You may be interested in Hugh Nibley's "No Mam, That's Not History," in which he critiques Brodie's arguments.

@@jameshasapoint7628 Bravo.

I have that book. Very in depth and tons of research into the history of Joseph and America at the time.

Fawn Brodie provided the truth I needed at a pivotal point for me to see clearly thru the fairy tale of the First Vision.

@@savezelda Nibley is the classic apologist who wrote several books himself finding LDS related truths out of nothing. Compare what he wrote on the Book of Abraham to information provided by someone like Robert Richner. Though I will give Nibley this, he was the reason my shelf started to break. I likely wouldn’t have left the church if I hadn’t been a fan who at one time clung to his every word.

Has there been any new news about him? I noticed he has not put anything new up for a long time.

Yesss!

You ok with #2 Dan?!??

@@UnderstandingMormonism I can’t argue with your opinion. I’m just glad to get mentioned in such kind words. I would only say that Brodie’s book is well written and complete, though it is a little out of date. We know far more than she could in 1945. Even though Bushman’s book is apologetic, I would have rated it higher.

Dan - You are a gentleman AND a scholar.

@@UnderstandingMormonism I'm not! Dan Vogel is number 1!

Thanks for your work and your scholarship!!!

Yes Susan, that's an understatement! The weirdness up in Rexburg is a natural outgrowth from the church's emphasis on "personal revelation" and typical of what often happens in a cult.

I've noticed that it's downplayed that Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell are Mormons.

Thank you so much for you support!

Sounds like it's a "rough stone reading"!

Myles Markson yes!

The book "Without Disclosing My True Identity-The Authorized and Official Biography of the Mormon Prophet, Joseph Smith, Jr" .As a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I grew up with a great respect and admiration of Joseph Smith. As I grew older and learned more things I began to have some questions. This book explains who he was, what his life was about, his family dynamics and why he did some of the controversial and confusing things he did. Why did so many of his closest friends abandon him? Why didn’t Emma Smith and much of his family join with Brigham Young after his death? What was polygamy all about and is it really required of us if we want to live in the Celestial Kingdom? What is the Priesthood and who qualifies to receive it? This book answers all these questions and more. For the first time, his life and mission makes complete sense to me. This is a must read if you want to understand who this man really was. You will have a greater clarity than ever before by the time you finish the book. Joseph smith was not the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints

@@mathonilamanita7029 Never heard of that book so I checked it out on Amazon. 800 pages seems like a lot of time to invest in an author who doesn't reveal their last name. I am curious to know what justifies that claim of "authorized and official biography" of JS. Authorized by whom?

Truth is truly stranger, and more interesting than the wildest moments in the Book of Mormon. Epic movie material

thanks was wondering how audio was!

Where can I find the audiobook?

Download the app overdrive. Put in your library card, if you dont have one, you can put in your phone number. I just downloaded it from there. And its completely free!

Which would you remove?

Understanding Mormonism, of the books you listed I have only read Rough Stone Rolling. I thought Bushman interjected his own thoughts too often. Hill’s book, “Joseph Smith the First Mormon” was much more objective except for her chapter on polygamy where her opinion got in the way of her objectivity. BTW because of the Book of Mormon, the Pearl of Great Price and the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants I am a believer in Joseph Smith as a Prophet of God. My GG Grandfather was Joseph’s body guard, was a captain in the Nauvoo Legion, and a Danite and helped retrieve Joseph’s body following the martyrdom. A book I recommend is “The Lost 116 Pages: Reconstructing the Book of Mormon’s Stories” by Don Bradley.

Not sure!!!! I hope so!!!

What about?

About life and future of the Lds church

James Weller Haters will always find something or someone to hate.

@@barbsehestedt6894 For many of us who wasted significant portions of our lives as TBM, it's not a journey defined by hate so much as a quest for truth.

I thought for sure this book would be on the list. EXCELLENT book.

Awesome 😆

She better have been a few months shy of 15, or 14 to be accurate.

Perfect!

@@skylerreddy5436 He has no integrity to defend. The record is clear.

Thanks! Your post was the best laugh I've had all day! I'm gonna steal it and use it myself. lol

…and then somebody would come along and adapt it to a Life of Brian/ Book of Mormon type musical.

@@jameshasapoint7628 Who is satan?

@@jameshasapoint7628 I couldn't give you an answer on whether I agree with you or not because I have not examined the text. That's why I asked if there was an audiobook version. If I had the chance to read/listen to it I could then tell you if I agree or not. So, I guess you won't want to answer my question. Bummer.

@@jameshasapoint7628 What is your level of confidence in the existence of this being?

