Mormonism Live!

For decades, the historical consensus has been that Joseph Smith introduced and practiced plural marriage in Nauvoo. But a small group of researchers has argued for a very different conclusion: that Joseph Smith was not the founder of Mormon polygamy and that the historical evidence has been misunderstood. In this episode of Mormonism Live, we sit down with researcher Jeremy Hoop to explore that perspective in depth. Jeremy has spent years examining William Clayton’s journals, the Nauvoo land deeds, the Augusta Cobb letters, the British Mission, and many other historical sources. He explains why he believes the standard narrative deserves to be reconsidered and walks us through the evidence that has led him to his conclusions. Whether you agree with Jeremy or not, this conversation is an opportunity to hear one of the leading voices of the Joseph Smith “non-polygamist” position explain his research in his own words. Our goal is to better understand the arguments, the historical documents, and the reasoning behind this alternative interpretation of early Mormon history. As always, we invite you to examine the evidence, think critically, and reach your own conclusions. Support Mormonism Live: https://donorbox.org/mormonism-live Visit Mormon Discussions: https://mormondiscussions.org If you enjoy thoughtful conversations on Mormon history, doctrine, and culture, please like, subscribe, and share the episode.

Tonight on Mormonism Live, Bill Reel and Radio Free Mormon take a deep dive into one of the most talked-about Mormon history stories in recent memory: the recent leaking of the William Clayton journals. For years, the full Clayton journals have been a source of speculation, controversy, and anticipation. William Clayton was not a peripheral observer. He was in the inner circle of Joseph Smith’s Nauvoo world, served as Joseph’s clerk, recorded the revelation that became Doctrine and Covenants 132, and left behind some of the most important firsthand records tied to plural marriage, temple theology, and the secret inner workings of early Mormonism. Now that these journals have surfaced, new claims are being made—especially by Jeremy Hoop—that the journals do not support the traditional historical case for Joseph Smith’s polygamy. Is that true? Did the leaked journals undercut the standard narrative? Or do they, when read carefully and in context, actually reinforce what historians have been saying for decades? In this episode, we walk through the controversy from the beginning:How Jeremy Hoop got access to the journalsWhat exactly was leaked and what still remains unpublishedWhether the journals really contain “nothing” that supports Joseph Smith’s polygamyThe entries that matter most and what they appear to showWhat else we found in the journals beyond polygamy, including material that sheds light on Nauvoo power structures, private teachings, and the inner world of Joseph Smith’s closest associates We’ll separate rumor from evidence, examine the strongest entries for ourselves, and ask the bigger question: if the William Clayton journals are as important as many have believed, what do they actually reveal once you stop letting other people tell you what’s in them? If you care about Joseph Smith, polygamy, Mormon truth claims, historical transparency, and how narratives are built and defended inside Mormonism, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. ACEESS THE CLAYTON JOURNALShttps://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/CLAYTON-1.pdfhttps://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/CLAYTON-2.pdfhttps://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/CLAYTON-3.pdf Please consider donating to support our work – https://donorbox.org/mormonism-live Also if anyone needs extra support as they work through their faith deconstruction, Bill Reel is a certified Somatic Informed Trauma Coach and you can look into his work at https://awakenandthrive.org/ MormonismLive #JosephSmith #WilliamClayton #LDSHistory #MormonHistory #Mormonism #Polygamy #DoctrineAndCovenants132 #JeremyHoop #MormonDiscussion

Does the Book of Mormon fit better in the ancient world or in early nineteenth century America when it was created? Defenders of the book point to a handful of twisted and strained comparisons to the ancient world to make their case. Bill and RFM, on the other hand, demonstrate conclusively that the Book of Mormon is a much better fit for the early nineteenth century in which it was produced. Indeed, no book is more obviously a product of its times than the Book of Mormon. And that time was the first part of the nineteenth century in the newly established United States of America. Please consider supporting our work by Donating Today ! – https://donorbox.org/mormonism-live Of anyone needs support dealing with spiritual trauma, 1-on-1 coaching and support groups are available at https://awakenandthrive.org/

What if the most revealing thing about Mormon apologetics isn’t the evidence being presented… but the behavioral patterns behind the arguments? Tonight on Mormonism Live, Bill Reel and Radio Free Mormon sit down with Dawn McCarty who works in Forensic Criminology behavioral analysis. Can forensic criminology profile Mormon apologetics? Drawing from several of her recent forensic intelligence briefs, Dawn examines Mormon apologetics, institutional responses to criticism, and high-demand religious systems through the lens of behavioral analysis, threat assessment, cognitive containment, and coercive influence. Together we discuss: • How criminologists identify behavioral patterns in institutions • Narrative patching, semantic inversion, and epistemological fog • The psychology behind apologetic argumentation • Jacob Hansen’s conversations with Alex O’Connor and Bill Reel • The LDS Church’s lawsuit against Mormon Stories and John Dehlin • How institutions maintain authority during periods of public scrutiny • Whether these frameworks can be applied fairly to critics as well as believers Most importantly, we’ll ask whether apologetics can be analyzed the same way investigators analyze other systems that seek to preserve power, shape narratives, and influence behavior. Whether you agree with Dawn’s conclusions or not, this conversation offers a unique perspective that moves beyond history and theology and into the psychology of belief, persuasion, and institutional survival. Join us live and bring your questions. THE REPORTShttps://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/EVIDENTIARY-FORENSIC-INTELLIGENCE-BRIEF_-LDS-CHURCH-SUES-MORMON-STORIES--JOHN-DEHLIN.pdf https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/EXECUTIVE-FORENSIC-INTELLIGENCE-BRIEF-for-JACOB-HANSEN-A-Mormon-Explains-Mormonism-with-Alex-OConnor.pdf https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/EXECUTIVE-FORENSIC-INTELLIGENCE-BRIEF-for-JACOB-HANSEN-Honest-Conversations-About-Faith-with-Jacob-Hansen-Bill-Reel.pdf https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/INTELLIGENCE-BRIEF-Forensic-Autopsy-of-Apologetic-Evasion-and-Systemic-Predatory-Enabling-Author_-Dawn-McCarty-Criminologist-Date_-April-27-2026.pdf Tonight’s Presentation – https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/Forensic-Criminology.pdf MormonismLive #MormonApologetics #MormonStories #JohnDehlin #JacobHansen #LDSChurch #Mormonism #ReligiousStudies #ForensicAnalysis #CultDynamics #FaithCrisis #MormonDiscussion #RadioFreeMormon

The Mormon Church keeps telling us it is growing. And not only is it growing, they say it is growing faster than it has ever grown in history! And yet faithful Mormon researcher Jeff Strong says the LDS Church has lost 40 % of its active membership in the last twenty-five years. How will the Church react now that its generation-long deception is being revealed? And what will the Mormon influences do who have repeated and championed the lies told them by the Church they seek to defend? Time will tell. In the meanwhile, Bill and RFM are going to take a victory lap on this issue, because they have been calling out the Church on this deception for as long as they have been podcasting. Finally RFM and Bill Reel are vindicated!!! Quinton Cook & Marin Hospital – https://wasmormon.org/quentin-l-cooks-privatization-of-marin-hospital/ Please consider donating to support our work – https://donorbox.org/mormonism-live