Glass Box Podcast

Girl’s Camp! We talk about the history of how it came to be, the experiences of many folks who attended, and discuss the evolution of the program since its inception. What happens there? Who gets (has) to attend? Why don’t young women get to do the same kind of stuff Scouts do? Tune in and all answers shall be revealed! After that we review the most recent Tarzan movie and wrap the show with a new paper proposed as forthcoming EU legislation to reduce slave labor.   Show links:    History of LDS Youth Programs: https://juvenileinstructor.org/history-of-lds-youth-programs/    Changes made in 1993: https://www.thechurchnews.com/1993/2/20/23258666/new-young-women-camp-manual-written-for-today     Young Women of Zion: An Organizational History: https://rsc.byu.edu/firm-foundation/young-women-zion-organizational-history    Young Women Organization Timeline: https://history.churchofjesuschrist.org/training/library/young-women-organization/young-women-organization-timeline    A Century and Counting: How Girl’s C

What a fun grouping of topics! We do a relatively long deep-dive into the history of how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has dealt with organic evolution and how the stance has changed over time. Of course, the Book of Mormon is predicated on eugenics, as is the history of Utah, so we also include this more controversial subject as it is related. Then we dive into Bruce R. McConkie’s Millennial Messiah where he continues to harp on his favorite topic, the end times. Turns out the book title is very revealing of the subject matter. We wrap the episode with a new press release from the White House about government-funded research.   Show links:  Improvement Era article (Official publication on organic evolution) https://archive.org/details/improvementera28011unse/page/1088/mode/2up Organic Evolution (current Church official) https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/topics/organic-evolution?lang=eng&fbclid=IwAR2JSViKt8X5b58lHFTGwP223jzjn9pm5Vi9Y1j2kz94QC8bjCHNrhuPpMk Pew Research i

Numerology 101! What is it? How many is it? Why is it? We do a quick deep-dive into the esoteric field of numerology and how it influenced Joseph Smith and early Mormonism. We even find out our own numbers just for the fun of it! After that we talk about The Number 23 starring Jim Carrey in a very non-Jim Carrey role, witnessing him driven to madness by, you guessed it, the number 23. We round out with a brief signal boost of the recent sex abuse scandal with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Which sex abuse scandal specifically? Any of them because they never end.   Show links:    Number Symbolism https://www.britannica.com/topic/number-symbolism Pythagorean numerology https://www.dcode.fr/pythagorean-numerology Kabbalah numerology http://numerology.center/kabbalah_numerology.php Chaldean numerology https://numerologytoolbox.com/numerology/chaldean-numerology/  The Philosophy of Numbers by L. Dow. Balliett https://archive.org/details/philosophyofnum00ball/page/126/mode/2up   Happy News:   

We’ve discussed Mormon endtimes on numerous episodes, but this time we will also discuss some results. Mormonism breeds dangerous men; men who believe the end of the world is coming. Bruce R. McConkie loved the idea of the endtimes. He wrote about it so much that we decided to cover what Mormon Doctrine says are the signs of the endtimes. Then, because we know you just can’t get enough of McCrankie, Shannon will give the 5th segment of Millennial Messiah which, surprise surprise, is all about the death and destruction that is going to happen in the second coming. Then we actually will end the episode leaving you with a feeling that the world isn’t completely on fire with some really cool news about green infrastructure. So fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy night!  Show links:    Mormon Endtimes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Coming_in_Mormonism https://mormonbeliefs.org/mormon_beliefs/mormon-doctrine-salvation/do-mormons-believe-in-the-end-times/ https://bycommonconsent.com/2016/04/28

Finally, the long-awaited deep-dive of Paul H. Dunn! Dunn was a General Authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a consummate liar. He tweaked or fabricated dozens of stories with a spiritual bend which caused Mormons to feel the spirit that what he was saying was true. He also committed financial fraud by cashing in on his high church rank and grandiose public personality. When all this came to light, shelves of believing Mormons came crashing down worldwide, and he was sent to a pasture up north by the apostles. He was, however, successfully insulated by church leadership from any legal repercussions. After that we review Plan 10 From Outer Space, a 90s Mormon sci-fi flick! We round out the episode highlighting the newly created 3-digit number for mental health resources.   Show links:    Oral traditions: https://ich.unesco.org/en/oral-traditions-and-expressions-00053    Douglas Stringfellow: https://history.house.gov/Historical-Highlights/1901-1950/The-controversial-career-of-Repr

