Despite the plethora of public condemnations of polygamy during his lifetime, some believe that Joseph Smith was still teaching in

The post Did Joseph Smith Teach Polygamy? Live Debate #2 appeared first on Hemlock Knots.

Did Joseph Smith practice polygamy or didn't he? If he did, where's the evidence? How reliable is it? And why are there so many accounts stating that he did, but so few are contemporary? These are the questions that’ll polarize those who study the life of Joseph Smith. What are the strongest arguments for Joseph Smith being a polygamist? What are the best sources that suggest he wasn't?

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Some insist that the Nauvoo Expositor was destroyed because of its slanderous remarks about Joseph Smith, but what do the contemporary historical records actually say? If the workings of the press were said to bring the mob, why would a mob be outraged, given they were also against Joseph Smith and in favor of the slander being printed? Why would news of a surprise visit from Governor Ford cause cause prominent church leaders to scramble to adjust their accounting books? Why would a founding member of the Nauvoo Expositor burn the building down? Could there be something else that justified the destruction of the Nauvoo Expositor besides slander against Joseph Smith? Could the continuation of those same illegal activities after Joseph Smith's death be the catalyst for Brigham Young being forced to prematurely flee the state of Illinois in the dead of winter as a fugitive dodging federal indictments?

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Where did this concept of "baptisms for the dead" originate? Who started it? When and where did the first baptisms for the dead happen? When did they officially add this doctrine to the teachings and the scriptures? Is the idea with baptisms for the dead compatible with other scriptural teachings on the atonement? We'll explore these questions and more in this interview.

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Explore the documentation behind the claim that marriage for eternity is a requirement for the celestial kingdom. What is the new and everlasting covenant? How has the new and everlasting covenant evolved in LDS church history, and was marriage part of that covenant initially? How did the saints break the covenant 12 years before it was revealed? At what point did eternal marriage become the focal point of the everlasting covenant and who was responsible for this "new" covenant?

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In this interview with Michael Barrett, we discuss theories, ideas, facts and hypotheses surrounding the Aaronic priesthood. Where did the Aaronic priesthood come from? What does the documentary hypothesis suggest about the legitimacy of the Aaronic priesthood claims? Why don't the earliest versions of the Moses story contain the parts about Aaron and his lineage having special rights? Who wrote the biblical parts of the story of Aaron, and when? Does the Book of Mormon support the concept of the priesthood of Aaron?

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Part 2 of an interview between Ryan Hinckley (host of the "Mormon Theories" podcast), exploring the story of Fanny Alger. We discuss the quantity & quality of the 19 sources behind the story, and how they align with today's common narrative.

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Part 3 of an interview with Ryan Hinckley (host of the "Mormon Theories" podcast), exploring the origins of the alleged July 12, 1843 revelation known today as D&C 132. Was it from Joseph Smith? Who wrote it? Where was it kept and why wasn't it shared with the saints for 9 years? What doctrines did it change? Does it match the writing style, tone, syntax and communication style of Joseph Smith or the voice used in former revelations?

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