Gospel Tangents Podcast

Ben Schilaty, a former BYU Honor Code administrator, is a social work professor and author who discusses his life as a gay Latter-day Saint. He details his professional background, and his current work with the Gather Conference. Schilaty shares his personal faith journey, explaining how he reconciles his sexual orientation with his commitment to the Church through prayer and personal revelation. He advocates for radical empathy and honoring the individual agency of LGBTQ members, whether they choose to stay in or leave the faith. Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes the importance of sincere listening and building supportive communities where diverse ex...

Inclusive Mormonism: Inside Mormon Legacy Ministries

Justin Francom thinks every Mormon Church is the true church. He shares a vision of surprisingly inclusive Mormonism, challenging the rigid boundaries and schisms that usually divide the various Latter-day Saint factions.

https://youtu.be/Px-PJVAdOHs

Don’t miss our other conversations on Mormon fundamentalism: https://gospeltangents.com/denominations/fundamentalim/

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Award-winning authors

Universalist View of True Church

Francom holds a radically universalist view of the priesthood, believing that the main...

Spiritual Libertarians and the “Not Group”: Inside Independent Mormon Fundamentalism

I sat down with Justin Francom for a deep dive into his “not group,” a unique, largely misunderstood faction of Mormon fundamentalism. Francom sheds light on a fiercely independent community of believers who have built their own temple and completely rejected traditional authoritarian hierarchies.

https://youtu.be/1B0qjVPxlcM

Don’t miss our other conversations on Mormon fundamentalism: https://gospeltangents.com/denominations/fundamentalim/

Copyright © 2026

Gospel Tangents

All Rights Reserved

Award-winning authors

Rejecting the “One Man” Doctr...

I sat down with Justin Francom, an independent Mormon fundamentalist living in Missouri, to discuss his journey from a traditional LDS background to an Independent Mormon fundamentalist. Francom’s story is a compelling look at how his search for deeper doctrine can lead a “Jack Mormon” turned missionary into the world of independent fundamentalist.

https://youtu.be/6oY7DnOq2Ec

Don’t miss our other conversations on Mormon fundamentalism: https://gospeltangents.com/denominations/fundamentalim/

Path to a Faith Crisis

After serving an LDS mission in South Korea and marrying in the templ...

Returning to Jackson County: A History of the Temple Lot Church

Rick Bennett sat down down with historian R Jean Addams in 2020 to explore the fascinating history of the Church of Christ (Temple Lot), often referred to as the “Hedrickites.” Addams, whose wife is a descendant of the sect’s founder, Granville Hedrick, provides a deep dive into how this small group returned to Independence, Missouri, to reclaim the original temple site dedicated by Joseph Smith. https://youtu.be/vBmd_8RCktE

Key Historical Moments:

• Return to Missouri: While many restoration groups m...

Jim Bennett’s idea for sustainable and honest faith includes a theological argument that recognizing the fallibility of religious leaders is not just a mistake to be acknowledged, but a central purpose of mortality and the plan of salvation. He suggests that a sustainable faith must be rooted in truth rather than the “demigod” status often assigned to prophets. Jim is the host of Inside Out where he discusses faith with Ian Wilks, someone on the outside of the LDS Church.

https://youtu.be/HPT5NHVDWg4

Jim Bennett is a podcast host, former political candidate, and de...

Rick B (host of Gospel Tangents and LDS Faith Journeys) interviews Josh Gehly, an Evangelist for The Church of Jesus Christ (historically known as the Bickertonites), during Josh’s visit to Salt Lake City. Josh reveals that The Church of Jesus Christ has a small but growing domestic presence, including a mission in Salt Lake City. The church reports significant international growth, particularly in Africa, while noting that the domestic church maintains a close-knit, “lowarchy” structure where leaders are servants rather than prophets. The conversation highlights significant theological divergences between the “Bickertonite” church and the mainstream LDS Church. Josh clarifies...

