Gospel Tangents Podcast

The FLDS Split with Centennial Park and Nielsen-Naylor on the 1980s. Is there a mission to rescue FLDS & reclaim their Mormon cousins? David Nielsen weighs in. We’ll also ask David what the thinks about Cristina Rosetti ‘s book on Joseph Musser and discuss church services. Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/MGWFxkq4CEM Don’t miss our other conversations with D...

Does Nielsen-Naylor believe in “1 true church” like the LDS Church does? I found David Nielsen’s answer fascinating!. I was also surprised to learn women propose marriage to men! Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/vWC8qGfnWxs   Don’t miss our other conversations with David: https://gospeltangents.com/people/david-nielsen transcript to follow Copyright ©...

Since Warren Jeffs took over the FLDS Church, there have been many FLDS splits. Centennial Park split off in 1984, and then Nielsen-Naylor split off in the 1990s. David Nielsen is part of the Nielsen-Naylor Group and we’ll find more about FLDS through Nielsen-Naylor history. Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/uyOkEsN_sUQ transcript to follow Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents A...

We’re going on a Polygamy Tangent (Trip) to the Journal of Mormon Polygamy Conference Mar 21-22, 2025 at the University of Utah. I’ll give my live reactions and even talk to a polygamy skeptic! Check it out! https://youtu.be/0guJSrqPbBU Don’t miss our other conversations about polygamy skeptics: https://gospeltangents.com/lds_theology/polygamy-skeptics/ transcript to follow Copyright ©...

Here is a Journal of Mormon Polygamy Recap. I’ll also give away a free book “ To be a Friend of Christ ,” the biography of Marion D Hanks, written by his son Richard. Check out our conversation… https://youtube.com/live/S2d9JJrHCxM Don’t miss our other conversations about polygamy skeptics: https://gospeltangents.com/lds_theology/polygamy-skeptics/ transcript to follow Copy...

Some people think the Exodus story is more myth than real. How does George Potter explain it? Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/ysWSrWN0WTQ Don’t miss our other conversations with George: https://gospeltangents.com/people/george-potter/ transcript to follow Copyright © 2024 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written pe...

Marion D Hanks helped start early Morning Seminary for the LDS Church! His son Richard details Marion’s calling of stake presidents, what Rich loved about his father, and the tough end of Marion’s life as he dealt with dementia. Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/Nl3KMlYwk_8 Don’t miss our other conversations with Richard: https://gospeltangents.com/people/richard-hanks...

Pres David O. McKay blessed Marion Hanks to “speak your mind,” even when opposed by other Church leaders. His son Richard details some of these events as Marion tangled with Bruce McConkie, Mark Peterson, Boyd Packer, & others. Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/iFnC5JJLJds Don’t miss our other conversations with Richard: https://gospeltangents.com/people/richard-ha...

Following the 1978 revelation, the LDS Church rescinded the ban preventing blacks from receiving priesthood & temple ordinances. Marion D Hanks was against the ban. Dr Matt Harris utilized Hanks’ journals to document how general authorities reacted to the new 1978 revelation. Rich Hanks details more about his father’s resistance to the ban and his elation at overturning the ban. Ch...

In the 1950s & 60s, LDS missionaries in England were baptizing children after baseball games without their parents consent,known as baseball baptisms. Marion D Hanks was called by Pres David O McKay to stop the practice. Rich Hanks is the son of Marion and details Marion’s approach to the situation. We’ll discuss how Marion always put Christ first in decision making, and how he hel...

Marion Hanks was one of the youngest modern-day GA (general authorities.) At just age 31, he was called to be one of the 7 presidents in the First Council of 70! His son Richard Hanks has written a biography called “To Be a Friend of Christ.” We will learn more about Marion’s life without a father growing up. Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/SWCBWl0zS-w Don’t mi...

This is a throwback episode with Brian Hales from 2017. Brian is the author of Joseph Smith’s Polygamy, Volumes 1-3, and it’s just in time for the Journal of Mormon Polygamy Conference this weekend at the University of Utah. Check out our conversation…. https://youtu.be/WVs0ypGKq5o Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews, no content may be rep...

The Kingston Group, also known as the Davis County Cooperative Society, is one of the most reclusive Mormon Fundamentalist groups around. I was able to attend a funeral, which was open to the public. Here’s what I learned! https://youtu.be/RoX9ldV4NU0 Don’t miss our other conversations on Mormon fundamentalism: https://gospeltangents.com/ transcript to follow Copyright © 2025 Gospel Ta...

