Glass Box Podcast

It’s finally time for our long-awaited deep dive into New Mormon History. Put simply, NMH was a movement within the history department of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to confront controversial history and turn away from the apologetic and polemical Old Mormon History. The leading figure, Leonard Arrington, was the right person for the job. But, he didn’t have the business chops to fight forces much larger than him in the form of Mark E. Petersen, Ezra Taft Benson, and Boyd K. Packer. The main segment is long as we chronicle the rise, fall, and resurrection of the New Mormon History movement and how the Joseph Smith Papers Project, as well as Saints: The Standard of Truth, are both the results of this movement pushing the church for academic legitimacy. In retrospect, Arrington is vindicated as an intellectual fighting for intellectual integrity while Packer spins in his grave. Then we discuss Finding Forrester as another example of the never-ending fight for academic honesty. We wrap with h

Education is a battleground for the hearts and minds of the future. The Church Education System of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded in 1980, but the history of education in Mormonism is far more complex. We do a deep dive into how the CES started and the sordid pasts of the various educational institutions attached to the Church at some point. There’s also a tangential deep dive into seminary and the legal sphere of “released time” classes carving out exemptions where religion can be taught in public schools. Then we discuss the modern battlefield of public education by reviewing the 2012 documentary, The Revisionaries, focused on public school text books and the fight at the Texas Board of Education. We round out with a quick overview of the best news of our lifetime, recommendations by the Jan 6th Committee to criminally indict the former POTUS for the violent insurrection at the federal capitol building in January 2021.   CES history links: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_E

Guess what! This is the end of our deep dive into The Millennial Messiah, by Bruce R McConkie! It’s party time!  We go over the last 4 chapters and then discuss our conclusion. Then, we will watch the 2010 movie Legion, with a mormon lens because it works WAY too well with that. Then we’ll finish off the episode with some good news about a BYU protest!   MOGP: Legion (2010) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1038686/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_3  FInd where it’s streaming: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/legion    Happy News:  https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/12/stanford-marching-band-mocks-byu-gay-wedding-skit-football-game/   Other Appearances:    LIVE SHOW! Mon, Dec 26, 2022 — We will talk about media. All things media — books, movies, music, etc.    Come see us on Aron Ra’s YouTube channel! He’s doing a series titled Reading Joseph’s Myth BoM. This link is for the playlist:   https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXJ4dsU0oGMKfJKvEMeRn5ebpAggkoVHf    Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com

What even is the Law of Consecration?! Well it’s a covenant that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints make during the temple endowment ceremony, but what actually is it? We go through a deep dive of the Law of Consecration, discuss a bit of its history, and pontificate about it’s impact and possible future use in Mormon culture today. After that we review Gate to Women’s Country by Sheri S. Tepper, a wonderful dystopian fantasy novel with some hard-hitting social commentary we interpret through a Mormon lens. We round out the episode by congratulating LeVar Burton receiving long-deserved recognition. Patrons: we debrief/deconstruct the recent debate between Bryce and a certain litigious individual. Show Notes:   All Things are the Lord’s: The Law of Consecration in the Doctrine and Covenants by Steven Harper https://rsc.byu.edu/doctrine-covenants-revelations-context/all-things-are-lords-law-consecration-doctrine-covenants List of codenames in D&C https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lis

Our long-awaited deep-dive deconstruction of Adam-God Doctrine, or theory, depending on who you ask. What is it? Who taught it? Why is it controversial? How is it treated by the corporate Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today? ‘As we are, god once was, as god is we may someday become’ is a tried-and-true Mormon doctrine and the Adam-Eve-Gods Doctrine fits perfectly within this logical loop. As the title of the doctrine alludes to, Heavenly Father took the form of Adam with one of his wives, Heavenly Mother Eve, to create and populate the earth, after which he went to Adam-ondi-Ahman, in Missouri, where he ascended back to godhood to continue his charge from Elohim to create worlds without end. Then we dive into the nearly-final segment of Bruce R. McConkie’s Millennial Messiah. McCranky loves the idea of fire burning the sinners and his charged language justifies the physical suffering and burning of anybody who isn’t Mormon or living its dictates. Further, when Jesus returns to reign in the mille

