Join John and Jenn for Part 2 of our interview with popular Mormon podcaster Radio Free Mormon, wherein he shares the story of how he lost his Mormon faith.
Watch “From TBM to RFM Part 1” here.
Show Notes:
- Radio Free Mormon podcast
- Mormonism Live with RFM and Bill Reel
- “A Treasured Testament,” by Russell M. Nelson, Ensign, July 1993; one of few early examples of the Church admitting Joseph used a rock in a hat to produce the Book of Mormon
- New Testament Scholar Bart Ehrman on Mormon Stories
- Discuss Mormonism forum (RFM uses the handle “consiglieri”)
- RFM’s first interview on Mormon Stories
- Cleanthes’ “Hymn to Zeus”
- Secular Buddhism podcast
- “Race and the Priesthood,” Gospel Topics Essay
- “How About an Apology for the Priesthood Ban?” on Radio Free Mormon
- Bishop Bill Reel on Mormon Stories
- “Bill Reel Discusses His Falling Out with FAIR and Faithful Dissent of LDS Policy” on Mormon Stories
- “Bill Reel’s Evolution” on Mormon Stories
- “Bill Reel’s Pre-Excommunication Interview” on Mormon Stories
- “The Excommunication of Mormon Bishop and Podcaster Bill Reel” on Mormon Stories
- “John Larsen interviews RFM” on Radio Free Mormon
- “The Adam-God Historical Subterfuge,” on Mormon Discussion podcast
- Robert Ritner’s interview on Mormon Stories
- RFM vs. Midnight Mormons Debate
- The Church is Not True podcast, with Mike Norton
- “Rodney Meldrum Founder of the Heartland Model” on Mormon Stories
- Rodney Meldrum and the Heartland Model, Pt 3″ on Mormon Stories
- Upcoming Events at Mormon Stories
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The Columbus lie according to Mormons & others
1 Nephi 13
5 And the angel said unto me: Behold the formation of a church which is most abominable above all other churches, which slayeth the saints of God, yea, and tortureth them and bindeth them down, and yoketh them with a yoke of iron, and bringeth them down into captivity.
9 And also for the praise of the world do they destroy the saints of God, and bring them down into captivity.
British, French, Portuguese, Spanish, (European Empires)
12 And I looked and beheld a man among the Gentiles, who was separated from the seed of my brethren by the many waters; and I beheld the Spirit of God, that it came down and wrought upon the man; and he went forth upon the many waters, even unto the seed of my brethren, who were in the promised land.
No captivity. Not Columbus
13 And it came to pass that I beheld the Spirit of God, that it wrought upon other Gentiles; and they went forth out of captivity, upon the many waters.
Captivity, British, French, Portuguese, Spanish, incl. Columbus
14 And it came to pass that I beheld many multitudes of the Gentiles upon the land of promise; and I beheld the wrath of God, that it was upon the seed of my brethren; and they were scattered before the Gentiles and were smitten.
I am new to Mormon Stories and have enjoyed listening to some of the recent episodes. About an hour into this episode with “RFM” I was a little bit confused as to why both John and RFM don’t ever “recommend” that someone leave the LDS church. What exactly, then, is the point of all of this, if not to realize that one is in a cult and then transition out of said cult?
I returned from my LDS mission in ’82 and within a few years realized and accepted I was gay and that there was no way in hell I was going to be associated with an organization that believed I was defective. A wonderful bonus of this was feeling the freedom to delve into Mormon history and discover that it was all a colossal hoax making it so much easier to leave, or as the Mormons would say, so that I could start sinning and enjoying my new gay “lifestyle”. I read “No Man Knows My History” and it was, as Joseph Smith would say, verily verily a turning point.
I certainly understand leaving the church is a big deal but how could John or RFM be neutral with someone, in my case a gay person, leaving the church? I understand that leaving the church can be a complete upheaval of one’s life but how can staying ever be a better option, especially for a gay person? Leaving the church, in my case, saved my life and was the second best decision I’ve ever made, apart from marrying my spouse. Again, I understand this is just my particular experience but what is point of all of this information if not to get people to question the entire Mormon narrative and attempt to live a more authentic life?
It seems disingenuous to expose Mormonism for the fraud that it so clearly is and then be squishy about advising someone to get the hell out of a cult.
I have heard over the highest pulpit of the Brigham it’s that the KJV is THE most correct version and is therefore THE authorized version of the Bible for Mormons.
Hi John your talent and where you shine is the people you choose to interview and the stories they have to tell RFM story is amazing and inspiring and it is great that you’re helping him out I do see you in different roles he researches and presents his research but you have a very special and unique role you led out as a seeker of truth
You were a true pioneer and a courageous leader and by speaking out and sharing these stories you have gained more seekers of truth who have now become leaders themselves with their podcasts etc. so now you are a leader of leaders different podcasts do many different things to bring the truth to light each one helps us all and by you being inclusive you can all work together to bring the light to those in darkness
Your compassion and support for those who have struggled through this journey is another important character of your leader ship. It is traumatic and we all need a shoulder to cry on and a hand to lift us up
You definitely do that
John thank you for all the truth you bring to us who have found our way out of darkness
This is a great man! So great that I wouldn’t even know how to talk with him I would be so intimidated, and yet we love everything he does with Bill Reel, podcasts, Nemo, and John Dehlin. His incredible wealth of knowledge blows us away. He always makes everything so clear in his presentations that argument against would seem to be futile. All of the above named have been inspirations to us. Keep up the important you all do.
I’ve listened to hundreds and hundreds of eps and experienced many touching moments, but RFM recounting reading his mom’s inscription and leaving a note of his own in Moby Dick after finishing the book is the most touching thing I’ve ever heard on this podcast. Love it.
Delightful, scintillating discussion. And of course, I have always thought it silly that God would choose to communicate so obscurely and exclusively. Unfortunately, a young religion, so rigidly sure of itself has calcified in very short course.)
Also, love learning about the history of the ‘bloggernacle.’