Radio Free Mormon

How Did Joseph Smith Convince So Many? Exploring Hypnosis, Visions, and the Birth of a Movement How did Joseph Smith inspire thousands to not only believe in his prophetic gifts but also claim their own divine visions and supernatural encounters? Could hypnosis or altered states of consciousness explain part of the story? Tonight, we explore the controversial theory that Joseph Smith may have used hypnotic influence to spark spiritual experiences—and how that shaped early Mormonism. Don’t miss this mind-bending episode! Join Our Mailing List Stay in the loop with exclusive updates, new episodes, and behind-the-scenes insights. Join our mailing list today: https://subscribepage.io/MormonDiscussion Support the Cause If our work has helped you or someone you love, consider paying it forward. Your donation keeps our mission alive: https://donorbox.org/mormonism-after-dark Support the Cause If our work has helped you or someone you love, consider paying it forward. Your donation keeps our mission alive: https://donorbox.org/mormonism-live Like & Subscribe on YouTube If you’re enjoying our content, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss an episode: youtube.com/@MormonDiscussion Join Us In Person – August 2nd, 2025 RFM & Bill are gathering in person for a powerful, community-building event in Salt Lake City! Grab your spot before tickets run out: Register Here – https://donorbox.org/events/780890/steps/choose_tickets Join Us For A Live Show – August 4th, 2025 RFM, Bill, & Rebecca are gathering in person for a Live Showing of the Mormon Newscast in Salt Lake City! Grab your spot before tickets run out: https://donorbox.org/events/784033 Sponsor a Scholarship Help someone attend who otherwise couldn’t. Donate to our scholarship fund and make our events accessible to all: donorbox.org/mormon-discussion-scholarships https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-discussions-podcasts-full-lineup/id562296100 https://open.spotify.com/show/0lEZJF0ZH6ccoteUP9Z4Fu Instagram: /https://www.instagram.com/mormondiscussion/ TikTok: @mormondiscussion https://www.tiktok.com/@mormondiscussion Mormon Discussion Merch store https://www.exmoshirts.com/collections/mormondiscussions Mormon Discussions Website – https://mormondiscussions.org/ Contact Bill Reel, RFM, and the Mormon Discussions Team: MormonDiscussionsPodcasts@gmail.com

Did David O. McKay lose his testimony of the Book of Mormon? Not as a kid or young man, but while serving as the ninth president of the LDS Church? Incredibly, the evidence actually seems to support the idea! Join Radio Free Mormon as he sets forth the case that David O. McKay, the most popular president and prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the 20th Century, did not believe the Book of Mormon to be ancient, but instead believed that Joseph Smith himself wrote it. This is one you won’t want to miss!

What happens when faith becomes a franchise? In this gripping episode of Mormonism LIVE, we sit down with award-winning filmmaker Nathan Apffel and Chris Ayoub to discuss his upcoming documentary “The Religion Business”—a hard-hitting exposé exploring the multi-billion dollar intersection of belief, power, and profit. From televangelists to temples, we’ll pull back the curtain on how modern religious empires are built, marketed, and monetized. Nathan and Chris shares behind-the-scenes insights into the making of the film, jaw-dropping moments from his interviews, and the uncomfortable truths he’s uncovered about how organized religion can exploit spiritual hunger for institutional gain. Whether you’re a believer, a skeptic, or somewhere in between, this conversation will challenge you to consider where devotion ends and the business begins. PREMIER 1 – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-religion-business-salt-lake-premiere-1-tickets-1497737024759?msockid=1f8172e49f156a17358a64eb9e876b0ePREMIER 2 – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-religion-business-salt-lake-premiere-2-tickets-1500878260279?msockid=1f8172e49f156a17358a64eb9e876b0ePurchase the docuseries here – https://www.thereligionbusiness.com/docuseries Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to join the conversation. TheReligionBusiness #NathanApffel #MormonismLIVE #FaithCrisis #ReligiousProfitMachine #ExMormon #Documentary #ChurchMoney

What If the Prophet You Trust Showed Signs You’d Warn Your Children About? We often teach our children how to recognize red flags—signs that someone might not have good intentions. But what happens when those same behaviors show up in the life of someone we revere as a prophet? In this eye-opening episode, we explore the established patterns and techniques used by predators—behaviors like isolating individuals, using spiritual authority, giving gifts, and creating undue emotional dependence. Then we take a close, respectful look at the life of Joseph Smith to see if these patterns emerge. This isn’t about attacking faith. It’s about asking hard, faithful questions in pursuit of truth—because if our beliefs are true, they can withstand scrutiny. And if they aren’t, shouldn’t we want to know? If you’ve ever felt something didn’t quite sit right with certain stories in Church history, you’re not alone. Let’s explore this with clarity, compassion, and a commitment to truth. #JosephSmith #MormonHistory #GroomingAwareness #LDSTruthSeekers #MormonFaithCrisis #LDS #latterdaysaints

Defenders of the Book of Mormon point to the war chapters as evidence of its truth. Tonight, Radio Free Mormon reviews five important aspects of the war chapters and comes to a decidedly different conclusion. The war chapters, far from vindicating the truth of the book of Mormon, end up being the book of Mormon’s final Waterloo!

