Religion Today

In Part 2 of the Visions of Joseph Smith, Religion Today host Martin Tanner describes about fifteen more of the 70 known visions of Joseph Smith, including four visions of the Father and the Son, and five additional visions of Jesus.  Although some of these accounts are in scripture, most are found in diary entries of Joseph Smith, and his close associates and friends.  Martin Tanner describes visions of the appearance of Adam and Eve, Moses, the Apostle Peter, Elias (Noah), Elijah, the future growth of the Church, future calamaties prior to the Second Coming of Jesus, a spiritual battle with Satan, and many others, especially in connection with the completion and dedication of the Kirtland Temple.  

In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner interviews T.C. Christensen, Latter-day Saint filmmaker extrordinaire (filmography:  17 Miracles; Ephraim's Resccue; The Cokeville Miracle; Love Kennedy, The Fighting Preacher, and many more), who has a new film in theaters now, Escape From Germany (PG).  This historically accurate film, the story-line of which is derived from the personal diaries of the missionaries and others who experienced it, describes the miracles, and inspired decisions made by the President Heber J. Grant, the President of the LDS Germany Mission when World War II started, and many others, which enabled Mormon missionaries to escape from Nazi Germany during the final days before Hitler closed the boarders of Germany, invaded neighboring countries, and started World WW2.  This extraordinary film is a must see, accurate historical drama, from a new perspective, and is appropriate for the entire family.  Host Martin Tanner highly recommends this movie from one of the very best LDS filmmakers, T.C. Christensen    

In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner describes most of the early, significant visions of Joseph Smith.  Joseph Smith had 70 known visions, and it is likely that more were unrecorded.  There are four accounts of visions of Father and Son together. In several of these, others saw the vision along with Joseph Smith.  In four other visions, Joseph Smith and others with him, saw Jesus.  Joseph Smith also saw many Old Testament prophets, including Adam, Moses, Enoch, Elias and Elijah.  Joseph Smith saw New Testament Apostles Peter, James, John and Paul.  He also saw Nephite Apostles.  In part 2 of the Visions of Joseph Smith, learn about Joseph Smith's visions of the future, growth of the Church, future calamities, temple designs and locations, the Second Coming, and other subjects.

In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner defines "resurrection," explains what happens when a person is resurrected, based on science and religion, and quotes latter-day prophets promises that parents who have lost a child to death, will be able to raise them durring the Millennium. 

In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner explains why the core Protestant tenants of Sola Scriptura, a Closed Canon of scripture, and no Revelation after Jesus and the Apostles contracts the Bible.  First, Sola Scriptura, which means doctrine only from the scriptures is not Biblical.  The Bible does not say which writings are scripture and which are not, people, not the Bible have always made that decision.  Second, a closed canon is not Biblical.  The Bible does not say it is closed to new writings, people make that decision.  Third, the Bible does not say there will be no more revelation after Jesus and the Apostles.  On the contrary, the Book of Revelation specifically mentions two latter-day prophets, telling us there will be revelation in the future.

Although Protestant faiths such at Lutherans, Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists and others, are in many ways similar to those of Latter-day Saints, there are some significant differences.  The most significant are the Trinitarian concept of God, the Priesthood of All Believers, and Salvation by Grace, solely based on belief Jesus is your Lord and Savior. In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner compares and contrasts LDS understanding of God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Ghost as three seperate person, an ordained priesthood, and Salvation by God's Grace, based on obedience to God's laws, with Protestand beliefs.

Scholars date Moses life, his receipt of the Ten Commandments and construction of the Ark of the Covenant, to between 1,500 BCE and 750 BCE.  The Ark was about 4 feet long, 2 1/2 feet wide and 2 1/2 feet tall.  It held the 10 Commendments written by God on a stone tablet, Goliath's sword David used to cut his head off, and, according to some sources, the Urim & Thummim.  Moroni's stone box held the Golden Plates, Laban's sword Nephi used to cut his heaf off, and the Nephite Interpreters.  The Ark's main purposes were to hold the 10 Commandments, and, according to the Bible, provide a suitable place for YHWH (Jehovah) God appeared to Moses and others (immediately above the Ark).  In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner give additional details about the Ark, and different theories about what happened to it.

Joseph Smith's "Inspired Version" often described as the "Joseph Smith Translation" was an inspired effort made by JS to restore plain and precious truths to the Bible which had been lost.  The IV or JST was inspired by passages in the Book of Mormon, observed during the translation process, that pertained to ther Bible.  It commenced just a few months after the Book of Mormon translaton and printing had been completed. It was never completed.  JS was working on it until the day he died in 1844. The JST/IV consists of (1) expensions of material about Moses, Enoch and Melchizedek, (2) grammatical improvements, (3) meaning changes, (4) interpretive changes or additions usually indicated by "or in other words", (5) changes that clarify, and, (6) reconciling passages that contradicted other Bible passages.  To make his JST or IV, Joseph used a King James Bible purchased from E.B. Grandin by Oliver Cowdery.  Learn more about the inspired changes from this episode of Religion Today, hosted by Martin Tanner

Is there any evidence something like the LDS Endowment was part of Jesus teachings, or part of the belief system of Early Christianity?  The answer is "yes."  The evidence is found in the "Secret Gospel of Mark" which was a longer gospel, written by John Mark, the author of the Gospel of Mark, compiled from the notes and writings of Peter (shortly after Peter had been killed) and the notes notes and writings of Mark.  The "Secret Gospel of Mark" tells of a rich young man who was brought back to life by Jesus, after dying and being placed in a tomb.  Jesus rolled away the stone from the tomb, took the young man's hand, and brought him back to life.  The grateful young man was fascinated by Jesus's teachings.  After being taught by Jesus for six days, Jesus placed a linen garment on the rich young man and "taught him the mysteries of the Kingdom of God" and how to live one's life in a way to get there.  This appears to be very much like the Temple garment, teachings and purpose of the LDS Endowment.

Latter-day Saints, Catholics and the Orothodox faiths all have an important doctrine in common.  All believe the potential of each person is divinity, thosis, to become a god, to become like Jesus and Heavenly Father. In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner describes the sources of LDS beliefs on the origin of humans, which is an eternal, unmade intelligence, spirit or soul. He then describes the LDS and Early Christian beliefs that human potential is to become like God, and provides Early Christian quotes which mirror LDS thought.

In this episode of Religion Today, Martin Tanner gives insights into how Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon.  He used the "Nephite Interpreters" later called the Urim and Thummim to translate the Book of Lehi, which comprised the 116 pages lost by Martin Harris, plus a few more pages.  Thereafter Joseph Smith used the seer stone, which was used to translate the entire Book of Mormon we now have. The lost pages ended just before our current Book of Mosiah begins. Joseph Smith was not a scribe.  He always described himself as a translator. If he simply read words or characters, in a seerstone or Nephite Interpreters, he would have been a scribe.  Translating took, effort as we read in D&C Section 9:7-8. 

