Mormon History Podcast – Gospel Tangents – Mormon History Podcast

8 Episodes
Community of Christ, Book of Mormon, & Future (Stassi Cramm 4 of 4)
Community of Christ, Book of Mormon, & Future (Stassi Cramm 4 of 4) episode artwork
#1090
Yesterday at 11:30 AM

Community of Christ (CoC) President Stassi Cramm, the church’s first female prophet, addressed pointed questions regarding the role of the Book of Mormon, the pursuit of consensus and faithful disagreement, her prophetic vision for the church, and the ongoing debate over infant baptism.

Don’t miss our other conversations with Stassi: https://gospeltangents.com/people/stassi-cramm/

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Gospel Tangents

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Book of Mormon: Upholding Scripture

President Cramm emphatically denied the accusation that the Community of Christ is “moving away from the Book of Mormon.”

Key...


Why Conversations with Church Leaders Go Wrong (Jeff Strong 4 of 4)
Why Conversations with Church Leaders Go Wrong (Jeff Strong 4 of 4) episode artwork
#1164
Last Saturday at 11:40 AM

Why do conversations with Church leaders go wrong so often?

Why do conversations with Church leaders go wrong so often? Former mission president Jeff Strong says talking to leaders and parents is one of the least helpful things to do in a faith crisis. It’s 4.5 times worse than talking with siblings. Why do some family members quit speaking to those who leave? Should Church leaders better model Christian disagreement? Can a bottom up movement like this succeed in a top-down organization? Check out our conversation…

Don’t miss our other conversations Jeff: https://gospeltangents.com/people...


From Mission Farewell to Leaving the Faith (Jeff Strong 3 of 4)
From Mission Farewell to Leaving the Faith (Jeff Strong 3 of 4) episode artwork
#1163
06/10/2026

Author Jeff Strong details the “tectonic plate shifting moment” when his son, while serving in the Missionary Training Center (MTC), suddenly wrote him about leaving the faith: both his mission and the LDS Church. At the time, Strong was serving as a Bishop. He admits that he and his wife initially handled the situation poorly by assuming their son had committed a serious sin. This personal crisis spurred Strong to conduct extensive research into disaffiliation, including qualitative work in 40 cities across 20 countries to understand the real reasons people step away from faith.

Do...


Pro Wrestlers, Polygamy Wealth, & Gnosticism: Unpacking MHA Highlights in Las Vegas (Rick B)
Pro Wrestlers, Polygamy Wealth, & Gnosticism: Unpacking MHA Highlights in Las Vegas (Rick B) episode artwork
#1165
06/07/2026

I did a livestream recap of the Mormon History Association (MHA highlights) conference, broadcast straight from my hotel room in lovely Las Vegas. Guided by some slightly out-of-order, AI-generated slides, this recap covers the most fascinating historical deep dives, unexpected gems, and award winners from the weekend. https://youtube.com/live/wy_-u8OCLMs

Unexpected MHA Highlights & Gems: Pro Wrestling and Gnosticism

One of the absolute standout presentations explored “The Mormon Giant,” Don Leo Jonathan, a 6’6″ pro wrestler active from the 1930s to the 1960s. Early in his career, he played up a “weird” and radical...


Unpacking the “Four Waves” of Modern Disaffiliation (Jeff Strong 2 of 4)
Unpacking the “Four Waves” of Modern Disaffiliation (Jeff Strong 2 of 4) episode artwork
#1162
05/31/2026

Why are people really leaving the LDS Church? In Part 2 of our deep dive into LDS disaffiliation, we continue our conversation with Jeff Strong, author of the groundbreaking book “Torn: Why People We Love Are Leaving the Church and What We Can Learn from Them.” This episode moves beyond the statistics to explore the complex, personal “waves” of modern faith loss.

Don’t miss our other conversations Jeff: https://gospeltangents.com/people/jeff-strong

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Gospel Tangents

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Key topics covered in this episode include:
* The Church History Bomb...


40% Leaving? Startling Numbers Behind LDS Disaffiliation (Jeff Strong 1 of 4)
40% Leaving? Startling Numbers Behind LDS Disaffiliation (Jeff Strong 1 of 4) episode artwork
#1161
05/28/2026

Is the LDS Church actually shrinking? We’re talking about LDS disaffiliation with  Jeff Strong, author of the new book Torn: Why People We Love Are Leaving the Church and What We Can Learn from Them. While official membership records show steady growth, the reality of active participation tells a much more complex story. In this episode, I’ll sit down with Jeff to break down the startling data behind modern disaffiliation.

Don’t miss our other conversations Jeff: https://gospeltangents.com/people/jeff-strong

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Gospel Tangents

All Right...


1160: Reframing Faith & Navigating Moral Complexity of History (Patrick Mason)
1160: Reframing Faith & Navigating Moral Complexity of History (Patrick Mason) episode artwork
#1160
05/25/2026

I invited Dr. Patrick Mason on to discuss reframing faith in the complex history of religion. He iis a historian and theologian at Utah State University, and discusses the evolution of his career from academic research to pastoral writing aimed at those navigating faith crises. He reflects on the limitations of a transactional approach to religion, suggesting instead that individuals must take personal accountability for their spiritual lives while remaining part of a community. Mason addresses difficult historical and moral issues, such as slavery and the priesthood ban, by arguing that past leaders were fallible and that modern believers shou...


DNA Expert Tackles Mormon DNA Claims (Dr. Ugo Perego 2017 interview)
DNA Expert Tackles Mormon DNA Claims (Dr. Ugo Perego 2017 interview) episode artwork
#1159
05/23/2026

Dr Ugo Perego tests the most pressing Mormon DNA claims. Did Joseph Smith have secret children from his plural marriages? What really triggered the Mountain Meadows Massacre? And does Native American DNA align with the Book of Mormon? https://youtu.be/ni5d6D90VoU Don’t miss our other conversations with Ugo! https://gospeltangents.com/people/ugo-perego/

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Gospel Tangents

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In this fascinating throwback episode of Gospel Tangents, we sit down with Dr. Ugo Perego, a leading expert in population genetics and Mormon DNA. Dr...