LDS Freedom Forum

Hi everyone ,

I am in search of some good podcasts on deep doctrine, signs of the times, church history - basically all of the stuff we can find discussions about on this forum.

I came across a Podcast by Mike Stroud on the Book of Mormon... so far I enjoy it, however, I've heard that he has a controversial history. Are his podcasts something I should be avoiding? I also like Isiah explained. Either way, hoping for some good recommendations.

Thanks in advance!!

Publius51

Mike's new set of podcasts about the Book of Mormon is a fairly straight-laced commentary, and should not be controversial to anyone in the church. His older series is where he liked to get into more speculative stuff, and though he would always preface those things by stating they were only his opinion, some folks are never satisfied until you think and believe exactly like they do. He's pulled those off his podcast site, but you can probably still find them archived by various folks. There should still be some Facebook groups with Google Drive links to them or whatever.

I wouldn’t listen to a word he has to say. He has been excommunicated from the church!

Kenco wrote: ↑January 21st, 2020, 4:53 pm I wouldn’t listen to a word he has to say. He has been excommunicated from the church!

Thanks for putting it so succinctly. This is about as far as most members will think about him, which is sad.

Yes, he was excommunicated for apostasy. I don't know the details, and he's not sharing, but there hasn't been a single word on any of his podcasts, before or after his excommunication where he has criticized the church, or our leaders. Not once has he leveled an accusation at anyone, and has even talked about how he doesn't want anyone accusing anyone else on his behalf. Even the podcast he posted the day after he was ex'd, he was bearing testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel, the Book of Mormon, the church, and expressing his sustaining of all of his leaders.

It's been almost a year now, and he is still inviting people to read the Book of Mormon, bearing the kind of testimony you'd hear on any Fast Sunday in church, and sustaining our leaders.

So, whatever. His words can stand on their own.

publius51 wrote: ↑January 21st, 2020, 2:29 pm Hi everyone ,

I am in search of some good podcasts on deep doctrine, signs of the times, church history - basically all of the stuff we can find discussions about on this forum.

I came across a Podcast by Mike Stroud on the Book of Mormon... so far I enjoy it, however, I've heard that he has a controversial history. Are his podcasts something I should be avoiding? I also like Isiah explained. Either way, hoping for some good recommendations.

Thanks in advance!!

Publius51

His podcast is great. Anyone who claims it’s some scary evil boogeyman very obviously hasn’t actually listened to it.

I like his Book of Mormon podcasts. They have been very helpful. My husband and I listen to them frequently. It's been over a year since he was excommunicated. He may have been rebaptized by now for all I know. His podcasts this last year go by the book. I haven't noticed him preaching any questionable doctrine, and he is a great follower and supporter of his Bishop, Stake President, and President Nelson.

I listened to all of his original podcasts before the church told him to take them down. His insight into the temple and Book of Mormon is powerful and I learned a lot. Everything he taught from his mission classes are really good. But......(and it’s a BIG but), over time he got obsessive over receiving the second comforter, priesthood use in unconventional ways, and odd discussions about fallen spirits and the other side of the veil. He interjected his opinion to the point of really stretching the discerning muscles for the listener. There was a point of listening to him where it just didn’t feel right no matter how much truth he infused. It’s like telling somebody, “This ice cream is amazing! You’ve got to try it. Sure it has some shards of glass in it. Just spit them out and you’ll be fine!” He was excommunicated for a reason.

publius51 wrote: ↑January 21st, 2020, 2:29 pm Hi everyone ,

I am in search of some good podcasts on deep doctrine, signs of the times, church history - basically all of the stuff we can find discussions about on this forum.

I came across a Podcast by Mike Stroud on the Book of Mormon... so far I enjoy it, however, I've heard that he has a controversial history. Are his podcasts something I should be avoiding? I also like Isiah explained. Either way, hoping for some good recommendations.

Thanks in advance!!

Publius51

He was asked to take down his podcasts at one point, the assumption is he was teaching false doctrines, and personally, I see no benefit from learning and believing false doctrines to be true. He was later excommunicated. I think he shares some or all of Denver Snuffer's (also excommunicated) views, he shares Julie Rowe's views (also Excommunicated) and is into energy healing, and MMP, from what I've heard. If it was me, I'd say there are a lot of red flags that you've been warned sufficiently that he ascribes to a lot of notions which have been deemed false. So yea, it's your choice, but listen at your own risk.

Maroriginal1 wrote: ↑January 21st, 2020, 6:53 pm I listened to all of his original podcasts before the church told him to take them down. His insight into the temple and Book of Mormon is powerful and I learned a lot. Everything he taught from his mission classes are really good. But......(and it’s a BIG but), over time he got obsessive over receiving the second comforter, priesthood use in unconventional ways, and odd discussions about fallen spirits and the other side of the veil. He interjected his opinion to the point of really stretching the discerning muscles for the listener. There was a point of listening to him where it just didn’t feel right no matter how much truth he infused. It’s like telling somebody, “This ice cream is amazing! You’ve got to try it. Sure it has some shards of glass in it. Just spit them out and you’ll be fine!” He was excommunicated for a reason.

