Episodios

  • 180. John Turner on Joseph Smith: American Prophet

    180. John Turner on Joseph Smith: American Prophet
    Oct 13 2025

    In this interview, we welcome Dr. John Turner to discuss his book Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet. Who was Joseph Smith, the founding prophet of Mormonism – and how should we understand him both in his own historical context, as well as in terms of his significance in American religious history? Dr. Turner takes us into the Smith family home to discuss some of the factors that impact the trajectory of Joseph’s religious entrepreneurship and innovation. How does Joseph Smith fit within the cultural-Christian discussions and debates of his time and place? What is the Book of Mormon, and how should it be seen categorically relative to other (genuine) ancient texts? Who was Fanny Alger, and should we understand her as Joseph Smith’s first polygamous wife – or rather, as some close to him seemed to think, simply an extramarital affair? We ask Dr. Turner about the origins of Joseph Smith’s polygamy, how Joseph Smith went about practicing it, and how he both hid it from his wife, Emma, and then later tried to involve her. How did Joseph’s secret Nauvoo practice of polygamy compare and contrast with the later Brighamite public practice? We also ask about the place of this biography in the scholarly conversation of the notable biographies that have been previously written, such as Fawn Brodie, Richard Bushman and Dan Vogel.


    Book: Joseph Smith: The Rise and Fall of an American Prophet


    Some other resources by Dr. Turner:

    - Brigham Young: Pioneer Prophet (also here)

    - The Mormon Jesus: A Biography

    - They Knew They Were Pilgrims (also here)


    Other resources:

    The American Religion by Harold Bloom

    The Mound Builder Myth: Fake History and the Hunt for a “Lost White Race” by Jason Colavito

    Inventing Mormonism by H. Michael Marquardt and Wesley P. Walters

    No Man Knows My History: The Life of Joseph Smith by Fawn Brodie

    Joseph Smith: The Making of a Prophet; Charisma Under Pressure: Joseph Smith, American Prophet, 1831-1839 by Dan Vogel

    Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling by Richard Bushman

    Mormonism and the Magic World View by D. Michael Quinn
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    1 h y 32 m
  • 179. Ed Romine on Gospel Topics Essay: "Are 'Mormons' Christian?" (Part 2/2)

    179. Ed Romine on Gospel Topics Essay: "Are 'Mormons' Christian?" (Part 2/2)
    Oct 9 2025

    In this episode, Skyler and Pastor Ed Romine of First Baptist Church of Provo wrap up their interacting with and responding to the LDS (official) Gospel Topics Essay “Are ‘Mormons’ Christian?”.

    Gospel Topics Essay: "Are 'Mormons' Christian?"


    The LDS Gospel Topics Series: A Scholarly Engagement, edited by Matthew L. Harris and Newell G. Bringhurst

    The Mormon Jesus by John Turner


    Hear our previous episodes with Ed here:

    • Charles Spurgeon, and here
    • President Nelson on Priesthood Keys: A Response
    • Interview with Justin Peters on Hyper-Charismatic Apostles and their Authority


    Other resources:

    Wrestling the Angel by Terryl Givens

    The Truth, the Way, the Life by B.H. Roberts

    A Rational Theology by Elder John A. Widtsoe

    The Great Apostasy by Elder James Talmage

    A New Witness for the Articles of Faith by Elder Bruce R. McConkie


    Core Christianity; Christless Christianity by Michael Horton

    Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen (also here)

    Christianity at the Crossroads by Michael Kruger

    Against Heresies; The Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching by Irenaeus

    • Michael Haykin on Irenaeus on Scripture


    Knowing God by J.I. Packer

    All That Is In God by James Dolezal

    The Attributes of God: An Introduction by Gerald Bray

    The Trinity: An Introduction by Scott Swain

    The Person of Christ: An Introduction by Stephen Wellum

    The Trinitarian Theology of Cornelius Van Til by Lane Tipton


    The American Religion by Harold Bloom

    The Gnostic New Age by April DeConick

    The Gnostics by David Brakke
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    1 h y 20 m
  • 178. Ed Romine on Gospel Topics Essay: "Are 'Mormons' Christian?" (Part 1/2)

    178. Ed Romine on Gospel Topics Essay: "Are 'Mormons' Christian?" (Part 1/2)
    Oct 9 2025

    In this episode, Skyler is joined by Pastor Ed Romine of First Baptist Church of Provo to interact with and respond to the LDS (official) Gospel Topics Essay “Are ‘Mormons’ Christian?”.

