Why LDS Polygamy and Joseph Smith Historian Left and CameBack to the LDS Church (Pt 1) | E0012
Sep 18, 2023
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Stephen interviews Don Bradley, an LDS Polygamy and Joseph Smith Historian. They discuss his journey of leaving and returning to the LDS church, his struggles with doubt and questioning, the role of doubt in purifying faith, the Book of Mormon as a witness of Christ, discoveries of pious forgeries, the fine-tuning problem in the universe, reflections on the existence of God and the afterlife, and his rediscovery of Christianity and belief in the resurrection of Jesus.
Don Bradley's journey of losing faith and feeling conflicted about his spiritual experiences.
Don Bradley's involvement in researching Joseph Smith's polygamy and becoming aware of biases.
The contrast between Brian Hills' peace and Don Bradley's feelings of disillusionment and doubt.
Don Bradley's transformation from atheism to belief in God through exploring the evidence for the resurrection.
Deep dives
Threatening to Sue the Church and Resigning
The speaker reveals that they once threatened to sue the church and recounted handing their letter of resignation to the stake president in 2005.
Losing Faith and Coming Back
The speaker shares their journey of losing faith in the church and Joseph Smith, feeling disappointed and betrayed. They mention feeling conflicted about their spiritual experiences and struggling with doubts. Eventually, they decide to leave the church, only to feel a sense of sadness and disconnection afterwards. They mention becoming involved in the ex-Mormon community and planning to write a naturalistic account of the rise of Mormonism.
Researching Joseph Smith's Polygamy
The speaker discusses their involvement in researching Joseph Smith's polygamy for an author named Brian Hills. They mention collecting sources, exploring various perspectives, and becoming aware of Brian's motivations and biases. They note their amazement at Brian's sense of peace and contrast this with their own feelings of disillusionment and lack of belief in God.
Witnessing Peace in Brian Hills' Life
The speaker recalls visiting Brian Hills' home and being struck by the atmosphere of peace in his house. They acknowledge the contrast between Brian's peaceful life and their own feelings of unrest and doubt.
Exploring Bias and Research
The speaker shares his experience of researching and questioning sources' biases. He learns to contextualize and evaluate sources by considering their motivations and potential angles. This realization helps him become a critical researcher and avoid uncritical acceptance of information.
Seeking Meaning Without Religion
The speaker goes through a phase of doubting his atheism and searching for a larger meaning in life. He explores anti-religious literature but stumbles upon a book that offers a secular explanation for the universe's ultimate meaning. This challenges his atheistic perspective and opens him up to the possibility of a higher power and a deeper meaning to life.
Rediscovering Faith and Christianity
After contemplating the fine-tuning of the universe for life, the speaker undergoes a transformation and begins to believe in God again. He delves into Christian literature, specifically the evidence for the resurrection, and becomes convinced of its historical authenticity. This leads him to embrace Christianity and develop a personal relationship with God through Christ.
In this episode, Stephen talks to LDS Polygamy and Joseph Smith Historian, Don Bradley, and discusses why he left and came back to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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