History comes to life! Today we interview Mark Elwood, the creator of the graphic novel series The Glass Looker. These novels seek to illustrate Joseph Smith’s magic and treasure digging in beautiful and colorful relief. The book just dropped so grab yourself a copy! After that we continue talking fictionalized history with the movie Ford v Ferrari and we wrap the show with some happy news about republicans losing a book ban fight.   Show Notes:    The Glass Looker https://theglasslooker.com/   MOGP: Ford v Ferrari: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1950186/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0    Happy News: https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/11/republican-book-banning-attempt-defeated-community-stands-lgbtq-people/  Other Appearances:    Come see us on Aron Ra’s YouTube channel! He’s doing a series titled Reading Joseph’s Myth BoM. This link is for the playlist:   https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXJ4dsU0oGMKfJKvEMeRn5ebpAggkoVHf  Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod  Facebook

It’s time for the next installment of The Millennial Messiah by Bruce R. McConkie! Before that, we talk about Zion. What was it, what did/does it mean to various faith traditions, and what’s the Mormon slant of Zion? McCranky spends this entire episode discussing how incredibly awesome the future Mormon theocracy, Zion, the New Jerusalem, built upon the American continent, is going to be! We wrap up with some happy news from Salt Lake City attempting to mitigate homelessness in Zion.   Show Notes:  Repository of LDS Zion resources  https://www.margiesmessages.com/zionnew.html   Bruce R. McConkie Come: Let Israel Build Zion https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1977/04/come-let-israel-build-zion?lang=eng   Spencer W. Kimball Becoming the Pure in Heart https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1978/04/becoming-the-pure-in-heart?lang=eng   Harold B. Lee Strengthen the Stakes of Zion https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1973/04/strengthen-the-st

It’s that time again! Every 6 months we review every talk given over the pulpit in General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This Mormon Con sees the best and brightest in Mormon hierarchy speaking in 10-30 minute segments, accompanied by the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. In total, we review all 10 hours of talks “to see what slipped through the cracks”!   Other Appearances:    We both appeared on Jimmy Snow first ever Exmormon General Conference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULXZyjyI1EQ    Bryce was on The Scathing Atheist 503: Dead End Job Edition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtJqethHMMo     Come see us on Aron Ra’s YouTube channel! He’s doing a series titled Reading Joseph’s Myth BoM. This link is for the playlist:   https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXJ4dsU0oGMKfJKvEMeRn5ebpAggkoVHf    Email: glassboxpodcast@gmail.com  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod  Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/glassboxpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/GlassBoxPod

What does Joseph Smith’s book say about Joseph Smith’s church? We take a look into the Book of Mormon to see what it has to say about the modern Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The BoM has a lot to say about organized, wealthy religion so how does a religion based on it accumulate so much wealth into its organization? After that we discuss the SMBC book Religion; Ruining Everything since 4004 B.C. and discuss a recent speech by Biden about abortion health care.   MOGP:    Religion: Ruining Everything Since 4004 B.C. A collection of religious themed comics by, Zach Weinersmith. (SMBC): https://hivemill.com/products/religion-ruining-everything    The Holy Bible: Abridged Beyond the Point of Usefulness: https://hivemill.com/collections/smbc/products/pocket-bible    Happy News: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/23/biden-promises-to-codify-roe-if-two-more-democrats-are-elected-to-the-senate.html   Come see us on Aron Ra’s YouTube channel! He’s doing a series titled Reading Joseph’s Myth BoM. Bryce showe

Girl’s Camp! We talk about the history of how it came to be, the experiences of many folks who attended, and discuss the evolution of the program since its inception. What happens there? Who gets (has) to attend? Why don’t young women get to do the same kind of stuff Scouts do? Tune in and all answers shall be revealed! After that we review the most recent Tarzan movie and wrap the show with a new paper proposed as forthcoming EU legislation to reduce slave labor.   Show links:    History of LDS Youth Programs: https://juvenileinstructor.org/history-of-lds-youth-programs/    Changes made in 1993: https://www.thechurchnews.com/1993/2/20/23258666/new-young-women-camp-manual-written-for-today     Young Women of Zion: An Organizational History: https://rsc.byu.edu/firm-foundation/young-women-zion-organizational-history    Young Women Organization Timeline: https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/training/library/young-women-organization/young-women-organization-timeline    A Century and Counting: How Girl’s C

