Radio Free Mormon

Mormon apologist Jacob Hansen has chosen the hill he wants to die on. That hill is his unusual position that even though prophets can be (and have been!) horribly wrong about doctrinal issues, they can still be trusted to teach us the truth. I know. I know. It doesn’t make any sense to me, either!… Read More »Lying About Prophets: RFM: 475

In June 1834, while marching with Zion’s Camp through Illinois, Joseph Smith and his followers came across an ancient Native American burial mound. Members of the group dug into the mound and uncovered a human skeleton—with what appeared to be an arrowhead among its ribs. According to multiple members of Zion’s Camp, Joseph Smith then… Read More »Mormonism’s Zelph – The White Lamanite

RFM and Bill Reel host an august panel of Sunstone Symposium presenters and attendees, as they tell us fun and fascinating stories about what goes on behind the scenes of Sunstone! Join us! Mormon Studies were never so much fun!

Kolby Reddish and RFM used their combined legal education, experience and acumen to break down and analyze the recent Arizona Supreme Court Case dismissing the lawsuit against the LDS Church for covering up child abuse in its ranks. If you’re wondering what the hell happened in Arizona, this discussion by two “Mormon Legal Eagles” should… Read More »Mormon Church Wins Arizona CSA Case: RFM: 473

What if one of the most important events in early Mormon history never actually accomplished what it set out to do? In 1834, Joseph Smith organized nearly 200 armed men and led them almost 900 miles across the American frontier with one stated objective: redeem Zion and restore the Saints to their lands in Jackson… Read More »Zion’s Camp: Turning Failure Into Faith

What did the Nauvoo Temple endowment look like in its earliest form? In this episode of Mormonism Live, Bill Reel and Radio Free Mormon examine one of the earliest published firsthand accounts of the Nauvoo Temple ceremony: Catherine Lewis’s 1848 narrative. Written only a few years after the events it describes, Lewis’s account provides a… Read More »Mormon Endowment’s Earliest Historical Form !

RFM and Bill Reel are joined by a special panel of Black Mormons and ex-Mormons in this important episode. What is it like experiencing Mormonism through the lens of race? Especially when that race paints you as a second class citizen? Are discriminatory practices and beliefs about Black people a thing of the past in… Read More »Black Mormons Speak Out!

Jacob Hansen has been slowly but surely losing his mind over the last several years. Okay. Not so slowly. But still. The past week has brought not one, but two, videos from Jacob that seem bent on proving he is now officially non compos mentis. Take a look at these new videos from Jacob and… Read More »Mormon Apologist Loses Mind: RFM: 467

Radio Free Mormon details the circumstances leading up to the guilty plea last Thursday in federal court by Wade Christofferson to CSA charges. What did D. Todd Christofferson know, and when did he know it? And based on the little information the Church has disclosed, D. Todd definitely knew about the danger his brother posed… Read More »Elder D. Todd Christofferson Needs To Step Down! [RFM:466]

RFM was a Mormon apologist 40-years ago, and as part of that ended up writing a paper on Lehi’s Dream that was published in The Journal of Book of Mormon Studies. It is an important paper that continues to be cited by Mormon apologists in various publications and formats, even as recently as March of… Read More »They’re Still Using My Research: RFM: 465

Dr. Randall Bell and RFM head east for a crazy two days of jamming as many church history sites in as we possibly can handle! We took photos and video to document our misadventures and share it all here with you! Well, almost all. Part is still a secret of Dr. Bell’s that he will… Read More »RFM Does Church History Sites: RFM: 465

For decades, the historical consensus has been that Joseph Smith introduced and practiced plural marriage in Nauvoo. But a small group of researchers has argued for a very different conclusion: that Joseph Smith was not the founder of Mormon polygamy and that the historical evidence has been misunderstood. In this episode of Mormonism Live, we… Read More »Joseph Smith’s Polygamy with Jeremy Hoop

Tonight on Mormonism Live, Bill Reel and Radio Free Mormon take a deep dive into one of the most talked-about Mormon history stories in recent memory: the recent leaking of the William Clayton journals. For years, the full Clayton journals have been a source of speculation, controversy, and anticipation. William Clayton was not a peripheral… Read More »The William Clayton Journals – What’s In Them?

