Great first episode, hopefully many more to come.

Rock in a hat, once grounds for excommunication if spoken of, is now church history.

Accepting payment as a treasure seer = theft by deception. Not only was he a money digger, but also a thief.

I really enjoyed the live stream today. It was we'll put together, and the slides were great. What JS said to Isaac Hale, in tears, is profound to the story. I wonder what actually pushed him to write the BoM, could it have been the discovery of a manuscript written by Solomon Spaulding with some of the BoM on it? I know that's unlikely but I'm curious if there was a trigger event that caused him to change his focus.

Nice episode John! Looking forward to future episodes!

I recently came out to family as a non-believer with the help of Gift of a Mormon Faith Crisis podcasts. When and if it's appropriate, how can we share this as a way of communicating with friends and family?

Fantastic episode John. I really like the logo you created. Any plans on making hats or shirts? I'd buy a hat if it just had the logo.

I love seeing actual pictures of Martin Harris. Compared to "artist interpretations", it's not even close. While he may have been a good businessman, he was a loon, and totally looks the part. But that's not very "faith promoting" is it?

Great inaugural episode! While I love the MS podcast, I think these smaller bites will be so helpful for people who are looking for immediate information as opposed to longer narratives. As someone who was always told to avoid that “John Dehlin guy... he’s just spreading false information”, I’m so glad I didn’t listen. One of the things I respect about you is your willingness to share information in a respectful manner. I also appreciate that you always say things like, “Don’t take my word for it. Check everything I say.” Looking forward to more episodes here!

John, I think you did quite well. however, in an attempt to make it appeal a little more to those who are still not sure and even fill a little guilty for even searching for truth outside of the LDS approved materials, I think it would be more beneficial if you approached the evidence in a more neutral manner. What I mean as an example, at one point in you video you said “if you don’t believe me...” and then went on to give your evidence. Not that there is anything wrong with you or your evidence, just simply by method of the delivery, one may take offense by you saying “if you don’t believe me” because it almost sounds accusative as if you are already accusing them of their thoughts. This is only one example of the style that you used, and not a criticism of you personally. You asked for meaningful feedback, and that is what my comments here are, and I hope you will take it as such. I have followed many of your interviews on Mormon Stories for a few years now, and I appreciate them, as well as the way you go about just seeking the truth. I look forward to future episodes of your new KZfaq channel, and I hope that they will be done in a humble manner for lack of a better word right now, because I have family that I can’t get through to right now because they are soo unsure and I presume filled with guilt for even thinking about questioning what they have been taught, family who I would love to say “hey, why don’t you check out this short video” and then send them to your videos. I’m rambling at this point, so I’ll just say thanks for all you have done. Though you don’t know it, your podcasts helped me through my struggles when my shelf broke. Thank you!!

I left in my childhood, long before I knew about any of this, shortly after I was baptized. Great content.

Good presentation John , I like that you don't come across as too "anti mormon" The treasure digging Prophet highlighted also ,the father, Joseph Smith senior was the instigator of the money digging . Father Smith is also accredited to being a story teller, treasure seeker , school teacher. The BofM began with Father Smith ( a Universalist) and I believe he actually worked with making wooden barrel casks with hoop iron and a mock set of golden plate.

Love this quick breakdown with so many sources. Love this format.

John I really liked this format, simple and easy to understand, referencing nothing but facts. I’m excited for more 👍🏽

Many years ago I pointed all of this out to some LDS missionaries but they dismissed it simply as anti -Mormon propaganda. Strange how the Church now admits some of this.

You're doing the lord's work exposing Joseph for the fraud he was. God bless you.

I really enjoyed this. Keep it up John!!!

I honestly find Joseph Smith much more interesting just as himself and not as a prophet or fraudster. Just as someone who had an interest in pirates, treasure hunting, and in the occult. Then he had to go ruin it and reach for more and more which led to forming the church.

Love the new concise content

This is interesting. A lot of it is hearsay, but I guess if you add it all up, it points to one direction.

Excellent first video. What does anyone know about the mystical chants surrounding money digging?

The church tried hard to portray Joseph Smith as a farmboy, pushing the narrative away from seer stone gazing and glasslooking. There is a common theme within the LDS church to present founding individual's vocations as nothing unusual. The transparency of the LDS church is at the least questionable.

I really enjoyed this format. Nice, concise, understandable. It is not condescending, which I think is really important for sharability. I look forward to future content.

I'm loving the new fact based, easy to follow channel. I sincerely admire your conviction for the truth.

Small thing idk if anyone else noticed this. But with headphones sometimes your voice seemed really loud and sometimes it was quiet for a short time like it fluctuated a bit. Idk

Surely you are not trying to suggest that Joseph Smith who had his First Vision in 1820 would engage in occult practices like these. Sorry, I forgot, it was not really the occult, it was the folk magic of the day ( D. Michael Quinn LOL ! )

It would seem this sheds a light on the creation of many religions.

Commenting to boost engagement, keep up the good work!

Thanks John! Great introductory video😃

Love this channel. Thanks for the digestible, informative videos.

John, great video! Keep them coming!

Wow. Great first episode. Love your new channel, I was in the first 1000 subscribers.

