Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show

Personal Statement: Response to an ExMormon Critic A long time listener sent me a scathing email which he has published on the internet on exmormon.org, a rabidly anti-Mormon board, where I am refused participation. He claimed that I am a "puppet" and apologist for the LDS Church. I responded to his false charge by reviewing the 27 year policy of my talk show with comments on the involvement of LDS leaders in its content. Also, I listed and commented on some of my personal views, including those where I diverge from the Mormon mainstream. This is my candid effort to explain where I believe I fit in Mormonism, specifically expressing my attitude toward the Church. I read this email and also my written response. The author of the email called in and we discussed and disagreed on a number of his points. We discussed: My insistence that I defend my views, not the Church Oath of vengeance Blood oaths Mountain Meadows massacre John D. Lee's denial that Brigham Young ordered the MMM Hoffman's forged letter of Jonathan Dunham Other callers: This caller read some of the posts then being added to the exmormon.org about this discussion with the author of the email. Steve Benson and Ezra Taft Benson. Resolving religious issues through physical confrontation. Comment on the claim of religious leader, Warren Jeffs. Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/ Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/ Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog This is the 30 September 2007 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year. To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST. If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view. Your voice will be heard around the world. Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.

Personal Statement: Response to an ExMormon Critic A long time listener sent me a scathing email which he has published on the internet on exmormon.org, a rabidly anti-Mormon board, where I am refused participation. He claimed that I am a "puppet" and apologist for the LDS Church. I responded to his false charge by reviewing the 27 year policy of my talk show with comments on the involvement of LDS leaders in its content. Also, I listed and commented on some of my personal views, including those where I diverge from the Mormon mainstream. This is my candid effort to explain where I believe I fit in Mormonism, specifically expressing my attitude toward the Church. I read this email and also my written response. The author of the email called in and we discussed and disagreed on a number of his points. We discussed: My insistence that I defend my views, not the Church Oath of vengeance Blood oaths Mountain Meadows massacre John D. Lee's denial that Brigham Young ordered the MMM Hoffman's forged letter of Jonathan Dunham Other callers: This caller read some of the posts then being added to the exmormon.org about this discussion with the author of the email. Steve Benson and Ezra Taft Benson. Resolving religious issues through physical confrontation. Comment on the claim of religious leader, Warren Jeffs. Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/ Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/ Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog This is the 30 September 2007 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year. To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST. If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view. Your voice will be heard around the world. Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.

John D. Lee Scroll, Another Forgery?   Steve Mayfield joined me to discuss our recent expedition to Page, Arizona with forensic document expert, George Throckmorton to examine a lead scroll  found in January of 2002 in a small 2 room fort built at Lee's Ferry (named after John D. Lee) on the Colorado River in 1874. The scroll purports to be written by John D. Lee, 11 January 1872, in which he states that Brigham Young gave orders for the Mountain Meadows Massacre which were delivered by Apostle George A. Smith. We spent the day with the National Parks Ranger, Allen Malmquist, who found the scroll. It is now housed in the National Parks vault/archives at Page. We examined the scroll and other items in the archives for about two hours, and Throckmorton collected some small samples from the scroll to be tested at a chemical labratory.   We travelled with him to a number of sites including the Fort and Signature Rock, which has more than 200 signatures of 19th century travellers, including that of John D. Lee, 25 December 1871. Malmquist discussed with us, in great detail, the history of the area, especially John D. Lee's involvement, the history of the fort, the ferry, Lee's Lonely Dell Ranch and many other topics.  We traveled with Malmquist to the building at Lee's ferry where the scroll was found. He explained, in precise detail, the circumstances of his finding of the scroll and its history to the present. On this talk show we discussed further investigation of this lead scroll. There are many reasons, physical, historical, provenance, contextual and handwriting, to suspect the scroll is a forgery. Comments and Questions from Callers and Email: Prophets are not infallible. Wide latitude of Divinely approved acts of the prophets found in the Bible. How was the scroll found? Charles W. Penrose was the author of the Wilford Woodruff Manifesto of 1890. Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/ Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/ Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog This is the 23 September 2007 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year. To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST. If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view. Your voice will be heard around the world. Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.  

