Mormon Book Reviews Podcast

This is the first episode of a special series where I highlight "up and coming" YouTubers, podcasters, authors, scholars, and influencers of the Restoration. My first interview is with Robert who is a YouTuber who has a channel called "Book of Mormon Editions". He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In each episode he gives a detailed review of various editions of the B...

Evangelical Steven Pynakker has a very interesting conversation with Richard Bushman. He is the Gouverneur Morris Professor of History, Emeritus, at Columbia University. Dr. Bushman is best know for his groundbreaking work "Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling". In this episode we talk about the growth and development of early Mormonism, Evangelical and LDS dialogue, Leonard Arrington, and his ongoin...

Steven Pynakker interviews Bruce Van Orden an emeritus professor of Church History and Doctrine at Brigham Young University. In this open and forthright interview we discuss the tension of being a faithful member and grappling with Church history, the challenge of Jerald and Sandra Tanner, religious trauma and PTSD, and the "November Policy". Watch as an Evangelical an a Restorationist discuss fai...

Evangelical Steven Pynakker interviews John Hamer, a minister in the Community of Christ (formerly know as the RLDS). In this special episode John talks about growing up LDS, questioning his faith in Highschool, and his time spent as a student at BYU. For a period of time John pretty much left his faith, and then returned to the Restoration via Fawn Brody! A pretty in depth dive into John's theolo...

In part 3 of this very revealing series, author Matthew Harris discusses the final decades of Ezra Taft Benson. Did you know that there was a purge of John Birch Society members and other right wingers in the Church during Benson's Presidency? In this very interesting final episode, Evangelical Steven Pynakker and Matthew delve into the fight that the Church Bureaucracy had with right-wing element...

Evangelical Steven Pynakker continues his interview with Matthew Harris author of "Watchman on the Tower: Ezra Taft Benson and the Making of the Mormon Right". In this episode Matthew details Bensons intimate relationship with the right-wing John Birch Society and its founder Robert Welch. New information is revealed on this episode never before made public. Whether you're a fan of President Benso...

Evangelical Steven Pynakker interviews the author of "Watchman on the Tower: Ezra Taft Benson and the Making of the Mormon Right". In this episode Matthew Harris details Bensons ascendency to Eisenhower's Cabinet. This was during the height of the Cold War. Ezra was tasked by the President to roll back the New Deal programs in the Department Of Agriculture. Find out why he was largely unable to do...

In our second installment we discuss Jonathan's forthcoming book Infinite Goodness: Joseph Smith, Jonathan Edwards, and the Book of Mormon. This book has not been released yet, but the contents of this interview show that this is going to be a groundbreaking book. Book of Mormon studies may never be the same once it comes out! As soon as a review copy is produced it will be sent to me by his publi...

Watch Evangelical Steven Pynakker interview Jonathan Neville. In this episode we discuss the "Heartland Model" of Book of Mormon events. Over the last century the Meso-American model has been the dominate narrative regarding where events of the Book of Mormon took place. Now a new movement is gaining momentum that advocates for what many of the early Saints and church leaders thought about where t...

Evangelical Steven Pynakker wraps up his interview of Theologian Christopher Thomas. In this episode we talk about teaching at BYU, becoming the president of the Book of Mormon Studies Association, and what it like to engage members of the Restoration. We also talk about his touching interview with John Dehlin. Interview with John Dehlin of Mormon Stories: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eke80......

Part 2 of my interview with the prominent Pentecostal theologian Christopher Thomas. In this episode we discuss the Pentecostal aspects of the Book of Mormon and the various artwork inspired by the Book. We also discuss a discovery he made about a piece of artwork made by one of Joseph Smith's sons. Here is a link to buy the book: https://www.amazon.com/Pentecostal-Reads-Book-Mormon-Introduction/d...

Evangelical Steven Pynakker interviews pre-eminent Pentecostal Theologian John Christopher Thomas. In part one we get to find out what interested Chris in the Restoration and the Book of Mormon. Believers in the Book of Mormon will have a unique opportunity to hear two outsiders give their take on your Scripture. Here is a link to my review of the book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CkDA... And...

