This is the series that got me out of the church with no questions or doubts.

We accepted so much weird stuff growing up in the church. Why wouldn’t they just tell us THIS weird thing too? I felt so lied to when I found out.

Love these LDS Discussions! It's like being in Sunday School Class but hearing the truth for a change. 🤗💝

Y’all helping non-Mormons like me. Critical thinking is HUMANITY-UNIQUE and I celebrate you all.. thank you for the discourse.

I am 69yrs old and left the church in my 20s. Im grateful my father was not a member because it gave me another world view besides Mormonism. There is something so weird about referring to people as mormon or nonmormon when active in the church, such black and white thinking. Like nobody else matters. Even at a young age i felt uncomfortable when members would testify " this is the true church and the only church". It took me years to undo the harm the teachings did to me and as a female i will never forget the interviews with my bishop that were so inappropriate. Thank you for this podcast because i dont know any recovering mormons besides my siblings.

Never Mormon here - these videos are SO important to me to understand more contextual history and even theological concepts within the church that I would never know. These sessions are so fascinating to me and I’m so thankful for this podcast and all the amazing, thoughtful, intelligent, eloquent, talented hosts that share their research and commentary.

These LDS Discussions have been so helpful to me with making progress in therapy. I left about 8 years ago and just in the last few months have I really been digging into, for lack of a better word, the lore of the LDS church. So many of the challenges that I'm tackling in therapy directly tie to the toxic teachings of the LDS faith. These videos are extremely valued and I appreciate how Mike has been able to present things in a logical and gentle way. There is no shaming occurring and that is so healing. Thank you so so much for all you do.

What I always wondered is, how does the Church explain the discrepancy between The Articles of Faith stateing that we are not responsible for the sins of Adam and Eve, but Native American and Black people are responsible for the sins of Ancestors from thousands of years ago? I am an ExMo and part Native American. The Church never cold tell me why my family is inferior and Western European White people are better.

For me, the biggest betrayal happened not because I had believed a load of bullsh*t, but because I had based so much of my world view, self-concept, and emotional wellbeing off of believing a load of bullsh*t. I was totally humiliated, and it wrecked my self-esteem for a few years. I had to relearn basic emotional regulation because I was never taught how to self-soothe independent from Mormonism. I learned the hard way never to hold an ideology or authority figure too sacred to question. It's an excellent life lesson, but boy did it suck to learn!

Mike , Nemo and John, the history you discuss and dissect is like opening a Encyclopedia .. I love it, you Guy’s are just great.

LDS discussions are your absolute best content

I appreciate all the connections you point out. It’s really a house of cards. Recently I heard someone summarize a meeting with LDS Missionaries who couldn’t answer her questions. Her conclusion was that Mormons believe in their feelings over facts and evidence.

The coffee issue really is a small example of the bizarre mental gymnastics that it takes to reconcile all of this. Brewed is bad unless it’s herbal, yet coffee and tea are herbs, hot chocolate is fine with caffeine (and soda) but not coffee. There is no winning if you try to apply logic. And ‘what is a horse’ got me, too. No horses anywhere but Eurasia 6,000 years ago.

I freaking love you people :) thank you so much for this series Mike, Nemo, and John

The lds discussions series is some of my favorite content ever released by mormon stories. I hope mike continues to come on as a guest!

This is my absolute favorite content! My favorite team! I will be sad to see it end. This series has been so helpful to me and others who I know that were turned off by other truth claim podcasts, but were able to listen with open minds to you. I'm very grateful.

This LDS Discussions playlist I feel like is one of the most important resources for anyone leaving or considering joining the church. It is nuanced, it is respectful, it is very well researched and informed. In fact, I have decided I won't talk with anyone in the church about the reasons I left until they have watched at least one episode from this series.

This was probably my all-time FAVORITE MormStories/LDS Discussions Episode by far. Y'all nailed the monumental task of addressing some of the most impactful aspects of Mormonism in a very simple, direct, and intelligent way. Love all of you working together to make this content. You have helped me heal and grow so much in these past many years of my post-Mormon journey and given me the strength to step into my authenticity and personal strength. I wish that I could give you each a duffel bag stuffed with legally acquired stacks of currency for all of your time and efforts. Thank you 🙏💚

There's many Mormons in central California where I live and this KZfaq channel has really helped me understand some of the struggles and diverse points of views of former mormon and lds people.

A heart surgeon not believing in the fundamental building blocks of biology is absolutely terrifying.

Thank you for what you do!

Just a side note. I recently started reading/studying the New Revised Standard Version of the Old Testament, New Testament and a few Apocryphal books. I have to say this version is such a joy to read. I feel I’m reading good literature in my common language. I agree much is myth and story but I did learn so much about humanity and an amazing all power God.

