Mormon Discussion Podcast: Leading With Faith

This time the LDS Church has gone too far! Lying to its membership is one thing, because the members know better than to criticize the leaders of the Church, even if the criticism is true. But this is in a court of law! Judge’s are not famous for taking it well when lawyers lie to their face. We’ll have to see what happens in this lawsuit once that realization starts sinking in! Here it is. The whole story of how the LDS Church just got caught lying in their lawsuit against John Dehlin! (This podcast contains material previously released on the 8-31-26 Mormon Newcast; substantially streamlined through editing for your pleasure.)

In a strange turn of events, Mormon apologist Cardon Ellis is helping John Dehlin fight the LDS Church in the lawsuit the church is bringing to try to shut John down! It appears that religion, as well as politics, can make for strange bedfellows! You have to watch this to believe it! (Contains outtakes from previously released material.)

In this amazing episode of RFM, we get three podcasts in one! The first deals with comments collected from apologetic podcasts that may end up being useful to John Dehlin in defending himself in court against the Mormon Church! The second deals with the 600-Year Prophecy of Christ’s Birth found in the Book of Mormon, and how a close examination of that one prophecy can clarify how we read the Book of Mormon. Finally, RFM tells the story of how it is he actually changed a word in the text of the Book of Mormon! This is not clickbait. This really happened! This one you won’t want to miss!

RFM and Bill Reel are joined by Dr. Thomas Murphy to discuss what the presence of Native American myths, individuals, and stories in the Book of Mormon means. Are these evidence the Book of Mormon is true? Or do they give us an insight into some of the creative grist Joseph was using to compile his narrative of ancient American inhabitants? World-renowned expert in the field Dr. Murphy helps us find the answers! Please Consider Donating to Support Our Work!https://donorbox.org/mormonism-live

The Mormon Church is claiming their lawsuit against John Dehlin has nothing to do with freedom of speech. Of course not! They are just trying to sue John Dehlin into oblivion so he will agree it is wiser and less-expensive to stop criticizing Mormonism. It is so obvious that even church members are noticing and beginning to turn against the church. And the clumsy filings of the church, together with an even clumsier press conference, go a long way toward proving the Mormon Church is suing John Dehlin for all the reasons they say they are not. Listen and see if you agree! (This material originally aired on the Mormon Newscast on August 24, 2026.)

President Dallin Hoaks has gone on record giving us every reason we need to not trust what he says. In this episode, Radio Free Mormon brings the receipts, showing that the current president of the LDS Church is the kind of guy who will try to get you to believe something, even when he knows it isn’t true. That is quite the allegation! And RFM more than backs it up in this remarkable episode!

The LDS Church claims huge growth in membership numbers in Africa. But is this claim true? Or is it manufactured like the baptism numbers claimed for Central and South America back in the 1970s? During Mormonism Live last night, an African named Riya Ngambi called in and spilled the beans on the whole operation, showing how the Mormon Church baptism numbers reported for Africa are largely fictional, and do not represent a state of burgeoning membership as the Church claims!

RFM is joined by Dr. Don Cohen who outlines his fascinating journey from the Jewish faith in which he was born, to his conversion to Mormonism, and from there to where he has landed today. Throughout, Don’s allegiance to evidence and research has been his guiding star. Join us as Dr. Cohen explains his spiritual journey; a journey that is still continuing!

Does the Book of Mormon fit better in the ancient world or in early nineteenth century America when it was created? Defenders of the book point to a handful of twisted and strained comparisons to the ancient world to make their case. Bill and RFM, on the other hand, demonstrate conclusively that the Book of Mormon is a much better fit for the early nineteenth century in which it was produced. Indeed, no book is more obviously a product of its times than the Book of Mormon. And that time was the first part of the nineteenth century in the newly established United States of America. Please consider supporting our work by Donating Today ! – https://donorbox.org/mormonism-live Of anyone needs support dealing with spiritual trauma, 1-on-1 coaching and support groups are available at https://awakenandthrive.org/

RFM is joined by former Mormon Ted Novak, who shares his story of faith and ultimately, of faith deconstruction. Ted thought he studied his religion while he was a member, but he realized along the way what he was really studying was the “Mormon-Approved” version. Once Ted opened himself up to studying non-Mormon-Approved sources, he slowly began to realize that what the LDS Church was selling him was a bill of goods that didn’t stand up to scrutiny; not just one one issue, but on a host of issues! This is one you won’t want to miss!