What a fun grouping of topics! We do a relatively long deep-dive into the history of how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has dealt with organic evolution and how the stance has changed over time. Of course, the Book of Mormon is predicated on eugenics, as is the history of Utah, so we also include this more controversial subject as it is related. Then we dive into Bruce R. McConkie’s Millennial Messiah where he continues to harp on his favorite topic, the end times. Turns out the book title is very revealing of the subject matter. We wrap the episode with a new press release from the White House about government-funded research.   Show links:  Improvement Era article (Official publication on organic evolution) https://archive.org/details/improvementera28011unse/page/1088/mode/2up Organic Evolution (current Church official) https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/organic-evolution?lang=eng&fbclid=IwAR2JSViKt8X5b58lHFTGwP223jzjn9pm5Vi9Y1j2kz94QC8bjCHNrhuPpMk Pew Research i

Numerology 101! What is it? How many is it? Why is it? We do a quick deep-dive into the esoteric field of numerology and how it influenced Joseph Smith and early Mormonism. We even find out our own numbers just for the fun of it! After that we talk about The Number 23 starring Jim Carrey in a very non-Jim Carrey role, witnessing him driven to madness by, you guessed it, the number 23. We round out with a brief signal boost of the recent sex abuse scandal with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Which sex abuse scandal specifically? Any of them because they never end.   Show links:    Number Symbolism https://www.britannica.com/topic/number-symbolism Pythagorean numerology https://www.dcode.fr/pythagorean-numerology Kabbalah numerology http://numerology.center/kabbalah_numerology.php Chaldean numerology https://numerologytoolbox.com/numerology/chaldean-numerology/  The Philosophy of Numbers by L. Dow. Balliett https://archive.org/details/philosophyofnum00ball/page/126/mode/2up   Happy News:   

We’ve discussed Mormon endtimes on numerous episodes, but this time we will also discuss some results. Mormonism breeds dangerous men; men who believe the end of the world is coming. Bruce R. McConkie loved the idea of the endtimes. He wrote about it so much that we decided to cover what Mormon Doctrine says are the signs of the endtimes. Then, because we know you just can’t get enough of McCrankie, Shannon will give the 5th segment of Millennial Messiah which, surprise surprise, is all about the death and destruction that is going to happen in the second coming. Then we actually will end the episode leaving you with a feeling that the world isn’t completely on fire with some really cool news about green infrastructure. So fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy night!  Show links:    Mormon Endtimes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Coming_in_Mormonism https://mormonbeliefs.org/mormon_beliefs/mormon-doctrine-salvation/do-mormons-believe-in-the-end-times/ https://bycommonconsent.com/2016/04/28

Finally, the long-awaited deep-dive of Paul H. Dunn! Dunn was a General Authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a consummate liar. He tweaked or fabricated dozens of stories with a spiritual bend which caused Mormons to feel the spirit that what he was saying was true. He also committed financial fraud by cashing in on his high church rank and grandiose public personality. When all this came to light, shelves of believing Mormons came crashing down worldwide, and he was sent to a pasture up north by the apostles. He was, however, successfully insulated by church leadership from any legal repercussions. After that we review Plan 10 From Outer Space, a 90s Mormon sci-fi flick! We round out the episode highlighting the newly created 3-digit number for mental health resources.   Show links:    Oral traditions: https://ich.unesco.org/en/oral-traditions-and-expressions-00053    Douglas Stringfellow: https://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1901-1950/The-controversial-career-of-Repr

Yes, it’s time for our next installment of the Millennial Messiah by Bruce R. McConkie. Before that, however, we’re doing a deep-dive into the history of the BYU center in Jerusalem. We discuss how it came to be, the hurdles overcome, and the strange and mysterious ways in which Mormon God works. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints punched far above its weight class in the sphere of international politics to shoehorn this place onto the Mount of Olives! Then we round out the episode with some happy news about scrap wood being used more sustainably.   Show Links:  Interview of David Galbraith https://rsc.byu.edu/vol-9-no-1-2008/jerusalem-center-near-eastern-studies-reflections-modern-pioneer Orson Hyde: A Life of Lessons Learned by Roy Huff https://rsc.byu.edu/vol-3-no-2-2002/orson-hyde-life-lessons-learned Eliza R. Snow 1875 Jerusalem trip journal https://archive.org/details/palestietourutah00smit/page/260/mode/2up The Haifa German Cemetary and the Brigham Young University Jerusalem Center htt