Yes, it’s time for our next installment of the Millennial Messiah by Bruce R. McConkie. Before that, however, we’re doing a deep-dive into the history of the BYU center in Jerusalem. We discuss how it came to be, the hurdles overcome, and the strange and mysterious ways in which Mormon God works. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints punched far above its weight class in the sphere of international politics to shoehorn this place onto the Mount of Olives! Then we round out the episode with some happy news about scrap wood being used more sustainably.   Show Links:  Interview of David Galbraith https://rsc.byu.edu/vol-9-no-1-2008/jerusalem-center-near-eastern-studies-reflections-modern-pioneer Orson Hyde: A Life of Lessons Learned by Roy Huff https://rsc.byu.edu/vol-3-no-2-2002/orson-hyde-life-lessons-learned Eliza R. Snow 1875 Jerusalem trip journal https://archive.org/details/palestietourutah00smit/page/260/mode/2up The Haifa German Cemetary and the Brigham Young University Jerusalem Center htt

EPISODE 100!!! We’re celebrating this achievement with a different style of show. We’re talking all about hymns and music. What does music do to our brains? How can it be used for benevolent or, conversely, malevolent, purposes? Why is music easier to remember than just about any other media we create or consume? We also discuss some history of hymns and folk music in the Mormon culture and tradition as markers for significant events or used to ensure conformity or battle public perceptions. We round out the episode with some parodies of hymns we wrote to help break the spell!   Show Links:  Hymn Parodies by Bryce & Shannon: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1095C1WDVWjOU0I2LVa7bm0Ob-r9e3EORPqJavZd7gd4/edit?usp=sharing    We were on episode #333 of Serious Inquiries Only!: https://seriouspod.com/    Music, Rhythm, and the Brain: https://brainworldmagazine.com/music-rhythm-brain/  The Power of Music: MInd Control, by Rhythmic Sound: https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/the-power-of-music-mind

I'm uploading this as a token of gratitude for all you listeners showing up for 100 episodes! Plus, people have been asking for our review on the main feed but UtBoH is just too big a topic for the regular show, so here's a standalone episode taken from our YouTube broadcast! This is the next installment of our quarterly live Q&A broadcasts! We have our lovely patrons to thank over at https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod for helping us reach our goal to make these possible. This time around we're reviewing the new Hulu series, Under the Banner of Heaven, based on Jon Krakauer's book by the same title. SPOILER ALERT!!! Thank you so much for spending your evening with us. All the important links: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod  Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/glassboxpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/GlassBoxPod  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glassboxpod...  Merch store: https://exmomerch.creator-spring.com/ Be sure to use discount code GLASSBOX for a tithing off your order!!!

Hey it’s Pride Month! We all hear about Prop 8 and how the LDS church paid a boatload of money to make it go their way. We thought the actions the church took in the past which led to these actions needed to be brought to light. We also discuss Patriarch Joseph Fielding Smith who was called to the office while known to be gay, then was fired from the job once the bigots spoke out against him. Then, in our Media section, Shannon brings you a large list of books you should look into written by Mary Renault. And finally, we bring you some excellent news out of New York Show notes:    Links Memories of Being Gay at BYU by Earl Kofoed https://web.archive.org/web/20060617213245/http://www.affirmation.org/memorial/memories_of_being_gay.shtml LGBTQIAP+ history in America https://www.lgbtqhistory.org/lgbt-rights-timeline-in-american-history/ Chronology of Events Patriarch Joseph Fielding Smith’s Homosexuality https://web.archive.org/web/20100122080551/http://www.affirmation.org/memorial/joseph_fielding_smith.shtm

The end is neigh at hand, or so Abrahamic believers have been saying for over 2000 years. Mormonism has its own special brand of the apocalypse and endtimes. This launches us into the next installment of the Millennial Messiah by Bruce R. McConkie. He talks about the endtimes as well, along with the role of the Book of Mormon. The final chapter we cover he leans deep into the white supremacy of Mormon theology. Be prepared, because we weren’t. Then we wrap the show with an op-ed in the Salt Lake Tribune from a long-time listener and patron, Dave Winslow, about the problems with violent rhetoric coming from the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.   Be sure to tune in to our next live hangout on June 6th at 6 p.m. MST wherein we’ll review Under the Banner of Heaven. Supporters at Patreon gain access to join the conversation on air!   If you’d like to share your experience for the upcoming PRIDE month episode (Ep 99), please do so through social media or a direct email to glassboxpodcast@