John D. Lee Scroll, Another Forgery?   Steve Mayfield joined me to discuss our recent expedition to Page, Arizona with forensic document expert, George Throckmorton to examine a lead scroll  found in January of 2002 in a small 2 room fort built at Lee's Ferry (named after John D. Lee) on the Colorado River in 1874. The scroll purports to be written by John D. Lee, 11 January 1872, in which he states that Brigham Young gave orders for the Mountain Meadows Massacre which were delivered by Apostle George A. Smith. We spent the day with the National Parks Ranger, Allen Malmquist, who found the scroll. It is now housed in the National Parks vault/archives at Page. We examined the scroll and other items in the archives for about two hours, and Throckmorton collected some small samples from the scroll to be tested at a chemical labratory.   We travelled with him to a number of sites including the Fort and Signature Rock, which has more than 200 signatures of 19th century travellers, including that of John D. Lee, 25 December 1871. Malmquist discussed with us, in great detail, the history of the area, especially John D. Lee's involvement, the history of the fort, the ferry, Lee's Lonely Dell Ranch and many other topics.  We traveled with Malmquist to the building at Lee's ferry where the scroll was found. He explained, in precise detail, the circumstances of his finding of the scroll and its history to the present. On this talk show we discussed further investigation of this lead scroll. There are many reasons, physical, historical, provenance, contextual and handwriting, to suspect the scroll is a forgery. Comments and Questions from Callers and Email: Prophets are not infallible. Wide latitude of Divinely approved acts of the prophets found in the Bible. How was the scroll found? Charles W. Penrose was the author of the Wilford Woodruff Manifesto of 1890. Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/ Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/ Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog This is the 23 September 2007 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year. To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST. If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view. Your voice will be heard around the world. Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.  

John D. Lee Scroll, Another Forgery?   Steve Mayfield joined me to discuss our recent expedition to Page, Arizona with forensic document expert, George Throckmorton to examine a lead scroll  found in January of 2002 in a small 2 room fort built at Lee's Ferry (named after John D. Lee) on the Colorado River in 1874. The scroll purports to be written by John D. Lee, 11 January 1872, in which he states that Brigham Young gave orders for the Mountain Meadows Massacre which were delivered by Apostle George A. Smith. We spent the day with the National Parks Ranger, Allen Malmquist, who found the scroll. It is now housed in the National Parks vault/archives at Page. We examined the scroll and other items in the archives for about two hours, and Throckmorton collected some small samples from the scroll to be tested at a chemical labratory.   We travelled with him to a number of sites including the Fort and Signature Rock, which has more than 200 signatures of 19th century travellers, including that of John D. Lee, 25 December 1871. Malmquist discussed with us, in great detail, the history of the area, especially John D. Lee's involvement, the history of the fort, the ferry, Lee's Lonely Dell Ranch and many other topics.  We traveled with Malmquist to the building at Lee's ferry where the scroll was found. He explained, in precise detail, the circumstances of his finding of the scroll and its history to the present. On this talk show we discussed further investigation of this lead scroll. There are many reasons, physical, historical, provenance, contextual and handwriting, to suspect the scroll is a forgery. Comments and Questions from Callers and Email: Prophets are not infallible. Wide latitude of Divinely approved acts of the prophets found in the Bible. How was the scroll found? Charles W. Penrose was the author of the Wilford Woodruff Manifesto of 1890. Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/ Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/ Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog This is the 23 September 2007 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year. To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST. If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view. Your voice will be heard around the world. Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.  

