Gospel Tangents Podcast

Gospel Tangents Podcast


Latest Episodes

Bobby Kennedy & Joseph Smith (Part 4 of 8)
July 18, 2020

Joseph Smith and Bobby Kennedy were both killed while running for president of the United States.  Dr. Derek Sainsbury tells us more about these two men, and I was surprised to hear about their surprising similarity. GT:  I mean,

Electioneer Missionaries (Part 3 of 8)
July 15, 2020

More than 600 men and women were called to be electioneer missionaries on behalf of Joseph Smith’s campaign for president. It was the largest missionary force for more than 50 years.  In our next conversation with Dr. Derek Sainsbury,

Mormons: Originally Swing Voters! (Part 2 of 8)
July 12, 2020

Mormons are known to be pretty reliably Republican, at least in Utah.  It wasn’t that way in Joseph Smith’s day, because the Republican Party didn’t even exist!  Mormons alternated between Whig and Democratic support and were seen as swing voters in Jo...

Views of General Joseph Smith (Part 1 of 8)
July 09, 2020

Most Mormons know that Joseph Smith ran for the presidency of the United States.  Was it a serious run?  Did Joseph really think he was going to win?  Dr. Derek Sainsbury will answer those questions, and we’ll talk about Joseph Smith’s Presidential pla...

Rick on Hot Seat (Part 5 of 5)
July 06, 2020

There are many good and bad things in Mormon history.  Some people leave the Church over these issues.  John Larsen of the Sunstone Podcast puts Rick on the hot seat and asks why he stays in the LDS Church. John:  So why are you still Mormon?

Mark Hofmann’s Role in Mormon History (Part 4 of 5)
July 03, 2020

John Larsen of the Sunstone and I discussed some critics of Mormonism. The most notorious is probably Mark Hofmann, who is a murderer and forger of Mormon documents.  We discussed some of Rick’s past interviews and knowledge Rick has learned in talking...

Learning from Mormon Cousins (Part 3 of 5)
June 30, 2020

While the LDS Church is the largest Mormon group, there are lots of other churches tracing their founding to Joseph Smith.  John Larsen of the Sunstone Podcast sat down with Rick Bennett to discuss some of these groups who aren’t well-known.

LDS Leaders & Historical Issues (Part 2 of 5)
June 27, 2020

Let’s face it.  Many members have an incomplete knowledge of Church history and problematic historical issues.  Is it the leaders’ fault?  John Larsen of the Sunstone Podcast debates Rick Bennett as to where the blame should lie with regards to teachin...

Intro to Gospel Tangents (Part 1 of 5)
June 25, 2020

John Larsen of the Sunstone podcast sat down in August 2019 to learn more about Rick Bennett of the Gospel Tangents podcast. John:  Gospel Tangents started a couple years ago, so what is this podcast? Rick:  So, I don’t know if I should admit this,

Reconciling Joseph’s Magic & Masonry
June 21, 2020

There are some active Latter-day Saints who may be surprised to learn about Joseph Smith’s beliefs in magic as well as the connections between freemasonry and LDS Temples to be surprising.  Some will even deny the connection.