Mormon.ish

In Episode 3 of this series, Patrick begins by responding to excellent audience feedback on the overview of stylometry; he presents a chart that shows when in the Book of Mormon each anomaly first appears. He then reviews the usable Book of Mormon wordprint study from Episode 3. The heart of this episode focuses on the first two wordprint studies, both from BYU academics. Patrick explains how the...

In this special Mormonish/ The Good Book Club episode, we sit down with Dr. John Lundwall to discuss his thought-provoking book Mythos and Cosmos and explore what its ideas might mean when viewed through the lens of Mormonism. Drawing on comparative religion, oral tradition, mythology, and the development of sacred narratives, Lundwall challenges readers to think differently about how ancient reli...

On this episode of Mormonish Podcast, Rebecca and Landon delve into the LDS church's rocky relationship with the town of Nauvoo and learn not much has changed in almost two centuries. In a scenario that will sound familiar to everyone who follows LDS temple building with Mormonish, the tactics used by the church to push through a new temple visitors' center follow the same playbook. This episode w...

Mormonish welcomes author Ganesh Cherian, whose book Joseph Smith: The Architect of Mormonism: A Topical Biography examines Joseph Smith’s role in shaping Mormon theology and belief. Together we explore evidence for Joseph Smith’s authorship of the Book of Mormon, the influences that may have shaped the text, and what this debate tells us about the origins of Mormonism. Join us for a thought-provo...

In Episode 3 of this series, Patrick begins by responding to excellent audience feedback on the 3-Voice Framework from Episode 2. He then highlights a recent Mormonism Live episode that makes a compelling case for the Book of Mormon as a 19th-century text, pointing to 34 doctrines from the early 1800s. But many of those doctrines appear directly connected to debates within Campbellism in Ohio and...

Tune in to Mormonish Podcast on Tuesday, June 23rd at 6 pm MT! President Dallin H. Oaks recently declared that the Church will soon have more missionaries than at any point in its history. But what do those numbers actually mean? This episode takes a closer look at the Church’s missionary statistics, the impact of lowering the missionary age for young women, and the growing role of service and sen...

In this episode of our continuing series on Book of Mormon authorship theories, Patrick lays the groundwork for understanding how the Book or Mormon is constructed, which is an essential part of considering the Book of Mormon authorship theories. In this episode we consider Rob Terry's work. Data Scientist Rob Terry utilized the BYU Book of Mormon text database to deconstruct the structure of the...

Why is it so hard to admit we're wrong? In this episode, Mormonish dives into the fascinating and often uncomfortable ideas presented in Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me) by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson. This popular book explores the powerful psychological mechanisms of self-justification, cognitive dissonance, and the stories we tell ourselves to protect our beliefs, decisions, and identitie...

Who wrote the Book of Mormon? For nearly two centuries, believers, skeptics, historians, and scholars have wrestled with that question. Is the Book of Mormon what it claims to be—a divinely inspired ancient record translated by the gift and power of God? Was it the product of Joseph Smith alone, created through his own imagination and abilities? Or might other individuals, such as Sidney Rigdon ha...

For decades, Latter-day Saints have been encouraged to study the scriptures deeply and seek personal revelation. But has the Church's increasingly structured "Come, Follow Me" curriculum changed the way members engage with scripture? Is there something wrong? In this episode, a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints raises thoughtful questions about the balance between...

In this episode, Patrick circles back to questions that came up after episode 305, “Was Sidney Rigdon the Real Founder of Mormonism?” From there, the conversation goes deeper into how the Book of Mormon may have been dictated, pulling together both long-standing research and newer findings to paint a fuller picture of the process. The episode also walks through the proposed plan Sidney Rigdon may...

The mayor of Fairview Texas, John Hubbard reads through and discusses a letter he wrote to LDS leadership to request they lower the steeple height of the LDS temple being built in his city. He also reads and discusses the response he received from the LDS Temple Department, as well as his reply to that response. The letters are very revealing and you won't want to miss this! This podcast uses the...

