Is Nahom really the strongest evidence for the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon? In this episode, we take a deep dive into one of the most cited archaeological “proofs” of the Book of Mormon -the discovery of altars inscribed with the letters NHM in Yemen.

John Dehlin and attorney and former clerk from the Idaho Supreme Court, Kolby Reddish examine what the text of the Book of Mormon actually says about Nahom, where it’s supposed to be located, and whether the archaeological evidence matches up. Along the way, we look at how apologists, scholars, and critics have each interpreted this find -and what it really says about the historicity of the Book of Mormon.

We also examine whether or not Joseph Smith could have known about Nahom (or Nehem) from maps or Biblical references, and how issues like confirmation bias and faith-based reasoning play into the debate.

This conversation aims to be evidence-based, thoughtful, and respectful -seeking understanding amid polarization in the Mormon and ex-Mormon communities.

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Sandra Tanner is back with us on LDS Discussions to conclude our conversation on three new church essays recently published by the LDS Church. In this episode, we’ll finish our coverage of the essay on polygamy and move on to the final essay, which addresses the character of Joseph Smith.

Topics include:
-Joseph’s failed prophecies
-Joseph’s treatment of Emma
-Joseph’s 21 criminal cases

Join us as we unpack these final issues and reflect on what they reveal about Joseph Smith and early church history.

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We are thrilled to have Sandra Tanner as a guest on our LDS Discussions series this week! Along with John, Julia, and Nemo, Sandra is here to offer commentary on three new essays recently released by the LDS Church, addressing the issues of Book of Mormon translation, polygamy, and Joseph Smith’s character.

In part one of this two-part episode, we will focus on Joseph Smith’s “translation” of the Book of Mormon and on polygamy.

Among the topics we’ll cover:
-“Translation” vs. “Revelation”
-Joseph’s use of the seer stones
-What became of the Eight Witnesses
-The polygamy manifestos
-The Nauvoo Expositor

You won’t want to miss this fascinating conversation with the one and only Sandra Tanner, as we dissect the essays point by point and offer a unique perspective on these issues.

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We are back today for part two of our examination of the CES Letter vs. the Book of Mormon. The CES Letter is perhaps one of the most influential documents in Mormon studies, and for years the LDS Church has criticized it and its author, Jeremy Runnells. Is this a fair treatment by the Church, or are Jeremy’s questions on church doctrine valid?

In this series, we are going point by point through the questions raised in the CES Letter to discuss how they line up with the Book of Mormon, as well as the responses the Church has provided thus far.

Some of the questions we’ll cover include:
-Why is there no archaeological evidence for the Book of Mormon?
-Where did the events of the Book of Mormon actually take place?
-Why does the Book of Mormon share so many similarities with other books from Joseph Smith’s time?
-Does the Book of Mormon reflect a Trinitarian view of God?

Join us today as we attempt to answer these questions—and more

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In this episode, we dive deep into the attacks on the CES Letter and its author, Jeremy Runnells, unpacking why apologetic responses—no matter how weak—are often accepted by believing members. This is the first in a multi-part series analyzing the LDS Discussions CES Letter project.

We tackle critical questions about the Book of Mormon, including:

• Why does it contain errors from the 1769 King James Bible?

• What about the italicized words from the KJV showing up in the text?

• Why doesn’t the Book of Mormon match Joseph Smith’s own translation of the Bible?

• What does DNA evidence say about the Book of Mormon narrative?

• And how do apologists handle the serious anachronisms in the text?

Along the way, we explore FAIR Mormon’s increasingly irrelevant defenses, the hidden Gospel Topics Essays, and shifting church narratives.

This is an essential deep-dive for anyone curious about Mormonism’s truth claims, historical issues, and the apologetics surrounding them.

Join the conversation and subscribe for future episodes in this CES Letter series.

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Many have asked the question: Did Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith have sex with his polygamous wives? During his lifetime, Joseph Smith engaged in polygamy (which was illegal in the state of Illinois) and his wives consisted of women who were underage, women who were single, women who were widowed, and women who were already legally married. What is the evidence for his sexual relations with them? Additionally a number of the brethren were also commanded to live polygamy, what is the evidence for sexual relations in those unions? Were any children born in polygamy during the prophet’s life? Join us for a unique LDS Discussions episode where we explore these topics and answer these questions.

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Keith Erekson serves as the director of the historical research and outreach for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On January 12, 2025 he gave a fireside in which he answered tough questions. Today we are responding to that fireside and discussing such topics as polygamy, Joseph Smith marrying women who were already married, and the church hiding aspects of its history.

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In this episode of LDS Discussions, we explore how BYU Professor Anthony Sweat’s artwork reflects the troubling aspects of church history found in the CES Letter by Jeremy Runnells. Despite being excommunicated for questioning the church, Runnells’ CES Letter, published in 2013, exposes discrepancies in the official narrative. Meanwhile, Sweat’s art, starting in 2014, delves into controversial topics like Joseph Smith's treasure digging, the use of a seer stone, and polygamy. We compare Sweat's paintings to the CES Letter's criticisms, highlighting how the church’s history is often presented inaccurately. Join us as we discuss these bold portrayals and the ongoing tension between church teachings and historical truth.

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