LDS Discussions - Mormon Truth Claims Examined

Did Joseph Smith have another shot at translating ancient scripture, or is it just rumor? Mike and John take a look at the Kinderhook Plates. What were they? Did Joseph Smith try to translate them, and what was the result? As usual, we dive into the apologetics around multiple scenarios and why they are each attractive to differing views. Co-host: Nemo the Mormon LDS Discussion Essay on the Kinderhook Plates Episode Show Notes _________________________ LDS Discussions is made possible by generous donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox Support us on Patreon Pick “Mormon Stories” as your charity on Amazon Smile or through the Amazon App LDS Discussions Platforms: LDS Discussions Website LDS Discussions Playlist on YouTube Contact LDS Discussions: Twitter: @ldsdicussions Facebook: @ldsdiscussion Insta: @ldsdiscussions Email: ldsdiscussions@gmail.com Contact us: MormonStories@gmail.com PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Social Media: Insta: @mormstories Tiktok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord

In Parts 1 and 2 of this series Mike, John, and Nemo explored the history and controversies over whether the Book of Abraham is a literal translation of Egyptian as claimed by Joseph Smith.  Now for Part 3 they are back to look at what the text of the Book of Abraham actually says, including many prime LDS doctrines. What have been the consequences of believing those doctrines? Does the Book of Abraham merit being considered “revelation” and therefore binding to believing Saints today? LDS Discussion Essay on Book of Abraham Episode Show Notes _________________________ LDS Discussions is made possible by generous donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox Support us on Patreon Pick “Mormon Stories” as your charity on Amazon Smile or through the Amazon App LDS Discussions Platforms: LDS Discussions Website LDS Discussions Playlist on YouTube Contact LDS Discussions: Twitter: @ldsdicussions Facebook: @ldsdiscussion Insta: @ldsdiscussions Email: ldsdiscussions@gmail.com Contact us: MormonStories@gmail.com PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Social Media: Insta: @mormstories Tiktok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord

Today we’re going through various apologetics and theories around the Book of Abraham to reconcile it being considered scripture along with what we know the literal interpretation of these things to be. What problems do these apologetics create in other areas for believers?  Do these theories hold water without a strong bias to believe in spite of all evidence? Do some apologists even admit it? LDS Discussion Essay on Book of Abraham Episode Show Notes _________________________ LDS Discussions is made possible by generous donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox Support us on Patreon Pick “Mormon Stories” as your charity on Amazon Smile or through the Amazon App LDS Discussions Platforms: LDS Discussions Website LDS Discussions Playlist on YouTube Contact LDS Discussions: Twitter: @ldsdicussions Facebook: @ldsdiscussion Insta: @ldsdiscussions Email: ldsdiscussions@gmail.com Contact us: MormonStories@gmail.com PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Social Media: Insta: @mormstories Tiktok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord

For many, the Book of Abraham is one of the most problematic subjects within Mormonism due to our ability to translate Egyptian after Joseph Smith released the Book of Abraham. We want to give a brief overview of the history of the Book of Abraham, looking at the facsimiles and manuscripts, and then review the church's response to how this can all be reconciled.  For a very brief history of how the Book of Abraham came to be, we quote from the official LDS essay:   In the summer of 1835, an entrepreneur named Michael Chandler arrived at Church headquarters in Kirtland, Ohio, with four mummies and multiple scrolls of papyrus. Chandler found a ready audience... By the time the collection arrived in Kirtland, all but four mummies and several papyrus scrolls had already been sold. A group of Latter-day Saints in Kirtland purchased the remaining artifacts for the Church. After Joseph Smith examined the papyri and commenced "the translation of some of the characters or hieroglyphics," his history recounts, "much to our joy [we] found that one of the rolls contained the writings of Abraham." LDS Discussions Essay Overview of the Book of Abraham. Episode Show Notes _________________________ LDS Discussions is made possible by generous donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox Support us on Patreon Pick “Mormon Stories” as your charity on Amazon Smile or through the Amazon App LDS Discussions Platforms: LDS Discussions Website LDS Discussions Playlist on YouTube Contact LDS Discussions: Twitter: @ldsdicussions Facebook: @ldsdiscussion Insta: @ldsdiscussions Email: ldsdiscussions@gmail.com Contact us: MormonStories@gmail.com PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Social Media: Insta: @mormstories Tiktok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord

Join John, Mike & Elisha Lee as they discuss common problematic apologies around the practice of polygamy in early Church History. From lies being called “carefully worded denials” and attempts to differentiate between “plural marriage” which God approved of or “spiritual wifery” which was not, and the fact that this is still current doctrine and what women have to look forward to in eternity and the harms caused past and present from this doctrine. Special Guest: Elisha Lee Faith Unraveled Tiktok (Faith Transition Focused) Soul Unraveled Tiktok (Personal Journey Focused) LDS Discussion Essay on Polygamy Apologetics Episode Show Notes LDS Discussions 6-Part Series on Polygamy: Part 1: An Introduction to Mormon Polygamy - 24 Part 2: D&C 132 – Joseph Smith’s Polygamy “Revelation” - 25 Part 3: Joseph Smith’s Plural Marriage Proposals Pt 1 – 26 Part 4: Joseph Smith’s Plural Marriage Proposals Pt 2 – 27 Part 5: The Happiness Letter (Joseph Smith’s Proposition to Nancy Rigdon) – 28 _________________________ LDS Discussions is made possible by generous donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox Support us on Patreon Pick “Mormon Stories” as your charity on Amazon Smile or through the Amazon App LDS Discussions Platforms: LDS Discussions Website LDS Discussions Playlist on YouTube Contact LDS Discussions: Twitter: @ldsdicussions Facebook: @ldsdiscussion Insta: @ldsdiscussions Email: ldsdiscussions@gmail.com Contact us: MormonStories@gmail.com PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 8411

In part 5 of our 6-part series on polygamy within the LDS Discussions project, we discuss "The Happiness Letter," which was the letter Joseph Smith wrote to Nancy Rigdon to try to convince her to become one of his plural wives. Special Guest: Nemo the Mormon Nemo the Mormon on YouTube LDS Discussion Essay on the Happiness Letter Episode Show Notes LDS Discussions 6-Part Series on Polygamy: Part 1: An Introduction to Mormon Polygamy - 24 Part 2: D&C 132 – Joseph Smith’s Polygamy “Revelation” - 25 Part 3: Joseph Smith’s Plural Marriage Proposals Pt 1 – 26 Part 4: Joseph Smith’s Plural Marriage Proposals Pt 2 – 27 Part 6: Polygamy Apologetics, Spiritual Wifery, etc – 29 _________________________ LDS Discussions is made possible by generous donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox Support us on Patreon Pick “Mormon Stories” as your charity on Amazon Smile or through the Amazon App LDS Discussions Platforms: LDS Discussions Website LDS Discussions Playlist on YouTube Contact LDS Discussions: Twitter: @ldsdicussions Facebook: @ldsdiscussion Insta: @ldsdiscussions Email: ldsdiscussions@gmail.com Contact us: MormonStories@gmail.com PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Social Media: Insta: @mormstories Tiktok: @mormonstoriespodcast Join the Discord

Join Mike (LDS Discussions), Elisha, and John for Part 2 as they look at the techniques of influence that Joseph Smith used to propose to his plural wives. Helen Mar Kimball's age reduction digital illustration by Adam Worthington https://www.knowbrotherjoseph.com/ Special Guest: Elisha Lee Faith Unraveled Tiktok (Faith Transition Focused) Soul Unraveled Tiktok (Personal Journey Focused) LDS Discussion Essay on Plural Marriage Proposals LDS Discussions 6-Part Series on Polygamy: 1673: An Introduction to Mormon Polygamy w/ LDS Discussions – 24 1676: D&C 132 – Joseph Smith’s Polygamy “Revelation” w/ LDS Discussions – 25 1679: Joseph Smith’s Plural Marriage Proposals Pt 1 w/ LDS Discussions – 26 1688: The Happiness Letter (Joseph Smith’s Proposition to Nancy Rigdon) w/ LDS Discussions – 28 1691: Polygamy Apologetics, Spiritual Wifery, etc w/ LDS Discussions – 29 _________________________ LDS Discussions is made possible by generous donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox Support us on Patreon Pick “Mormon Stories” as your charity on Amazon Smile or through the Amazon App LDS Discussions Platforms: LDS Discussions Website LDS Discussions Playlist on YouTube Contact LDS Discussions: Twitter: @ldsdicussions Facebook: @ldsdiscussion Insta: @ldsdiscussions Email: ldsdiscussions@gmail.com Contact us: MormonStories@gmail.com PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Social Media: Insta: @mormstories