"Book of Mormon Translation" and "Was JS a Polygamist" rocked. Update this one to that format. Good info, but boring format. I think you need to decide on specific target audiences and formats for the different channels. I think this channel should be for younger audiences.

Wow, thank you so much for this John! This is superbly concise and informative!

Wow. More please.

I'm so happy and excited for this. Thank you John

Subscribed. Looking forward for your quality content on the subject of Mormonism. Thank you

Honestly, the grifting hijinks of Joseph Smith should be a comedic novel.

Great video john! Pirates wow

So much great information. Thank you thank you thank you!!’

Well done! Would live to see three more short, concise, and impactful videos...the first on the Book of Abraham, the second on BoM DNA, and the third on the First Vision controversy.

Why doesn't he have a picture of some Mormon ancestors or some wives or missionaries up in that big wallspace over his left shoulder?

Great video! Excited to see more.

My uncle is a "local Mormon apologist", and he knows ALL of this LDS historical information. Whenever I share this kind of stuff with him, he snores and says it's old news. He asks me: "BUT does any of this this even matter? Can God still use Joseph Smith to do His work and save souls? Do prophets need to be 'perfect' in order to hear God's voice and revelations?" What do you say to that kind of response? Thanks

The cover up is the crime that was perpetuated for decades and is the stone that sunk the ship for me.

Good stuff! Keep em coming :D

Thanks for making this

Great work John

Money digging was so disreputable a hundred years before Smith did it that a young Ben Franklin condemned it. and, other than the Book of Mormon, supposedly, Smith never found any treasure, not once.

Reddit brought me here

03:44 Notice the grand self-declaration that Joseph Smith, Sr. believes is sufficiently supported only by the fact that he has been pursuing his interest for 30 years (as if it is impossible that this would be true of any other person). Given the very similar self-aggrandizing statements that Joseph Smith, Jr. makes frequently over his lifetime, also based on very little substance, and to the point of having himself crowned King of the earth in 1844 and claiming to be greater than anyone since Adam, including Jesus and the Apostles, I think it is very safe to say that not only did the apple not fall far from the tree, but from a father's little seed of self-admiration a foul fruit was produced in his son.

History is that which has happened. Religion is that which should happen. There's a wide separation between history and religion. Atleast that's this exmormon's conclusion. Left the church in 1970 when I was deacon corum president. One grandpa stake president, the other my Bishop. "People get it all wrong when they get wrapped up in history. They forget that it's only history and not religion at all. Same with all the other rules". What drove me away first was the constant reminding how chosen Mormons are. Things like holy underwear and the Golden Plates never cemented into making sense.

excited for this YT channel. subscribed and notifications are turned on.

Thank you John Dehlin!!

Some, say all manner of evil, against THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS, they doing it to JESUS.

Was the Smith family also into water divining?

👋😀 hey John.

Thank you, John!!

I fucking love your content. Do not ever use “truth seekers” as an opening even ironically though. It’s automatically discrediting

Prophet's of, THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS: ADAM-MALACHI-JOSEPH SMITH-RUSSELL M. NELSON.

Why can’t you be a Mormon and not believe the Joseph Smith story ? It is a good church in so many ways.

Comment for the algorithm

You left out that he was prosecuted for fraud because of his treasure hunting scams and admitted to the judge in court that he had dishonestly deceived people for money.

Awesome references! Listing and linking to your sources, most people just make bald assertions on KZfaq. This channel is sincerely a breath of fresh air. 👍👍👍 Edit; You should consider providing a link in your descriptions to, "Recovering from Religion", as well. Along with the other resources you have listed. Whether someone has a history of having been indoctrinated into the LDS Church, or any particular Church, in which they run a risk of disconnection or disxommunication by their former communities or especially their families by leaving their Church, or abandoning their beliefs for whatever reason, they often find themselves suddenly isolated and alone, without any kind of safety net. Organizations like Recovering from Religion, etc. are AMAZING resources for those people, a "ready-made" community of like-minded folks who will accept them for who they are despite their former religious beliefs. Mormonism is NOTORIOUSLY difficult to leave, it's fairly well-known. It's awesome that you link to some resources in your video descriptions, all I'm suggesting is one or two more that have proven themselves vital to the well-being of the segment of the former believing population who may find themselves needing such help and support themselves. Because a not-insignificant number of them WILL.

Just a minor geographical point. New York is not in New England.

Joesph was a con man

You left out a “Thank you“ to Kathleen Melonakos for her contributions through her book, ‘Secret Combinations...’ . She probably also deserves a bit of an apology from you for your cringe-worth bullying of her during the final part of her interview #997.

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS, the (only) TRUE CHURCH.

Left CHRISTIANITY, THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST, refused to repent, from personal sins, but they can't leave the CHURCH alone.

This new channel should be called "John Dehlin vents after nearly 20 years of hoping." You say that your purpose isn't to create doubt and though you are speaking true history, I cannot help but notice a tone of doubt.

CHRISTIANITY, THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS, started in the PRE-MORTAL LIFE.

John Dehlin & family, left CHRISTIANITY, THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST, refused to repent, from personal sins.

Bible, Book Of Mormon, D&C, PEARL OF GREAT PRICE, are Scriptures of, THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER DAY SAINTS.

How much treasure did he find? Did he find ANY treasure at all?