I’ve enjoyed this series with Mike. He gets to the heart of these topics and lays it all out in an easily understood way. He talks really fast and I like that too. I also like how John pumps the brakes every once in awhile and asks good clarifying questions. I also love Nemo’s commentary along the way. Thanks guys.

"CARTOONISH" may be my favorite word spoken today to describe Mormonism. I have absolutely LOVED this LDS Discussions series. I've watched every single one, and I can't wait to go back and rewatch the flood and tower of babbel episodes. I come from Evangelical Christianity and I have deconverted from that cartoon as well. It's hard to pick a favorite LDS Discussions episodes here, but if I have to, it probably is the flood one. It was the one that helped me in my deconversion journey.

This episode would make a very good book to publish. Just a simple handbook that former members can use in their discussions to point to each point raised in discussion.

Keep up the good work guys

I've left the church but have still felt trauma bonded and defensive of the church. This entire series has been so helpful in me making those necessary detachments. You were so kind and cautious and made it possible for me to engage while still questioning my beliefs. Thank you so much.

As a never mormon I have been following mormon stories for a while now and I have enjoyed this series, in fact I’m a bit upset that I have caught up. I was raised catholic and this has made me think about my own ingrained ideas. I love the banter between the three of you and I hope there will be many more episodes of this series

All day I've had Praise to the Man stuck in my head. I sang it to my 29 year old daughter (who I did not raise in the church) and her response, in her usual witty sarcasm was, "Yeah, cuz that's not culty at all!" Just listening to JD talk about how when you're raised in it, it is very hard to see all the ways it just isn't right or true. It's harmful to children to indoctrinate them so thoroughly but the church really has that down to a science (possibly the only science they trust). Thanks all for the hard work on this series. I can't imagine the hours it took, but I'm sure you and your families deserve a vacation. 😊

My favorite thing Mike said is, “They’re just dudes!”

I had to 'rewind' to watch the Doritos incident again 🤣🤣🤣🤣

This series has been amazing and I hope that Mike and Nemo would be willing to come back as new information becomes available.

Funny how you struggle to see it until you step away and then it’s a tsunami of reality and you feel ridiculous for not being able to let yourself see it before!

Thanks to Mike, I really loved all the LDS Discussions ! What a kind and gentle man 🤗

The amount of time Mike has put into these discussions is evident! Thanks, Mike!

My favorite thing John said: 'What do words mean?' 😂🤣 Talking about how progressive Mormons go about excusing the lies.

Here’s another implication: if the church is true, eternity as an exalted woman would suck. As a heavenly mother, you’d just be pumping out billions of spirit babies, to NEVER see most of them again after their earth trial, since the majority of them aren’t making it back to the celestial kingdom. Worse yet, none of those lost children would even know your name. At least the inhabitants of outer darkness know about their “loving” Heavenly Father, who loves us so little that he won’t even tell us about our mother. This was the nail in the coffin for my wife on her faith journey. She realized that she would never want to be a heavenly mother, seeing how she’d be locked away and unheard of. On top of that, she’d have to share me with other wives if I ever got them, and she’s not too thrilled about that idea. Essentially, she says if Mormon heaven is real, that’s the last place she wants to be in the next life.

😂😂😂 “Sharpened his chops”. I haven’t heard anyone say that in years. That was surprisingly funny, John. 👍😆🙏

The embedded young earth creationism is absolutely fatal. Joseph locked things down so air tight that mormonism can't breathe, and now its untenable as literal truth.

Thank you all so much for these episodes. They helped me so much. ❤

The stuff at 58:00 hits home for me, because as a Jewish person, The Book of Mormon absolutely sounds like fanfiction with Hebrew-sounding names and places, but without any actual Jewish cultural context. Didn't know that one of the mormon apologetics was the Deicide Charge, though! Doesn't surprise me though because Christians have been saying we killed him for... milennia.

After 40:00, thank you for pointing out Spencer W Kimball’s involvement in the Indian Placement program. The apologetic that dark skin didn’t mean Native Americans, Polynesian, or Tongan is top tier mental gymnastics. That man should not have a building named after him on BYU campus.