Miscellaneous Topics/Open Forum  Topics Preliminary comments on a lead scroll, found in 2002 at Lee's Ferry on the Colorado river, which purports to be written by John D. Lee, to be discussed in the next episode. It attributes the ultimate order for the Mountain Meadows Massacre to Brigham Young. The ultimate authority in the LDS Church rests with the body of the Church. Deseret News editorial by Charles W. Penrose  30 November 1889. President Joseph F. Smith's testimony in the Reed Smoot hearings. B.H. Roberts on two types of disciples. Callers and Email: A warning that God's judgement is coming soon. Comments on LDS views on the PBS two part documentary, "The Mormons." Politics among Mormons in the 19th century. Allegation that the LDS Church is all about collecting 10% from the members to make the leaders richer. A non-Mormon woman responds to this rabid anti-Mormon caller. Book of Abraham issue. Various views on the differences between Egyptologists interpretive translation and that of Joseph Smith. Question about the existence, location and authority of an 1886 revelation to John Taylor. Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/ Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/ Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog This is the 16 September 2007 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year. To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST. If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view. Your voice will be heard around the world. Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.

Miscellaneous Topics/Open Forum  Topics Preliminary comments on a lead scroll, found in 2002 at Lee's Ferry on the Colorado river, which purports to be written by John D. Lee, to be discussed in the next episode. It attributes the ultimate order for the Mountain Meadows Massacre to Brigham Young. The ultimate authority in the LDS Church rests with the body of the Church. Deseret News editorial by Charles W. Penrose  30 November 1889. President Joseph F. Smith's testimony in the Reed Smoot hearings. B.H. Roberts on two types of disciples. Callers and Email: A warning that God's judgement is coming soon. Comments on LDS views on the PBS two part documentary, "The Mormons." Politics among Mormons in the 19th century. Allegation that the LDS Church is all about collecting 10% from the members to make the leaders richer. A non-Mormon woman responds to this rabid anti-Mormon caller. Book of Abraham issue. Various views on the differences between Egyptologists interpretive translation and that of Joseph Smith. Question about the existence, location and authority of an 1886 revelation to John Taylor. Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/ Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/ Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog This is the 16 September 2007 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year. To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST. If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view. Your voice will be heard around the world. Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.

Miscellaneous Topics/Open Forum  Topics Preliminary comments on a lead scroll, found in 2002 at Lee's Ferry on the Colorado river, which purports to be written by John D. Lee, to be discussed in the next episode. It attributes the ultimate order for the Mountain Meadows Massacre to Brigham Young. The ultimate authority in the LDS Church rests with the body of the Church. Deseret News editorial by Charles W. Penrose  30 November 1889. President Joseph F. Smith's testimony in the Reed Smoot hearings. B.H. Roberts on two types of disciples. Callers and Email: A warning that God's judgement is coming soon. Comments on LDS views on the PBS two part documentary, "The Mormons." Politics among Mormons in the 19th century. Allegation that the LDS Church is all about collecting 10% from the members to make the leaders richer. A non-Mormon woman responds to this rabid anti-Mormon caller. Book of Abraham issue. Various views on the differences between Egyptologists interpretive translation and that of Joseph Smith. Question about the existence, location and authority of an 1886 revelation to John Taylor. Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/ Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/ Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog This is the 16 September 2007 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year. To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST. If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view. Your voice will be heard around the world. Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.

Research Notes I have a large collection of miscellaneous quotations, sources, references and notes which I have collected on a variety of subjects while involved in specific research projects. From time to time, I bring some of these to my talk show. In this one I presented the following six: 1. An allegation that Mormons murdered Lilburn Boggs, ex-Governor of Missouri, while he was on his way to California. 2. Peter H. Burnett, who was one of Joseph Smith's attorneys and the first governor of California, wrote his impression of Joseph Smith. 3. John Taylor on truth and science. He taught that an appropriate pursuit of truth by Mormons is to set aside preconceived notions and bias and to search for truth from all possible sources, including the sciences. 4. Orson Pratt's 1846 sermon, found in a journal entry of Norton Jacob, comments on the dating of creation. 5. Brigham Young speaks of his and Joseph Smith's views on the resurrection as matters of individual belief. He endorsed individual speculation and belief, but not the assertion that this is the belief of the Church. 6. 21 January 1861 Wilford Woodruff's synopsis of  Brigham Young's sermon in which he speculates on the stature, in the resurrection, of those who died in infancy. Callers and email: All Mormons are liars, arrogant and do not believe in the Constitution and should not be protected by the first amendment. Follow up from my discussion with Blake Ostler. Is there an ultimate head God, or is there an infinite order of Gods one above another? Email from an evangelical Christian denouncing me and Mormonism. Through the power of God, did the sun stand still for Joshua to allow him time to complete his attack? Speculation regarding details of the resurrection. Manifesto, revelation to John Taylor, revelation extending priesthood to the blacks, one mighty and strong. Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/ Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/ Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog This is the 9 September 2007 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year. To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST. If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view. Your voice will be heard around the world. Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.  

