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A very old American tradition is Anti-Mormonism, the promulgation of a portrait of Mormonism that seeks to stoke hatred and fear regarding Mormonism and sometimes Mormons themselves. Anti-Mormonism is as old as Mormonism, as some of the earliest converts to Mormonism left and fought the new movement. In this episode I discuss my experience with anti-Mormonism and my views about the problem of m...

Polygamy haunts Mormonism long after Official Declaration #1 put an official end to its practice. Some LDS people deny Joseph Smith initiated Mormon polygamy (Michelle Stone). Others deny that Smith slept with his wives (Brian Hales). On the other hand, some critics of the LDS Church insist that the entire point of polygamy was sex. As a historian, I am committed to following the evidence, whic...

How do Mormons pray? What do they think about prayer? What do they feel about the way people of other faiths pray? I'll share my opinion in this brief introduction to the topic of Mormon prayer and prayer in general. This episode was requested by my friend in the Antipodes, Noel Hausler.

Mormonism has an uncomfortable relationship with learning. Many Mormons pursue college degrees and graduate education. Mormon scripture emphasizes the importance of gaining knowledge. Some LDS leaders have squelched scholarship. Michael Quinn and David Wright are two examples. I love geeking out about Mormonism, but not everyone does. How can intellectuals and non-intellectuals in Mormonism get...

The Book of Mormon quotes the Bible at length and looks a lot like a Bible, but it also has a lot in common with the tradition of epic literature that includes Vergil's Aeneid, Tasso's Jerusalem Liberated, and other works. Gain new insights into the Book of Mormon whether you are LDS or not.

Mormons are sometimes ridiculed for believing they will become gods. It is an esoteric teaching which is increasingly de-emphasized, but it is central to Mormon doctrine. Here I compare Mormon deification with Orthodox theosis. The two are quite different, but Mormonism, Orthodoxy, and Catholicism share a belief in the efficacy of ritual in the process of divinization that Protestants do not sh...

Thankfully there was very little damage from Milton here. The storm veered south of early predictions, so aside from some heavy wind and rain there we experienced no problems. My thoughts are with those who were displaces, who lost their homes, and who have even lost loved ones in this terrible storm.

In response to a funny episode of Mormonism Live with Bill Reel and Radio Free Mormon, I explore what I think is potentially problematic about focusing on the "ridiculousness" of Mormonism and explain why I choose to geek out about Mormonism instead. Subjects such as the gold plates come up, as well as that time I got to be interviewed by Peggy Fletcher Stack of the Salt Lake Tribune. In a way,...

Came home to prepare for Milton. We are in the path of the storm but not near the coast. This is a brief update and a shoutout to Steve Pynakker, who has evacuated to find shelter. All Mormons and Mormon-interested people of Florida . . . heck, all Floridians, I wish us all luck!

You may not know it, but testimony is VERY important for Mormons/LDS people. Gaining a testimony is a key goal in the faith, and people fear losing their testimony of the gospel to the point that they feel they must leave if they no longer have one. Join me to explore the LDS testimony and learn about the monthly meeting where testimonies are shared: Fast & Testimony Meeting. For the David Know...

People approach the study of Mormonism in different ways, and the value of what they do cannot necessarily be reduced to their approach. Unfortunately, people can still be snobs toward others who don't approach the study of Mormonism in the same way. Be like Prof. Richard Bushman and value the contributions of those who study Mormonism from a different perspective (academic vs. non-academic, be...

By request, I am holding forth on the ways that Donald Trump and Joseph Smith are similar and dissimilar. Hopefully this doesn't get me into too much trouble. I try to be fair, but I also can't help but reveal some of my opinions. If something thought provoking is said along the way, maybe it was worth it.

We were lucky. I am so grateful that we are OK, and I hope everyone else recovers as quickly as possible. Here is a little video showing the light tree damage in our backyard.

At the age of 19, I gained a strong spiritual witness of the Book of Mormon. It propelled me out into the mission field, where I got other people to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. Now that I am a historian, I use additional tools to analyze texts. Are the Book of Mormon witnesses testifying of spiritual truth, historical fact, or both?

Episode #18: Mormonism and Egypt

Episode #17: Excommunication: A Medieval Solution?

Episode #16: What do YOU call the LDS Church?

Episode #15: Request video: How I became a "fan" of LDS apologist Louis C. Midgley.

Episode #14: FARMS and My Disenchantment with LDS Apologetics

Episode #13: Peterson Obsession Board? DiscussMormonism.com

Episode #12: How I Became a Nibley Fan

Episode #11: Kish critiques John Dehlin

Episode #10: Kish Reviews Witnesses (2021)

Episode #9: Apologetic(?) Mormon Cinema: Witnesses (2021)

Episode #8: Divination in Early and Modern Mormonism

Episode #7: Kish critiques Backyard Professor

Episode #6: Church is (not) boring! Charismatic worship in Early Mormonism

Episode #5: Don Bradley's Book on the Lost 116 Pages

Episode #4: Changes to the Mormon temple endowment, a historical and personal perspective