Famous Youtuber “Reckless Ben” just got served with a restraining order forbidding him from podcasting anymore about the “Bricks & Minifigs” Case and requiring him to take down any podcasts he has already published dealing with the case. Reckless Ben can’t talk about the Restraining Order. But RFM can!

The Mormon Church keeps telling us it is growing. And not only is it growing, they say it is growing faster than it has ever grown in history! And yet faithful Mormon researcher Jeff Strong says the LDS Church has lost 40 % of its active membership in the last twenty-five years. How will the… Read More »LDS Church Membership Tanks!

Ever wonder what happens when you take all the earliest accounts of the Angel Moroni appearing to Joseph Smith and compare them? The answers can be problematic but always fascinating. RFM is joined by an all-star panel of Bill Reel, Randy Bell and everyone’s favorite Rando, Kolby Reddish, to hash through the sources. The result… Read More »Don’t You Forget About Moroni: RFM 459

Tonight on Mormonism Live we tackle one of the most controversial and uncomfortable documents in LDS history: Joseph Smith’s 1832 First Vision account. Not the polished 1838 version members know from the Pearl of Great Price. Not the story that has been repeated in manuals and General Conference over a hundred years. We’re going back… Read More »Joseph Smith’s 1832 First Vision: Excised with a Penknife & Hidden Away?

Bill Reel and RFM are joined this week by Meggan Hayes, host of the “Generally Unquotable” podcast, which features a news report on things Mormon every weekday morning! How does Meggan do it? Where does she get her stories? What are the biggest stories she has covered? These are just some of the things we’ll… Read More »Podcaster Meggan Hayes (Generally Unquotable) Joins the Show!

I had a faith crisis in my mid-twenties. A big faith crisis. It involved a salamander and it involved a letter. It made me question everything I thought I knew about Joseph Smith, the book he produced, and the religion he founded. The LDS religion. MY religion! And in that time of despair, I clung… Read More »They Didn’t Tell Me This!!! RFM: 458

Tonight on Mormonism Live, we explore one of the most uncomfortable and fascinating questions in early Mormon history: Was Moroni originally understood through the same treasure-digging framework Joseph Smith had already been practicing for years? Long before the Book of Mormon was published, Joseph Smith and those around him were involved in treasure seeking using… Read More »Moroni As A Treasure Guardian

RFM is joined by Kolby Reddish to finish off our analysis of the historic trouncing Bill Reel recently gave to Mormon apologist Robert Gurr! This is one for the record books! My favorite part is Mr. Gurr’s argument for why it is horses went extinct in the Americas. Hint: It has nothing to do with… Read More »Mormon Bring Knife To Gunfight! RFM: 457

RFM is joined by esteemed co-counsel Kolby Reddish to dissect Jacob Hansen’s recent debate with Allie Beth Stuckey of The Blaze. Strangely, Jacob seems to want to talk about anything other than Mormonism. His efforts to make Mormonism sound like Protestantism grow increasingly bizarre. But Allie is not going to let him get away with… Read More »Mormon Gets Creamed In Debate: RFM: 456

An attorney looks at the complaint! What is up with the Mormon Church? Why are they suing John Dehlin? Radio Free Mormon uses his 36-year career as an attorney to review and dissect the Church’s complaint, and discovers a number of fascinating elements to what the Mormon Church may really be up to! If you… Read More »Why Is The Mormon Church Suing John Dehlin? RFM:455

The deeper you dive into the Book of Mormon, the more you find. RFM and Bill Reel are joined by Ganesh Cherian to take a deep dive in the Book of Mormon. But beware as these waters are infested with creatures that take big bites out of Book of Mormon historicity. Help support Bill Reel… Read More »Dive Deep Into The Book of Mormon [Mormonism Live 214]

Welcome to ‘Brush Up Your Shakespeare,’ where we explore the most poignant and memorable moments of the Bard’s masterpieces! In this episode, our insightful host takes you through the final scene sharing Hamlet Act V, Scene 2, with a focus on the moving line: ‘Good night, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to… Read More »“Good Night, Sweet Prince, and Flights of Angels Sing Thee to Thy Rest”: Hamlet, Act V, scene 2: Brush Up Your Shakespeare: 021

This scene takes place entirely in a graveyard! And Shakespeare, sensing things are getting a bit heavy, lightens things up with some comedy between two gravediggers! One of the gravediggers pops up a skull that belonged to the court jester, Yorick, and hands it to Hamlet. This begins one of the most famous vignettes in… Read More »“Alas, Poor Yorick!”: Hamlet, Act V, scene 1: Brush Up Your Shakespeare: 020

In this episode of Mormonism Live, hosts Bill Reel and Radio Free Mormon dive deep into one of the most impactful events in Mormon history—the loss of the 116 pages of the Book of Lehi. These pages, the first part of the Book of Mormon, were said to be translated by Joseph Smith through divine… Read More »The Lost 116 Pages of the Book of Lehi [Mormonism Live 193]

Laertes returns to Denmark incensed over the murder of his father, Polonius, and seeking revenge. Things go from bad to worse when Laertes finds out that his sister has gone mad and then drowns herself. But Claudius is able to turn the wrath of Laertes away from himself and toward Hamlet, whom Claudius has sent… Read More »“To Cut His Throat I’ Th’ Church”: Hamlet Act IV, scenes 6 & 7: Brush Up Your Shakespeare: 019

With Hamlet safely on his way to certain death in England, Claudius must deal with another threat to his throne: Laertes, the son of slain Polonius, is coming back from France to seek revenge for HIS father’s murder, and Laertes has his sights set on Claudius as the likely suspect! Adding to his rage, Laertes… Read More »“When Sorrows Come, They Come Not Single Spies, But In Battalions”: Hamlet, Act IV, scene 5: Brush Up Your Shakespeare: 018

This scene contains one of the most brilliant soliloquies in the all of Shakespeare, and it doesn’t start with, “To be or not to be”! Hamlet realizes he has been thinking about revenging his father’s murder too long, and now resolves to take action to kill the King, his uncle, Claudius!

Hamlet killed Polonius in the last scene. The king is now sending Hamlet off to England. But is it just to get Hamlet out of Denmark until things cool down? Or does Claudius have something more sinister in mind? Could Claudius be sending Hamlet on a one-way trip to England? One from which Hamlet will… Read More »Hamlet, Act IV, scenes 1-3: Brush Up Your Shakespeare 016

The tension mounts as Hamlet’s mother, Queen Gertrude, summons Hamlet to her chambers after the “Mousetrap” play to demand of her son what he thinks he is up to. Hamlet quickly turns the tables on her, causing her to cry out for help. This causes Polonius, hidden behind the arras in the same room, to… Read More »“Hoist With His Own Petard”: Hamlet, Act III, scene 4: Brush Up Your Shakespeare: 015

Mormon in 2024. Brace yourselves for a captivating journey as we unravel the layers of Nephi’s 600-year prophecy of Jesus. In this episode, we’re not just skimming the surface; we’re delving deep into the intricacies of Nephi’s prophetic words about the Savior. Join us as we bring to light hidden insights that go beyond the… Read More »The 600-Year Prophecy of Jesus: Mormon Sunday School: 1 Nephi 16-22: 005

Welcome back to ‘Brush Up Your Shakespeare,’ where we uncover the hidden gems within the Bard’s timeless works! In this episode, our insightful host delves into the depths of Hamlet Act III, Scene 3, with a keen focus on the poignant quote: ‘My words fly up; my thoughts remain below.’ Join us as we explore… Read More »“My Words Fly Up; My Thoughts Remain Below”: Hamlet, Act III, scene 3: Brush Up Your Shakespeare: 014