Dr Randall Bell joins Mormonish Podcast to discuss how the LDS church portrays itself in the media through influencers and LDS channels. Is the truth far from these portrayals? Dr. Bell breaks it all down for us as we discuss the Great Mormon Smash & Dash! Thank you so much for watching Mormonish Podcast! ***How to DONATE to Mormonish Podcast: If you would like to help financially support our...

Mormonish is joined by Bill Reel to discuss his new podcast series and new books available on Amazon. Bill's contribution to post Mormon scholarship and the tools needed for deconstruction cannot be overstated. Bill Reel is a podcaster, researcher, and Executive Director of Mormon Discussion Inc. He is the host and cohost of several programs exploring Mormon history, doctrine, institutional behavi...

Mormonish Podcast is joined again by Ron Yogason as we crunch the membership data numbers for the end of 2025 and Q1 2026. With more LDS chapels being sold off and more wards and stakes being merged, the data shows a very different picture than the LDS church is trying to portrait in public statements and in the media. We’ll cover: * Expected growth projections from the 1990s * Canadian census: se...

The mysterious “Second Anointing” has long been one of the most controversial and secretive practices connected to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In this episode, we explore what the ordinance is believed to be, where it came from historically, how it developed in early Mormonism, and why it continues to spark debate among members, former members, and religious scholars alike. We...

Applying to be an LDS missionary is a rigorous process for a 17, 18, or 19 year old member of the LDS church. It involves multiple worthiness interviews, mental health checks, medical checks, dental checks, and more. The process lasts multiple months before the call to serve finally arrives. But what if the prospective missionary discusses same sex attraction or experiences with their church leade...

During the process of writing and preparing his new book, "Joseph Smith: The Architect of Mormonism / A Topical Guide" for publication, the LDS church sent author Ganesh Cherian a cease and desist letter. The legal back and forth that followed is very interesting, especially in light of the recent lawsuit against John Dehlin and Mormon Stories by the LDS Church. Do both of these legal maneuvers in...

Mormonish Podcast's Landon Brophy describes receiving a letter notifying him of his excommunication. Thank you so much for watching Mormonish Podcast! ***How to DONATE to Mormonish Podcast: If you would like to help financially support our podcast, you can DONATE to support Mormonish Podcast here: Mormonish Podcast is a 501(c) (3) https://donorbox.org/mormonish-podcast The Good Book Club If you wo...

The comparison of two excommunication stories can reveal a great deal about the kind of people the LDS church will allow right back into full fellowship and the kind of people they will ban for life and beyond. Juxtaposition is a powerful tool and comparing and contrasting the two excommunication stories of Wade Christofferson (brother of LDS First Presidency Member D. Todd Christofferson), excomm...

In 2018, during a visit to Nairobi, Kenya, President Russell M. Nelson encouraged African members to pay tithing, reinforcing it as a divine command that breaks cycles of poverty, even in impoverished areas. This teaching, often supported by leadership in the Africa West Area, frames the required 10% donation not just as a religious offering, but as "rent" paid to the Lord for occupying His creati...

The financing of the first edition of the Book of Mormon was a pivotal moment in early Latter-day Saint history, achieved primarily through the significant personal sacrifice of Martin Harris, a wealthy farmer who was one of the Three Witnesses. In 1829, after local printers in Palmyra, New York, initially refused the project, Harris agreed to secure the $3,000 cost—roughly equivalent to over $100...

The "New" Psychology of Happiness This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Are senior members of the LDS church exploited by a system that relies on unpaid labor while expecting significant time, financial, and emotional commitments while serving a senior mission? Senior missionaries often pay their own expenses and may work long hours in administrative, managerial, or operational roles that closely resemble full-time jobs. This raises concerns about fairness and informe...

Mormonish is joined by Dr. Randy Bell as we disuss Hyrum Smith and his education at Moors Charity School, closely associated with Dartmouth College. Just how much time did Hyrum spend at this institution and what he may have learned there is a hot topic among LDS apologists and post Mormons due to it's possible ramifications for Book of Mormon authorship. Thank you so much for watching Mormonish P...