    Gospel Topics Essay: "Are 'Mormons' Christian?"


    The LDS Gospel Topics Series: A Scholarly Engagement, edited by Matthew L. Harris and Newell G. Bringhurst

    The Mormon Jesus by John Turner


    Hear our previous episodes with Ed here:

    • Charles Spurgeon, and here
    • President Nelson on Priesthood Keys: A Response
    • Interview with Justin Peters on Hyper-Charismatic Apostles and their Authority


    Other resources:

    Wrestling the Angel by Terryl Givens

    The Truth, the Way, the Life by B.H. Roberts

    A Rational Theology by Elder John A. Widtsoe

    The Great Apostasy by Elder James Talmage

    A New Witness for the Articles of Faith by Elder Bruce R. McConkie


    Core Christianity; Christless Christianity by Michael Horton

    Christianity and Liberalism by J. Gresham Machen (also here)

    Christianity at the Crossroads by Michael Kruger

    Against Heresies; The Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching by Irenaeus

    • Michael Haykin on Irenaeus on Scripture


    Knowing God by J.I. Packer

    All That Is In God by James Dolezal

    The Attributes of God: An Introduction by Gerald Bray

    The Trinity: An Introduction by Scott Swain

    The Person of Christ: An Introduction by Stephen Wellum

    The Trinitarian Theology of Cornelius Van Til by Lane Tipton


    The American Religion by Harold Bloom

    The Gnostic New Age by April DeConick

    The Gnostics by David Brakke
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    1 h y 23 m
  • 177. Thomas R. Young on The Alexamenos Graffito

    177. Thomas R. Young on The Alexamenos Graffito
    Oct 6 2025

    In this episode, we welcome Judge Thomas R. Young to discuss his book The Alexamenos Graffito: An Early Roman Commentary on Christians and Christianity. What is the Alexamenos Graffito, and why does it matter? What insight does this single artifact give us into the Roman context, and the cultural distinctive of an emerging Christianity? What can we learn about the predominant Roman view of the Christian emphasis on the Lord Jesus being crucified? Why would a Roman student depict the Christian God as a human with a donkey head? What might the mocking of Alexamenos help us understand about a real fear of social instability and transformation in the cultural war of that time? From a tour of the Roman cult(s) system, both public and private, to aiding our understanding of what inspired Roman intolerance – to aiding our understanding Christian distinctiveness in the Mediterranean world, listen in as Rob takes us through this and more as he explains how a detailed analysis of a single graffito can, in fact, give us a tour of the world of antiquity in an unparalleled manner. Indeed, this graffito-based tour of antiquity can likewise shed light on our own world, today.


    Book: The Alexamenos Graffito: An Early Roman Commentary on Christians and Christianity


    Other resources:

    "Alexamenos Graffito"

    Confessions; The City of God by Saint Augustine

    The Christians as the Romans Saw Them by Robert Louis Wilken

    Pagan Rome and the Early Christians by Stephen Benko

    Destroyer of the Gods by Larry Hurtado (also here)

    The Cross Before Constantine by Bruce Longenecker

    Christianity at the Crossroads by Michael Kruger
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    1 h y 21 m
  • 176. Scott Hunter on The Gospel of John

    176. Scott Hunter on The Gospel of John
    Sep 29 2025

    In this episode, we welcome Scott Hunter to take us into The Gospel of John. What is this gospel, and what is the unique voice of John relative to the other three evangelists? Who is this Christ Jesus, what did he come to do – and where is he from? With these questions in mind, Scott takes us through highlights from the text that clearly reveal a God who is Triune: Father, Son and Spirit - and a Christ who is the incarnate Word, truly the unique God and man. Scott takes us through the theme of light and darkness, Jesus as the bridegroom, and who the bride of Jesus really is rooted in his identity as God and who mankind is given our universal condemnation in Adam. What did the temple originally teach us, and who and what is the temple now in light of the first coming of Christ? Is John 7.17 really a pragmatic challenge to base the truth of God on self-defined fruit of a life we choose? How should we understand Jesus’ quotation of Psalm 82 in his teaching that he and his father are One? And did Jesus really teach that we can be one with the Father and the Son in the same exact way that the Father and Son are One with each other? Listen in and hear an example of what Sunday School should be when learning Scripture given time, attention, study and reflection.