We examine the fascinating era of the 1970s feminist Mormon history studies. We focus on the central figure of Claudia Bushman and her push to build a non-existent world within Mormon studies. A group of east-coast women scholars began publishing controversial history in the form of Mormon Sisters and the resulting Exponent II quarterly journal. The official church historian, Leonard J. Arrington, encouraged and assisted where he could, but the General Authorities, especially Ezra Taft Benson, Mark E. Petersen, and Boyd K. Packer, couldn’t handle the prospect of women scholars publishing in academic journals about Mormon women’s issues. The retaliation, blacklisting, and PR fights quickly followed Claudia Bushman, Marueen Ursenbach Beecher, and Laurel Thatcher Ulrich as they worked to advance the burgeoning field. After that we review the movie/book Hidden Figures and discuss the new White House Press Secretary!   Links: Interview w/Claudia Bushman https://rsc.byu.edu/conversations-mormon-historians/claudia-

In this episode, we talk about Mormon priestcraft and show just how much they fit into their own description, all while denying it, of course. (Mormons and their leaders are awfully good at that!) This will lead us directly into part 2 of Bruce R McConkie’s book Millennial Messiah. We have an enjoyable time also discussing Martin Luther and the rise of Protestantism. We will also talk about why we think McCrankie hated Catholicism so much.  Then we’ll close it out with some amazing news about a successful Malaria vaccine. Enjoy!  Show notes:    Main topic: Priestcraft Priestcraft:  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/gs/priestcraft?lang=eng The Dangers of Priestcraft:    https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/teaching-seminary-preservice-readings-religion-370-471-and-475/the-dangers-of-priestcraft?lang=eng  A Popular History of Priestcraft In All Ages and Nations:    https://archive.org/stream/popularhistoryof00howiuoft/popularhistoryof00howiuoft_djvu.txt   MOGP: Millennial Mes

Hey guess what. It’s Gen Con time. AGAIN! It keeps showing up every six months. Go figure. In this episode we talk about what slipped through the cracks of this General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And yes, the timestamp is accurate. It’s a long listen, but hearing us dissect #GenCON is much, much, MUCH better than actually watching the 10 hours for yourself, right? This episode has a general content warning as there are talks involving some damaging concepts including death of a child, suicide, and, of course,  LGBTQ+ issues because those mormon leaders just won't stop being bigots. So fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy night!   Show notes:  Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod  Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/glassboxpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/GlassBoxPod  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glassboxpodcast/  Merch store: https://exmomerch.creator-spring.com/ Be sure to use discount code GLASSBOX for a tithing off your order!!!

It’s time to break into our next long-form review of Mormon literature; Bruce R. McConkie’s Millennial Messiah! We get an idea for the purpose and objective of the book as well as McCrankie’s pet issues right off the bat. He speaks of the heresies integral to false prophecy and warns of the various movements and political groups are anti-Christ. But before we crack open the spine of this tome, our main segment is a brief deep-dive into Mormon prophecy. What is it? From where does it come? How reliable are Mormon prophecies and can they be trusted? And the greatest question with which some believers may wrestle, what’s Joseph Smith’s batting average? We round out the show with some happy news about government diversity in Portugal!   Show notes:  Mormon Prophecy: https://www.fairlatterdaysaints.org/archive/publications/the-truth-about-the-god-makers/ic https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_prophecies_of_Joseph_Smith https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/journal-march-september-1838/41 https://www

As March is Women’s History Month in the USA, we knew it was time to talk about some amazing and strong women who have had a powerful effect on all of our lives. First we look at a fascinating figure integral to a transitory period of church history, Emmeline B. Wells, who pioneered women’s suffrage in Utah. Then, in MOGP we talk about the documentary RBG.  Following that, we round out the episode talking about the 120 3D printed statues of women scientists in the “#IfThenSheCan – The Exhibit” at the Smithsonian March 5-27. Enjoy!  Show notes:  Emmeline B. Wells Journals:  https://www.churchhistorianspress.org/news/chpress-publishes-emmeline-b-wells-diaries?lang=eng Emmeline B. Wells: “Am I not a Woman and a Sister?” by Carol Cornwall Madsen https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/byusq/vol22/iss2/3/ Emmeline B. Wells Romantic Rebel by Carol Cornwall Madsen https://rsc.byu.edu/supporting-saints-life-stories-nineteenth-century-mormons/emmeline-b-wells Woman’s Exponent archive https://contentdm.lib.byu.edu/digital