We have a very good idea of where Book of Mormon events actually took place. How can there be two Hlll Cumorahs?  The same way there are many "Jefferson Avenues" and "State Streets".  The Book of Mormon text does not fit the small gravel hill by the Smith family farm where Moroni buried the plates.  It does fit the large, prominent hill in the "Tuxtla Mountains" in southern Veracruz, Mexico, east of Mexico City, almost to the Gulf of Mexico, and a little South. The Hill Shim/Cumorah is likely the Mayan hill "Shim" later called the hill "Cintepic" by the Aztecs. Cin=corn tepic=hill.  Mayan and Aztec legends say the corn grown by the base of the hill Shim grows from the blood of their ancestors where the Jeredites and Nephites were slaughtered. The waters of Ripliancum are probably the "Hueyapan River." the River Sidon is most likely the Grijalva river.  The City of Nephi is probably the Kaminaljuyu city ruins on the western edge of Guatamala City.

In this Part 3 of three Religion Today shows on the evidence for where the Book of Mormon events actually took place, Martin Tanner, points out that no Native North American tribes or groups had a written language before Columbus.  Thus the Book of Mormon could not have been written by Native North Americans.  Many Mesoamerican tribes had a written language, making it most likely the Book of American came from Mesoamerica.  Cement cities are mentioned in Heleman 3:7. There are no Native American cement cities. El Mirador in southern Mexico, if a city that flourished from 550 BC, made almost entirely of ultra-high quality cement. Leprosy, weapons, volcanos and a sunken city in Mesoamerica are also discussed by Martin, as evidences which favor Mesoamerica, specifically the Yucatan Penninsula, as the place where Book of Mormon events happened.

Joseph Smith at one point thought North American Native Americans were Lamanites. At another point, he thought Native Americans in Central America were Lamanites.  Other Church leaders have widely varying ideas about which tribes are decended from the Lamanites.  If there had been a revelation on that point, there would not be widely varying ideas.  What we do know is that the Book of Mormon says there is a cave with vast numbers of plates in the Hill Cumorah. There is no cave, and no plates, in the New York hill. The Hill Cumorah in Mesoamerica is many times larger, has many caves and has not been explored.  The Book of Mormon says Hill Cumorah was by many streams and fountains of water. This describes the Mesoamerican hill, but not the New York hill.  Over 1,100 years elapsed between the end of the Book of Mormon account and Columbus voyage to the Americas, enough time for inter-marriage between Lamanites of Mesoamerica and numerous North American Tribes. Columbus never touched foot on North America.  His voyages were all to Mesoamerica.

Have you wondered where the events in the Book of Mormon took place?  If you have, you're not alone.  If this first of a multi-part series, host Martin Tanner gives the earliest idea, the "land northward" is North America, the "land southward" is South America and the "narrow neck of land" is Central America. This idea is untenable according to the Book of Mormon text. Martin next describes the "Heartland" theory and "Mesoamerican" theories.  He suggests a few of the best scholarly books on this fascinating topic.

Is there any scientific evidence for horses, elephants and steel swords in the New World before Columbus, as mentioned in The Book of Mormon?  Is there any scientific evidence for Native Americans with Hebrew ancestry, as described in The Book of Mormon? In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner explains why the answer is a resounding yes. The cutting edge scientific sources Martin cites are a Science magazine article on Native American DNA, archaeology authorized by the government of Israel, archaeology in Mesoamerica and North America coupled with carbon 14 testing. 

In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner describes some of the events that have happened since 1830, which were prophecied to occur before the Second Coming of Jesus happens.  But his main focus is describing events which are prophecied to occur before the Second Coming, but which have not yet occurred, including, (1) The Jewish Temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem, (2) Water will flow from under the Jerusalem Temple, (3) two Jewish prophets (Revelation 11) will appear in Jerusalem, and, (4) the last great sign of the coming of the Son of Man, a comet or a planet, will be seen. 

In this Religion Today episode, using scriptures and statements of General Authorities, host Martin Tanner explains exactly how Jesus is our advocate with our Father in Heaven.  He explains how Jesus paid the price for our sins.  The only way for Jesus to be our advocate was and is for him to completely and totally understand us. That means Jesus understands all of our sins, faults, pain suffering, and also all of our good points. An advocate knows everything about his client, the person for whom he is advocating.  For Jesus loved the world so very much that he gave his life, and became our advocate, so that we would not perish, but have everlasting life.  Martin also brings up the current belief among most Latter-day Saints that Jesus atoned for all worlds, past, present and future.  Martin explains, however, that Brigham Young said each world has its own Savior, who is the son of the first parents of that world.

Handel's "Messiah" like many masterpieces, was inspired and thus composed in a short period of time, just 24 days.  Handel's Messiah was written with few revisions on 259 pages. The text was written by a wealthy English gentleman, Charles Jennens.  The music was composed by Georg Frideric Handel, although German born, also an Englishman when the Messiah was comosed.  The Messiah debuted in Dublin, Ireland to an audience of about 700. Its popularity grew steadily, until now, it is perhaps the most beloved Christmas musical performance of all.  Its scriptural basis is impressive.  It contains 81 Bible verses from 14 books of the Bible.  Isaiah is quoted most, 21 times. Next, Psalms, is quoted 15 times. First Corinthians is quoted 10 times.  Many people are moved to tears when listening to Handel's Messiah, including Martin Tanner, the host of Religion Today.

Book of Mormon poetry composed and read by Judge Thomas Kay, recently returned from a couples mission to the Phillippines, to act as legal counsel. 

In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner explains that the Book of Revelation is "apocalyptic" literature from the meaning to uncover or reveal, hence the English title, the Book of "Revelation."  Tanner explains tha basic meaning behine each chapter, including the Mark of the Beast, the Second Coming, how the City of Zion is like a giant cube, 1,500 miles wide and 1,500 miles high - big enoug for any person who wants to go in.

Through scriptures and examples, host Martin Tanner explains why he believes God always answers every heart-felt prayer, provided it meets a few often overlooked criteria.

In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner introduces the most important early Christian Church leaders after the death of the apostles. A short summary of their life and major writings is given.  The early Church Fathers were Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, Polycarp of Smyrna, Papias of Hierapolis, Quadratus of Athens and Hermas, who wrote The Shepherd based on his five visions. This episode is a look into those who led the early Christian Church and influenced its doctrine. It also names scholarly books which include the writings of the Apostolic Fathers.

Host Martin Tanner interviews University of North Carolina, Asheville, Professor Grant Hardy, PhD, Yale, who's new "The Annotated Book of Mormon" was just published by Oxford University Press.  Prof. Hardy describes this exception edition of The Book of Mormon, which is about 900 pages in length.  With its extensive, scholarly annotations on every page, exceptional introductions to each individual book, lavish explanatory comments, thoughtful general essays, comprehensive list of Biblical quotations in the Book of Mormon, allusions, parallels and many other features, all expertly prepared, this is a must have volume for any serious student of the Book of Mormon, or any reader who wants to learn in more depth. 

