Mormon Book Reviews Podcast

On the latest episode of Mormon Book Reviews Nathan Smith returns to kick off a "limited series" of conversations where he discusses books that he thinks will be helpful to those on a quest for knowledge, wisdom, and spirituality. Latter-day Saints believe in becoming “acquainted with all good books” (LDS D&C 90:15) and seeking “out of the best books words of wisdom” (LDS D&C 88:118). In t...

On the latest episode of Mormon Book Reviews, Jonathan Neville returns to respond to some of the guests and controversies that this channel has been recently engaged with. We discuss the film "Who Killed Joseph Smith?", Hanna Seariac and her critique of the Heartlander Movement, Dan Vogel and Thomas Murphy's studies of early Mormonism, Jonathan Edwards, translation theories of the Book of Mormon,...

On the latest episode of Mormon Book Reviews we continue our "Show and Tell" series with Brent Ashworth. On this segment we discuss how Joseph and Emma Smith's Family Bible was found in 1970 and the process of how Brent was able to acquire it. This Bible has the handwriting of Joseph and Emma Smith as well as Joseph Smith III. It was very touching to see where Joseph Smith recorded the death of hi...

On the latest episode of Mormon Book Reviews Steven Pynakker interviews Kimberly Watson Smith, researcher for the Joseph Smith Foundation. Kimberly reached out to me to come on so she could offer a response to the movie "Who Killed Joseph Smith?" written and directed by Justin Griffin. Kimberly attempts to offer a constructive critique of the film and gives additional facts she feels need to be in...

On a special episode of Mormon Book Reviews Steven Pynakker interviews Justin Griffin the writer and director of the controversial film "Who Killed Joseph Smith?". I was at first reluctant to have this conversation, but the more I thought about it I felt it would be important for an outsider like me to participate in it. I also felt that it was important to discuss Justin's faith journey which can...

On this episode of Mormon Book Reviews Steven Pynakker had the privilege to have Brian Stutzman as a in person guest at his Christian community in Florida. Using the facilities of a local Evangelical church they were able to have this wonderful conversation about the history of Warsaw Illinois. Brian author of "The History of Warsaw Illinois: Including the Mormon Period" discusses what drove him t...

Steven Pynakker has a unique and wide ranging conversation with one of the most renowned historians of Mormonism, Dan Vogel. This is the first time that an Evangelical has interviewed Dan. Author of many important works on early Mormonism, Joseph Smith, and now the Book of Abraham. We discuss his background and how a Pentecostal minister in England told Dan of Jerald and Sandra Tanner and a narrat...

Devery S. Anderson, marketing director for Signature Books and author of the book "Emmett Till: The Murder That Shocked the World and Propelled the Civil Rights Movement" , has a conversation with your host Steven Pynakker. The book is the primary basis for the ABC miniseries "Women of the Movement" debuting on January 6th. In the episode we discuss Devery being raised as Baptist and then he and h...

Evangelical Steven Pynakker has a very important conversation with Hanna Seariac regarding the rise of White Nationalism within some parts of the Heartlander Movement and Calvinism. In this episode Hanna discusses her conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, encountering the Heartland Model for BOM geography, finding some nationalistic tendencies in that group, deciding to wr...

Nick Jones co-host of the Rock & Roll podcast "Pod of Thunder" joins Steven Pynakker to discuss the profound BYU film production "Christmas Snows, Christmas Winds" which is based on a short story in the book "Frost in the Orchard" by Donald R. Marshall. Nick came across this film a few years ago and wanted to come on to discuss it. Nick and Steven are from Northwest Indiana, birthplace of Amer...

Ever wonder why we only have 28% of the original Book of Mormon written manuscript or why Joseph Smith placed it in a Cornerstone ? On the latest episode of Mormon Book Reviews Steven Pynakker has a conversation with Brent Ashworth about him having one of the very few pages from the original hand written copy in private hands. This is a special preview episode of my new Tuesday series "Show and Te...

Evangelical Encounters the Book of Mormon and the Restoration" Steven Pynakker had the privilege to give a presentation to Paul DeBarthe's Book of Mormon Perspectives Forum to representatives of every major branch of the Restoration! In this special episode I share with my YouTube audience my presentation. I give some background on how I got interested in the Book of Mormon and the Restoration. I...

Evangelical Steven Pynakker interviews Paul DeBarthe of the Community of Christ who has been involved with excavations of Nauvoo archaeological sites for decades. We discuss his experiences and findings while digging and restoring Joseph and Emma Smith's Nauvoo Mansion. We also discuss his weekly Book of Mormon Perspectives Forum. It was a pleasure having Paul on at such short notice and we were a...