“Welcome back to ‘Brush Up Your Shakespeare,’ where we delve into the rich tapestry of the Bard’s masterpieces! In this episode, our perceptive host dissects Hamlet Act III, Scene II, with a focus on the famous line: ‘The lady doth protest too much, methinks.’ Join us as we explore the intricate dynamics of deceit, manipulation,… Read More »“The Lady Doth Protest Too Much, Methinks”: Hamlet Act III, scene 2: Brush Up Your Shakespeare: 013

Enter into the world of ‘Brush Up Your Shakespeare,’ where the host steps into the greatest soliloquy ‘To Be Or Not To Be’. Join us for an in-depth exploration of the emotions, self-reflection, and existential ponderings embedded in this iconic soliloquy. It’s time to brush up on the brilliance of the Bard – your literary… Read More »The Most Famous Soliloquy in Western Literature: “To Be Or Not To Be”: Brush Up Your Shakespeare: 012

“Welcome back, enthusiasts of the Bard, to another enlightening episode of ‘Brush Up Your Shakespeare’! In this edition, our insightful host delves into the complexities of Hamlet Act II, Scene 2, unraveling the intricacies of Shakespeare’s timeless play and noting that “The Play’s the Thing!”. Join us as we explore the nuances of political machinations,… Read More »“The Play’s the Thing”: Hamlet, Act II, scene 2, part B: Brush Up Your Shakespeare: 009

Our study of the Book of Mormon reveals what appears to be a demonstrably false prediction regarding the return of the Jews to their Holy Land in the last days!

In a strange twist of fate, the Book of Mormon itself seems to refute the priesthood and temple ban on blacks instituted by the LDS Church in 1852 and not discontinued until 1978.

What’s eating Hamlet? That’s what everyone at court is trying to figure out! As the play progresses, the new king, Claudius, gets closer and closer to discovering Hamlet’s secret–that Hamlet has somehow figured out that Claudius murdered his way to the throne by killing Hamlet’s father!

After having gone over this famous soliloquy from Hamlet Act II, scene 2 in the regular podcast, I take some time out here to perform the soliloquy. The rendition may not be stellar, but the soliloquy itself is one of the greatest in the English language!

Today we delve into the Isaiah chapters in 2 Nephi, and RFM shows us how Isaiah can actually be made interesting!

Join us as RFM dives deep into a textual analysis of this sermon by Jacob. The results are surprising!

Join us as we continue our exploration of the greatest of all Shakespeare plays: Hamlet!

In today’s scene, we find Polonius, the King’s counselor, being sneaky and using spies to gain information. It is a habit that not only contrasts with the “wise” Polonius we have already seen in Act I, it is a practice that will eventually lead to his death. Then his daughter, Ophelia, tells Polonius about an… Read More »Hamlet Act II, scene 1: “By Indirections Find Directions Out”: Brush Up Your Shakespeare: 007

RFM dives into how he was involved with the Critical Text Project, and even ended up changing a word in the text!

The Ghost of Hamlet’s father, the former King of Denmark, finally delivers his message to Hamlet. It is a message of evil, murder, deceit and revenge! It’s enough to drive a bloke bonkers!

Act I, scene 4 finds us back on the castle battlements in the middle of the night keeping watch with Hamlet and Horatio for the Ghost of the dead king. Will the Ghost appear? And if the Ghost does appear, what will it say? Join us to find out!

RFM breaks down Nephi’s panoramic vision of the future in 1 Nephi 11-14 like nobody else! Sunday School has never been this much fun!

Mormon Church Hires LGBT Ally as Head Spokesman will be our lead story tonight. We will also be covering some news about Tim Ballard, Chad Daybell, an Alcohol trademark violation in Utah, and Grant Hardy’s Annotated Book of Mormon!