The State of Israel is named after Jacob, who's name was changed to Israel (Genesis 32:22-31).  What is Palestine?  Palestine was the new name given by the Roman emperor to Israel, after he put down the Bar Kokhba Rebellion in 132 AD.  He changed the name of Israel to "Philistinia" or "Palestine" as an ironic joke. Remember Goliath? He was a Philistine. Goliath was killed and later, the Bablyonians killed or assimilated all of the Philistines. The Philistines had been completely obliterated in 597 BC.  Thus "Palestine" is just another name for "Israel." The United Nations decided with 14 or so Islum countries, there ought to be one Jewish country, and it ought to be in the original location. So Israel, changed in name only to Palestine, had its name changed back to Israel, officially, in 1947.  The chant "Free Palestine" and the phrase "from the ocean to the river" mean to literally destroy Israel and kill each and every Jew.

In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner describes amazing archaeological discoveries relating to the Bible and Book of Mormon, including:  (1) Mid-fourth century AD Nag Hammadi texts with authentic saying of Jesus, many of which are not found in the Bible; (2) the Tel Dan "David" stela, dating to the ninth century BCE, referring to the "House of David" and to the "King of Israel" which is the earliest reference to both; (3) A Jewish inscription dating to circa 870 BCE referring to "Jehovah" his "wife Asherah" and the "Holy of Holies"; (4) The first century home of the Apostle Peter in Capernaum; (5) The siloam Pool where Jesus cured the blind man, as described in John 9:1-11; (5) The remains of King David's palace; (6) The siege tower of Babylon against Jerusalem, constructed by Nebuchadnezzar, in 597 BCE, right after Lehi, Nephi, Ishmael and their families, left Jerusalem as described in the Book of Mormon.

Martin Tanner interviews Stephen Gray, Director, and Tyler Friesen, Executive Producer, of the new film After Death in over 2,200 theaters on October 27th, on near-death experiences (NDEs). This full length feature film, of extraordinary quality, meticulously explores the NDEs of Howard Storm, PhD, MDiv, Mary Neal, MD, Dale Black, Don Piper, Steven Kang, Pam Reynolds and others. From Angel Studios, producers of The Chosen series about the life of Christ.

In this episode of Religion Today, Martin Tanner explains why the war between Hamas and Israel is a religious war and why calls for a cease fire and restraint by Hamas and Israel will never result in peace.  Hamas is branch of the Muslim Brotherhood.  In other words, Hamas is an Islamic or Muslim organization.  The preamble to its charter says Israel has no right to exist, Israel and all Jews must be killed, exterminated.  Martin uses the background and statements of Ayaan Hirsi Ali, to make his points. Ayaan Hirsi Ali's life story is extraordinary.

In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner, provides ideas for influencing others for good with your words, through encouragement and language.

In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner shares a number of descriptions of Jesus appearance, traits, personality and other qualities from people who have actually seen Jesus.

Other faiths besides Mormonism have traditions of visions. In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner describes nine visions or apparitions of the Virgin Mary, acknowledged as genuine by the Catholic Church. Next, the visions of Emanuel Swedenborg are briefly described. Swedenborg, born in 1688, died in 1772, claimed to have visions of heaven and hell, and described them in ways similar to Joseph Smith.  Swedenborg said our purpose in this life was to be placed between heaven and hell where we would be enticed by both, thereby enabling us to freely choose either good or evil. This is similar to the LDS idea of "there must be opposition in all things" to accomplish our purpose in mortality.

All of the ancient manuscripts of the New Testament are in Greek. Although people are surprised to hear this, except for the Dead Sea Scrolls, by far the oldest Old Testament manuscripts are also in Greek.  Why?  After Alexander the Great conquered most of the known world in about 300 BC, everyone spoke Greek, even the Jews. The Hebrew speaking Jews needed a new translation of their scriptures for the new Greek speaking generation of Jews.  That translation, the Septuagint, is the Old Testament from which the New Testament quotes.  Jesus quotes from the Greek Old Testament, and so does Mark, Luke, Paul, Peter, Jude and other New Testament writers.  In this edition of Religion Today, Martin Tanner explains how understanding the Greek Old Testament quotes in the New Testament, will greatly enhance your understanding of the New Testament.  

Prayer works.  Peer reviewed, double-blind studied demonstrate prayer works. In this episode of Religion Today, Martin Tanner explains why some prayers are not answered because they seek to stop free agency. From scriptures what to pray for and what not to pray for, are explained.  The ultimate goal of prayer is described as becoming more like Jesus and Heavenly Father by understanding them and their will for each of us. How God can hear, understand and answer millions of prayers at the same time is described.

In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner shares his own translation of Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount" in modern, contemporary English and explains in additional detail, the meaning of its contents.

Martin Tanner interviews LDS scholar Don Bradley about his book "The Lost 116 Pages" which took a decade of research and pieces together some amazing facts, including: (1) Lucy Harris did not burn or destroy the lost 116 pages; (2) Laban was drunk during the Passover Festival when he was killed by Nephi: (3) combining the Book of Mormon we now have with the amount lost, Joseph Smith may have translated up to 900 pages; (4) the lost 116 pages were written on "Fools Cap" paper (named for the "dunce cap" water mark) which was twice the size of today's 8 1/2 by 11 inch paper; (5) the Lost 116 pages described how the Nephite Interpreters were acquired by the Nephites, etc.  Don Bradley's "The Lost 116 Pages" is a very readable, masterful, and scholarly look at the contents and history of the lost 116 pages.

Host Martin Tanner interviews Ron Esplin, Gerrit Dirkmaat and Brent Rogers on the new Brigham Young Papers project. Volume one of Brigham Young's diaries is now available in book stores. The BY Papers Project is massive in scope, many times larger than the JS Papers project.  Not all of it will be published. Most will be online. An example of the scope.  JS wrote and received a total of just over 600 letters.  BY wrote about 10,000 letters and received more than 30,000. JS lived 14 years after the Church was established.  BY was a member and leader for over 42 years.  The quality of scholarship and published copies is just as high for the BY Papers project as for the JS Papers project.

Martin Tanner discusses the many changes to the New Testament during the first 300 years of Christianity, including removal of the beloved book "Shephard of Hermas" and the "Didache" or Testament of The Twelve Apostles" and others.

A brief introduction to the New Testament.  Host Martin Tanner explains why it is most likely Paul's letters were written about 20 to 30 years after Jesus' resurrection. Then, the Gospels, probably Mark first, next Matthew, followed by Luke, and last, near the end of the first century, the Gospel of John, written to Greek speaking converts. According to early Christian tradition, the Book of James was written not by the Apostle James, but by Jesus' half brother. The Book of Jude was also written by another half brother of Jesus.