Yea, this seems to be a pattern with a lot of these people. It's the same for Denver Snuffer, Julie Rowe, and now Mike Srtoud. They start out being supportive of the Church, and tying their beliefs into church teachings, but then, each one of them slowly started to move farther away into their own personal beliefs that were not doctrinal, in fact, often had already been identified as false doctrine, and when their church leaders tried to correct them, get them back on track by telling them they were teaching things that were false, they couldn't accept correction, but continued in the path they were on until they completely lost the spirit and lost their church membership. It is a tragedy.

jmack wrote: ↑January 21st, 2020, 9:19 pm He was asked to take down his podcasts at one point, the assumption is he was teaching false doctrines, and personally, I see no benefit from learning and believing false doctrines to be true. He was later excommunicated. I think he shares some or all of Denver Snuffer's (also excommunicated) views, he shares Julie Rowe's views (also Excommunicated) and is into energy healing, and MMP, from what I've heard. If it was me, I'd say there are a lot of red flags that you've been warned sufficiently that he ascribes to a lot of notions which have been deemed false. So yea, it's your choice, but listen at your own risk.

I'm bet you share some views with Denver Snuffer, too. Better watch out, you're next!

h_p wrote: ↑January 21st, 2020, 10:29 pm

jmack wrote: ↑January 21st, 2020, 9:19 pm He was asked to take down his podcasts at one point, the assumption is he was teaching false doctrines, and personally, I see no benefit from learning and believing false doctrines to be true. He was later excommunicated. I think he shares some or all of Denver Snuffer's (also excommunicated) views, he shares Julie Rowe's views (also Excommunicated) and is into energy healing, and MMP, from what I've heard. If it was me, I'd say there are a lot of red flags that you've been warned sufficiently that he ascribes to a lot of notions which have been deemed false. So yea, it's your choice, but listen at your own risk.

I'm bet you share some views with Denver Snuffer, too. Better watch out, you're next!

Rip jmack

If you seriously listen to his recent podcasts, you will probably discern that he is humble and in a state of repentance - like the rest of us should be when we are chastised by the Lord for going off the deep end. I say don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. He's a great teacher with a lot of experience and insight. Don't hold his past mistakes against him forever. This Church is supposed to be about repentance and forgiveness, not shunning and a lifetime of criticism and dragging up the past.

publius51 wrote: ↑January 21st, 2020, 2:29 pm Hi everyone ,

I am in search of some good podcasts on deep doctrine, signs of the times, church history - basically all of the stuff we can find discussions about on this forum.

I came across a Podcast by Mike Stroud on the Book of Mormon... so far I enjoy it, however, I've heard that he has a controversial history. Are his podcasts something I should be avoiding? I also like Isiah explained. Either way, hoping for some good recommendations.

Thanks in advance!!

Publius51

Mike is a humble dear soul - a great man of God who loves the gospel, and truth;
and is one of the best devout members you could ever find.
I haven't seen or heard any of his podcasts for the last year,
but I loved the ones he did some years ago.
You might have already seen some of these, but I looked on the internet and found these.
https://mstroud.podomatic.com/

This thread in the forum a few years ago might give you some things you are looking for.
"Mike Stroud Reeled in by the church"
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=47011&p=819605&hili ... ch#p819605

he, like many others that bring out the truth in our scriptures showing the church's shortcomings
are called into question by the church, just for bringing out the truth of what the scriptures are really saying.

He told me one time -
""that we should live so close to the spirit of the lord"
that that spirit will instruct us in every detail
as to what we should do, where we should go
and we don't have to worry because
it won't be the philosophy of men mingled with the scripture.
It won't be what one person thinks might happen or how
they interpret the scriptures, you will be guided
by the spirit through personal revelation,
and that is always pure and it is always right, it is never wrong"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
also Avraham Gileadi - http://www.isaiahexplained.com/
is the best source for reading and understanding Isaiah

Galations 1:6-9 I marvel that he are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ into another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so I say now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that he have received, let him be accursed.

President Harold B.Lee General Conference October 1972

" There be some as wolves among us. By that, I mean some who profess membership in this church who are not sparing the flock. And among our own membership, men are arising speaking perverse things. Now perverse means diverting from the right or correct, and being obstinate in the wrong, willfully, in order to draw the weak and unwary members of the Church after them.
And as the apostle Paul said, it is likewise a marvel to us today, as it was in that day, that some members are so soon removed from those who taught them the gospel and are removed from the true teachings of the gospel of Christ to be lead astray into something that corrupts the true doctrines of the gospel of Christ into vicious and wicked practices and performances.
These, as have been evidenced by shocking events among some of these splinter groups, have been accursed, as the prophets warned; and they are obviously in the power of the evil one who feeds the gullible with all the sophistries which Satan has employed since the beginning of time. "