BREAKING NEWS! Elder Kyle McKay, Church Historian for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, apologized in writing for racially insensitive comments he made at a stake conference in Oklahoma last Sunday!

What if the most revealing thing about Mormon apologetics isn’t the evidence being presented… but the behavioral patterns behind the arguments? Tonight on Mormonism Live, Bill Reel and Radio Free Mormon sit down with Dawn McCarty who works in Forensic Criminology behavioral analysis. Can forensic criminology profile Mormon apologetics? Drawing from several of her recent forensic intelligence briefs, Dawn examines Mormon apologetics, institutional responses to criticism, and high-demand religious systems through the lens of behavioral analysis, threat assessment, cognitive containment, and coercive influence. Together we discuss: • How criminologists identify behavioral patterns in institutions • Narrative patching, semantic inversion, and epistemological fog • The psychology behind apologetic argumentation • Jacob Hansen’s conversations with Alex O’Connor and Bill Reel • The LDS Church’s lawsuit against Mormon Stories and John Dehlin • How institutions maintain authority during periods of public scrutiny • Whether these frameworks can be applied fairly to critics as well as believers Most importantly, we’ll ask whether apologetics can be analyzed the same way investigators analyze other systems that seek to preserve power, shape narratives, and influence behavior. Whether you agree with Dawn’s conclusions or not, this conversation offers a unique perspective that moves beyond history and theology and into the psychology of belief, persuasion, and institutional survival. Join us live and bring your questions. THE REPORTShttps://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/EVIDENTIARY-FORENSIC-INTELLIGENCE-BRIEF_-LDS-CHURCH-SUES-MORMON-STORIES--JOHN-DEHLIN.pdf https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/EXECUTIVE-FORENSIC-INTELLIGENCE-BRIEF-for-JACOB-HANSEN-A-Mormon-Explains-Mormonism-with-Alex-OConnor.pdf https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/EXECUTIVE-FORENSIC-INTELLIGENCE-BRIEF-for-JACOB-HANSEN-Honest-Conversations-About-Faith-with-Jacob-Hansen-Bill-Reel.pdf https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/INTELLIGENCE-BRIEF-Forensic-Autopsy-of-Apologetic-Evasion-and-Systemic-Predatory-Enabling-Author_-Dawn-McCarty-Criminologist-Date_-April-27-2026.pdf Tonight’s Presentation – https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/Forensic-Criminology.pdf MormonismLive #MormonApologetics #MormonStories #JohnDehlin #JacobHansen #LDSChurch #Mormonism #ReligiousStudies #ForensicAnalysis #CultDynamics #FaithCrisis #MormonDiscussion #RadioFreeMormon

What if the harm didn’t start with a crisis… but with what you were taught as a child? In this episode of Mormonism Live, we sit down with researcher and clinician Samuel Clemens, PhD, LCSW, to unpack his groundbreaking study on religious trauma among former Latter-day Saints—particularly those who identify as sexual minorities. This isn’t a conversation about people being “offended” or simply losing belief. It’s about something deeper. Clemens’ research reveals that for many, the damage isn’t tied to a single moment—but to years of subtle conditioning. Messages about worthiness, identity, obedience, and belonging begin early… and often shape how individuals see themselves long before they have the language to understand who they are. We explore:How religious trauma develops over time—not in one event, but through repetitionWhy identity and morality being fused together creates lasting psychological conflictThe “double bind” many experience: be authentic and risk losing everything, or conform and lose yourselfThe central role of family, belonging, and conditional acceptanceWhy leaving can feel both freeing and devastating at the same timeThis is an honest, nuanced conversation about the real human impact of high-demand religious systems—and what healing can actually look like on the other side. If you’ve ever wrestled with these questions, or you’re trying to understand someone who has, this episode offers insight that’s hard to ignore. Support Mormonism Live:https://donorbox.org/mormonism-live If you or someone you know is navigating religious or spiritual trauma, support and coaching resources are available at: https://awakenandthrive.org/ #MormonismLive #ReligiousTrauma #FaithTransition #ExMormon #MentalHealth #lds To reach Sam – [email protected]

Join Bill Reel and RFM as we cue up the most scintillating and awe-inspiring moments from the April 2026 General Conference! You are sure to have a good time!