One hundred twenty emigrants passing through southern Utah on their way to California in 1857, at a time when the U.S. Army was on its way to Salt Lake City, unannounced and unexplained by President Buchanan, were massacred by Mormons and Indians, the Mormons taking the lead. Much written on the topic has been marred by bias, agendas and selective use of inadequate sources. Three LDS professional historians, with the input and review of many, LDS and non-LDS, representing a wide range of perspectives, have written what promises to be a masterpiece of historical research and writing.
Ron Walker and Glen Leonard, co-authors of this long awaited book Massacre at Mountain Meadows, were my guests. We discussed their rendition of this event, including new sources and perspectives, resulting from their extensive research on this controversial topic. The third co-author, Rick Turley, Assistant LDS Church Historian, was in Mexico.
Further, the authors spoke of their determination to examine the known sources which pertain to the topic and to seek out previously unknown sources. They explained the position of Church leadership to give them free access to all historical holdings of the Church and that their writing and conclusions would not be supervised nor reviewed by Church authorities. The book is published by Oxford University Press which has a reputation for publishing works which meet a high professional standard. The first printing of 10,000 was sold out before the official release, the second printing will not supply the current demand and a third printing is already planned.
]]>Mike Ash will be my guest to discuss his new book: Shaken Faith Syndrome: Strengthening One’s Testimony in the Face of Criticism and Doubt. His approach is the presentation of source material and logic to answer, from a faith promoting perspective, many issues which lead some to doubt their LDS faith. He deals with such topics as: Revelation, prophets, scripture and historical issues. Some of the specifics include, changes in scripture, response to the insistence that prophets must be infallible and omniscient, challenges to Book of Mormon histority and similar challenges to the Book of Abraham, the first vision issues and many others.
Major Issues which trouble LDS who study points raised by critics.
Polygamy Godhead Book of Mormon historicity Book of Abraham historicity Differences in First Vision accounts Differences between scientists and some events in our scripture
LDS attitudes which lead to doubts
Belief that the Church and its leaders are infallible LDS in their testimonies declare that they know, rather than that they believe
Positions which dispell many arguments of critics
Prophets are not infallible Prophets are not omniscientThe Church is not perfect Scriptures are not perfect There is much to learn about God, salvation, mysteries which will not be learned in this life LDS prophets have differed in their beliefs on various doctrinal points God gives revelations which are unexpected Belief that parts of scripture are not to be taken literally There is very little mandatory doctrine Recognition of the shotgun approach of many critics
Issues raised
The Church does not believe in civil rights A caller claimed that my guest and I are cultural Mormons who believe that the Church and its leaders are infallible. He claimed I am a liberal. I declared that he was correct; that I am a disciple of Joseph Smith, and by virtue of my belief in his teachings, I am a liberal. Literal interpretation of Noah’s Flood
Discussion of a panel at the Sunstone Symposium which reviewed Mike Ash’s book
Discussion of the recent FAIR Conference and the FAIR organization
Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/ Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog
This is the 17 August 2008 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 29th year.
To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST.
If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view.
Your voice will be heard around the world.
Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes
To make a comment, click on “Comment” below
]]>
Perspective of a Black Convert
My guest was Marvin Perkins, an enthusiastic Black Mormon. He is a convert to the LDS Church who has spent considerable time pondering and researching the issue of Blacks in LDS history and Scripture. He has been lecturing on the topic with long-time, well-known Black member, Darius Gray. They have published a set of two DVD’s of recorded live lectures. These are well organized presentations with a strong focus on insights, and I would say, surprises from the Scriptures. We discussed his perspective and included participants by phone and email. He and brother Gray host a website: http://www.blacksinthescriptures.com/.
Topics discussed include:
Many relevant scriptures including new footnotes in the Book of Mormon.
Joseph Smith’s views on Blacks, slavery and the universality of the restoration.
Diversity of the views of Brigham Young and Joseph Smith.
Origin of the priesthood restriction for Black Mormons.
President David O. McKay’s view.
President Hinkley’s view.
Current needs within the Church to establish fully a universal brotherhood.
Blacks in the pre-existence.
The war in heaven.
The June 1978 revelation.
Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS
Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/
Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/
Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog
This is the 23 March 2008 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 29th year.
To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST.
If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view.
Your voice will be heard around the world.
Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes
To make a comment, click on “Comment” below
]]>
Joseph Smith presented some of his views against slavery in the platform on which he was running for President. I discussed other sources in which we find Joseph Smith’s views.
I engaged in some debate with a caller over Joseph Smith’s views. I insisted that there has been no evidence, from sources produced before Joseph Smith’s death, that he believed an ancient curse was to be continued in the Restoration. And further, I presented some from a substantial body of sources that he believed that all should, regardless of ancestry, be considered equal, a view he was vigorously advocating at the time of his death. The caller, in his argument, ignored the statements of Joseph Smith written and published before his death, and rather relied upon a late reminiscence which alleged that Joseph Smith realized that he had been in error declared that the blacks were, in fact, yet under an ancient curse.
This is the 16 March 2008 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 29th year.
To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST.
If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view.
Your voice will be heard around the world.
Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes
To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.
]]>Don Ormsby hosted the program this week and Jeff Lindsay joined him to discuss Mormonism from an apologetic perspective. Jeff explained Mormon apologetics as he sees it. He addresses many issues on his website jefflindsay.com
Callers and email prompted Jeff’s extensive discussion of the Book of Abraham. He also discussed creation, DNA, secret combinations and the anti-Mormon activity at the annual LDS pageant in Manti, Utah.
This is the 6 July 2008 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 29th year.
To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST.
If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view.
Your voice will be heard around the world.
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To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.
]]>I discussed differing views of Mormons regarding slavery and priesthood denial to blacks. This is a complex historical and theological issue with many avenues of discussion. I will focus primarily upon the views of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. I discussed differing views of Mormons regarding slavery and priesthood denial to blacks. This is a complex historical and theological issue with many avenues of discussion. I will focus primarily upon the views of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young.Also, I will raise and briefly address various angles and arguments which have been batted around over the past 17 decades:
This is the 9 March 2008 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 29th year.
To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST.
If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view.
Your voice will be heard around the world.
Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes
To make a comment, click on “Comment” below
]]>
From the very beginning of the Church to the present, the operation of its various entities and the general body of the Church itself exercise the principle of common consent on a wide range of decisions. From the very beginning of the Church to the present, the operation of its various entities and the general body of the Church itself exercise the principle of common consent on a wide range of decisions.If God calls prophets and directs their every action and belief by revelation why would common consent be the foundation of the operation of the Church organization?
From the very beginning of the Church to the present, the operation of its various entities and the general body of the Church itself exercise the principle of common consent on a wide range of decisions.If God calls prophets and directs their every action and belief by revelation why would common consent be the foundation of the operation of the Church organization?Why would the President and Prophet hold that position only with the consent of the faithful body of the Saints?
Why would the collection and publication of certain revelations to Joseph Smith and others require the vote of the Church members?
Why would a unanimous decision of the Quorum of the Twelve be more authoritative than than a majority decision?
Why would the President and Prophet consult with his counsellors on all important matters?
There are many historical sources which provide insights into these questions and reveal an important aspect of Joseph Smith’s views and claims. I will discuss these sources and the two major conclusions among LDS as to the intent and value of the principle of Common Consent.
This is the 2 March 2008 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 29th year.
To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST.
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]]>
Art Bulla has been claiming for almost 3 decades to be the successor of Joseph Smith holding the highest priesthood keys, being the Lord’s annointed and even superior to Joseph Smith and his successors, claiming to be One Mighty and Strong, to set an apostate LDS Church in order.After many years of discussion on the air and in person with Art Bulla I have decided to address his claims directly by talking about some basic principles of Mormonism introduced by Joseph Smith and endorsed by his successors, but ignored or denied by Bulla. I have tried hard to understand his claims.
Basically, he claims that his having been ordained a 70 gives him the highest priesthood keys, eventhough he was excommunicated from the Church. He argues that a person need not be a member of the Church to hold the highest priesthood keys. In fact, he claims that the highest keys are held by a council known as the Council of 50, organized by Joseph Smith in 1844. However, to be a member of this Council, according to Bulla, holding the highest priesthood keys, a person did not need to believe in Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, the Bible, Jesus or God.