One of the most influential leaders of the modern Mormon church, Bruce R. McConkie, made a name for himself with his seminal 1958 work Mormon Doctrine, an encyclopedia of Mormon doctrine and theology. It immediately made waves in the community and the rest of the leadership decided to censor McConkie and the book was pulled from the shelves. With significant edits to address leadership complaints, the book was republished in 1966 and again massively edited and published in 1979 after the priesthood ban was lifted. We explore the life of Bruce McConkie and discuss the impact of Mormon Doctrine and McConkie, as well as the reasons for censure and highlighting necessary edits to tone the book down. Yes, this is the deep-dive on Bruce McConkie and Mormon Doctrine you’ve been waiting for and this episode launches us into our next long-form book review of Millennial Messiah by Bruce McConkie!   Mark your calendars! Our next Live Q&A!! is March 7th!!! 6:00 PM (MST)    Show notes:    The Bruce R. McConkie Story:

Much is said and thought of John C. Bennett from Nauvoo Mormon history, but what do the documents actually say? Today we go through a brief deep dive into this fascinating figure. He became a close friend and then personal greatest enemy of Joseph Smith throughout a complicated sequence of events. Bennett is most renowned for his 1842 expose, The History of the Saints, which he wrote after his abrupt removal from all church, government, and military appointments. We deal with the charge that he was providing abortions and what the implications which follow actually mean. After that we review Reign of Fire, a Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey dragon movie with surprisingly deep interpretations. We wrap with some happy news from the Lego company to help children undergoing medical procedures.   Mark your calendars! Our next Live Q&A!! is March 7th!!! 6:00 PM (MST)  Interview read for patrons: https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/interview-3november-1841/1 Other Bennett Sources: https://w

YES! WE’RE FINALLY DONE!! The Miracle of Forgiveness has been a grind and we’re finally putting this monster of a book to rest. However, we can’t do it alone so we are joined by the incredible expertise of Natasha Helfer. She’s been working in sex and relationship therapy within the Mormon space for two and a half decades and she helps us contrast Spencer W. Kimball’s statements about sex and gender with modern science. Be sure to follow her at the links provided below. We hope you enjoy this celebration along with us before we crack into Bruce McConkie for our next long-form review! Show Notes:  A veritable gagglefuck of links to find Natasha Helfer! MMHA: https://mormonmentalhealthassoc.org/ Symmetry Solutions: https://www.symmetrysols.com/ Home page: https://www.natashahelfer.com/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/amp/tag/natashahelfer Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/natashahelfermft Or Google her to find plenty more projects! Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod  Facebook page: https://www.facebo

The Black 14 was a group of athletes at University of Wyoming in Laramie who stood up to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and BYU. They suffered the wrath of withering public ire, but their story is immortalized as emblematic of the struggle for racial justice and equality in the 1960s and 70s. Join us as we learn their story and discuss Brigham Young University’s fight to keep discriminating when it became illegal to do so. After that we discuss Small Foot, a movie about asking questions and breaking out of the shell in which people are raised. We round out the show with some happy news about gender and sex equality in Israel of all places.   Show Notes:    Resources concerning the Black 14 https://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/black-14-race-politics-religion-and-wyoming-football https://www.newspapers.com/image/598921419/?terms=byu%20protest&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/636296214/?terms=byu%20protest&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/536317000/?terms=byu%20pro

Yes, a show about New Year’s Resolutions for 2022! We discuss what resolutions the Mormon church should consider for the new year and some of the hold ups of accomplishing them. We have some resolutions of our own though! Then we get to the penultimate segment of Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball. There’s light at the end of the tunnel and it feels good. Then we round out the show talking about clean flying goals for Denmark!   Show Notes:    Happy News:  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59849898    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GlassBoxPod  Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/glassboxpodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/GlassBoxPod  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glassboxpodcast/  Merch store: https://exmomerch.creator-spring.com/ Be sure to use discount code GLASSBOX for a tithing off your order!!!   iTunes reviews: We need more!