The word "angel" means messenger from God. In this episode of Religion Today host Martin Tanner gives information about the seven archangels in Judeo-Christian tradition, in the Old and New Testaments, in LDS scripture, and the idea that just as the Angel Raphael was believed to be the healing angel at the Pool of Bathesda, in Nauvoo, Raphael was believed to heal the sick and infirm in the baptismal fonts in the Nauvoo Temple. Guardian angels and the roll of angels in LDS tradition are also discussed.  

In this episode of Religion Today, Martin Tanner discussed details about the death of Joseph Smith, including why newspaper editor Thomas Sharp was the one who was responsible.  Information about the "Vanguard Pioneer Wagon Train" and how three black Elders were among those in the Vanguard group is presented, along with the appearance of the Salt Lake Valley when the pioneers arrived.

Host Martin Tanner adds additional depth to your understanding of the words "Elohim" which is a plural derivative meaning "strength" or "power"; "YHWH" or "Jehovah" meaning the one who exists on his own power or who is self-existent; Adam which means "red man" or man made from red soil, the color red being derived from "blood" which another meaning of "Adam" who gives life as does life's blood in living animals. "Eve" which comes from Hebrew "breath" because only living things breath. "Help mete" often misunderstood means one who completes through having a different point of view or opinion.

How could the U.S. Constitution be inspired, since it included the right to have guns and allowed slavery to continue. In this episode of Religion Today host Martin Tanner explains why a citizenry authorized to own guns actually inhibits crime. He also describes how the Founding Fathers were inspired by Isaiah 33:22 to create three branches of government: executive, legislative and judicial. How this Biblically inspired system creates a balance of power. Martin gives examples of how we know the U.S. Constitution was an inspired document much like the Mosaic law was inspired, but was not perfect. Yet it paved the way for the higher law Jesus brought. 

Independence Day, freedom, patriotism, agency, and God's influence in the founding of the USA.  With its flaws, the USA is the country that formed a new government based on freedom, see D&C 101:77-80, and abolished slavery at great cost. If you look for something, like racism, you will think you found it, even if it is not there. Racism has been illegal since the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Anyone who sees institutional racism can find legal representation and end it.  There will always been racist individuals, but Martin Tanner challenges anyone to find a racist institution, corporation or system of government in the USA. May God bless the USA and help us preserve our freedoms.

Host Martin Tanner explains why the words "Jesus" "Messiah" "Baptism" and "Bible" are not anachronisms and are perfectly fine translations of the ancient words on the Golden Plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated. A translation is rendering a word or phrase and its their meaning in one language, into a word or phrase in another language, which carries the same meaning, as much as possible. Since Christians believe "Jesus" was the God of the Old Testament, the word "Bible" properly conveys the idea of authoritative religious writings, even pre-Christian ones, and "Baptism" properly conveys the pre-Christian idea of ritual cleansing of sin by immersion in water, these are all proper words to find in the pre-Christian parts of Book of Mormon.

In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner first describes baptism for the dead as practiced in Early Christianity.  He provides references to vicarious ordinances in the Apocrypha, 2 Maccabees 12:39-46 and the meaning of 1 Corinthians 15:29 in the LDS Faith, and among modern scholars. He describes how Joseph Smith's revealed the ordinance of baptism for the dead in an 1840 funeral sermon, as a comfort to a widow in the audience, who's un-baptized son had recently died. Martin describes how the practice is different in a few details from when first practiced. He concludes with some of the many examples of notable, famous and infamous persons for whom baptism for the dead has been performed.

In this Religion Today episode, host Martin Tanner, points out that no LDS Church leader, including Joseph Smith, has ever claimed revelation on where the events in the Book of Mormon happened.  But the text of the Book of Mormon provides inspired details enabling us to make to strong inferences they happened in Central America.  Are there two Cumorah's? How could Moroni get the plates from Hill Cumorah in Mesoamerica to the hill by the Smith Family's farm in New York? These and other questions are answered.

* ALL LISTENERS ARE INVITED TO HEAR A NON-LATTER-DAY SAINT, EMILIE SPEAR, FROM COLORADO SHARE HER NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE IN WHICH SHE SAW JESUS, WITH DETAILS CONFIRMING LDS BELIEFS."  DETAILS FOR THIS FREE EVENT ON FRIDAY, JUNE 23rd, IN SLC, ARE IN THIS EPISODE.

Where did the events in the Book of Mormon occur?  North America? Mesoamerica? What does the evidence say? Although the LDS Church has taken no official position on where Book of Mormon events happened, it is important to carefully read Book of Mormon passages which help narrow the possible locations. The Book of Mormon describes Jesus healing those with leprosy. Leprosy was found only in Mesoamerica before Columbus, not in North America. The BoM describes cement cities, found only in Mesoamerica, not in North America. In the final battle between the Nephites and Lamanites, 240,000 died. During BoM times the largest population center in all of North America, the Cahokia, in present day Illinois, had less than 10,000 inhabitants. 2018 LiDAR scans conducted by the National Geographic Society, demonstrated that between 15 and 20 million people lived on the Yucatan Peninsula during BoM times, easily large enough to support a final battle in the BoM in which 240,000 died. These and many other evidences strongly suggest BoM events happened in Mesoamerica, not North America.

The inspired U.S. Constitution, the religious significance of Memorial Day, and the prophecy of the Constitution hanging by a thread, are just a of few of the topics discussed in this episode of Religion Today, hosted by Martin Tanner

In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner explains why Walter Martin and CRI (Christian Research Institute) have the wrong Jesus, an un-Biblical Jesus, while Latter-day Saints believe in the Biblical Jesus.  What is the distinction? The CRI believes in the "Trinitarian" concept of God which is not found in the Bible, which is that God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost are of "one undivided substance" which is an idea not found in the Bible. Also, CRI does not believe or ignores Jesus' statement that, "[T]he Son can do nothing .  .  . but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He [the Father] does, the Son also does in like manner." (John 5:19; emphasis added). CRI twists Philippians 2:5-5 into saying Jesus and God are of the same substance, when even the NIV says they are of the same "nature" just like two people are of the same nature, not of the very same substance.

Whether you are confident or filled with anxiety, pretty or plain, happy or sad, faithful of have a history or sins or mistakes, confident or full of self-doubt, rich or poor, happy or sad, you will find a great from each of the women in the Bible mentioned in this episode of Religion Today. Listen to hear host Martin Tanner tell the marvelous and inspirational stories of Abagail, Deborah, Esther, Hannah, Jael, Judith, Leah, Mary, Rahab and the young Shulamite woman.

Why I believe!   In this episode, Martin Tanner describes the reasons he believes in the existence of God, Jesus, a Restoration, and an after-life, from science, scriptures, prayer, and seeing his deceased mother and later in another experience, his deceased 22 year old daughter. 