Research Notes I have a large collection of miscellaneous quotations, sources, references and notes which I have collected on a variety of subjects while involved in specific research projects. From time to time, I bring some of these to my talk show. In this one I presented the following six: 1. An allegation that Mormons murdered Lilburn Boggs, ex-Governor of Missouri, while he was on his way to California. 2. Peter H. Burnett, who was one of Joseph Smith's attorneys and the first governor of California, wrote his impression of Joseph Smith. 3. John Taylor on truth and science. He taught that an appropriate pursuit of truth by Mormons is to set aside preconceived notions and bias and to search for truth from all possible sources, including the sciences. 4. Orson Pratt's 1846 sermon, found in a journal entry of Norton Jacob, comments on the dating of creation. 5. Brigham Young speaks of his and Joseph Smith's views on the resurrection as matters of individual belief. He endorsed individual speculation and belief, but not the assertion that this is the belief of the Church. 6. 21 January 1861 Wilford Woodruff's synopsis of  Brigham Young's sermon in which he speculates on the stature, in the resurrection, of those who died in infancy. Callers and email: All Mormons are liars, arrogant and do not believe in the Constitution and should not be protected by the first amendment. Follow up from my discussion with Blake Ostler. Is there an ultimate head God, or is there an infinite order of Gods one above another? Email from an evangelical Christian denouncing me and Mormonism. Through the power of God, did the sun stand still for Joshua to allow him time to complete his attack? Speculation regarding details of the resurrection. Manifesto, revelation to John Taylor, revelation extending priesthood to the blacks, one mighty and strong. Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/ Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/ Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog This is the 9 September 2007 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year. To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST. If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view. Your voice will be heard around the world. Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.  

Research Notes I have a large collection of miscellaneous quotations, sources, references and notes which I have collected on a variety of subjects while involved in specific research projects. From time to time, I bring some of these to my talk show. In this one I presented the following six: 1. An allegation that Mormons murdered Lilburn Boggs, ex-Governor of Missouri, while he was on his way to California. 2. Peter H. Burnett, who was one of Joseph Smith's attorneys and the first governor of California, wrote his impression of Joseph Smith. 3. John Taylor on truth and science. He taught that an appropriate pursuit of truth by Mormons is to set aside preconceived notions and bias and to search for truth from all possible sources, including the sciences. 4. Orson Pratt's 1846 sermon, found in a journal entry of Norton Jacob, comments on the dating of creation. 5. Brigham Young speaks of his and Joseph Smith's views on the resurrection as matters of individual belief. He endorsed individual speculation and belief, but not the assertion that this is the belief of the Church. 6. 21 January 1861 Wilford Woodruff's synopsis of  Brigham Young's sermon in which he speculates on the stature, in the resurrection, of those who died in infancy. Callers and email: All Mormons are liars, arrogant and do not believe in the Constitution and should not be protected by the first amendment. Follow up from my discussion with Blake Ostler. Is there an ultimate head God, or is there an infinite order of Gods one above another? Email from an evangelical Christian denouncing me and Mormonism. Through the power of God, did the sun stand still for Joshua to allow him time to complete his attack? Speculation regarding details of the resurrection. Manifesto, revelation to John Taylor, revelation extending priesthood to the blacks, one mighty and strong. Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/ Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/ Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog This is the 9 September 2007 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year. To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST. If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view. Your voice will be heard around the world. Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.  

