Click to Listen: Episode 1: Intros and Testimonials
This book started off with a bang! After a few boring intro chapters, the story gets going as we hear about Joseph Smith and how this book came to be. Absolute insanity doesn’t do it justice. You just have to hear it to believe it!
My Book of Mormon 
May 9, 2014 at 12:42 am
David, you are absolutely hilarious, in a good way. I have only listened to the first episode so far and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks for doing this.
Believe it or not, I am a member of the LDS church since birth. However, I don’t believe in the church as most members do (namely, I don’t believe it is the “only true church” as most members do). I have drifted away emotionally from the church over the years, precisely due to things like lack of DNA evidence which you so wittingly thought of right out of the gate. Many members of this church never even think to ask intelligent questions like that!
The only reason I am still in the church is because of extremely intense family and social relationships. It is very devastating for a family to “lose” a loved one to apostasy. And to be honest, my observation is that most LDS folks are awesome, semi-normal people. I have great family and friends that are strong believers, and I really enjoy their friendship. But it is very frustrating that they can’t see through the deception.
One thing to keep in mind — I know it seems crazy that anyone would believe in the Book of Mormon and the way it was ‘discovered’ by Joseph Smith (angels, gold plates, etc.). But it’s important to understand that a lot of Mormons are brought up hearing this stuff since Day 1. Mormon children and adults are also taught to ‘bear their testimonies’ at church and at home…..which is basically a brain-washing technique that forces people to say things like “I know that this is the only true church. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet called of God.I know that the Book of Mormon is true because I have read it and asked God and have felt the answer in my heart that it is true.” It is extremely difficult for people to just up-and-walk-away from all that they have been taught since childhood.
Anyhow, keep up the good work. I am excited to keep listening.
May 9, 2014 at 4:52 am
It’s messages like this that motivate me to keep going. Thank you so much for sharing your story, it is truly inspiring. It saddens me to know that you could lose your family and friends for simply not believing in something make believe, but I want you to know that you’re not alone! This community is overwhelmingly supportive, and I hope that my podcast and others like it bring you some sort of comfort.
May 10, 2014 at 9:39 pm
Wow, thanks for doing this.
I saw your post on Reddit.com/r/Exmormon and am most of the way through the first episode. Its awesome to listen to it from the point of view of someone that has no knowledge of anything Mormon.
I grew up in the church and have read the book 3 times as a youth. It was SOOOO boring, I almost never read my scriptures any other time except in class. (I’m a seminary graduate by the way)
I’ve only recently become a complete atheist, and am still reading and listening to a lot of “let’s really look at the church from a different viewpoint” type of stuff.
In case you’re interested in the really bat shit crazy stuff, then read ‘the letter to the CES director’ on cesletter.com
You think the Book of Mormon is bad? Wait until you read that Exmormon produced document detailing all the horrendous stuff that the church and it’s leaders have done. It sucks! As well as many significant issues with the book of Mormon. Maybe you could read that in the same way once you’re through with the BOM.
That would be awesome!
Anyway, I’m going to continue listening to episode 1.
Thanks again!
May 13, 2014 at 4:01 pm
Johnathan mentioned that he is a seminary graduate. When non-Mormons think of Seminary Graduation, they think of someone graduating from divinity school.
http://www.zazzle.com/seminary_graduation_photo_announcement-161819675694941937
When a Mormon thinks of seminary (snooze fest) graduation, they think of this:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/188540640/customized-5×7-graduation-annoucement?ref=shop_home_active_10
Note: The Mormon Church has their own definition of many common Christian terms. Ex-Mo, born and raised in the Church. Thankfully, the indoctrination didn’t work!
May 16, 2014 at 7:14 pm
This is AWESOME! I’m tempted to change the show’s cover art to that Mormon seminary grad picture.. Just priceless!
May 16, 2014 at 7:10 pm
Thanks for listening, and thanks for the post. I think I need to take a poll for what I should read next… although I think I have a long way to go before I’m done BOM. So far we’ve got “Pearl at a Great Price”, “Doctrines and Covenants”, or your recommendation above for the CES Letter. Maybe I’ll just do them all… I have to be honest, I’m having fun so I don’t want it to stop!