Robert Messick will discuss the Book of Mormon census he is doing to find out how many and the location of every 1st Edition copy of the Book of Mormon. We’re also diving into the Bickertonite Book of Mormon, Red-Letter Edition!  What famous people besides Elvis have a Book of Mormon? Why did Apollo astronaut Buzz Aldrin autograph his Book of Mormon? Check out our conversation… https:/...

We know the RLDS Church has its own version of the Book of Mormon, but what other churches have their own? What about the first Gold Book of Mormon and LDS Paperback edition with the golden angel Moroni on the cover, a Reformed Egyptian gold cover, and many other editions? Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/CTFvsUPBdPo Don’t miss our other conversations with Robert: https://g...

Did you know the LDS Church didn’t publish an official version of the Book of Mormon for 90 years?! It took 90 years to publish! Robert Messick knows about all of the LDS and Restoration editions. He’s the host of the YouTube channel called “Book of Mormon Editions.” We’ll dive deep into the publishing history of the Book of Mormon. Check out our conversation…....

Since its founding, the LDS Church has used the King James Version of the Bible. Is it time to dump KJV? Many people find the old English tough to read & understand. Is it time to upgrade to a more modern version? Will that cause ripple effects with the Book of Mormon? Dr Joseph Spencer weighs in on the issue. We’ll also discuss his other books and upcoming projects. Check out our conver...

The LDS Church recently changed from 3 to 2 hour church. Is 2 hr church destroying community? Dr Ryan Cragun answers. We’ll also discuss whether religious or non-religious are more healthy, wealthy, and wise. Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/moBMOw1jjdU Don’t miss our other conversations with Ryan: https://gospeltangents.com/people/ryan-cragun/ transcript to follow Co...

What pulls people from Church? Dr Ryan Cragun from Univ of Tampa says there are 2 things that lead people to leave religion: Push factors & Pull factors. What pushes people away from Church? Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/A18Umb_xxlg Don’t miss our other conversations with Ryan: https://gospeltangents.com/people/ryan-cragun/ transcript to follow Copyright © 2025 Gospe...

Why does one person leave religion, while another person leaves? Dr Ryan Cragun discusses his own faith crisis and Rick shares why he stays. Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/2qQ1dzvyalA Don’t miss our other conversations with Ryan: https://gospeltangents.com/people/ryan-cragun/ transcript to follow Copyright © 2025 Gospel Tangents All Rights Reserved Except for book reviews...

Some ex-Mormons leave religion with an noisy exit and are angry. Others walk away with little fanfare. What is the difference between these people? In his new book called “Goodbye Religion,” University of Tampa sociology professor Dr Ryan Cragun discusses why people are leaving religion at higher rates. Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/z7p-j-3YrJ0 Don’t miss our...

It’s always fun to put Kurt Francom on the hot seat. What does he think about girls passing the sacrament like boys? Is Christian Nationalism a problem in the LDS Church? Check out our conversation by signing up to our free newsletter at https://gospeltangents.com/newletter https://youtu.be/MUOFLQFqb54 Don’t miss our other conversations with Kurt: https://gospeltangents.com/people/kurt-franc...

This is a throwback interview from 2017. Dr Darron Smith discusses non-LDS BYU Black athletes. He teaches at University of Memphis and is the author of “ When Race, Religion, and Sport Collide .” He examines the honor code, graduation rate, and race relations at BYU. He compares their racial record with other famous Christian athletes, including Tim Tebow and Jeremy Lin. We’ll al...

Polygamy skeptics love to trumpet Joseph Smith’s public polygamy denials. Was Joseph part of a conspiracy to keep polygamy secret? We’ll talk about contemporary sources, the Happiness Letter, & Joseph’s alleged narcissistic personality disorder with Dr Jesse James, a research psychologist. Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/YeeB6cA2AVg Don’t miss our other con...

Are there religious & theological motivations for conspiracy theories? Research psychologist Dr Jesse James says yes! We’ll give into polygamy skeptics claims, flat earth, forgeries, & the Dunning-Kruger effect. Check out our conversation… https://youtu.be/OrUWY1rqQxI Don’t miss our other conversations about atonement:  https://gospeltangents.com/people/jesse-james/ transcript...