This is a summary of painful truths. Thank you for your work and compassion ❤

I just started watching this video and I was immediately reminded of a quote I heard many times in church that all truth can be circumscribed into one great whole. Here's one of many similar statements: "With God our Heavenly Father, all truth, wherever found or however apprehended, is circumscribed into one great whole. Ultimately, there are no contradictions, no quarrels, no inscrutable paradoxes, no mysteries." (Howard W. Hunter) Apologists can't have it both ways. If an apologetic argument being proposed to explain away a truth claim problem is the truth, then it must nicely fit in with all other apologetic arguments being used to explain away other truth claims. If they don't fit together nicely into the "truth", which is "one great whole" with "no contradictions, no quarrels, no inscrutable paradoxes, no mysteries", then those which don't fit nicely together into the "one great whole" of "truth" must be untrue.

That Harry Potter metaphor was so spot on! Love everything about this channel

Love this panel! ❤🎤👏🏾Mormons are painted in the corner.

wonderful outstanding work!!! Thank you very much for such a great episode.

This has been the best of a fantastic set of discussions. I appreciate both your scholarship and presentation,

I, like so many others, have found this series to be so important in my faith journey. Is there going to be more in 2024? I really hope so.

The section of “assuming the church is true” ,so stating doctrine as truth, is more damaging than pointing out what isn’t true. No joke.

>wake up >see that new LDS discussions episode uploaded Yep today will be a good day

Thank you so very much for these excellent factual intellectual proven well documented videos.

“The church shall change its doctrine and policies, but not because of the public” thus saith the church survey.

Nemo! Great content

Nemo is absolutely right. I come for the Mormon, but I stay for the banter.

New here!! I'm so happy i found you!!

The book of Mormon's primary reason is to authenticate the restored gospel and of Christ mission. It is problematic when we need to say it's not a real historic text, but to borrow a phrase it's "meta-true" - it undermines the authority of the church

I had no idea we had British Mormons! Thank you for all of your discussions I’ve learnt so much and I’m sorry for people stuck between a faith and truth! Lots of love from V in the UK xx

I was listening to this podcast (and it's fantastic) - but I just had to come on KZfaq to watch Nemo polish off his bag of Doritos! Thanks for the laughs guys!

This series are helping me to deprogramming my mind off of Mormon stuff.

I would appreciate if you mentioned the Mesoamerican Archaeological evidences scholarly here. For example how we dont see any form of Egyptian tied to the Mixe-Zoque language family. Or any heiroglyphs of pre-Christ Christianity, or simply stone boxes with metal plates. Keep up the great work tho!

Great episode. The percentage is even smaller though unless we’re talking about different numbers. Given there are 17 million members (most of which are inactive) and there are 8 billion people in the world, 17million/8 billion = .002% What a loving god that is to bless such an insignificant amount of people with his true gospel. Could he really not come up with a better plan?

As a former Mormon, I left before knowing most of the stuff you guys have brought up. I hope that current Mormons who are having doubts will listen to what you have to say with the thought that it might possibly be true.

Read: “Sapiens” by Y.N.Harrari. New and wonderful book about the history of humankind. Enjoy! 🎉

I was taught that only baptized Catholic go to “heaven”. Infants are baptized approximately at 6 weeks old.

I just LOVE how John butchered the definition of a fanfic. He's like the smart but not-too-hip exmo grandpa I never had 👏

2:33:45 this example reminds me of the Office episode when Michael Scott's paper company is unsustainable and going broke, so he asks the accountant to "crunch the numbers again" in hopes that it will change the outcome.

This is the essential question everyone must finally ask themselves...What if the church is NOT true?

I have 2% Neanderthal DNA and am very proud of it!

This was awesome!!! Even the dogs concur!!!

Imagine if Mormon was just a community without religion and all they did was support each other.

Mike is amazing! 😊❤

Nearly 5000 views but only 400 like i dont understand

Here is something I never understood as a kid growing up Mormon. “I’d like to bear my testimony, I know this church is true, I know Joseph smith was a true prophet…..” What about Brigham young?? We have Brigham young university, he was the 2nd prophet!!! Was he a true prophet?? Can’t say that with as much confidence can they? Because they don’t know anything about Brigham young, none of us do. @mormonstories, would love to see a lds discussion series featuring Brigham young.

How many lies does it take to prove a prophet isn't a prophet? 1, 2, 3. Thrrree. Ok 1. But it's funnier.

As a 4er mormon & BYU grad suggest 2 books that bought me great peace & understanding. They are COURSE IN MIRACLES & DISAPPEARANCE OF THE UNIVERSE. No church or church doctrine involved in learning how to truly forgive both your brother & Yourself. Wish I could share my spiritual journey of 44 yrs with you.

It would be well worth my time to see a debate with both sides respectfully speaking for themselves. It is too easy to talk past each other and make less progress than is possible by having both sides in the same place at the same time to compare thoughts and evidence, with respect and honesty. I bet both sides would learn something and probably come away from the experiemce with mutual respect and increased compassion.