Bulla claims he received the highest priesthood keys from the Church, which he asserts has been in apostasy for some time. I have asked him a number of times to trace the highest keys, those to be held only by one man at a time on the earth, from Joseph Smith to himself. He has never gone beyond Joseph Smith, Brigham Young or John Taylor. He weaves a claim of revelation; a pre-existent foreordination; ordination to a 70 before his excommunication; extension of the priesthood to the blacks in 1978, resulting, as he alleges, to a latter-day apostasy of the Church; a total disregard for the vision of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, of great success and expansion of the Church worldwide, diminishing this vision to that of one prophet holding the keys, with one disciple, no Church or priesthood quorums.
I discuss such Mormon Basics as:
The highest priesthood keys were to be invested in the Church.
The President of the Church is the President of the High Priesthood.
All who leave the Church or are excommunicated hold no priesthood keys or authority.
There is to be no modern-day apostasy of the Church.
The meaning of D&C 85 on the “one mighty and strong.”
]]>
Currently, he is working with many others on the extensive Joseph Smith Papers Project. Specifically he is dealing with those Joseph Smith documents for the period of 1834-1838. Max gave details about this project which is to result in the publication of some 30 volumes.
Max provided important clarification of economics of the Church in Kirtland and Missouri in 1832-1834. Click to read his 73 page article on the subject.He explained such terms as:
The United Firm
The United Order
The Order of Enoch
Consecration
Stewardship
He addressed such issues as:
Ownership of property - Church owned and individually owned
Financial workings of the Church during this early period
Reasons for the failure of the the United Firm in Kirtland
Reasons for conflicts between the Saints and the non-LDS residents in Independence Missouri.
Deed of ownership and deed of stewardship
Max explained that the publication of revelations (78, 82, 102, 103, 104) in the 1835 D&C were altered to disguise the United Firm and those who were its managers.
Callers:
Discussion with a caller on tithing and celestial law.
Response to caller regarding his claim that the motivation of Church leaders has always been greed.
Discussion with a caller on consecration
A question from a caller about having all things in common. Max explained that Joseph Smith had no view of common ownership.
Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS
Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/
Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/
This is the 8 June 2008 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 29th year.To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST. If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view.Your voice will be heard around the world.Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes
To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.
]]>
My guest, Curt Bench, is the owner of Benchmark Books and a leading authority on books published on Mormon history, doctrine, theology, biography, diaries etc. He deals in new, used and rare books. Following is a list of some topics covered in our discussion.
]]>Book recommendationsComments on a number of books on MormonismA new publication of the first 3 editions of the Book of Mormon in parallel columns
Book of Mormon original manuscript, printers manuscript, first three printed additions
The rare Mormon book business - current going price for an original 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon
Are there books which have been a challenge to our faith?
Paul H. Dunn books
Censured or Banned books
Bruce R. McConkie’s Mormon Doctrine
Upcoming publication of the Joseph Smith Papers
Writing of history
Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS
Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/
Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/
Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog
This is the 1 June 2008 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year.
To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST.
If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view.
Your voice will be heard around the world.
Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes
To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.
I engage in some basic reasoning which logically follows from some simple facts about the Bible. I am surprised at the large number of Bible advocates who have not even considered the implication of many simple facts. Follow is a brief list of topics discussed.
King James Version
Comments on the development of the numerous ancient and modern canons called the Bible
Divergent views of Jews at the beginning of the Christian era
The question of the Dead Sea Scrolls
There was not a gap of several centuries, as many have assumed, in Jewish religious writings between what are called the OT and the NT
The New Testament views regarding the after life - heaven, hell, judgment etc. - have their roots, not in the Protestant OT or NT, but rather in Jewish writings available at the beginning of the Christian era some of which can be found in some ancient and modern canons, and some which are not found in any canon.
Footnotes and study Bibles
A caller insisted that baptism is found in the Old Testament
An email asked questions as to why LDS continue to use the KJV
A caller commented on Tyndale’s translation and execution
Response to an email about documents upon which parts of the four Gospels were based
Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS
Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/
Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/
Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog
This is the 10 February 2008 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year.
To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST.
If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view.
Your voice will be heard around the world.
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To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.
]]>
What follows is a very interesting discussion I had a couple of years ago on the topic of modern polygamy in Utah with my guest was Mark Shurtleff, the Utah State Attorney General.
Unfortunately, the digital recording failed and this comes from a rather poor tape recording made by one of my listeners.