For decades, scholars have debated where the Book of Mormon took place. Could it be on the Baja Peninsula? Or in the narrow necks of Central America, or the heartland of the United States? But what if the internal map of the text—where ‘east’ is truly east and seeds from Jerusalem flourish—points to a location largely ignored by archaeologists? In this comprehensive interview, David Rosenvall details how a simple question from his father, a university geography professor, led to a decade of research identifying the Baja Peninsula as the most plausible setting for Lehi’s journey. Rosenvall challenges...

We’re talking about where faith & DNA collide. This is a throwback episode from my 2018 interview with Dr Simon Southerton. We’ll discuss how this former LDS bishop got excommunicated over his writings about DNA problems with the Book of Mormon and his book “Losing a Lost Tribe.” Check out our conversation…

https://youtu.be/N0pD5jz01OA

Chapters

0:00 Faith & DNA Collision Result in Excommunication
18:41 Cohen Haplotype
36:06 DNA Shouldn’t Vanish
54:45 The Flood & Religious Beliefs

Check out our other conversations on DNA & Book of Mormon: https://gospeltangents.com/lds_theo...

In the final segment, the Ericksons tackle the practical side of raising kids in polygamy. They discuss whether they expect their kids to be polygamists, the role of their ministry, and the lingering trauma that keeps many fundamentalist groups secretive. Sign up for this secret episode at https://gospeltangents.com/newsletter

https://youtu.be/R_q-a_a79Ik

Don’t miss our other conversations on Mormon fundamentalism: https://gospeltangents.com/denominations/fundamentalim/

00:00 – Raising Kids in Polygamy: Charlotte and Melissa explain that they do not force polygamy on their children. Their goal is to raise sons...

Rick Bennett asks the hard questions about gender and race within independent fundamentalism. Do women bless the sick? The Erickson family—Joshua, Melissa, and Charlotte—discuss the reality of “patriarchal” polygamy, refuting the stereotype of oppressed, silent wives. Melissa Erickson opens up about her personal experience performing healing blessings by the laying on of hands. The group also tackles the controversial topic of Black priesthood holders in fundamentalism, their support for the inclusive “Missouri Temple” group, and Melissa’s unique scriptural interpretation of the “One Man” rule in D&C 132.

https://youtu.be/xfeTRIw8iw0

Don’t miss our oth...

The Ericksons introduce a massive new scripture project for Independent Mormons and all Restorationists. We discuss the contentious issue of priesthood authority outside the LDS Church, and explain why they believe authority can exist in multiple branches of the Restoration simultaneously.

https://youtu.be/aSKNhcLwtqY

Don’t miss our other conversations on Mormon fundamentalism: https://gospeltangents.com/denominations/fundamentalim/

00:00 – Independent Mormons Restored Version of Scriptures:

Discussion of a new “triple combination” project spearheaded by Drew Briney. This edition includes the 1840 Book of Mormon text, formatted in paragraphs, and contains nearly 100 unpublished revelati...

The largest group of Mormon polygamists don’t belong to a group! I’m talking to the Ericksons: Joshua, Charlotte, & Melissa who purchased the Sister Wives home from Kody Brown and his 4 wives from the TLC channel. We’ll talk about the resources independent Mormon fundamentalists can participate in, how they got their authority to do polygamy, and talk about priesthood in their family. Check out our conversation…

https://youtu.be/7itxEX5H8nk

Don’t miss our interviews with Mormon polygamists: https://gospeltangents.com/denominations/fundamentalim/

I sat down with the Erickson family—Jos...

Rick Bennett and Kurt Francom announce the launch of the Gospel Tangents Network and its new community forum, LDS Faith Journeys.org, designed to support members looking for support with history, doctrine, social issues, etc. The hosts discuss reframing the concept of a “faith crisis” into a “faith journey” to remove shame, with Kurt offering his “scuba gear on a bicycle” analogy to explain how personal trauma or baggage can hinder religious practice. The conversation covers Kurt’s experience as a bishop with a counselor who left the Church, his involvement in Warrior Heart boot camps, and the dangers of publicizing...