Join Mike (LDS Discussions), Elisha, and John as they look at the techniques of influence that Joseph Smith used to propose to his plural wives. Special Guest: Elisha Lee Faith Unraveled Tiktok (Faith Transition Focused) Soul Unraveled Tiktok (Personal Journey Focused) LDS Discussion Essay on Plural Marriage Proposals Episode Show Notes LDS Discussions 6-Part Series on Polygamy: Part 1: An Introduction to Mormon Polygamy - 24 Part 2: D&C 132 – Joseph Smith’s Polygamy “Revelation” - 25 Part 4: Joseph Smith’s Plural Marriage Proposals Pt 2 – 27 Part 5: The Happiness Letter (Joseph Smith’s Proposition to Nancy Rigdon) – 28 Part 6: Polygamy Apologetics, Spiritual Wifery, etc – 29 _________________________ LDS Discussions is made possible by generous donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox Support us on Patreon Pick “Mormon Stories” as your charity on Amazon Smile or through the Amazon App LDS Discussions Platforms: LDS Discussions Website LDS Discussions Playlist on YouTube Contact LDS Discussions: Twitter: @ldsdicussions Facebook: @ldsdiscussion Insta: @ldsdiscussions Email: ldsdiscussions@gmail.com Contact us: MormonStories@gmail.com PO Box 171085, Salt Lake City, UT 84117 Social Media: Insta: @mormstories Tiktok: @mormonstoriespodcast

Today’s episode continues the discussion on Polygamy with the (in)famous revelation still canonized in Mormon/LDS scripture as Section 132 of the Doctrine & Covenants. Mike sets up the historical & personal context of the timing of this revelation and the problematic ideas presented in it as coming from God including how God views women, redefining adultery and other moral issues, and the various rules and justifications given by God to practice polygamy. Mike goes on to show that Joseph admits himself that polygamy is something he wanted, and despite being the receiver of the various specific rules defined by God, he nevertheless proceeds to break every one of them. Finally, Mike goes over the many apologetics around this section of the Doctrine & Covenants and the problems with most of the arguments attempting to justify the revelation, Joseph’s polygamy, and the resulting polygamy among many of the branches of Mormonism, some continuing to this day. Special Guest: Elisha Lee Faith Unraveled Tiktok (Faith Transition Focused) Soul Unraveled Tiktok (Personal Journey Focused) LDS Discussion Essay on Polygamy Episode Show Notes LDS Discussions 6-Part Series on Polygamy: Part 1: An Introduction to Mormon Polygamy - 24 Part 3: Joseph Smith’s Plural Marriage Proposals Pt 1 – 26 Part 4: Joseph Smith’s Plural Marriage Proposals Pt 2 – 27 Part 5: The Happiness Letter (Joseph Smith’s Proposition to Nancy Rigdon) – 28 Part 6: Polygamy Apologetics, Spiritual Wifery, etc – 29 _________________________ LDS Discussions is made possible by generous donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox Support us on Patreon Pick “Mormon Stories” as your charity on Amazon Smile or through the Amazon App LDS Discussions Platforms: LDS Discussions Website LDS Discussions Playlist on YouTube Contact LDS Discussions: Twitter:

Mike and John discuss the timeline and cultural context surrounding Joseph Smith at the time he claims to receive the revelation on polygamy which became canonized and is still considered scripture for many modern Mormon branches, some who still practice it today, and even ones who don't, like the largest Mormon branch headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.  LDS Discussions Essay on Polygamy Episode Show Notes  LDS Discussions 6-Part Series on Polygamy: Part 2: D&C 132 – Joseph Smith’s Polygamy “Revelation” - 25 Part 3: Joseph Smith’s Plural Marriage Proposals Pt 1 – 26 Part 4: Joseph Smith’s Plural Marriage Proposals Pt 2 – 27 Part 5: The Happiness Letter (Joseph Smith’s Proposition to Nancy Rigdon) – 28 Part 6: Polygamy Apologetics, Spiritual Wifery, etc – 29 _________________________ LDS Discussions is made possible by generous donors! Help us continue to deliver quality content by becoming a donor today: One-time or recurring donation through Donorbox Support us on Patreon Pick “Mormon Stories” as your charity on Amazon Smile or through the Amazon App LDS Discussions Platforms: LDS Discussions Website LDS Discussions Playlist on YouTube Contact LDS Discussions: Twitter: @ldsdicussions Facebook: @ldsdiscussion Insta: @ldsdiscussions Email: