how dramatically the Old Testament has changed. The DSS were written by a Jewish sect which called themself the "Latter-day Saints" meaning they were the saints in the last days before the Messiah was born. Martin describes many other amazing details about the DSS.

Critics of the LDS Faith claim there could not have been an apostasy because virtually all Christian denominations believe in the Bible, in Jesus, and can trace their history back to the first century AD. But Religion Today podcast host Martin Tanner explains that the core doctrines of Christianity have all dramatically changed since the first century to the point they are unrecognizable.    A few of Martin's most notable examples include:    (1) the nature of God and Jesus; (2) What it takes to be saved in God's Kingdom; (3) Whether the Canon of scriptures closed; (4) Whether baptism is necessary, what kind of baptism and at what age; and (5) the ultimate potential of mankind. These dramatic changes strongly indicate an apostasy has taken place.

In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner provides information from scripture, early Christian writings and tradition, Jewish writings and traditions, and other sources, to lay out a compelling argument for the idea that Jesus was, in all likelihood, a married man with children.