Episode 61

Faithful Historian Deceives Mormons – Keith Erekson

Original Air Date: 2025-02-07 • Duration: 3h 37m

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This video is an episode of the Mormon Stories Podcast titled "Faithful Historian Deceives Mormons - Keith Erekson," featuring host John Dehlin along with panelists Sandra Tanner, Nemo the Mormon, Gerardo, and Julia 1. The group conducts a "fact-check" and critique of a fireside presentation given by Dr. Keith Erekson, the Director of Historical Research and Outreach for the LDS Church, to questioning members in Germany 2, 3.

Throughout the episode, the panel argues that Erekson misrepresents historical facts, minimizes controversial issues, and employs deceptive apologetics.

The Mountain Meadows Massacre

Erekson describes the massacre as a crime committed by about 20 local Latter-day Saints who went "rogue" after a council meeting, explicitly stating Brigham Young did not authorize it 4.

  • Panel Critique: The panel characterizes Erekson’s narrative as dismissive and factually incorrect. They note that historians estimate 50 to 60 Mormon militiamen participated, alongside Native Americans recruited by the Mormons 5. They argue that while Young may not have ordered the specific attack, his rhetoric regarding "blood atonement" and oaths of vengeance created the violent environment that made the massacre possible 6-8.

    • The Word of Wisdom

    Erekson claims that early church leaders did not strictly enforce the Word of Wisdom because the general membership was "addicted" to substances like coffee and tobacco, so they focused enforcement on the rising generation 9.

  • Panel Critique: The panelists argue this is deceptive because it hides the fact that the early prophets and apostles themselves (including Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, and John Taylor) regularly consumed wine, beer, coffee, and tobacco 10, 11. They assert the Word of Wisdom was not treated as a commandment until the 1920s under Heber J. Grant 9, 12.

    • Polygamy and Polyandry

    A significant portion of the video focuses on Erekson’s defense of Joseph Smith’s polygamy:

  • Denials: Erekson asserts that when Joseph Smith denied polygamy, he was carefully wording his denials to specifically reject "John C. Bennett’s spiritual wifery," not plural marriage itself 13. The panel rebuts this by stating Joseph lied to the public and his wife Emma, and that "spiritual wifery" was a term used interchangeably by Mormons to describe the practice 14, 15.
  • Polyandry (Marrying Married Women): Erekson admits Joseph was sealed to women already married to other men but claims there is no evidence of sexual relations. He argues these were "horizontal" dynastic sealings meant to connect families 16-18. The panel presents research from historian Dan Vogel indicating strong evidence of sexual relations in 11 of the 14 polyandrous marriages 19, 20. They argue the "horizontal" theory is a "red herring" to distract from the sexual nature of these unions 21, 22.
  • The "Folktale" of Requirement: Erekson tells the audience that the idea that polygamy is required for exaltation is a "folktale" that members should let go of 23. The panel counters with numerous quotes from past prophets (Brigham Young, Joseph F. Smith) stating polygamy is required for exaltation and note that current church leaders, including President Nelson, are sealed to multiple women for eternity 24, 25.
  • Restoration of All Things: Erekson claims there is no scripture stating polygamy was part of the "restoration of all things" 26. The panel immediately cites D&C 132:40, which explicitly links the practice to the restoration of all things 27.

    • The Book of Abraham

    Erekson addresses the controversy regarding the translation of the Book of Abraham from Egyptian papyri.

  • Funerary Texts: He claims the church has acknowledged since 1835 that the papyri were "funerary texts" and mocks critics for treating this as a new discovery 28. The panel argues this is gaslighting, as the church historically claimed the papyri were the literal writings of Abraham, not standard pagan funerary documents 29, 30.
  • Translation Theories: Erekson suggests we don't know what Joseph was doing, proposing a "catalyst theory" or suggesting the true text was on a missing "long roll" of scroll 31, 32. The panel refutes the missing scroll theory, noting that Joseph identified specific extant fragments as the source of the Book of Abraham, which modern Egyptologists confirm have no relation to Abraham 33, 34.

    • Final Verdict

    The panelists conclude by grading Erekson’s performance. They generally give him a "D" or "F" for honesty and scholarship 35, 36. Nemo the Mormon suggests Erekson acts less like a historian interested in truth and more like a lawyer protecting a client 37. They criticize him for lacking empathy toward those who struggle with these issues and for "gaslighting" the audience by pretending the church never hid these facts 38.

    To use an analogy based on Nemo's commentary: Erekson is presented not as an architect explaining how a building was honestly constructed, but rather as a defense attorney trying to explain away cracks in the foundation by distracting the jury with unrelated details about the window treatments.

    Episode Info

    Guests: Mike (LDS Discussions), Sandra Tanner

    Related Article: LDS Discussions