I was surprised to learn that Troy Ables passed away on Thursday, Jan 15, 2026. In this special episode I’m sharing a previously unpublished interview from October 2020 to honor the memory of Troy Ables, a YouTuber and podcaster known for “The Last Dispensation,” who passed away suddenly around the age of 54. In a reversal of roles, Troy interviews Rick, delving into Rick’s personal history, his views on controversial church topics, and the evolution of Mormon historical transparency.

https://youtu.be/l8GdztsUrZU

0:00 Generational Shifts and Literature

The conversation highlights the generational differences in how Latt...

Brigham didnt dissolver Relief Society! That’s what Katie Rich’s recent article on Brigham Young & the Relief Society claimed. It goes against the historical consensus and won an award at the Mormon History Association. She will explain her reasons here. We’ll also discuss how Exponent II accepts multiple positions on controversial issues. Is it hard to keep disparate opinions together? It’s only available to newsletter subscribers so sign up to gospeltangents.com/newsletter and I’ll send you the secret link to the final part of our conversation!

https://youtu.be/dceZ4SYPG4Y

Chec...

The most shocking part of Exponent II‘s history is the organization’s “FBI embezzlement story.” In 2017, the board discovered that a trusted treasurer and close friend had embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars over a six-year period. The theft was hidden because the money—often retreat deposits and subscription fees—was occasionally covered privately by the treasurer’s family to prevent the retreat centers from reporting non-payment. The discovery led to a federal investigation, and the treasurer eventually served 17 months in federal prison. This crisis forced Exponent II to professionalize its operations, moving away from a purely trust-based system to one...

Award-winning authors Katie Rich and Heather Sundahl explore 2 controversies: Ordain Women & Equal Rights Amendment in the sometimes turbulent history of Exponent II during the late 20th century and its evolution into the digital age. The discussion centers on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and how it marked a “watershed moment” for Mormon feminism. While many LDS women initially supported the ERA, the Church’s stance shifted after Phyllis Schlafly convinced leadership that the amendment was a threat to the family. This led to a massive, coordinated effort where the church deployed 13,000 women to the 1977 International Women’s Year meeting in Salt...

Mormon women led by Claudia Bushman started the Exponent II organization in Boston while her husband Richard Bushman was stake president. Claudia caused waves when she spoke about Mormon feminism and black priesthood ordination in the 1970s before the Equal Rights Amendment & black ordination became bigger issues in the LDS Church. Salt Lake City sent an apostle to shut down the organization. Award winning authors Katie Rich & Heather Sundahl detail these early days of Exponent II in their history of 50 years in the organization. Check out our conversation…

https://youtu.be/CGUWDGlv87I

0:00 Meet the Au...

Happy New Year to all the listeners and readers! As we step into 2026, I gave my second annual Gospel Tangents 2025 Book Awards. (Click the link for 2024!) It is the perfect time to look back at the milestones, challenges, and incredible content that defined 2025. While the past year was personally difficult due to several significant health challenges, it was a prolific year for the podcast, featuring 115 episodes!

https://youtube.com/live/Jy-QsGSU4bA

Hits of 2025

One of the most fascinating aspects of 2025 was seeing which videos resonated most with the audience. Some of the...

As we end 2025, I thought I’d share an old interview titled “Bombs in Salt Lake.” This is from my first year with Curt Bench. Curt actually called Mark Hofmann to warn Mark there was a bomber out there, not knowing Mark was the bomber. We’ll discuss Mark Hofmann’s forgeries and murders from 1985, the trial, and more from this 2017 interview. Check out our conversation…

https://youtu.be/K54RGgJ1kYc

Don’t miss our other conversations on the Hofmann murders & forgeries: https://gospeltangents.com/lds_people_historical/mark-hofmann/

Copyright © 2025

Gospel Tangents...

