Analyzing Mormonism

13 No PRIDE in the Proclamation

In honor of Pride Month, I wrote out a ten page essay that I shared on my personal facebook page. The essay seeks for greater inclusion for the LGBTQ members and poses a number of questions as to why the Family Proclamation is set up the way that it is. This is me reading that essay. It is my hope that everyone can come with empathy and leave an ally. 
EDIT: I made a mistake by saying "large majority" when speaking about intersex individuals. That is not correct. I should have said "large number" and I apologize for my misspeaking. 

12 Commentary on the Essay Are Mormons Christian?

America, Jessica and I give commentary to the Church's Gospel Topics Essay titled: "Are Mormons Christian?"

11 An Argument from Silence: Exploring the Reality of Joseph Smith’s First Vision

Joseph Smith organized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1830. In 1832 Joseph Smith claimed that he saw Jesus Christ in a vision twelve years earlier. What evidence is there that Joseph Smith did, in reality, have this heavenly vision? Were there others that validated this claim?
Join us as we analyze historical documents (including letters, newspaper articles, and the religious activities of him and his family) and explore the evidence of Joseph Smith's first vision in 1820.

10 Gospel Topics Essay: Are Mormons Christian?

Join us as America reads the essay published on the Church's website under the topic: "Are Mormons Christian?"

09 Commentary on First Vision Accounts Essay Part 2

This is part two of Jessica, America and myself giving commentary on the Gospel Topics Essay titled "First Vision Accounts."

08 Commentary on First Vision Accounts Essay Part 1

America, Jessica and I give commentary on the Church's essay on the First Vision Accounts. This is part 1 of 2.

07 The Trial of 1826

On March 20, 1826 Joseph Smith Jr. was put on trial for being a “glass looker”.
Join America and me as we read some of the trial accounts for Joseph Smith Jr. The first document comes from the article “Mormonism” published in the New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge in 1883. (Which is nearly identical to the court notes published in Frazer’s Magazine in 1873). Another document comes from W. D. Purple, published in the Chenango Union on May 2, 1877. The final account that we read is from the New England Christian Herald published on November 7, 1832. 
I also want to ask that you check out Mark Elwood’s book “The Glass Looker.” The book is filled with gorgeous illustrations and intriguing sources for Joseph Smith as a treasure digger. You can purchase his book on https://theglasslooker.com.
Joseph Smith's beginnings as a treasure digger and his using multiple seer stones, gives a whole new side to the origins of the Church and to the prophet himself. 

06 Gospel Topics Essay: Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham

This is me reading the essay published on the Church's website under the topic: "Translation and Historicity of the Book of Abraham."

05 Charles Anthon

To persuade himself to invest so much into the printing of the Book of Mormon, Martin Harris went to a man named Charles Anthon to see if he could authentic the characters taken from the golden plates.
In this episode I read from the 1838 Church History account as well as the 1832 Church History account concerning Charles Anthon. I also read from the Palmyra Freeman that was published in 1829 which discusses the ordeal in some detail. Little known, however, is that Charles Anthon himself spoke out twice concerning Martin Harris' recollection of their encounter. He spoke out in 1834 and in 1841. 
Join with me as I read and discuss the man named Charles Anthon and his association with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

04 Gospel Topics Essay: First Vision Accounts

This is me reading the essay published on the Church's website under the topic "First Vision Accounts."