Episodes

Tonight on Mormonism Live, we take a scalpel to Mormonism’s Founder Joseph Smith as He takes one to a Book of Abraham character What happens when a god loses his snout which Has Joseph Smith losing face—and why does it feel so… Mormon? In this off-the-rails episode, Bill Reel and Radio Free Mormon dive deep into the bizarre, symbolic, and surgical mutilation of Anubis, the Egyptian god of the dead, and uncover what this act might represent within Mormonism’s tangled relationship with Egyptian & ...

LIVE Mormon Newscast | August 5, 2025 | With Studio Audience! Watch Live @ 6pm Mountain / 8pm Eastern Join us live in front of a studio audience for a jam-packed episode of The Mormon Newscast! This week has been a wild ride in the world of Mormonism, and we’re covering all the headlines, scandals, surprises, and statements that dropped like seer stones from the sky. From legal showdowns to leadership quotes, temple controversies to social media meltdowns, we’ve got the full rundown of the week’...

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 ...

Tonight on The Mormon Newscast, we’re diving into a disturbing and heartbreaking headline: A former Mormon missionary has been arrested in Pittsburgh, accused of sexually abusing multiple minors. We’ll break down the details of the case, how he allegedly used his church affiliation to gain trust, and what this means for the LDS Church’s ongoing struggle with abuse scandals. Also in this episode: Tim Ballard Acquitted – What does this mean for the embattled Operation Underground Railroad founder...

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. Thi...

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 i...

Tonight on Mormon Newscast: LDS Temple Training Raises Eyebrows Over Possible LGBTQ Targeting In our lead story, we dive into concerning reports about recent temple worker training in the LDS Church—allegedly singling out LGBTQ members in ways that raise serious questions about inclusion and policy enforcement. What exactly is being taught behind closed temple doors? We also cover: Recent Court Ruling against Washington Law revoking Priest Penitent Privilege Breaking barriers: Stassi D. Cramm...

In this episode of the Almost Awakened Podcast, Bill Reel and Teresa Hobbs explore why stillness can feel so uncomfortable, especially for those recovering from religious trauma, chronic stress, and nervous system dysregulation. Teresa shares a powerful moment between them as a couple when a simple request for soothing touch opened the door to a deeper mindfulness and somatic tracking practice. Together, they talk about why so many of us are constantly moving, fixing, distracting, or bracing… an...

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. The...

What happens when a U.S. senator’s politics start clashing with his religion? In this explosive episode of Mormon Newscast, we unpack the controversy surrounding Senator Mike Lee’s latest moves and the growing tension between LDS teachings and far-right ideology. Has Mike Lee become a liability for the Church—or is he just saying the quiet part out loud? We also cover: The IRS quietly gives churches the green light to endorse political candidates—what this means for the LDS Church. Elder Dallin ...

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! The post Book of Mormon Waterloo: RFM: 408 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

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 pa...

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 betwee...

Something major just happened to the LDS Church in one of the world’s most powerful—and most tightly controlled—nations. A quiet move by a foreign government has suddenly upended worship for hundreds of members and raised serious questions about the future of the Church in a place it’s long tried to operate under the radar. Why now? Why there? And what does this mean for the Church’s global growth strategy? Let’s just say… not everyone is gathering for Sunday meetings this week. Tune in for the...

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. The post Mormon Easter Eggs: RFM: 406 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

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! The post Mormon Thinking Errors: RFM: 405 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

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 ambi...

This week on the Mormon Newscast, BYU’s starting quarterback is back in the spotlight—but this time, it’s not for what’s happening on the field. With serious legal allegations and academic questions piling up, the playbook in Provo is getting complicated. Is this a career-ending fumble or just a temporary timeout? We break down the latest developments, the unexpected moves behind the scenes, and why this story could go into overtime. Buckle up—this game is far from over, and it may only be halft...

Of all the misleading tactics used by Latter-day Saint apologists, this one might just take the crown. It’s sneaky, it’s calculated—and even after being called out repeatedly, they still keep doing it. Why? Because when it comes to defending Mormonism and the LDS Church, it seems the ends justify any means. But not this time. We’re calling it out publicly—and you need to see it for yourself. Help support Bill Reel & Radio Free Mormon in making informative entertaining content that shines a ligh...

The Nephite monetary system is a weak spot in the Book of Mormon narrative. It rarely gets discussed because it is so infrequently studied. RFM is going to change all that with this episode, in which he takes a deep dive into the Nephite monetary system, only to find that it has more problems than solutions. The post Book of Mormon Money Problems: RFM: 404 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

In this episode of Mormon Newscast, we dive headfirst into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ bold claim that baptisms are skyrocketing. Is this truly a sign of global revival, or is there more going on beneath the surface? Bill Reel, Radio Free Mormon, and Rebecca Bibliotheca break down the numbers, and question whether we’re witnessing genuine growth—or strategic optics. [June 23 2025] Elder Holland deeply misrepresenting Church growth – https://www.facebook.com/bill.reel.7/vide...

In this episode of Almost Awakened, Bill and Teresa explore the transformative shift from external obedience to internal integrity. What happens when we stop living by someone else’s rules and start listening to our own inner voice? The conversation dives into the psychology of control, the cost of compliance, and the courage it takes to choose authenticity. With humor, vulnerability, and practical insight, they unpack how we were conditioned to equate obedience with virtue—and how reclaiming ou...

In this episode of Mormonism Live, Bill Reel and Radio Free Mormon dive headfirst into the Church’s newest official Gospel Topics entry on the Book of Abraham, dissecting its language, implications, and apologetic framing. With surgical precision (and just a bit of satire), they explore how the Church attempts to repackage decades of controversy surrounding Joseph Smith’s translation claims, the missing scroll theory, and the pivot to the “catalyst theory.” Listeners will be taken through the su...

Attorneys RFM and Kolby Reddish tackle chapter 8 of the Light on Truth Letter titled, “Fruits of the Church.” The entire chapter is a logical fallacy! The post Fruits in the Church: RFM: 403 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.