    Check out: Emmanuel OPC in Kent, Washington

    - Audio

    - Sermon Audio


    James Dennison on the Gospel of John

    Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments by Geerhardus Vos

    The Temple and the Church’s Mission by G. K. Beale

    By Faith, Not By Sight; Perspectives on Pentecost by Richard Gaffin


    Hear our previous interview on the historical reliability of the Gospel of John with Lydia McGrew.
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    1 h y 43 m
  • 175. Eric Johnson on President Russell M. Nelson

    175. Eric Johnson on President Russell M. Nelson
    Sep 29 2025
    In this episode, we welcome back Eric Johnson of Mormonism Research Ministry to discuss the legacy of President Russell M. Nelson. In this episode, we try to take the listener through some of the highlights of the theology and administration of Nelson, the 17th President of the LDS Church, as well as critique them from the perspective of evangelical Christians. From Nelson’s emphasis on the “correct name of the Church”, his administrative flexibility, his emphasis on Temples and temple work, his view of faith as a power, his encouragement of women to be like “Mother Eve”, the Restoration Proclamation – to his ruling theme of obedience to “the covenant path” being the key to one’s exaltation in the eternities, as heavenly parents have gone before – Eric takes us through what stands out most to him from the presidency of Russell Nelson. In a time when the LDS membership is so hungry for charismatic leadership – is there a popular confusion of pragmatic administrative change with the spiritual substance of revelations?Mormonism Research MinistryOther resources by Eric Johnson:- Introducing Christianity to Mormons- Sharing the Good News with Mormons - “President Nelson speaks on ‘The Everlasting Covenant’: A Review”- Hear our previous interview with Eric Johnson here- Also check out the response to Nelson’s “Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys” hereSome talks of President Russell M. Nelson:“The Correct Name of the Church”“Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys”“Sisters’ Participation in the Gathering of Israel”“The Second Great Commandment”“Think Celestial!”“Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives”“The Love and Laws of God”- (Revised) Temple Recommend Interview Questions- Restoration Proclamation“Call to the Holy Apostleship”“Reverence for Life”“Reflection and Resolution”“The Canker of Contention”“Thus Shall My Church Be Called”“The Atonement”“Blessed Are the Peacemakers”“Sweet Power of Prayer”“Lessons from the Lord’s Prayer”“Celestial Marriage”“Ask, Seek, Knock”“Divine Love”“Thanks be to God”“Becoming True Millennials”Also check out this very helpful archive: here- Nelson’s first GC talk- “President Nelson’s First Message to Members as Our Prophet” by Danielle B. Wagner- Interview, including line: “If you think the Church is fully restored, you’re just seeing the beginning...”Other resources:D&C 14; 107; 132“Timeline of President Russell M. Nelson’s life and minsitry” by Sydney Walker“A by-the-numbers look at the 200 temples announced by President Nelson” by Scott Taylor“Mormon LGBT ban was ‘revealed’ to the prophet as God’s will, says Elder Nelson”; “Mormon leaders reverse LGBT policy, raising the question: What is revelation?” ;“The top 10 changes President Nelson has made in the LDS Church” by Jana ReissPresident George Albert SmithThe Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball (also here)“Mormon Should Mean ‘More Good’” by Elder Gordon B. Hinckley; also his book What of the Mormons?On the scandal of exaggerating (to even lying) about stories, see RFM: here, and hereFinancial Scandal: here, here, and here“The Correct [Domain] Name of the Church: Technology, Naming, and Legitimacy in the Latter-Day Saint Tradition” by Spencer P. GreenhalghThe Mysteries of Godliness by David BuergerThe Harvest of Sorrow by Robert ConquestThe Apostolic Preaching of the Cross by Leon Morris (also here)
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    2 h y 33 m
  • 174. Ben Witherington III on The Gospel Code