Latter-day Saints are fortunate. There are no creeds. There is little beyond beyond belief in Jesus as Savior, belief in God, belief in the restored Gospel, that one must believe. The fascinating story of Pelatiah Brown in Kirtland illustrates this idea, from Joseph Smith himself.  In this episode of Religion Today, Martin Tanner explains how the trend is towards historicity of the Bible.

Jesus' most used description of himself was "Son of Man".  Did this, as many say, mean Jesus was saying he was a mortal, a human?  In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner explains how Jews, from Psalm 80:17 (God's hero, redeemer, Messiah), Daniel 7:13-14 (Son of Man has everlasting dominion and his kingdom shall not be destroyed) understood "Son of Man" meant the Messiah sent by God. He also explains how Jesus' self-reference as "Son of Man" was also a reference to himself as the Messiah, as in Matthew 25:31 (Son of Man shall come in glory, with angels and sit on the throne of his glory).

Next to the Atonement, the most incredible doctrine and belief in Christianity is the resurrection of Jesus and many others, which has already occurred.  Martin Tanner describes the eyewitness accounts of actual resurrection, and of seeing resurrected beings, given by Isaiah, Daniel, Matthew's eyewitnesses, John, Paul, Joseph Smith and the lesser known account of Ezekiel Johnson, which is very detailed. Indicia of accuracy and details of the accounts are also given.

Easter Sunday was called "Resurrection Sunday" by the early Christians, the most holy of days. In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner gives a short chronology of the last week of Jesus' mortal life, His crucifixion, resurrection, and gradual change to a bright and glorious being, from one whom Mary could mistake for the gardener. Parents will have their children who die in infancy, to raise after they are resurrected. Old will be resurrected as they are, then grow young. Martin gives examples of others who have been resurrected.

Are the Gospel records accurate? Are they trustworthy? The question is not whether the authors of the Gospels had a Christian point of view, they did. The real question is whether they accurately reported the life of Jesus.  We can tell they were from the highly regarded historians of the First century, Cornelius Tacitus and his book "Annals," Pliny the Younger and his famous letter about the Christians to the Emperor Trajan, and from Flavius Josephus and his "Jewish Antiquities."  These highly regarded sources confirm the New Testament narrative that Jesus was executed under Pontius Pilate, in Judea, Jesus was worshiped as deity by the first Christians, Christianity spread fast throughout the Roman Empire and beyond, Christians from the beginning sang hymns and practiced the Sacrament, and, the Jesus' half brother James was a Christian leader.

In this episode of Religion Today Martin Tanner shares some of the most profound Near-Death Experiences he has ever heard, from among the more than 600 he has heard first-hand. These NDEs confirm Gospel principles and reinforce a belief in Jesus as Savior and Redeemer.

We know nothing of the Holy Ghost in the pre-existence. We know little of his roll in the next life.  On June 16, 1844, days before his assassination, Joseph Smith said the Holy Ghost would "take to himself a body as did the Savior." D&C 130:22 says the Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit. In this episode of Religion Today, learn about the different ideas about the Holy Ghost in LDS thought, how the Lectures on Faith were removed from the LDS Canon of scriptures because they said there were only two members of the Godhead. Hear other fascinating details about the Holy Ghost and his roll in LDS and Christian belief.

Have you wondered what happened to the Apostles of Jesus after the New Testament record? In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner explores some of the well-attested information about the Apostles.  Paul founded many branches but was ultimately beheaded at the order of Emperor Nero at what is now Three Fountains Abbey.  Peter was crucified upside down.  Hear details of what happened to other Apostles, including traditions that Thomas traveled to India and Andrew, although killed near Jerusalem, was eventually buried in what is today St. Andrews, Scotland, where the game of golf originated. Not surprising for Latter-day Saints, there are no legends or traditions of the fate of the Apostle John.

Every parent has at one time or another worried about their wayward children.  In this episode of Religion Today host Martin Tanner explains why every faithful parent has the promises of God's prophets from Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, to the present, that their wayward children will eventually return to the Gospel principles of goodness and truth.  Martin explains why this is so without violating the principle of free agency.

Are critics correct, who claim the Gospels and other New Testament books were constructed well after the time of Jesus, from hearsay and second hand information, which makes them unreliable? In this Religion Today episode host Martin Tanner answers the opposite is true.  There are details in the Gospels which only eyewitnesses would know, confirming the Gospels and other New Testament books were written from eyewitness testimony.  Listen to hear the fascinating details!

If there is a God why doesn't everyone see him?  If there is a God, why is there suffering in the world, especially of innocent children? If there is an afterlife, why can't we see it? If there is a God why doesn't he answer my prayers? In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner provides answers to these and other difficult questions.

Biblical, scientific and restoration era evidence you may not have considered for the existence of God and Jesus are presented by host Martin Tanner. These include, (1) how rare belief in resurrection was at the time of Jesus, and how little evidence for it is found in the Old Testament, (2) how many modern scientific disciplines are coming to the conclusion scientific evidence suggests the existence of God, and, (3) how restoration and near-death experiences independently describe God and Jesus the same way.

Mauricio Berger of Brazil claims the Angel Moroni appeared to him in 2007.  Berger also claims he has translated part of the "sealed portion" of the Golden Plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated by Joseph Smith. After reading Berger's purported translation, Religion Today host Martin Tanner concludes this is a poor hoax. Berger's description of the physical description of the sealed portion of the Golden Plates contradicts the description of Joseph Smith and the three and eight witnesses.  Also, the content of Berger's bogus translation contradicts what the Book of Mormon describes in the Book of Ether.  Also, two of Berger's witnesses to the angel and Golden Plates have recanted.  Hear the details in this episode of Religion Today.

Host Martin Tanner describes how Papias in 140 AD said "Mark . . . the interpreter of Peter, wrote accurately but not in order all" Peter told him about the life of Jesus. Luke's Gospel says he "wrote in order" meaning he corrected the order.  Luke also supplemented Mark's Gospel with additional information from "eyewitnesses" at a time when there were many accounts of the life of Jesus.  The earliest Christians called their religion the "New Covenant" or sometimes "The Way" of Jesus or as taught by Jesus.  "Christians" was a put down by outsiders, which over time became the new way the early Church was described.

In this Religion Today episode host Martin Tanner explains why scholars believe Paul's letters were written between 45 AD and about 60 AD, before the Gospels.  According to tradition, Paul was beheaded in 64 AD.  The Gospels were written between 65 AD for the Gospel of Mark, and about 95-100 AD for the Gospel of John. Paul's letters were written to give encouragement and to combat problems in the congregation to which each is addressed.  The Gospel of Mark was written by "John Mark" who was a missionary companion of the Apostle Peter.