History With an LDS Historian I was very pleased to have Ronald Barney as my guest. He is a professional historian who has been employed in the LDS Historical Department for the past 30 years. He has published widely on Mormon topics including an award winning book, The Mormon Vanguard Brigade of 1847: Norton Jacob's Record. He is also working on the extensive multi-volume work, the Joseph Smith Papers Project. Topics of Discussion Joseph Smith Papers Project - scope, problems and projected publication. Udney Hay Jacobs - author of "The Peace Maker," an essay on marriage, including the idea that the Old Testament form of marriage, including plural marriage, should be reinstated. It was published at Nauvoo by the Times and Seasons press before he joined the LDS Church. This has been the subject of some controversy as to its author. It has been claimed that Joseph Smith authored this or collaborated in the content. Norton Jacobs, son of Udney, joined the LDS Church. He kept a fine journal. Ron has edited this diary, adding much by way of footnotes. It is a very fine publication covering part of the Nauvoo period and the first company of Saints to travel to Salt Lake Valley in 1847. Personal Writings of Joseph Smith - letters, diaries articles and the Liberty Jail letter. From Callers and Email Where was the Church organized, Fayette or Manchester? What is the Kirtland Revelations Book? The Joseph Smith translation of the Bible. The DVD publication by the Church of over 400,000 pages of documents from its manuscript collection, including the entire Joseph Smith collection. Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/ Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/ Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog This is the 9 September 2007 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year. To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST. If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view. Your voice will be heard around the world. Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.

History With an LDS Historian I was very pleased to have Ronald Barney as my guest. He is a professional historian who has been employed in the LDS Historical Department for the past 30 years. He has published widely on Mormon topics including an award winning book, The Mormon Vanguard Brigade of 1847: Norton Jacob's Record. He is also working on the extensive multi-volume work, the Joseph Smith Papers Project. Topics of Discussion Joseph Smith Papers Project - scope, problems and projected publication. Udney Hay Jacobs - author of "The Peace Maker," an essay on marriage, including the idea that the Old Testament form of marriage, including plural marriage, should be reinstated. It was published at Nauvoo by the Times and Seasons press before he joined the LDS Church. This has been the subject of some controversy as to its author. It has been claimed that Joseph Smith authored this or collaborated in the content. Norton Jacobs, son of Udney, joined the LDS Church. He kept a fine journal. Ron has edited this diary, adding much by way of footnotes. It is a very fine publication covering part of the Nauvoo period and the first company of Saints to travel to Salt Lake Valley in 1847. Personal Writings of Joseph Smith - letters, diaries articles and the Liberty Jail letter. From Callers and Email Where was the Church organized, Fayette or Manchester? What is the Kirtland Revelations Book? The Joseph Smith translation of the Bible. The DVD publication by the Church of over 400,000 pages of documents from its manuscript collection, including the entire Joseph Smith collection. Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/ Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/ Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog This is the 9 September 2007 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year. To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST. If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view. Your voice will be heard around the world. Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.

History With an LDS Historian I was very pleased to have Ronald Barney as my guest. He is a professional historian who has been employed in the LDS Historical Department for the past 30 years. He has published widely on Mormon topics including an award winning book, The Mormon Vanguard Brigade of 1847: Norton Jacob's Record. He is also working on the extensive multi-volume work, the Joseph Smith Papers Project. Topics of Discussion Joseph Smith Papers Project - scope, problems and projected publication. Udney Hay Jacobs - author of "The Peace Maker," an essay on marriage, including the idea that the Old Testament form of marriage, including plural marriage, should be reinstated. It was published at Nauvoo by the Times and Seasons press before he joined the LDS Church. This has been the subject of some controversy as to its author. It has been claimed that Joseph Smith authored this or collaborated in the content. Norton Jacobs, son of Udney, joined the LDS Church. He kept a fine journal. Ron has edited this diary, adding much by way of footnotes. It is a very fine publication covering part of the Nauvoo period and the first company of Saints to travel to Salt Lake Valley in 1847. Personal Writings of Joseph Smith - letters, diaries articles and the Liberty Jail letter. From Callers and Email Where was the Church organized, Fayette or Manchester? What is the Kirtland Revelations Book? The Joseph Smith translation of the Bible. The DVD publication by the Church of over 400,000 pages of documents from its manuscript collection, including the entire Joseph Smith collection. Talk Show host: Van Hale, LDS Official website: http://www.mormonmiscellaneous.com/ Podcast address: http://www.mormonmisc.podbean.com/ Talk Show Blog: mormonmiscellaneous.com/radioprogramblog This is the 9 September 2007 episode of the Mormon Miscellaneous Worldwide Talk Show, now in its 28th year. To listen to future Talk Shows live, go to http://www.k-talk.com/ Sunday evenings 5:00 - 7:00 pm MST. If you have a question or comment, your participation is invited, regardless of your point of view. Your voice will be heard around the world. Click to visit my eStore Catalog of Digital Articles related to some of my Podcast Episodes To make a comment, click on “Comment” below.