This is a special co-production of Gospel Tangents and Mormon Book Reviews. I am so grateful to Rick for agreeing to do an interview with this channel. After we finished, we thought it would make more sense to make this a joint venture. Listen as we discuss Ricks life and career. Find out how he got interested in Mormon history. Many topics are explored including many of his guests, wrestling with...

Evangelical Steven Pynakker reviews the book "Losing My Religion: Why I Love and Left My Mormon Faith" by Eric T. Hansen. The author is largely unknown in the English speaking world, but he has a following in Germany where he has lived for decades. Eric is a great story teller both as a writer and a speaker (keep an eye out for the release of my interview of him). While Eric ultimately left the Ch...

Evangelical Steven Pynakker gives an overview of the book the "Prophet Puzzle: Interpretive Essays of Joseph Smith" edited by Bryan Waterman. This is as much an explanation of the channel as it is a book review. Filmed a couple of months ago, this channel was just getting its start and I felt the need at the time to kind of explain to my audience what I am all about. Since filming this episode a l...

Evangelical Steven Pynakker reviews Matthew Harris's latest book "Watchman on the Tower: Ezra Taft Benson and the Making of the Mormon Right". This book will serve as an authoritative resource for President Benson's political views for many years to come. This review was filmed before my 3 part interview with the author. For an more in depth analysis of the book, please click on part one of the in...

Evangelical Steven Pynakker reviews "Moroni's America" by Jonathan Neville. While many believers scoff at the Heartland Model setting for the Book of Mormon, this book should give them pause to reconsider. The author puts together a case for it using his extensive law background. If one needs a good resource to investigate this hypothesis, Moroni's America would be a good place to start. Link to t...

Evangelical Steven Pynakker reviews "Moroni's America" by Jonathan Neville. While many believers scoff at the Heartland Model setting for the Book of Mormon, this book should give them pause to reconsider. The author puts together a case for it using his extensive law background. If one needs a good resource to investigate this hypothesis, Moroni's America would be a good place to start. Link to t...

Evangelical Steven Pynakker reviews the book, Healing the Breach: Mormonism, Metaphors, and the Pieces of the Puzzle by Patrick S. McKay Sr. Weeks before I filmed my first episode I received a phone call from the author of this book and had a wonderful conversation with him. My original intent was for the channel to be more secular in nature, but after speaking with Patrick I recognized immediatel...

Evangelical Steven Pynakker reviews the definitive biography of one of the most infamous characters to inhabit the orbit of Joseph Smith. In this review you'll find out that Bennett had a fascinating life and history both before and after his encounter(s) with the Restoration. From being an early advocate of the health benefits of tomatoes, developing two new breeds of chickens, and founding diplo...

Evangelical Steven Pynakker reviews Jon Krakauer's best seller Under the Banner of Heaven. While this book spent years on the New York Times bestseller list, our reviewer kind of ignored it. Years later he picked up a copy and was surprised and impressed by the authors research. Link to the book: https://www.amazon.com/Under-Banner-H...

Evangelical Steven Pynakker gives his take on this series of essays that deal with sometimes notorious and faithful figures in the history of the Restoration. If one is looking to "round out" their understanding of Church history this would be a good place to start. This video was produced before the passing of Michael Quinn. Link to the book: https://www.amazon.com/Mormon-Mavericks-Essays-Dissent...

Your Evangelical host Steven Pynakker reviews B.H. Roberts work Studies of the Book of Mormon. Released 50 years after his death this study was Robert's attempt to play "devils advocate" with regards to the Book of Mormon. It is based on a series of presentations he gave to the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve. The paper was privately circulated amongst the intellectual elite of the C...

Steven Pynakker discusses his modest collection of the Book of Mormon. A light hearted approach is taken and a confession is made by the host. Dear Saints will you please forgive me for what I admit to? Please leave me your comments!

Your host Steven Pynakker reviews a very interesting book on the contents of the missing 116 pages of the Book of Mormon. The author, Don Bradley, gives sheds new light on the pages by carefully reconstructing parts of the "Book of Lehi". He also gives some interesting insights on who really stole the pages (it may have not been Lucy Harris after all!). If you are a student of the Book of Mormon,...