May 14, 2014 at 4:24 am
Here’s a helpful (church approved!) illustration of the translation process as described in the Book of Mormon introduction:
And the somewhat-more-modestly-dressed-than-described Angel Moroni, with just a smidge of bosom peeking out:
May 16, 2014 at 7:11 pm
Thanks for the post! Yeah, that Moroni picture doesn’t do it justice. The way he was described used the word “naked” several times… I’m just saying…
May 16, 2014 at 6:13 pm
Just a bit of historical context that might make the testimonials make a little more sense… and a lot of faithful members uncomfortable.
Apparently Martin Harris was not the most reliable of witnesses. He claimed that he spoke with god in the form of a deer. He also made mention that the golden plates were revealed in a vision to him, making other people wonder what exactly Cowdery and Whitmer saw. This is probably why the testimony of the 8 witnesses pretty much says, “Platey, Platey, Plate, Plate!”
May 16, 2014 at 8:40 pm
As I said in the Episode… that testimony is just useless!
May 16, 2014 at 11:26 pm
One funny thing about the Introduction is that, in a way, it almost acknowledges the lack of DNA evidence for ancient Israelites in America. The Introduction currently says the Lamanites “are among the ancestors of the American Indians.” This was a change in the text made in 2007. Prior to that it read that the Lamanites “are the principal ancestors of the American Indians.” So even the church has to admit that it’s a sketchy claim to be making.
May 17, 2014 at 7:19 am
Hiram Page was married to Catharine Whitmer in 1825, so he was part of the Whitmer clan while acting as Gold Plates witness.
Eventually Oliver Cowdery also married a Whitmer in 1832. Oliver Cowdery supposedly may not have known it, but he was also second cousin once removed through Joseph Smith’s mother.
May 17, 2014 at 10:48 pm
For gods sake man, find an annunciation guide to the Book of Mormon names and places before you start reading!! You’re saying everything SO wrong!! It’s Knee-Fye/Knee-fytes and Lay-man-eyets. Your-ihm and thumb-ihm. You kind of waffled between Moron-ee and Moron-eye (the later being correct). Also, the constant berating of those that believe in Mormonism is a bit much. We get it that it’s ridiculous and don’t need to hear how ridiculous it is every 5 minutes. Other than that, wonderful podcast! You had me laughing more than several times!! Keep up the good work!
May 18, 2014 at 5:35 am
Pages 532 through 535 in the end of the Book of Mormon is a pronunciation guide.
May 18, 2014 at 6:07 am
I just heard podcaster say he’s reading this as an e-book, so he might not have access to the pages, here’s the pronounciation guide online through LDS.org: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/pronunciation
May 18, 2014 at 5:49 am
It’s funny, a ton of exmormons have written me saying that my mispronunciations were some of their favorite parts of the show. Here’s my stance, I committed that I would read this book cover to cover without looking ahead. I can’t just jump to the end for a pronunciation guide… That would be breaking a commitment. I’ll do my best, but i hope there are more names like Zoram coming up, because his name is awesome!
May 30, 2014 at 4:19 pm
Just wait till you get to the part about Korihor!
May 30, 2014 at 3:38 pm
I really appreciate your read through. I’m an exmormon and I’ve always wanted to hear the thoughts of someone who has not been indoctrinated with the precepts of morminism. I’ve read the book of Mormon but I can only read it from the perspective of someone who had grown up with it all their life. It is refreshing to hear what pops into your head as you go along. I can’t wait till you get to some of my favorite crazy parts. You’re in for a ride with an expressway pass to the asylum.
May 30, 2014 at 4:56 pm
Two things you need to know about DNA and the Book of Mormon:
1) The Mormon church used to teach that the Lamanites are the only ancestors of modern native americans, but as studies have progressed they have backed off to their current position of “among the ancestors” – which was put in the latest edition of the Book of Mormon that you’re reading now.