He Was Too Honest About Mormon Scripture—So They Made Him Pay!  David P. Wright, a brilliant scholar of the Hebrew Bible, once taught at BYU—until his academic integrity put him at odds with LDS orthodoxy. In 1989, he was fired for holding views deemed incompatible with Church doctrine. But the campaign against him didn’t stop there. After securing a position at Brandeis University, a General Authority issued instructions to excommunicate him—all triggered by a scholarly paper showing literary parallels between the Book of Mormon and the New Testament. In this episode, RFM walks you through the evidence—Wright’s own words, the paper that sparked the backlash, and the Church’s behind-the-scenes moves to silence him. This is the story they didn’t want you to know.

Lila Tueller, Daughter of LDS General Authority, Shares Untold Stories of Pain and Faith in “Shattered Trust” What happens when loyalty to the Church comes at the expense of the individual? Lila Tueller, daughter of well-known LDS General Authority Hartman Rector, Jr., has spent a lifetime inside the heart of Mormonism. In her powerful new book, Shattered Trust, she opens the door to stories rarely acknowledged—firsthand accounts from members and former members who found themselves caught between personal suffering and institutional silence. In this episode of Mormonism Live, we explore Lila’s perspective and the deeply moving narratives she shares. With clarity and compassion, Shattered Trust sheds light on what can happen when systems meant to uplift become blind to the pain within their own walls. If you’ve ever wrestled with questions about faith, loyalty, and accountability, this conversation may offer the validation—and the honesty—you didn’t know you were looking for. Lila’s Book “Shattered Trust” can be purchased early – https://new-leaf-publishing.kit.com/743db0bf92 Lila has another book “I Love You Because: A Collection of Thoughts and Memories” – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FD8C8CKW Narcisstic abuse recovery Book by Lila – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F5BF1NS1 Lila is a fabric designer. You can visit her shop where fabrics are sold – https://lilatuellerdesigns.etsy.com Join Our Mailing List Stay in the loop with exclusive updates, new episodes, and behind-the-scenes insights. Join our mailing list today: https://subscribepage.io/MormonDiscussion Support the Cause If our work has helped you or someone you love, consider paying it forward. Your donation keeps our mission alive: https://donorbox.org/mormonism-after-dark Support the Cause If our work has helped you or someone you love, consider paying it forward. Your donation keeps our mission alive: https://donorbox.org/mormonism-live Like & Subscribe on YouTube If you’re enjoying our content, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss an episode: youtube.com/@MormonDiscussion Join Us In Person – August 2nd, 2025RFM & Bill are gathering in person for a powerful, community-building event in Salt Lake City! Grab your spot before tickets run out: Register Here –    https://donorbox.org/events/780890/steps/choose_tickets Join Us For A Live Show – August 4th, 2025RFM,  Bill, & Rebecca are gathering in person for a Live Showing of the Mormon Newscast in Salt Lake City! Grab your spot before tickets run out:https://donorbox.org/events/784033 Sponsor a Scholarship Help someone attend who otherwise couldn’t. Donate to our scholarship fund and make our events accessible to all: donorbox.org/mormon-discussion-scholarships

Radio Free Mormon shows six places where Joseph Smith used Josephus, a two thousand year old historical source, to supplement Smith’s scriptural productions. By this method among others, Joseph Smith fulfilled the Book of Mormon prediction that he would restore ancient truths that had become lost.

Mormonism uses many thinking errors to promote its message. RFM sits down with Dr. Randy Bell and Kolby Reddish, Esq., to identify the top twelve logical fallacies, together with examples from Mormon sources! This will be a lot of fun!

Who really was Joseph Smith? When one peels back the layers of legend and legacy to explore the life of Mormonism’s controversial founder, a far more complex and human figure emerges—part visionary, part rebel, and entirely unlike the sanitized version told in Sunday School. From buried golden plates and seer stones to secret plural marriages and clashes with the law, this conversation reveals the man behind the movement. Was he a prophet inspired by God—or a charismatic charlatan driven by ambition? Whether you’re a faithful Latter-day Saint, a curious seeker, or someone wrestling with LDS beliefs, this episode offers a compelling, eye-opening look at the man who started it all—and it just might change the way you see Mormonism forever. Join Us In Person – August 2nd, 2025RFM & Bill are gathering in person for a powerful, community-building event in Salt Lake City! Grab your spot before tickets run out: Register Here – https://donorbox.org/events/780890/steps/choose_tickets Join Us For A Live Show – August 4th, 2025RFM,  Bill, & Rebecca are gathering in person for a Live Showing of the Mormon Newscast in Salt Lake City! Grab your spot before tickets run out:https://donorbox.org/events/784033 Sponsor a Scholarship Help someone attend who otherwise couldn’t. Donate to our scholarship fund and make our events accessible to all: donorbox.org/mormon-discussion-scholarships Help support Bill Reel & Radio Free Mormon in making informative entertaining content that shines a light on truth and leads with transparency.  DONATE VIA DONORBOX! https://donorbox.org/mormonism-live Join our Mailing List – subscribepage.io/MormonDiscussion  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mormon-discussions-podcasts-full-lineup/id562296100 https://open.spotify.com/show/0lEZJF0ZH6ccoteUP9Z4Fu Instagram: /https://www.instagram.com/mormondiscussion/ TikTok: @mormondiscussion https://www.tiktok.com/@mormondiscussion Mormon Discussion Merch store https://www.exmoshirts.com/collections/mormondiscussionsMormon Discussions Website – https://mormondiscussions.org/ Contact Bill Reel, RFM, and the Mormon Discussions Team: MormonDiscussionsPodcasts@gmail.com