EPISODE 100!!! We’re celebrating this achievement with a different style of show. We’re talking all about hymns and music. What does music do to our brains? How can it be used for benevolent or, conversely, malevolent, purposes? Why is music easier to remember than just about any other media we create or consume? We also discuss some history of hymns and folk music in the Mormon culture and tradition as markers for significant events or used to ensure conformity or battle public perceptions. We round out the episode with some parodies of hymns we wrote to help break the spell!   Show Links:  Hymn Parodies by Bryce & Shannon: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1095C1WDVWjOU0I2LVa7bm0Ob-r9e3EORPqJavZd7gd4/edit?usp=sharing    We were on episode #333 of Serious Inquiries Only!: https://seriouspod.com/    Music, Rhythm, and the Brain: https://brainworldmagazine.com/music-rhythm-brain/  The Power of Music: MInd Control, by Rhythmic Sound: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/the-power-of-music-mind

I'm uploading this as a token of gratitude for all you listeners showing up for 100 episodes! Plus, people have been asking for our review on the main feed but UtBoH is just too big a topic for the regular show, so here's a standalone episode taken from our YouTube broadcast! This is the next installment of our quarterly live Q&A broadcasts! We have our lovely patrons to thank over at https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod for helping us reach our goal to make these possible. This time around we're reviewing the new Hulu series, Under the Banner of Heaven, based on Jon Krakauer's book by the same title. SPOILER ALERT!!! Thank you so much for spending your evening with us. All the important links: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod  Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/glassboxpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/GlassBoxPod  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glassboxpod...  Merch store: https://exmomerch.creator-spring.com/ Be sure to use discount code GLASSBOX for a tithing off your order!!!

Hey it’s Pride Month! We all hear about Prop 8 and how the LDS church paid a boatload of money to make it go their way. We thought the actions the church took in the past which led to these actions needed to be brought to light. We also discuss Patriarch Joseph Fielding Smith who was called to the office while known to be gay, then was fired from the job once the bigots spoke out against him. Then, in our Media section, Shannon brings you a large list of books you should look into written by Mary Renault. And finally, we bring you some excellent news out of New York Show notes:    Links Memories of Being Gay at BYU by Earl Kofoed https://web.archive.org/web/20060617213245/http://www.affirmation.org/memorial/memories_of_being_gay.shtml LGBTQIAP+ history in America https://www.lgbtqhistory.org/lgbt-rights-timeline-in-american-history/ Chronology of Events Patriarch Joseph Fielding Smith’s Homosexuality https://web.archive.org/web/20100122080551/http://www.affirmation.org/memorial/joseph_fielding_smith.shtm

The end is neigh at hand, or so Abrahamic believers have been saying for over 2000 years. Mormonism has its own special brand of the apocalypse and endtimes. This launches us into the next installment of the Millennial Messiah by Bruce R. McConkie. He talks about the endtimes as well, along with the role of the Book of Mormon. The final chapter we cover he leans deep into the white supremacy of Mormon theology. Be prepared, because we weren’t. Then we wrap the show with an op-ed in the Salt Lake Tribune from a long-time listener and patron, Dave Winslow, about the problems with violent rhetoric coming from the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.   Be sure to tune in to our next live hangout on June 6th at 6 p.m. MST wherein we’ll review Under the Banner of Heaven. Supporters at Patreon gain access to join the conversation on air!   If you’d like to share your experience for the upcoming PRIDE month episode (Ep 99), please do so through social media or a direct email to glassboxpodcast@

We examine the fascinating era of the 1970s feminist Mormon history studies. We focus on the central figure of Claudia Bushman and her push to build a non-existent world within Mormon studies. A group of east-coast women scholars began publishing controversial history in the form of Mormon Sisters and the resulting Exponent II quarterly journal. The official church historian, Leonard J. Arrington, encouraged and assisted where he could, but the General Authorities, especially Ezra Taft Benson, Mark E. Petersen, and Boyd K. Packer, couldn’t handle the prospect of women scholars publishing in academic journals about Mormon women’s issues. The retaliation, blacklisting, and PR fights quickly followed Claudia Bushman, Marueen Ursenbach Beecher, and Laurel Thatcher Ulrich as they worked to advance the burgeoning field. After that we review the movie/book Hidden Figures and discuss the new White House Press Secretary!   Links: Interview w/Claudia Bushman https://rsc.byu.edu/conversations-mormon-historians/claudia-