Stay away from the teachings of splinter groups. I use to listen to Mike Stroud and he did a podcast in which he identified what he has taught that was incorrect doctrine and he took his podcasts down. I had them in a book form and I just threw them away. Then he started with new podcasts on the Book of Mormon and then was excommunicated. When he was excommunicated, I stopped listening to his podcasts because of what is taught in Galations and also the prophets. I would love to see him return to the church. The problem I see is that he has not changed and until he fully repents and is baptized, I look for other ways to learn more about the gospel.

h_p wrote: ↑January 21st, 2020, 5:17 pm

Kenco wrote: ↑January 21st, 2020, 4:53 pm I wouldn’t listen to a word he has to say. He has been excommunicated from the church!

Thanks for putting it so succinctly. This is about as far as most members will think about him, which is sad.

Yes, he was excommunicated for apostasy. I don't know the details, and he's not sharing, but there hasn't been a single word on any of his podcasts, before or after his excommunication where he has criticized the church, or our leaders. Not once has he leveled an accusation at anyone, and has even talked about how he doesn't want anyone accusing anyone else on his behalf. Even the podcast he posted the day after he was ex'd, he was bearing testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel, the Book of Mormon, the church, and expressing his sustaining of all of his leaders.

It's been almost a year now, and he is still inviting people to read the Book of Mormon, bearing the kind of testimony you'd hear on any Fast Sunday in church, and sustaining our leaders.

So, whatever. His words can stand on their own.

those that put so much trust in men, instead of searching for truth being led by the spirit.
I suppose some members would do most anything - like jump off a cliff, if the church told them to.
isn't it incredible, how so many great men have been excommunicated by the church
just for bringing out the truth. Must tell us something about the church.
Avraham Gileadi was also excommunicated, for a book he wrote that brought out
the real truth in the book of Isaiah and in our scriptures showing our shortcomings, decline and apostasy.
Because the truth was brought to light and seen by some,
He was later reinstated with the help of one of the greatest apostles we've ever had - Neal A. Maxwell

Thank you everyone for your thoughts on Mike. I think I fall more in line with the school of thought that truth can be found in many places - and openly seeking it from diverse sources is good - with the very large caveat that it must be done with the spirit of discernment. With that said, I think I will continue to listen to Mike's new podcast, knowing that his words are not scripture and that any doctrine I am unfamiliar with must be brought to the lord for confirmation.

h_p wrote: ↑January 21st, 2020, 10:29 pm

jmack wrote: ↑January 21st, 2020, 9:19 pm He was asked to take down his podcasts at one point, the assumption is he was teaching false doctrines, and personally, I see no benefit from learning and believing false doctrines to be true. He was later excommunicated. I think he shares some or all of Denver Snuffer's (also excommunicated) views, he shares Julie Rowe's views (also Excommunicated) and is into energy healing, and MMP, from what I've heard. If it was me, I'd say there are a lot of red flags that you've been warned sufficiently that he ascribes to a lot of notions which have been deemed false. So yea, it's your choice, but listen at your own risk.

I'm bet you share some views with Denver Snuffer, too. Better watch out, you're next!

What views do I share with Denver Snuffer?

SPIRIT wrote: ↑January 22nd, 2020, 9:12 am

h_p wrote: ↑January 21st, 2020, 5:17 pm

Kenco wrote: ↑January 21st, 2020, 4:53 pm I wouldn’t listen to a word he has to say. He has been excommunicated from the church!

Thanks for putting it so succinctly. This is about as far as most members will think about him, which is sad.

Yes, he was excommunicated for apostasy. I don't know the details, and he's not sharing, but there hasn't been a single word on any of his podcasts, before or after his excommunication where he has criticized the church, or our leaders. Not once has he leveled an accusation at anyone, and has even talked about how he doesn't want anyone accusing anyone else on his behalf. Even the podcast he posted the day after he was ex'd, he was bearing testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel, the Book of Mormon, the church, and expressing his sustaining of all of his leaders.

It's been almost a year now, and he is still inviting people to read the Book of Mormon, bearing the kind of testimony you'd hear on any Fast Sunday in church, and sustaining our leaders.

So, whatever. His words can stand on their own.

those that put so much trust in men, instead of searching for truth being led by the spirit.
I suppose some members would do most anything - like jump off a cliff, if the church told them to.
isn't it incredible, how so many great men have been excommunicated by the church
just for bringing out the truth. Must tell us something about the church.
Avraham Gileadi was also excommunicated, for a book he wrote that brought out
the real truth in the book of Isaiah and in our scriptures showing our shortcomings, decline and apostasy.
Because the truth was brought to light and seen by some,
He was later reinstated with the help of one of the greatest apostles we've ever had - Neal A. Maxwell

You keep talking about truth. So, if you believe it it's truth, but if we don't, it's because we'd jump off a cliff if the church told us to. Somehow that doesn't seem objective.