Historian Dan Vogel breaks down the complex history of the Book of Abraham, beginning with the 1835 purchase of Egyptian mummies in Kirtland, Ohio. Rather than seeing the Kirtland Egyptian Papers as a failed attempt by scribes to understand Egyptian, Vogel argues they were Joseph Smith’s own working papers. He demonstrates how Smith used these documents to “brainstorm” a new theological framework, allowing him to introduce doctrines like the priesthood ban and the plurality of gods under the guise of an ancient text. This is a replay of my 2019 interview with Dan.

https://youtu.be/sFKoRTTZ4SU

...

We’re diving deep into the evolution of First VIsion accounts with Historian Dan Vogel. He offers a deep dive into the historical developments of early Mormonism, challenging both critics and believers to look closer at the documents. What if Joseph Smith was neither a simple con man nor a traditional prophet, but something more complex?

https://youtu.be/uVVJcgmyUKA

Don’t miss our other conversations on the First Vision: https://gospeltangents.com/mormon_history/first-vision/

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Gospel Tangents

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“Pious Fraud” Theory

Vogel des...

Recently, I had the fascinating opportunity to delve into the beliefs practices, and Strangite priesthood views with Gary Weber of the Strangite Church, a lesser-known branch of Mormonism. This discussion sheds light on many intriguing aspects of their faith, highlighting both commonalities and distinct differences from the more widely known LDS (Latter-day Saint) Church.

https://youtu.be/52ZIzhsxMKY

Understanding Strangite Priesthood: A Core Difference

One of the most significant distinctions discussed was the Strangite understanding of the priesthood and its associated “keys.” While the Melchizedek priesthood holds specific keys related to office, it does...

Interracial Marriage is critical to the reasons for a priesthood/temple ban on black LDS Church members. For many years, the official position of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) was that “it is not known precisely why, how, or when this restriction [on the priesthood for male members of African descent] began in the church.” However, historical research utilizing early records suggests that the origins of the ban are quite specific, pointing to a confluence of events involving race and interracial sexual relations (often called “amalgamation” or “miscegenation” at the time) that served as the primary cata...

Can women hold priesthood in LeBaron Mormon fundamentalism? Jacob Vidrine from Church of the Firstborn surprised me with his answer about women & priesthood! We also finish our conversation about the race ban in Brigham Young & Joseph Smith’s time. Check out our conversation, but it is only available to newsletter subscribers. Sign up at https://gospeltangents.com/newsletter!

https://youtu.be/Xg9nt_4xu9M

Don’t miss our other conversations with Jacob: https://gospeltangents.com/people/jacob-vidrine

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Gospel Tangents

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Nuance in the Priest...

When was Christ born? I held a livestream to tackle some of the most enduring mysteries surrounding the Christmas story, diving deep into scholarly debates concerning the timing of Christ’s birth, the nature of the Star of Bethlehem, and the identity and traditions surrounding the Wise Men. The discussion also included a giveaway of a free copy of Sand Tanner’s book, Lighthouse, authored by Ronald Huggins.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3d0hOvJoXQc

Don’t miss our other conversations about Christmas: https://gospeltangents.com/lds_theology/christmas/

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Gospel...

Many Mormon fundamentalists restrict blacks from joining despite the 1978 revelation that allowed black men to hold the priesthood. This is considered a landmark moment in LDS history, but many in Mormon fundamentalists believe this 1978 revelation marked the moment the mainstream Church lost its essential authority. This theological break, rooted in Brigham Young’s fiery declarations about race and priesthood lineage, is why most fundamentalist groups reject modern LDS temple work.

https://youtu.be/Rp-2f0Uxuh4

Don’t miss our other conversations with Jacob: https://gospeltangents.com/people/jacob-vidrine

Copyright © 2025

Gospel Tangen...