But, because of the topic’s timeliness, I am posting this episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show to my podcast site. A.G. Shurtleff gives considerable information and insight into events which currently are widely discussed daily in the national news media regarding the recent raid by Texas law inforcement agents of the polygamous community known as the FLDS, or the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
More than 400 children were taken from their homes and families and placed in State custody. What will be their future and how Texas, Utah and other states will deal with polygamy and other forms of non-traditional illegal sexual relationships has captured the interest of Americans.
Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and I were joined by callers in the discussion of:
Modern polygamy in Utah;
Utah laws regarding sexuality;
Various definitions of statutory rape;
Legal age for sexual activity;
Legal age and conditions for marriage;
The impossibility of aggressive prosecution of infractions by polygamists for religious reasons and those who break the laws, but without religious motivation;
The issue of First Amendment guarantee of religious freedom verses the anti-polygamy laws;
Which laws the State will enforce and which it will not;
Differences among polygamists - independents and those in polygamous religious groups;
The hypocritical public attitude toward polygamy in contrast to that of children who are the result of irresponsible promiscuity;
The prospects of anti-polygamy laws being argued before the Supreme Court;
The 90 page Polygamy Primer prepared by the Attorney General’s office to clarify issues pertaining to modern polygamy in Utah;
Warren Jeffs’ abuses
Warren Jeffs’ distortions of polygamy as practiced by LDS Church members in the 19th century;
Welfare fraud;
Incest;
Women desiring to leave polygamy.
Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS
Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/
Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/
Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog
This is the 20 August 2006 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year.
To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST.
If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view.
Your voice will be heard around the world.
Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes
To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.
]]>The following is but a very small list of aspects related to its history: Scrolls, manuscripts, texts, codex, collections, councils, creeds, disputed books, apocrypha, pseudepigrapha, canonization, translations, Septuagint, Law/Prophets/Writings, Samitaritan Penteuch, Latin Vulgate, Masoretic text, Textus Receptus, Marcion, Jerome, Wycliffe, Tyndale, Luther, theological motivations, Dead Sea Scrolls, Nag Hammadi, lost scripture, ancient translations, modern translations, textual criticism.
I briefly discuss a number of topics from this list and give some of my personal reflections and conclusions drawn from many years of personal interest in the question, Which Bible?
Callers and Email
Discussion of:
Joseph Smith’s last Conference sermon: reports of the sermon, compiling, editing and preparation for publication
Literal interpretation of Genesis
Brigham Young’s view of the Genesis account of creation
Adam God Theory
Evolution
Jehovah in the Old Testament
Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS
Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/
Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/
Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog
This is the 20 January 2008 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year.
To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST.
If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view.
Your voice will be heard around the world.
Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes
To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.
]]>
My guest was Martin Tanner. We discussed his debate with Jason Wallace, a pastor who subscribes to the brand of Christianity of John Calvin.
Pastor Wallace was arguing that Joseph Smith was not a prophet, presenting his interpretations of some Biblical passages in support.
Martin Tanner, who is a believing LDS, responded.
Callers participated in our discussion.
Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS
Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/
Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/
Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog
This is the 20 January 2008 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year.
To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST.
If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view.
Your voice will be heard around the world.
Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes
To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.
]]>
It is not a book of Science.
Genesis 30 - the speckled and spotted sheep and goats.
Extreme Views of the Old Testament
Joseph Smith explained that some of the Old Testament pertains to us, but much does not.
Discussion with callers on what to believe regarding supernatural claims in the Old Testament and elsewhere in our religious tradition, addressing some specifics such as the Book of Abraham, Book of Mormon and the miracles of Jesus.
Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDSOfficial website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/
Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/
Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog
This is the 20 January 2008 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year.
To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST.
If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view.
Your voice will be heard around the world.
Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes
To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.
]]>I believe Old Testament is an important collection of religious writings in the Judeo/Christian/LDS tradition. The fact that there has been substantial development within the Judeo/Christian/LDS tradition has resulted in substantial neglect of the Old Testament by most LDS and other Christians. The following is a list of points which are so certain that there is not room for reasonable dispute. I discuss these points and briefly explain how they have shaped my approach to the Old Testament. Several participants join with me in this discussion.
1. There is not now, nor has there ever been a consensus as to what belongs in the canon of the Old Testament.
2. Every list or collection of Old Testament books is a selection from a much larger body of ancient Israelite and Jewish writings.