When Jews heard Jesus say he was the fulfillment of Isaiah 61:1, and the Kingdom of God was at hand, they recognized him as the promised Messiah. Jesus was also recognized by thoughtful, well read, Jewish listeners as the promised Messiah when he instituted the Sacrament as the "covenant of His blood" which was shed for them. Listeners would have instantly thought of Moses making the sacrifice in Exodus 24 and then throwing the blood of the sacrifice on the people, as Jesus fulfilling in their day, this Mosaic covenant.  Jewish listeners hearing Jesus message about loving God and loving other people, as the Messiah fulfilling the prophecy of Jeremiah recorded in Jeremiah 31:31-34.  Host Martin Tanner describes in detail these and other ways Jews recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah.

Host Martin Tanner's guest, BYU Professor Kerry Muhlstein, PhD, answers the question "What is the Covenant Path" we are supposed to be on?  What covenants has God asked us to make?  What blessing await those who follow those covenants?  The Abrahamic Covenant, Baptismal Covenant, Endowment covenants, Sacramental covenants, and others are discussed. Promising to obey covenants does not restrict, but gives freedom.  Just as safety results when traffic laws are obeyed, obeying God's covenants yields blessings - far greater than can be imagined.  In his new book "Finding Promised Blessings on The Covenant Path" (available on Amazon, at Seagull Book, Deseret Book, etc.) Professor Muhlstein explains these concepts in greater detail and many others.

In this Religion Today episode host Martin Tanner quotes Matthew 24 and describes how the plain meaning of many of the signs described by Jesus were to happen during the lifetime of his Apostles.  The meaning of the "Abomination of Desolation" in the Book of Danial and in the Gospels is explained as the Roman destruction of the Temple and desecration by sacrificing pigs on the alter. Martin describes Joseph Smith's statement that the "last great sign" before the Second Coming of Jesus will be misunderstood by the world as "a comet or a planet."  Then he quotes from Orson Hyde's amazing October 24, 1841 dedication of the land of Jerusalem for the return of the Jews, the "building up of Jerusalem" and the rebuilding or "rearing a Temple" in Jerusalem.

In this episode of Religion Today, Host Martin Tanner presents the true, authentic Christmas Story from the New Testament, of the birth of Jesus Christ, in easy to understand modern English.

Host Martin Tanner covers the major proposed ideas for the Star of Bethlehem, including a comet, Super-nova, conjunction of planets, and a special miracle. There is more evidence for the comet idea than any of the others.  Who were the Wise-men?  In ancient Christian tradition the Wise-men were astrologers who although not Jewish, were familiar with Jewish prophecy of a Messiah. They were included in the account of Jesus' birth because they brought gold (representing royalty), incense (representing priesthood), and myrrh (representing embalming and death).  The star and Wise-men both demonstrated to the early Christian reader that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah and king of the Jews.   

This episode consists of a series of Gospel questions from listeners, and the answers of Martin Tanner, Host of Religion Today, The questions include: (1) Have modern Egyptologists proven the LDS Book of Abram a fraud; (2) Were ancient temples in the Old Testament, the New Testament and the Book of Mormon different from LDS Temple, and if so, why?; (3) Church policy on ordinances for the children of LGBTQI individuals and couples; (4) Hasn't archaeology disproven the Book of Mormon?, and, (5) was the First Vision of Joseph Smith just a dream?

Whatever happened to the Ark of the Covenant?  In this episode of Religion Today hear the dimensions of the Ark of the Covenant, its construction and purposes.  The primary purpose of the Ark was to be the place where God YHWH physically appeared to Moses, Joshua and other prophets.  "Mercy seat" should be translated in English as the "place where merciful God appears."  There are many ideas about what happened to the Ark.  Martin Tanner describes those found in the Bible, the Apocrypha, and in rabbinic tradition.  

How similar and how different were the beliefs of Early Christians and the organization of the Early Christian Church, compared to Catholicism, Protestant Faiths and the LDS Faith?  In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner discusses the similarities and differences between the Early Christian Church and the major Christian denominations today.

What does is mean to say the Bible is the "word of God"? That God gave every word?  That God inspired the contents by concept? Something else entirely? In this episode of Religion Today Martin Tanner explores how Protestants generally believe God inspired each word of the New Testament, while Catholics, the Orthodox Church and Latter-day Saints believe the contents were inspired, but not necessarily word-for-word. Martin Tanner gives a brief history of the entire Bible from the 650 BC Ketef Hinnom amulet, to the Dead Sea Scrolls, Septuagint, Gerome's Latin translation, the great English translators Wycliffe and Tyndale, the King James Version, and modern English translations.

In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner gives advice on responding to critics. Most issues and questions posed by critics will be answered and resolved over time.  Others by immediate research.  Others by understanding the fallacy or false assumption which underlies the criticism. One example is that in some places the CES Letter criticizes the quotes of Isaiah in the Book of Mormon, saying they are identical and thus stolen from the King James Version.  In other places the CES Letter criticizes the Book of Mormon for changing slightly the wording of Isaiah quotes.  Critics can't have it both ways.  Another example is the CES Letter's claim there could not possibly have been enough people in Meso-America as the Book of Mormon claims.  But Lidar research in just the last few years proves the Yucatan Peninsula had about 20 million or more living there during Book of Mormon times, more than in Europe at that time. Will this critic retract?  Not so far. Time and research resolve criticisms. Keep your faith.

Halloween is a Christian holiday.  The word "Halloween" comes from "Holy" or "Hallowed" and "Evening."  It was the holy evening before All Saints' Day on November 1st, which celebrated all deceased Christians.  In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner describes the origins of Halloween, and the Christian reason and purpose for asking for candy, which was originally the hungry and poor asking for food in exchange for a promise to pray the deceased Saints and other Christians.  Costumes were to trick evil spirits.  Carved pumpkins and parsnips with a candle inside were to scare evil away spirits, Satan's follows.  Halloween traditions and pagan influences are also discussed.  

In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner describes Joseph Smith's earliest known account of his first vision describes as happening as a result of his prayer for two things:  (1) to know if he could be forgiven, and, (2) to know which Church was true.  Joseph Smith learned something he hadn't asked for, that God's love was always there for him, that it was incredible and greater than he had imagined.  This love of God is something that is always there for all of us, no matter how far astray we may have gone.  We are to love God in return, with all our might, mind and strength.  Explore how to love God and understand how much he loves you.

Jeremiah is under-appreciated.  He prophesied for 40 years, incredibly long, from when he was a young boy during the time of Isaiah, through when Lehi left Jerusalem, during the siege of Jerusalem by Babylon, then its utter destruction, and the scattering of the Jews.  He was, along with the other Jews, led captive away from Jerusalem into Egypt.  Jeremiah was a very emotional prophet.  If he were alive today, we might say from his anguishing, emotional descriptions, that he suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) from the suffering, death and destruction he saw. In his writings, Jeremiah describes crying, great sadness and feelings of inadequacy.  Unusual for a prophet, he was also an actor.  God told him how to act out prophecies in metaphors, of what would befall kings, the Jews and the city of Jerusalem.   