2) Here is the Mormon church’s official position: https://www.lds.org/topics/book-of-mormon-and-dna-studies?lang=eng
May 30, 2014 at 6:03 pm
This is awesome! I also grew up LDS. The Boom of Mormon was taught to me since birth and so to me it sounds normal. Hearing you read it for the first time helps me realize things I never thought if. A year and a half ago I left the LDS church because I finally became aware of problems like lack of DNA in native americans…I’m 34….When you grow up being told it’s normal it’s hard to view it from an outside perspective. Keep up the good work! I’m hooked and need to listen cover to cover through your eyes!!
May 31, 2014 at 8:07 pm
I love listening to your reading! It is so refreshing to those of us who grew up taking the BOM for granted.
Adding a little more context to your comments about the “insanity”… You might also be interested to know that Smith was a huge follower of pirate stories like those of Captain Kidd. He apparently read them voraciously and spent much of his youth looking for buried treasure. Capt. Kidd lost a third of his crew to cholera on the island of Camora off the cost of Zanzibar – you can look it up – whose main port city is/was Moroni. (It is now called the “Comoros Islands,” but was frequently spelled as “Camora” in the 19th century.)
BTW, if nobody has told you before, you have a fabulous, silky, baritone voice that is very similar to that of Dave Ross, a popular Seattle-based CBS news radio host. You honestly could have another career as a radio broadcaster or at least a voice-over actor for reading audiobooks! (If you’ve never listened to Dave Ross, just look him up & listen to some clips of his. You’ve both got great voices!)
June 3, 2014 at 5:12 pm
Are you sure you’re not Seth Rogen? Seth Rogen’s voice double? You know for those dangerous voice stunts?
June 5, 2014 at 6:47 pm
Episode 1 was very insightful and funny. You said some things I recall asking myself internally as a kid. But being a kid, you do what you’re told. You’re told the book is true, then I guess it is. I hope the reading remains entertaining. I’ve always found it a boring read, but you force yourself to do it because that’s the foundation of being good: read your scriptures and pray. All the time. About everything.
June 9, 2014 at 6:34 pm
Worst commentary ever! You take something that’s already boring and ridiculous and make it unbearable and tedious. Your commentary doesn’t sound like it comes from someone who is reading this for the first time. It sounds like you have some background information and that gets foreshadowed in the course of your “witty” thoughts and comments.
June 9, 2014 at 7:06 pm
I’m sorry you feel that way Jim. I guess the show isn’t for everyone. However, a ton of people have reached out to me to tell me how much they like the show and even that it’s helping them to cope with their religious doubts. So, I feel like I owe it to them to keep doing this in the format that I’ve been doing it. I’m also sorry that you doubt my sincerity of never having read this book (I really haven’t). You may want to listen to the introduction of Episode 9 where I address this very point. Either way, thanks for giving it a try and thanks for providing your feedback. Even if it isn’t for you, I do appreciate that you’d give it a chance.
June 28, 2014 at 8:48 pm
Just finished Episode 1. Fabulous. About 2 years ago I discovered The Thinking Atheist and Free Thought Radio, which lead me to The Atheist Experience and then to Atheist on Air then to Scathing Atheist (today) and now to you! It’s exciting to see where one path will lead. I agree, you have a great voice.
June 30, 2014 at 7:11 pm
Thanks Carol. Yes, the skeptical podcast community is made of people that promote each other’s shows. That’s how I found all my favorites too. I’m really glad to hear that you’re enjoying the show, I hope you keep listening!
February 4, 2015 at 1:20 am
Thanks for doing this! I hope to catch up and follow along.
August 7, 2015 at 11:21 pm
Thanks for this. Honestly thanks. I got married in the temple in 1990 without having read the bom,after the craziness that was the temple I scrambled to read the bom to see what the heck I had gotten into. I read it like the Manuel to a
August 7, 2015 at 11:23 pm
Having a hard time posting from my phone. ..I just wanted to say I couldn’t make any sense of the book. I have since left the church but I am loving your readings here.I can’t stop listening.
November 22, 2015 at 4:55 am
I just doubled over at Moroni’s third appearance.
February 17, 2016 at 5:04 pm
I’m surprised after two years nobody informed you that “,Jun” means Junior.
June 30, 2016 at 3:00 am
He figures that out in episode #1.