3. The authorship of most of the Old Testament books is unknown.
4. Much of the Old Testament makes no claim to revelation or inspiration.
5. A number of beliefs, ritual, laws and punishments are strange, and bizarre to us.6. Some of the Old Testament religion is illegal in America.
7. Many laws and principles which were to continue forever have been abolished by Christianity.
8. Some aspects of the portrayal of God in the Old Testament are not found in modern Christianity.
9. There is disagreement between a number of Old Testament passages and the findings of modern science.
10. A number of doctrines are not accepted by modern Christianity.
11. There are many differences in Old Testament accounts and beliefs.
Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS
Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/
Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/
Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog
This is the 13 January 2008 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year.
To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST.
If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view.
Your voice will be heard around the world.
Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes
To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.
]]>Comments on the new LDS Church Almanac.
Accusation and response that the Church leaders are only interested in their callings in the Church for personal financial gain.
Allegations, prompted by Mitt Romney’s candidacy for President of the U.S., that he and other Mormons are not Christians, and that his religious beliefs should disqualify him for public office.
Brief article on “The Wrong Jesus and The Wrong Satan” by Bill Forrest.
Discussion with a caller about details of the death of Joseph and Hyrum. I read what purports to be the coroner’s report of June 28, 1844.
Discussion with a caller on Noah’s ark and the question of the historicity of all Biblical detail.
This is the 6 Januray 2008 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year.
To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST.
If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view.
Your voice will be heard around the world.
Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes
To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.
]]>I discuss the Christmas card allegedly sent by Mitt Romney to Republicans in North Carolina which purports to have been financed by the LDS Temple in Boston.A frequent caller attacked Mitt Romney; claimed Brigham Young did not believe in the Constitution; that he came to Utah to escape the U. S.; and that he declared that he did not believe in the Constitution. I responded to each of these points.I read a current statement of the Church’s neutrality on political elections and partisan politics and freedom of LDS, including those holding political office, to vote their conscience.Discussion with a caller on the interpretation of portions of scripture and how the interpretation one may be relevant to the interpretations of others.
Comments on D&C 134. I contrast this section with Old Testament policy.
Joseph Smith’s 1844 statement on religion and government.
Email from an LDS democrat regarding the Chuch political position.
A caller read a statement of Joseph Smith and his comments.
Discussion with a caller about views of the Bible and interpretation of the Old Testament;
Mitt Romney and prevailing biases.
A caller asked about the historicity of the Bible in comparison and contrast to the Book of Mormon.
Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS
Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/
Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/
Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog
This is the 30 December 2007 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year.
To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST.
If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view.
Your voice will be heard around the world.
Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes
To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.
]]>I comment on the Ensign article on Joseph Smith’s journals, the Joseph Smith Papers project and the new Priesthood / Relief Society manual for 2008.I received an email asking a question about God sending lying spirits to the prophets to deceive the king. In addressing this issue, I briefly comment on several approaches to the Old Testament.
1. Rejection of the Old Testament by many early Christians.
2. Modern approach of a majority of Christians who ignore all but a few selected passages and stories from the Old Testament.
3. Another approach is that the Old Testament is a collection of ancient religious writings but not the inspired word of God.
Acknowledging the strangeness of the Old Testament is essential to understanding it.
1 Kings 21
There are a number of passages which present seemingly strange Divine characteristics. I list a few:
1 Kings 22:9-23 (causes prophets to lie);
Ezekiel 14:9 (deceives prophets);
Amos 3:6 (the cause of evil in a city);
Ezekiel 20:25-26, 31 (gave laws and judgments which were not good, including child sacrifice);
Hosea 9:15-16 (hates and curses);
Deu 20:10-11, Lev 25:44 (commands and condones slavery);
1 Sa 16:14, 18:10 (sends evil spirits to influence men);
Ex 32:14; Deu 28:68; Am 7:3, 6; Jonah 3:9, 10; Jer 26:13; 2 Sam 24:16 (changes his mind).
I read and commented on Numbers 5:11-30 - Procedure for determining a wife’s faithfulness.
Callers and Email
1. A frequent caller who paints Mormonism in the blackest fashion. He insists that the only interest of the General Authorities is in collecting money from its members.
