Mormon Stories Podcast

Faithful Historian Deceives Mormons - Keith Erekson | Ep. 1990 | LDS Discussions Ep. 61

Feb 7, 2025

In this discussion, historian Keith Erekson, who oversees historical research for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, addresses sensitive topics in Mormon history alongside researcher Sandra Tanner. They delve into polygamy, including Joseph Smith's controversial marriages, and the church's historical transparency regarding events like the Mountain Meadows Massacre. The duo debates the church's narratives, the consequences of unveiling hidden histories, and the ongoing challenges of reconciling faith with historical accountability.

03:36:59

Creator website

Episode guests

Keith Erekson

Sandra Tanner

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Keith Erekson's fireside discussion highlights the LDS Church's ongoing attempts to address and defend its controversial historical claims.

The podcast critiques the portrayal of the Mountain Meadows Massacre, emphasizing the need to acknowledge the church's deeper involvement in its history.

Sandra Tanner's extensive research underscores the importance of uncovering suppressed aspects of Mormon history and challenging official narratives.

The conversation about polygamy reveals the coercive nature of these practices and the misleading claims surrounding Joseph Smith's plural marriages.

The hosts stress the importance of transparency in discussing the Book of Abraham, raising concerns over the legitimacy of Joseph Smith's translations.

Deep dives

Overview of the LDS Discussions Series

The podcast discusses the LDS Discussions series, initiated by Mike, which provides a thorough analysis of Mormon Church truth claims. This extensive review aims to cover various aspects of Mormon history, starting from Joseph Smith's treasure digging to modern-day issues within the church. The hosts emphasize the importance of the series, noting the value that many listeners find in it. They highlight their commitment to continuing the series even after Mike's departure, underlining the unresolved topics that require further exploration.

Intro

4min

Navigating Polygamy in Church History

7min

Unveiling Church History

16min

Unveiling Hidden Controversies in Church History

1min

Historical Accountability and the Mountain Meadows Massacre

15min

Unpacking Mormon History: Leadership and the Word of Wisdom

9min

The Evolution of Missionary Work and Temple Worthiness in Mormonism

2min

Evolving Interpretations of the Word of Wisdom

6min

Ongoing Revelation in Mormonism

3min

10.

Cultural Change and Church Doctrine

6min

11.

Power Dynamics and Historical Narratives in the Church

10min

12.

Controversies of Polygamy and Authority in Mormonism

11min

13.

Exploring Polygamy in Latter-day Saints

18min

14.

Audience Reactions and Controversies Surrounding a Historical Figure

2min

15.

Exploring Joseph Smith's Motivations for Polygamy

2min

16.

Persuasion and Rhetoric in Historical Marriages

2min

17.

Redefining Restoration in Mormon Beliefs

18min

18.

Exploring the Law of Adoption in Early Mormonism

2min

19.

Questioning the Motives Behind Joseph Smith's Marriages

2min

20.

Exploring the Sealing Practices and Their Implications

17min

21.

Mary Elizabeth Rollins: Faith, Marriage, and Controversy

9min

22.

Understanding Plural Marriage in Mormon Doctrine

16min

23.

Unearthing the Book of Abraham: Controversies and Context

15min

24.

The Intersection of History and Legal Motives

2min

25.

Deconstructing Egyptian Funerary Texts

14min

26.

Evaluating Honesty in Scholarship

5min

27.

Upcoming Events and Community Support

2min

28.

Support and Gratitude: A Call to Action for Listeners

3min

Keith Erekson serves as the director of the historical research and outreach for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On January 12, 2025 he gave a fireside in which he answered tough questions. Today we are responding to that fireside and discussing such topics as polygamy, Joseph Smith marrying women who were already married, and the church hiding aspects of its history.

Show Notes

YouTube

00:03:40 Introducing the original fireside with Keith Erekson

00:10:23 Background on Keith Erekson who works for the Church

00:17:08 Erekson saying the church never hid anything from its history

00:21:30 How the Church has hidden its history

00:30:35 Mountain Meadows Massacre

00:37:25 Utah Mormon Reformation Questions

00:43:42 The Word of Wisdom

00:58:57 The Lord is guiding President Nelson to lead the church today

01:02:00 Clip of Elder Holland explaining how the Church moves with the world

01:08:19 Joseph Smith publicly denying that he lived polygamy

01:17:00 These firesides are for questioning members

01:18:42 John C. Bennett’s list of Joseph Smith’s wives

01:22:52 Denials of polygamy

01:29:29 What is the purpose of polygamy?

01:33:53 Monogamy is the rule plurality is the exception

01:42:16 The New and Everlasting Covenant means polygamy

01:52:52 Erekson on the Restoration of All Things

02:03:05 Why did Joseph Smith marry women who were already married?

02:10:40 The Law of Adoption

02:19:03 Joseph’s wives getting sealed to other people after his death

02:20:24 Sealings for Time only

02:21:54 Time and Eternity only sealings

02:31:31 Erekson on Mary Elizabeth Rollins

02:34:10 Dan Vogel on Mary Elizabeth Rolins

02:40:26 Is polygamy required for exaltation?

02:51:22 Are women just prizes in Mormonism?

02:55:46 Erekson on the Book of Abraham

03:07:50 Finding the scrolls for the Book of Abraham

03:12:20 Erekson saying we’ve always called these funerary texts

03:21:15 The diagram produced in the Book of Abraham

03:24:11 Joseph Smith and the Catalyst Theory for the Book of Abraham

03:27:00 Grading Keith Erekson on his knowledge, honesty, etc.

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Mormon Stories Podcast

Faithful Historian Deceives Mormons - Keith Erekson | Ep. 1990 | LDS Discussions Ep. 61

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Overview of the LDS Discussions Series

Discussion on Keith Erickson's Fireside

Role of the Tanners in Challenging Church History

Questions Raised on Mountain Meadows Massacre

Polygamy in Early Mormon Doctrine

Interpretation of the Book of Abraham

The Role of Death and Afterlife in Mormonism

Critiques of Keith Erickson's Historical Presentation

Emerging Themes in Mormon Discourse

Get the Snipd
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Mormon Stories Podcast

Faithful Historian Deceives Mormons - Keith Erekson | Ep. 1990 | LDS Discussions Ep. 61

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Overview of the LDS Discussions Series

Discussion on Keith Erickson's Fireside

Role of the Tanners in Challenging Church History

Questions Raised on Mountain Meadows Massacre

Polygamy in Early Mormon Doctrine

Interpretation of the Book of Abraham

The Role of Death and Afterlife in Mormonism

Critiques of Keith Erickson's Historical Presentation

Emerging Themes in Mormon Discourse

Get the Snipdpodcast app

AI-poweredpodcast player

Discoverhighlights

Save anymoment

Share& Export

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Discoverhighlights

Get the Snipd
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highlights

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moment

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highlights