The path to LeBaronism began when the speaker gained a testimony of the Adam-God doctrine, then accepted principles like rebaptism, eventually leading to a testimony of the Law of Adoption and connection with the Church of the Firstborn.

https://youtu.be/AYwLSTRuidE

Don’t miss our other conversations with Jacob: https://gospeltangents.com/people/jacob-vidrine

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Gospel Tangents

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How LeBaron Group Practices Temple Work Without a Temple

The quest for pure priesthood authority and the full restoration of doctrines—from Adam-God to the La...

Tom Green gained notoriety for appearing on television with his plural family, which led to Utah prosecuting him after discovering one wife was “very underage,” resulting in his conviction for child polygamy and welfare fraud, or child rape according to one account, and a prison sentence

https://youtu.be/KkQlU3KVllM

Don’t miss our other conversations with Jacob: https://gospeltangents.com/people/jacob-vidrine

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Tom Green: Polygamy, Prison, & Quest for Community

Tom Green, a controversial figure in Mormon fundamentalism, was a ke...

Fred Collier is one of the patriarchs of Ross LeBaron’s Church of the Firstborn. Fred tried to take over after Ross’s death and even converted Tom Green, an apostle in a rival group, “The Branch.” We’ll discuss more about how Fred’s group descends from Ross LeBaron. Check out our conversation…

https://youtu.be/nTOU2ZYkNco

Don’t miss our other conversations with Jacob: https://gospeltangents.com/people/jacob-vidrine

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Gospel Tangents

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Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written pe...

Ross Wesley LeBaron played the role of eccentric prophet. The second oldest son of patriarch Alma Dayer LeBaron Sr., carved a distinct path in Utah. Ross founded the Church of the Firstborn. His teachings presented a unique fundamentalist cosmology focused on distributing sacred authority rather than concentrating it, emphasizing that “the honor is in the work, not the title.”

https://youtu.be/fHYDKiaoZ5o

Don’t miss our other conversations with Jacob: https://gospeltangents.com/people/jacob-vidrine

Copyright © 2025

Gospel Tangents

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Except for book reviews, no conte...

Evil Ervil LeBaron was a killer. He killed not only his brother Joel LeBaron, but had his wives kill rival Rulon Allred. He was known to have a hit list of others, including President Spencer Kimball of the LDS Church. Jacob Vidrine discusses these events and we’ll discuss the recent drug killings to a LeBaron family in Mexico. Check out our conversation…

https://youtu.be/23RT8A5HEww

Don’t miss our other conversations with Jacob: https://gospeltangents.com/people/jacob-vidrine

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Gospel Tangents

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Except...

1950s were a tumultuous time for Mormon polygamists. Not only did police jail many for polygamy, but there were Mormon Fundamentalist Schisms. Many groups including Joseph Musser and the LeBaron families split apart. Jacob Vidrine of the Church of the Firstborn gives more details. Check out our conversation…

https://youtu.be/1hdRUUQ8Gv0

Don’t miss our other conversations with Jacob: https://gospeltangents.com/people/jacob-vidrine

Copyright © 2025

Gospel Tangents

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Except for book reviews, no content may be reproduced without written permission

Dramatic 1955 Schism...

Will there be polygamy in heaven? We’re diving into Ross LeBaron story with Jacob Vidrine of the Church of the Firstborn. I’ll also ask Jacob if polygamy a requirement for the Celestial Kingdom. Will it be monogamy or polygamy in heaven? His answer surprised me! We discuss Law of Adoption & the Manifesto ending polygamy in the LDS Church as well. Check out our conversation…

https://youtu.be/m20kOKhSdLA

0:00 1st Successor: Ross LeBaron
13:57 Law of Adoption
22:03 Requirement for Polygamy in Heaven?
28:59 Manifesto

Don’t miss our other conversations with Jac...