2. This caller has written a novel which incorporates much of this author’s personal doctrinal views.
3. A frequent caller strongly criticized my view of the Old Testament.
4. A frequent caller discusses the question of whether God would deceive the prophets and questioning my doubting of the literalness of parts of the Old Testament.
5. A frequent caller condemns me for not believing the flood account literally, but insists that it is appropriate for him to discard to refuse a literal interpretation of the Genesis account of creation.
6. This caller was applying some wording from the book of Revelation to current events in America’s southern states.
Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS
Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/
Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/
Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog
This is the 23 December 2007 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year.
To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST.
If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view.
Your voice will be heard around the world.
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]]>Priesthood and Succession
A number of topics were raised and discussed in this episode:Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS
Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/
Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/
Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog
This is the 16 December 2007 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year.
To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST.
If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view.
Your voice will be heard around the world.
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]]>Diversity of Mormon Views
In this episode I discuss several differing views of LDS leaders, including Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, B. H. Roberts, Joseph Fielding Smith and Bruce R. McConkie on the topic of God’s omniscience.
Joseph Smith and Brigham Young emphatically declared that the most spiritually advanced in this life will know but little of even the basics of the plan of salvation at the time of their death. From this perspective, they established an LDS position which persists - that we have no carefully worded creed which a person must accept to be LDS. Both of them advocated searching, pondering and speculating upon concepts, even mysteries. This, of course, resulted in a religious climate among the Saints where there would naturally be a diversity of views on even some basic topics, even regarding God and the Godhead.
I discuss the differences between Orson Pratt and Brigham Young on the whether God, or the Gods, progress in knowledge. Their differences resulted in published statements of the First presidency, and the First Presidency and the Twelve, to the Saints and comments in sermons by several General Authorities in the 1860s. More recently, Joseph Fielding Smith and Bruce R. McConkie, in the 1950s and 1960s expressed their views on the subject.
Email Participants (the phone system went down and thus there were no phone participants)
Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS
Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/
Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/
Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog
This is the 9 December 2007 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year.
To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST.
If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view.
Your voice will be heard around the world.
Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes
To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.
]]>on the Holy Ghost
I trace the development of Mormon thought, from 1829 to the present, on the Holy Ghost. I pursue such questions as:
Is the Holy Ghost a personage?
What is the future of the Holy Ghost?
Was Joseph Smith the Holy Ghost?
Why did the current LDS view of the Holy Ghost take so long to develop?
Regarding the Holy Ghost, I discuss the Book of Mormon and other early sources, specifically Lecture Five in a series of lectures given in 1834, and Joseph Smith’s teachings during the last four years of his life in Nauvoo.
Participants by Phone and Email
Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS
Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/
Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/
Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog
This is the 2 December 2007 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year.
To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST.
If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view.
Your voice will be heard around the world.
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To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.
]]>Concept of God
Joseph Smith acknowledged that his views were progressive - that is, his views of God differed on a number of points from 1829 to 1844. From a number of sources I have developed the following approximate timeline for the development of Joseph Smith’s views of God.
I discussed the four main points of the King Follett discourse of 7 April 1844.
Participation by Phone and Email
Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS
Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/
Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/
Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog
This is the 25 November 2007 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year.
To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST.
If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view.
Your voice will be heard around the world.
Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes
To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.
]]>On this talk show I answer a number of questions regarding Brigham Young’s unique beliefs regarding Adam. This has been a controversial topic for more than 100 years. Answers the following questions are included:
Callers and Email
Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS
Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/
Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/
Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog
This is the 18 November 2007 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year.
To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST.
If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view.
Your voice will be heard around the world.
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]]>Martin Tanner
Discussion with my guest Martin Tanner on the following topics:
Trinity
Book of Mormon doctrine
Early Mormon views of God
Diversity and development of concepts of God within Mormonism.
Questions by Email and Phone
What about monotheism in Isaiah and the trinitarianism or tritheism of the Book of Mormon at the same time?
What about God and gender?
Brigham Young’s view of Adam as God vs Evolution vs accounts of creation in Genesis, Moses, Abraham.
Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS
Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/
Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/
Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog
This is the 11 November 2007 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year.
To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST.
If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view.
Your voice will be heard around the world.
Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes
To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.
]]>1. Which Bible?