    174. Ben Witherington III on The Gospel Code
    Sep 22 2025
    In this episode, we welcome Dr. Ben Witherington III to discuss his book The Gospel Code: Novel Claims About Jesus, Mary Magdalene and Da Vinci. Though a writer of fiction, Dan Brown wrote on one of the first pages under the heading “FACT” that “all descriptions of artwork, architecture, documents, and secret rituals in this novel are accurate”. In a mix of pseudo-history, conspiracy-logic and emotion-based theology - the influence of this novel (and the culture surrounding it) is often seen in the mainstreaming of views such as Jesus being married, emphasis on a “sacred feminine”, the claim that the Gnostic texts and theology are more reliable than the official-canonical texts and theology, and conspiracies surrounding Constantine and the Council of Nicaea. The success of this Da-Vinci-Code-Culture has likewise revealed a profound ignorance among Christians, themselves, when it comes to the Bible and historical claims about their past. What are the earliest Gospels, and which are the most historically accurate? Is the Gospel of Philip as reliable as the Gospel of Mark? Was Jesus seen as simply a man until Constantine and corrupt church authorities forced the church to confess otherwise? Did the Council of Nicaea choose the canon, and suppress the texts they didn’t like? Was Jesus married - and what did he teach about marriage? Were Christians misogynistic – in contrast to the feminist Gnostics? And why should people care about getting all of this right? Join us as Dr. Witherington helps us understand the answers to these questions and more.Book: The Gospel Code: Novel Claims About Jesus, Mary Magdalene and Da VinciSome other resources by Dr. Witherington:- New Testament History - Paul’s Narrative Thought World- Conflict and Community: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on 1 and 2 Corinthians- The Gospel of Mark: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary- Jesus, Paul and the End of the World- The Jesus QuestOther resources:Thomas: The Other Gospel by Nicholas PerrinHidden Gospels: How the Search for Jesus Lost Its Way by Philip JenkinsThe Historical Reliability of the Gospels by Craig BlombergJesus and the Eyewitnesses; Jesus and the God of Israel by Richard BauckhamEarly Christian Doctrines by J.N.D. KellyScribes and Scripture by John Meade and Peter GurryThe Resurrection of the Son of God by N.T. WrightShaman and Sage by Michael HortonThe Nag Hammadi Scriptures, edited by Marvin MeyerAncient Gnosticism: Traditions and Literature by Birger PearsonThe Gnostic New Age by April DeConickChurch Statement; yet,“The Family Proclamation” (and here)“Gathering the Poor - Religion a Science” by President Brigham Young (also here and here)“The Marriage Relations”; “Man the Head of Woman, etc.” by Elder Orson Hyde (also here)The Seer by Elder Orson Pratt (also here)“Uniformity” by Elder Jedediah M. GrantPresident Joseph Fielding Smith Letter (March 17, 1963)“The Only True God and Jesus Christ Whom He Hath Sent” by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland“Joseph Smith Translation: Doctrinal Restoration” by Elder Bruce R. McConkieThe Gospel Through the Ages by Milton R. Hunter (Seventy)Achieving a Celestial Marriage (student manual); “Many Plain and Precious Things” (LDS Video)“Early Christians According to Newly Discovered Papyrii”; Temple and Cosmos; Mormonism and Early Christianity; Old Testament and Related Studies; When the Lights Went Out by Hugh NibleyLike A Fiery Meteor: The Life of Joseph F. Smith by Stephen TaysomConflict in the Quorum by Gary BergeraJesus Was Married by Ogden KrautDynasty of the Holy Grail: Mormon’s Sacred Bloodline by Vern Swanson
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    1 h y 30 m
  • 173. Terry Johnson on the Doctrines of Grace

    173. Terry Johnson on the Doctrines of Grace
    Sep 15 2025
    In this episode, we interview The Reverend Terry Johnson about his book When Grace Comes Home: How the Doctrines of Grace Change Your Life. What are “the Doctrines of Grace”, and are they practical when it comes to the Christian life? Far from being items Christians should put on the shelf, these revealed truths from Scripture form the very core of the Christian life – as should be seen most importantly in worship. Moreover, Christian worship should be in the context of the covenant community, the church, where the Word is heard, sung, preached, made visible in the sacraments, and received with hearts desiring the Triune God who made us for Himself. Going over the basics of the sovereignty of God, human depravity, and God’s sovereign grace – Terry also takes us over some of the more common objections to these doctrines. If God is sovereign, why do we pray? Why do we evangelize? How should a Christian be biblically faithful to both Justification and Sanctification? And is the church a negotiable aspect of the Christian life?Book: When Grace Comes Home: How the Doctrines of Grace Change Your LifeCheck out: Reformation TodayOther resources by The Reverend Terry Johnson:- When Grace Comes Alive: Living through the Lord’s Prayer - When Grace Transforms: The Character of Christ’s Disciples Put Forward in the Beatitudes - Who Needs the Church?: Why We Need the Church - The Excellencies of God: Exploring and Enjoying His AttributesOther resources:Confessions by AugustineEvangelism and the Sovereignty of God by J. I. PackerHere I Stand: A Life of Martin Luther by Roland Bainton- The Bondage of the Will by Martin LutherThe Democratization of American Christianity by Nathan HatchThe American Religion by Harold BloomJSH-1; Moses 1.39“King Follett Discourse” by Joseph SmithUnderstanding Paul by Richard Lloyd Anderson
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    1 h