I had a faith crisis in my mid-twenties. A big faith crisis. It involved a salamander and it involved a letter. It made me question everything I thought I knew about Joseph Smith, the book he produced, and the religion he founded. The LDS religion. MY religion! And in that time of despair, I clung to the most significant single evidence that the Book of Mormon is ancient, and therefore authentic, and therefore true. I clung to the presence of “chiasmus” in the Book of Mormon; that incredible ancient Hebrew literary form that shows up in such abundance in the Nephite record. But had I been told everything there was to tell about chiasmus? Or had information been withheld from me to make “chiasmus” look like a much more impressive evidence for the Book of Mormon? Was it a solid evidence, or was it fool’s gold? And if I had known it was fool’s gold in my twenties, would I have clung to it as such strong evidence for the Book of Mormon? And if I had not clung to “chiasmus,” as proof of the Restoration, might I have left the church in my mid-twenties and lived a very different life; a life lived on my own terms as opposed to the terms dictated to me by Mormonism? These are the thoughts that I try to work through in this podcast. I hope you will join me on this journey.

The post They Didn’t Tell Me This!!! RFM: 458 appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.

Tonight on Mormonism Live, we explore one of the most uncomfortable and fascinating questions in early Mormon history: Was Moroni originally understood through the same treasure-digging framework Joseph Smith had already been practicing for years? Long before the Book of Mormon was published, Joseph Smith and those around him were involved in treasure seeking using seer stones, ritual practices, magic circles, guardian spirits, and buried treasures hidden in hills. In the earliest recollections of Moroni and the gold plates, the similarities become difficult to ignore. In this episode we examine: Moroni as a possible “treasure guardian” Joseph Smith’s use of the rock in the hat before the Book of Mormon Guardian spirit folklore in early America Magic circles, rituals, and treasure enchantments Animal sacrifice allegations in treasure digging “Slippery treasure” stories and buried ancient records How apologetics attempt to separate treasure digging from Mormon origins Why the historical continuity matters The deeper one goes into the earliest sources, the less the story initially resembles polished religion and the more it resembles the folk magic treasure-seeking culture of early 1800s America. We follow the historical record wherever it leads.

RESOURCES FOR TONIGHT EPISODE:
https://mormondiscussionpodcast.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/Morni-Treasure-Guardian.pdf

Donate to Mormonism Live: https://donorbox.org/mormonism-live

Get Bill Reel’s book “A Logical Deconstruction of Mormonism”: https://www.amazon.com/Logical-Deconstruction-Mormonism-One-Book/dp/B0GQQ4CJ2S

If anyone needs support dealing with spiritual trauma, 1-on-1 coaching and support groups are available at https://awakenandthrive.org/

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What if the harm didn’t start with a crisis… but with what you were taught as a child? In this episode of Mormonism Live, we sit down with researcher and clinician Samuel Clemens, PhD, LCSW, to unpack his groundbreaking study on religious trauma among former Latter-day Saints—particularly those who identify as sexual minorities. This isn’t a conversation about people being “offended” or simply losing belief. It’s about something deeper. Clemens’ research reveals that for many, the damage isn’t tied to a single moment—but to years of subtle conditioning. Messages about worthiness, identity, obedience, and belonging begin early… and often shape how individuals see themselves long before they have the language to understand who they are.

We explore:
How religious trauma develops over time—not in one event, but through repetition
Why identity and morality being fused together creates lasting psychological conflict
The “double bind” many experience: be authentic and risk losing everything, or conform and lose yourself
The central role of family, belonging, and conditional acceptance
Why leaving can feel both freeing and devastating at the same time
This is an honest, nuanced conversation about the real human impact of high-demand religious systems—and what healing can actually look like on the other side.

If you’ve ever wrestled with these questions, or you’re trying to understand someone who has, this episode offers insight that’s hard to ignore.

Support Mormonism Live:
https://donorbox.org/mormonism-live

If you or someone you know is navigating religious or spiritual trauma, support and coaching resources are available at: https://awakenandthrive.org/

#MormonismLive #ReligiousTrauma #FaithTransition #ExMormon #MentalHealth #lds

To reach Sam – sclemens161@gmail.com

The post The Hidden Cost of Mormon Belief: Conditioned From Childhood appeared first on Mormon Discussions Podcasts - Full Lineup.