2. What is the Biblical concept of Deity?
3. What is the Mormon concept of Deity?
4. Are we referring to the identity of God or to divergent views of God’s attributes and actions?
Callers and Email:
1. The reasoning behind non-LDS Christian arguments that Mormons are not Christians; divergent concepts of salvation.
2. A caller and I disagreed on two main points: That the belief that Jesus and Satan are brothers demeans Jesus; and that the belief that Jesus created Satan out of nothing, flawed such that Jesus knew Satan would fall and become the author of evil, makes Jesus the creator, or the one responsible for all evil. Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS
Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/
Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/
Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog
This is the 11 November 2007 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year.
To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST.
If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view.
Your voice will be heard around the world.
Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes
To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.
]]>In this episode I compare and contrast Mormon concepts of Deity with those terms used in the historic Christian debate to identify some of the many views argued during the past 1800 years. I define and discuss, as related to Mormon views, such terms as: trinitarian, unitarian, binitarian, monotheism, polytheism, tritheism, henotheism, modalism, monarchianism, homoousian, homoiousion.
My interest in the history, evolution and debate of these ideas has lead to my attempt to define the Mormon concepts of Deity. Due to the fact that there have been developments of doctrinal concepts from 1829 to the present, in this episode, I focus on the first period, 1829 to 1844, the ministry of Joseph Smith.
Callers:
What is monarchianism?
What about Brian Hale’s comment that polygamy was a commandment from 1852-c.1890 after which, for some 14 years, it was an option rather than a command, before it was discontinued entirely. What was the second manifesto of 1904?
This caller falsely claimed that I am a Darwinist and thus cannot believe in God. I have denied his allegations several times previously. He proclaimed his belief that Adam is God.
Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS
Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/
Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/
Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog
This is the 28 October 2007 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year.
To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST.
If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view.
Your voice will be heard around the world.
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To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.
]]>For me personally, one of the most powerful concepts taught by Joseph Smith concerns the relationship between God and man - the concept resulting in the Primary song, “I am a child of God.”
For me personally, one of the most powerful concepts taught by Joseph Smith concerns the relationship between God and man - the concept resulting in the Primary song, “I am a child of God.”
Jesus encountered a Jewish society wherein the current views of God, the result of several centuries of evolution, placed a giant gulf between God and man. To first century Jews, God was transcendent. In theology this term refers to the degree of difference between God and the physical world and mankind. The higher the concept of transcendence, the greater the gulf between God and man. Many have, and do, believe God’s transcendence is such that, to man, God is beyond all comprehension; completely unknowable; that he is “wholly other;” he is the Creator, and we are the creation.
Jesus eradicated this gulf by declaring a close relationship between God and man unheard of in ancient Israel. Jesus spoke of God as even more anthropomorphic than that found in the most ancient Israelite belief before the several centuries just preceding the Chrisitan era when the concept of a transcendent God developed.
During his ministry Jesus introduced God as his personal Father, and the personal Father of his disciples. His view was not just that God is our personal Father, but that he is our close personal Father to be addressed with a term no Jew would have considered using for God.
Along the way, the early Christian church discarded Jesus’ view and restored the concept of transcendence, even to what may well be the ultimate degree. During Joseph Smith’s efforts to restore primitive Christianity, he re-introduced, with great clarity, the concept taught by Jesus, including a new dimension.
The research of highly respected modern non-Mormon New Testament scholars, and modern translations of the New Testament have provided considerable insight into Jesus’ unique view of man’s relationship to God. I discuss the research published about 50 years ago which uncovered this lost concept of Jesus and startled many modern Christian scholars. I also present a number of striking sources including a number of modern renderings of relevant New Testament passages from some of the modern translations.
Creator / creation relationship between man and God.
Father / son relationship between man and God.
Potential to transcend the position of a creation to be a son with the potential to become like our Father - God.
Jesus’s use of the Aramaic word “Abba” for God, his Father and our Father.
Anthropomorphic concept of God.
Callers and Email:
Is not Book of Mormon theology trinitarian; discussion of different interpretations of the trinity and several Book of Mormon passages.
This caller is moved more by the idea of our relationship to God as a Father than as God as a Creator, like the relationship of a painter to his painting.
More on the theology of God in the Book of Mormon.
How is Christ the Creator.
Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS
Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/
Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/
Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog
This is the 21 October 2007 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year.
To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST.
If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view.
Your voice will be heard around the world.
Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes
To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.
]]>