Enoch is mentioned in the OT Book of Genesis and the NT Book of Jude. In 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 Paul says he was taken up into heaven.  In the Apocalypse of Paul, an angel takes Paul to heaven and introduces him to Enoch.  The Book of Enoch is widely considered the most quoted source in the NT.  In the last 200 years much more information has been found.  Enoch's writings are in the Dead Sea Scrolls.  Early Christian Church Fathers Irenaeus and Tertullian considered the Book of Enoch to be scripture. The Book of Enoch was rediscovered by the Scottish explorer James Bruce in September 1769.  Other manuscripts of Enoch have been found.  It contents, generally divided into five sections, (1) Book of Watchers, (2) the Similitudes, (3) the Astronomy Book, (4) Book of Dreams, and, (5) Epistle of Enoch.  The contents are fascinating.

Jesus taught the greatest virtue is love.  Specifically, he said love  God, and love others.  In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner suggests the greatest virtue or good is love.  We learn this from Jesus, from the Old Testament, from near-death experiences and from personal experiences with family and friends.  Although "love" is difficult or impossible to adequately define, we instinctively know we should foster it in ourselves as a quality.  Martin suggests two ways to use love in dealing with difficult people and people with whom we disagree. 

Are the Old Testament stories real?  Most religious people say they are, except perhaps the early parts of Genesis.  Was there a "King David" who killed Goliath?  Could someone as tall as Goliath have lived?  There are skeptics, but Robert Wadlow, a resident of Illinois, who died at age 22 while he was still growing, was less than an inch away from nine feet tall and was slender, even though weighing 440 lbs. proving Goliath was possible.  In fact archaeology now proves 53 people mentioned in the Old Testament, including King David, who slew Goliath, were real people who actually lived.  Hear the details from host Martin Tanner in this episode of Religion Today. 

Many Latter-day Saints are studying Isaiah now.  In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner gives some tips for how to understand Isaiah.  These include: (1) finding an 8th century BC map of Jerusalem. Realizing that Jerusalem in Isaiah's time had a population of 1,500 to 2,750.  In comparison the LDS Conference center with 21,000 seats holds well over ten times the total population of Jerusalem in Isaiah's day; (2) reading Isaiah in a Modern English version, such as the New Revised standard Version (NRSV) or the Contemporary English Version (CEV); and, finding a good commentary on Isaiah.  Isaiah was a highly educated man with a masterful writing style.  He is easily included in the most gifted writers of all time.  He spoke of future events in our day, as well as events in his own day.  With a little effort, Isaiah will become understandable and of great value to any careful reader.

Due to a new book on the subject, there has been a flurry of discussion on the Internet, pro and con, on whether Joseph Smith borrowed or stole Masonic oaths, tokens, signs and penalties, words and phrases, and used them in the LDS Temple Endowment.  In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner explains why this is impossible.  The LDS Endowment had its origins in 1833, well before the involvement of Joseph Smith or any other LDS leader in Masonry.  Further, the signs, tokens, oaths, covenants, and penalties in the Endowment are very different in wording, nature, description, use and most importantly purpose, then anything similar in Masonry.  University fraternities and other organizations, including the Carbonari, are closer to Masonic rites than the LDS Endowment. 

Most depictions of Jesus appearance, his vocation and family life are inaccurate.  In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner explains that Jesus was clean shaven with short hair.  His robe was tan or wheat colored, made of undyed linen, to his knees and elbows, not to his ankles or wrists.  Jesus job was more than the mistranslation "carpenter."  Jesus and Joseph were "craftsmen."  To make it in their field they had to be skilled construction workers, able to make or repair buildings, gates, barrels, walls, furniture, roofs, wheels, carts - almost anything.  The New Testament tells us Jesus had brothers and sisters.  Early Christians, like Christians today, have a wide variety of ideas about whether Mary had any children other than Jesus, and what Jesus actual relationship was to these New Testament brothers and sisters.  Martin explains the ideas of early Christians on this.

In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner describes how Catholicism, the Eastern Orthodox faith, and most of Protestant Christianity do not believe in the pre-existence of souls, spirits or intelligences.  Latter-day Saints are the current exception.  There are many however, many Bible verses, in the Old and New Testaments, which clearly state or pre-suppose the pre-mortal existence of the human spirit or soul.  The Book of Mormon's Book of Ether includes a description of the pre-earth life spirit body of Jesus.  Early Christian Father Origin, Jewish philosopher Philo and early Greek philosopher Plato believed in the pre-mortal existence of human spirits.  Joseph Smith also described such a belief in his famous funeral sermon, the King Follett Discourse, just weeks before he was killed.

In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner describes archaeological discoveries which are strong evidence the Bible is genuine history, not just myth. Included are the significance of the Rosetta Stone, Dead Sea Scrolls, Tel Dan Inscription (9th century BC reference to "House of David"), Ketef Hinnom scrolls (7th century BC text of Numbers 6), Moabite stone (referencing Chemosh, Omni 1:9) and 2 Kings 3, the Lachish Letters, Epic of Gilgamesh, Hezekiah's tunnel, Seal of Mulek (Mosiah 25:2), crucified man at Givat Hamivtar, and, God as a Man in the Diorite Stele (depicting God as a seated man).

Martin Tanner's guest Scott Drummond shares a little of his near-death experience which has had over 19 millions views on YouTube.  Scott Drummond Martin discuss the near-death experiences conference sponsored by IANDS coming to Salt Lake City September 1-4, 2022.  A 60% discount is available to listeners, students, listeners and anyone who uses this code:  STUDENT288  when signing up at: iands.org.  Sign up for one speaker, one day or the entire conference.  Speakers include:  Mary Neal, MD, Professor Dan Peterson, Scott Drummond, Jeff Olsen, Emily Spear, Martin Tanner and dozens of others.  See the new film Remembering Heaven about near-death experiences in which those waiting to be born are seen.  Email Martin Tanner with any questions:  martinstanner@gmail.com

Several daguerreotype photographs, one newly discovered this year, are purportedly of Joseph Smith.  In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner explains why most of them are not of Joseph Smith.  Martin also provides details about Joseph Smith's personality, hair color, eye color, height, weight and so forth, from reliable sources, people who actually knew him. 

In honor of the 1847 and later Pioneers, in this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner provides "the rest of the story", little known details of LDS Church history, including the likely date of Joseph Smith's "First Vision", what happened to the original Nauvoo Temple, how Wilford Wood acquired for the LDS Church, the Nauvoo Temple site, the Newell K. Whitney Store, the Johnston Farm, the Adam-Ondi-Ahman property, part of the original Book of Mormon manuscript, Liberty Jail, Carthage Jail, and other Church History sites.  He describes how the Salt Lake Valley looked when the Pioneers arrived and how it was already occupied, and described as beautiful and lush by the early Pioneers.  