The Spalding Theory of Book of Mormon Authorship                      My guests, Wayne L. Cowdrey, Howard A. Davis and Arthur Vanick, are authors of Who Really Wrote the Book of Mormon? The Spalding Enigma. The authors argue for the view that Solomon Spalding, who died in 1816 wrote two manuscripts about the inhabitants of ancient America, one from 1809 to 1812 and another from c.1812 to c.1814. The second was acquired by Sidney Rigdon from a printing office in Pittsburg, where he was allegedly working, and then spent some 18 months meeting with Joseph Smith in Palmyra 1827-1829 where religious material was added to Spaldings story/history and published as the Book of Mormon. This has been the most popular theory among non-Mormons throughout most of Mormon history. For about the last 70 years, the theory has been discarded by most, including a number of prominent anti-Mormon advocates. This book is an attempt to resurrect the theory. I presented some of many points which I think demonstrate to the rational mind that the theory is bogus. The authors countered with expanations and arguments which they think establish beyond doubt that Spalding was the author of the Book of Mormon.The following synopsis was written just following this radio discussion. Mr. Hale said he was skeptical of reminiscences provided by persons as late as 50 years after the publication of the Book of Mormon. He stated that the Spalding/Rigdon theory is entirely based upon alleged memories. There are no pre-1830 sources which described Solomon Spalding's literary production or Sidney Rigdon's acquaintance with the Joseph Smith, Sr. family living in western New York.  Mr. Hale said that testimony of early neighbors of the Smith family should have included specific points later brought up by Lorenzo Saunders, if those points were common knowledge. The fact that Howe did not include statements that the Smiths' neighbors knew of  Rigdon's frequent visits from 1827-1830 or rumors of Rigdon impregnating Catherine Smith seems to devastate the credibility of Saunders alleged memories on this particular point. Mr. Hale said he did not believe that such a story was in circulation at an early date. Mr. Hale gave three reasons for finding Bennett's 1831 article unbelieveable. Bennett's inability to provide the name of a visitor from Ohio beyond "Henry Rangdon or Ringdon or some such word" is inconsistent with Bennett's claim that he was privy to Rangdon's suggestion that the Smith's turn their  "their digging concern into a religious plot."  He did not know his name, but did know of his secret suggestion to the Smiths. Bennett, six times, called this man an "ex-preacher" or "ex-parson" from Ohio, during a time when substantial evidence establishes that Sidney Rigdon was not only an extremely active preacher, establishing nine new congregations in 1828, but was, in fact, the most famous preacher in northern Ohio. Bennett, or some unamed source, seems to have purloined a suggestion already circulating that "the first idea of a 'Book' was doubtless suggested to the Smiths by one Walters, a juggling fortune-teller" replacing Walters with Rangdon/Ringdon/Rigdon. Further, Bennett asserts that this "Ohio man" was so "famous" for his "particular felicity in finding out the spots of ground where money is hid," and who had "much experience in money digging" that his fame had found its way 200 miles from Ohio to upstate New York. When Rigdon became a Mormon in December 1830, he was vigorously opposed by Campbell, Scott, Bentley (his brother-in-law), along with other mininsters, including 3 cousins and another brother-in-law who had all become Disciple Ministers. However, none of these, nor others who knew Rigdon well, even in their opposition, suggested any knowledge of Rigdon's money digging fame, which Bennett alleged stretched to up-state New