Gerardo, producer and co-host of John Dehlin's Mormon Stories Podcast, joins Steven Pynakker for a conversation about his remarkable faith journey and his sexuality. Gerardo talks about growing up in a orthodox Mormon home in Mexico, realizing he was attracted to other boys, coming out to his friends in Highschool, his parents discovering his double life, attending Evergreen conversion therapy ses...

In our ongoing conversation Evangelical Steven Pynakker finally gets to ask all of his questions on his list to the Fundamentalist Intellectual Benjamin Shaffer! In this "rapid fire" round of questioning many topics are covered including the "Godmakers" cartoon, "Mormon Prophet" Art Bulla, gay marriage, abortion, the role of women in Christ's Church, the Word of Wisdom, the Sabbath, the End of Day...

Steven Pynakker and Patrick McKay discuss Thanksgiving Day, the Restoration, and the importance of gratitude. We discuss bringing "restoration to the Restoration". The story of the Hymnal "Songs of Zion" and the the remarkable Church of Jesus of Christ is talked about as well. I want to thank my friend Patrick for coming on. I am full of gratitude for having you as a friend! Happy Thanksgiving to...

Anthropologist Thomas Murphy returns to Mormon Book Reviews to respond to Rod Meldrum's recent appearance on my program. In a balanced attempt to seriously look at the Heartland Model, Murphy begins by giving a positive analysis of the the Firm Foundation's approach and model. He discusses Jonathan Neville's contribution of using "Multiple Working Hypotheses" to approach the various geography mode...

Have you ever heard of the "Street Legal" version of the Book of Mormon? Or the "Hebrew Wars Over Christ in America" BOM edition? Join Steven Pynakker as he welcomes back Robert from Book of Mormon Editions YouTube channel! In this episode we discuss various editions of the BOM from different Branches of the Restoration as well as some unique self-published versions. We also have a conversation ab...

Evangelical Steven Pynakker interviews Rod Meldrum founder of the FIRM Foundation organization. This conversation/presentation is a response to John Dehlin's Mormon Stories interview of Simon Southerton. Rod gives his response to the interview, talks about a phone conversation he had with John Dehlin, discusses the Universal Model of Creation, being a nuanced Young Earth Creationist, his interest...

What does Steven Pynakker like to do on his Saturday nights? Find out what he did this past Saturday where he continues his conversation with Benjamin Shaffer of Christ's Church. During their Solemn Assembly ,which is what they call their General Conference, Steven had the unique opportunity to interview 7 members of the Church. The Matron of the Temple, a plural wife of their deceased founding Pr...

On the latest episode of Mormon Book Reviews Evangelical Steven Pynakker interviews Thomas Murphy a Anthropologist with Edmonds College. Thomas was in a couple of Evangelical documentaries in the early to mid aughts. DNA vs The Book of Mormon (2003) and The Bible vs The Book of Mormon were seen by millions of Evangelicals. Thomas was extensively interviewed and featured in both. For the first time...

Evangelical Steven Pynakker interviews Adrian Larsen of the Restoration Scriptures Foundation. He was involved in a project to create a Hebriac recovery edition of the Book of Mormon called "The Stick of Joseph in the Hand of Ephraim". This version is independently published and is not affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In this episode we discuss the history of the Je...

In the continuing conversation Steven Pynakker has with Benjamin Shaffer, his background is discussed, why he started to question the authority of the LDS Church while working in the Temple, studying under a Tibetan monk, Brigham Young drinking beer, polygamists who celebrate Reformation Day, his engagement with just about every church body within the Restoration, his Spiritual experiences after b...

Meet Becky Tarbuk daughter of Hymn writer Arlene Buffington of the Church of Jesus Christ. Evangelical Steven Pynakker and Becky have a conversation about Arlene that is presented to the general public for the first time. Topics covered include the early days of Arlene's family converting to the Church of Jesus Christ, Arlene's experience receiving the first few songs, the process of composing the...

Steven Pynakker has a dynamic conversation with Benjamin Shaffer a member of a polygamist group that refers to itself as Christ's Church. Adam God, Blood Atonement, Plural Wives, Heavenly Mother, proper Priesthood authority, Race and Lineage, Barack Obama a descendent of Christ, and what is the True Church. Benjamin doesn't shy away from discussing any of these topics and I look forward to taping...