In the Spring of 1842 Sarah Kimball and Margaret Cook decided to create a women's benevolent society to sew new and repair damaged clothing worn by workers building the Nauvoo Temple.  They asked Eliza Snow to write articles and bylaws.  In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner describes how the Relief Society was formed, and how Joseph Smith "ordained" its first Presidency and helped organize it after the pattern of the Priesthood.  After research and prayer, the Relief Society women voted on on issues. They were seen as bright and competent. This led to Utah in 1869 being the first place in the entire United States and its territories to give women the unfettered right to vote. Wyoming was next. Susan B. Anthony visited Utah years before she was successful in her suffrage efforts, to learn how Utah women had acquired such power.  From the efforts of Utah's Relief Society the right of women to vote spread around the world. The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the "Susan B. Anthony" amendment giving all U.S. women the right to vote, passed in 1920, which was 51 years after Utah women had the right to vote. 

If you are a Latter-day Saint, you have or will be subjected at work on the Internet or somewhere else to criticisms of your Church.  In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner responds to a few of the many self-contradictory, un-Biblical criticisms of the LDS Church made by Eric Johnson who has devoted much of his adult life to criticizing the LDS Faith in ways his won Church would not withstand.  For example, Johnson suggests LDS are not Biblical and therefore not genuine Christians.  Yet the center of his faith is the Trinitarian belief, which is not Biblical.  He believes all one must do is believe Jesus is your Lord and Savior.  Yet he does not believe Latter-day Saints who believe Jesus is their Lord and Savior are Christians or going to Heaven.  He ignores 1 Corinthians 6:9 which says "Don't you know the unrighteous do not inherit the kingdom of God?  Don't be deceived . . . ."  Yet Johnson says belief in Jesus gets you into Heaven, not righteousness.

Jesus said "Know the truth and the truth will make you free." Jesus taught humans have freedom or free agency, or free will.  Yet Christians typically believe God knows the future in every detail.  How is this possible?  In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner explores the three explanations:  (1) John Calvin said God controls all and freedom is an illusion; (2) God knows everything, but somehow this does not conflict with free will; and, (3) God knows all that can be know, especially in a macro-sense, but not in every details until humans make choices using their free will.  Freedom is tied to events in history, the influence of Christianity and inspiration of God.

Many have not heard of Polycarp, who was born in 70 AD and was taught Christianity by the Apostle John.  In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner gives a brief sketch of Polycarp's life, that he was Bishop of the Church is Smyrna for decades, where he had a tremendous influence for good in pointing out false ideas and doctrine during the early days of the Great Apostasy.  Polycarp was burned at the stake at age 86, in 155 AD, when he refused to deny Jesus and proclaim the Roman Emperor God.  Polycarp was revered by all of the Early Christians who knew him and by those who knew his story of faith.

In this Fathers' Day episode, host Martin Tanner describes the divinely ordained purpose and role of fathers.  Being in a single parent home is the greatest predictor of poverty for a child.  A long neglected area of study is the impact of fathers on children and the family unit.  It is no coincidence that in all areas where fathers are absent, there is an increase in poverty, crime, alcoholism, drug use, lack of education, mental illness and physical health.  In this age where the idea is a person can chose to be a man or woman or anything in between or nothing at all, science has come to understand biology cannot be chosen.  The role of men and fathers in society and in the family is important 

HULU's recent mini-series "Under the Banner of Heaven" based on the 2003 Jon Krakauer book with the same title has led to listeners emailing to ask about the accuracy of the book and mini-series.  In this episode host Martin Tanner explains how Krakauer in this and prior books leaves out critical facts, paints heroes as bad and suffers from other major flaws.  Among them are (1) the misleading idea that Ron and Dan Lafferty are "Mormons" when they were earlier excommunicated and had started their own church; (2) the lie that Lafferty's murdered because they were following the "oath of vengeance" in LDS Temples, when there has never been such an oath; (3) Ron and Dan were influenced by Brigham Young who ordered the massacre at "Mountain Meadows" even though Brigham Young explicitly and in writing did the opposite.  Krakauer's methodologies in "Under the Benner of Heaven" on consistently bad, just as in his prior book "Into Thin Air" in which he criticizes a competing Mt. Everest guide who saved all of his hikers, when Krakauer's group suffered the death of eight climbers.

There are approximately 7.8 billion people in the world, of which 7 out of every 8 self-identify as being religious.  In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner provides statistics and information about the world's religions and scriptures.  Nearly a third of the world are Christians, 2.38 billion.  Muslims total about 1.8 billion and Hindus 1.2 billion.  Many are surprised at hearing that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with over 16.3 million members is larger than the number of Southern Baptists, with about 16 million and the number of Jews, numbering about 15 million.  Martin Tanner discusses the number of Bibles printed and other books published and read on religion.  He provides other information and statistics about religion and its benefits.

What are the core American values that make the United States the place people sneak into, not out of?  Why do some people in the U,S. want to "fundamentally transform" it when it is the greatest country that has ever existed?  In this Memorial Day weekend show, host Martin Tanner talks about the fundamental freedoms of religion and speech which are found no where else in the world, He quotes the Founding Fathers saying the founding and values of the Unites States was inspired by God, and how the Doctrine and Covenants says God inspired the Founding Fathers.

Are reincarnation and Christianity compatible?  A growing number of Latter-day Saints and other Christians self-identify as Christians and believers in reincarnation.  In this episode of Religion Today host Martin Tanner explains why belief in reincarnation and Christianity are not compatible.  He explains why it is not possible that Jesus taught reincarnation.  He explains how reincarnation in incompatible with the Atonement, resurrection, eternal families, eternal progression.  The ultimate goal of Christianity is eternal progression resulting in a resurrected individual very much like Jesus.  The ultimate goal of reincarnation is to become one with the universe without an individual identify, and without a body.  Why do some people who have near-death experiences believe they see reincarnation?  They see themselves or other in the pre-existence.  They see others who have died in Paradise or Spirit Prison, in the next phase of eternal progression.  This they misinterpret at reincarnation.

The Dead Sea Scrolls are an important find for Jews, Christians and especially Latter-day Saints.  In this episode of Religion Today, host Martin Tanner demonstrates that the Qumran Community called themselves "Latter-day Saints."  The DSS vindicated Joseph Smith's claim that ancient records were written on thin metal sheets and stored to come forth in the "Last Days."  The DSS "Copper Scroll" was such a scroll.  The DSS also include a scroll which describes the Messiah as "Son of God" and "Son of the Most High" as we read in Luke 1:32.  The DSS "Pierced Messiah" text shows some pre-Christian Jews believed the Messiah would be crucified.  Other information about the DSS significant for LDS and other Christians is included.