Nemo just summed me up. I recently traced my heritage to the speakers of Popoluca Oluteca. A Branch Language of the Mixe-Zoque language family. These are people of Olmec Zapotec and Totonac heritage. The Olmec are likely to have spoken Popoluca. I was indoctrinated in Mexico and we are taught that all these pyramids are “of the lamanites”. Shame!

There would also have to be a quite eventful stellar phenomenon, only occurring over the Americas that made a day a night and a day as one day-

Re: the slide about polygamy at around 50:00 Joseph Smith's evolution on polygamy reminds me of evolutions people go through when they want to do something but know it will be potentially disruptive to their social status and relationships. -"The Thing is bad, and I am very interested in it, just to learn how bad the Thing is." -"The Thing is complex/more nuanced than people think." AND/OR -Continuing to say the Thing is bad in public but private experimentation with the Thing. -"The Thing is good, and the people involved are okay, but *I* would never." -Publicly admitting to do the thing along with excuses (i.e. "I only do it because I *have* to.") Of course, the difference between Joseph Smith and most people is that most people don't claim to be speaking for god. Particularly, Joseph Smith reminds me so much of many polyamory bros (god love em). I know there's lots of motivations for him to found Mormonism (financial, existential re: his brother's death, bringing his family together, ego), but I wonder if he would have founded it if he felt comfortable living some kind of public polyamorous life. (But also... I know he was also a sexual predator, and that's not the same.)

Wonderful episode, I’m Evangelical Christian and I’m a little confused, sorry! Are all three of these guys active LDS members? Because after this episode I don’t see how they could be!

Can someone please explain to me, in BOM, Moroni ch 10 verse 9 ...The Word of Wisdom was practiced in days of the lamanites an the nephites, Joseph gave the revelation to them from OUR TIME , thats amazing, absolutely staggering.can you believe this Sh...Throw away them magic mushrooms.

44:15 If dark-skinned people are considered a curse, according to Mormon religion, then what is the purpose of missionaries trying to convert people in Brazil, Jamaica, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, etc.? And why would any African-American consider joining LDS?

1:36:45 these kinds of apologetics that form out of desperation and necessity are just the most slimy apologetics.

Some drew close to old Joe with their lips, but their hearts were far from him. Everyone but Joe was wrong.

Hello all

The apostles are absolutely products of their time, but also the most dogmatic people around. Collectively they lack the introspection and humility necessary to learn anything they weren’t taught in primary.

You could say the same about young earth creationism--if it is correct, it upends ALL of science, and possibly other things as well. This has tremendous implications for the nuclear power industry, because if what we've been conventionally taught about the age of the earth is wrong, and the earth is only a few thousand years old, then it also means that we've got it wrong about how long it takes for radioactive substances to decay into harmless substances. It's not just a matter of age. After all the Bible clearly states that the sun goes around the earth, and it strongly implies that that earth is flat. We'd have to rethink almost everything!

Knowledge isn't interfering with Lucifer's free will. How would it interfere with yours then? Christianity itself is a diminishing blend of (Confucius 500 BC & Greek "Eusebeia" 320BC), with the scapegoating of Jesus as a mediator transition.

I think you all don’t get when it comes to the Book of Mormon and what it’s about , This podcast is like the haters what have hated on the JW church..

Great episode ❤️

I think if the Mormon Church took the approach that the Book of Mormon was a narrative evolving fiction that gives their theological view, it would make more sense. I feel like many famous theologians and authors write fiction that fleshes out theological viewpoints. But the claim that the Book of Mormon is truth invalidates it, and prevents genuine revision. And there is no bar for fiction to not be inspired. The Mormon Church literally painted themselves into a corner.

Upside down dorito trick blew my mind!

When did the 15 come to the knowledge that the church is a sham? Before becoming a general authority or at the beginning of their assignment? Or are some of them still oblivious to the scam?

If polygamy is illegal by the law of the land, aren’t the participants breaking the law of chastity?? Certainly by the temple definition

Unfortunately, all these "if the church is true, then this must be..." When I ask my Mormon family, they say yes. Teenage brides, ok. Evolution bad, ok. Garden of Eden in Missouri, ok. Tower of babel, ok. 6,000yo earth, ok. They absolutely agree with all these propositions.

The truth sooner or later eventually does come out. So far no one has gotten it right because it has yet to be demonstrated that god is a probable possibility for anything...so everyone will get it wrong..unless they lie, which the Church has done and is still doing...

This looks like a HATE against Mormons Podcast! And I’m not …

As Aron Ra coined it... Joseph's Myth...

excellent show, thanks 🎉❤