@@jameshasapoint7628 I'm am familiar with the idea of satan. But since you brought him up I wanted to know what your definition of him is. I'm middle-aged, so I've had a long time to think about this idea. I've never had any compelling reason to believe in him nor any compelling evidence. Would you be open to me asking about your belief in him? Did you mean to say you don't have a high level of confidence in his existence? Or at least greater confidence in a god than a devil?

It is very simple. Read the Book of Mormon, and then sincerely ask our Heavenly Father, invoking the name of Jesus Christ, if it is true. The trick, though, is to endure to the end. My end is not far off. I'm 92. I'm grateful that as I wade through the avalanche of stuff like the above, the Holy Ghost still tells me it is.

@@edwardgabriel1946 : i have and I was clearly told it is not true but fake. And all the evidence supports the fact that it is a fake.

@@ewankerr3011 If you read the B of Mormon, and the Holy Ghost (am I right?) told you it is false, then you should go with it. With me, I heard the words, out loud, "You are doing the right thing" and just before I was baptized(in the name of Jesus Christ) saw flames coming from my chest. I told no one, afraid they would think I'm cuckoo. When I read of the tongues of flames that sat on the disciples (three years later) at Pentecost, I understood. So, friend, life goes by quickly and we shall soon know. I'm sure I will find out sooner then you, me being 92.

@@edwardgabriel1946 : I appreciate that you have lived a long life and that you are a person of faith who had some kind of religious experience that convinces them of the truth of their views/denomination/etc. The problem I have with all these subjective experiences is that they are just that : Subjective. I have encountered a number of individuals who claim visions; eperiences; Jesus talking to them ; being "born again"; the Spirit living in them etc. I have no doubt that they are all sincere ( well some of them ) yet they preach a contradicrory message and gospel. Clearly, they cannot all be right.

@@ewankerr3011 I really love our country because of the religious freedom. My parents came to the USA because all the Christians were being slaughtered. I don't mind you thinking and voicing I am wrong. Early on in LDS history, members were physically injured and displaced. I think your efforts would be better used to convince others to repent of their sins. You don't believe the people mentioned above are sinners, do you? So many comments against LDS people and belief. My experience was not subjective - it was real. So, after you read the Book of Mormon, please describe what happened for you and what you learned wasn't true?

Robert Lewis Because most people have read all of those books. After finding out about history and current events in the church - it’s all a lie.

I'm sorry that's the way you feel it's troublesome when people that we think are pretty much perfect turns out Prophets and apostles are imperfect like us even though I have been inactive for 10 years I have had the witness of the Holy Spirit of the truth that Joseph Smith is the Lord's Prophet and if it takes faith to move forward in this life which it does I'm going to put it on the Lord God bless you

Blasphemy, like sin are fictitious things. He was a con like all the other religious cons.

I totally disagree. All evidence points to Joseph Smith being a charlatan and to the church covering it up for over a century.

@@UnderstandingMormonism I think that we both know that statement isn't true. There are countless testimonials of the true prophetic calling of Joseph Smith. All these events are follied by two differing sides of the same coin. Where can we find truth in differing testimonials of the same event? Should we take those who left the church or were excommunicated? or those who loved Joseph to the death and would never deny him? both are equally unreliable by their obvious bias. We can't live in this time, no one living has spoken or walked with Joseph smith so for you to say your claims are 100% reliable is dishonest.

Greatest Fraud -- there is not one in a trillion chance that Joseph Smith was called of God.

Carah - Many love it! Argh!!!

Yes! I love it! I wish John would have 2 versions of Mormon Stories episodes: the complete version and the edited version.

😂😂😂 just keep repeating it “I know the bom is true I know Joseph was a prophet” if you say it enough it will be true

@@shawnbradford2243 I could say the same to you, Just keep on repeating it "I know Dr John Dehlin is a critical thinker and knows better then I Shawn" if you say it enough it will be true!

The Book of Mormon is a work of fiction. The indigenous peoples of the American continent were a stone age people. They had not even figured out the wheel. So all these fantastic stories involving chariots, swords made of steel, and brass plates never existed. Metallurgy got as far as melting a little silver and gold. The early Americans were right on the cusp of a Bronze Age, but Cortez ended their advancement. This isn't anti-mormon propaganda, this is simply history. What's more likely, the Book of Mormon is a work of fanfiction? Or, there is a worldwide conspiracy to hide the artifacts of Lamanites and Nephites?

@@kenolson3064 cool, so exactly how many years ago did these so called indigenous peoples, of American continent, of the Stone Age people, that had not even figured out the wheel, begin?

He was a conman and a sexual predator and would be getting beat down in prison if he had lived in our day. He lived in the 19th century so they lynched his ass. Meh.