Inside Out with Jim Bennett and Ian Wilks

Latest Episodes:

The Church Defenders Who Attack the Church Aug 09, 2025

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A keynote. A controversy. And a defense you won’t hear anywhere else. Jim and Ian unpack the online backlash against Church Communications Director Aaron Sherinian after his FAIR conference appearance - tackling misquotes, double standards, and what it really means to sustain leaders.

Confronting the Origins of The Book of Mormon with Steven Pynakker Aug 01, 2025

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Ian and Jim welcome back special guest Steven Pynakker, founder and host of the popular Mormon Book Reviews podcast. Together, they tackle one of the most audacious questions in the Restoration movement: Where did the Book of Mormon come from?

A Roadmap for Improving Mormonism (Part 1) – with Greg Prince Jul 25, 2025

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Ian and Jim welcome back distinguished scholar and author Greg Prince to unpack his groundbreaking essay, A Roadmap for Improving Mormonism. What begins as a bold comparison between Vatican II and a proposed "Salt Lake I" turns into an expansive, candid discussion about grassroots revelation, institutional resistance to change, and the urgent need for moral authority within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Heavenly Mothers Jul 19, 2025

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Ian and Jim dive deep into one of Mormonism’s most sacred — and least discussed — doctrines: the existence of a Heavenly Mother… or perhaps, Heavenly Mothers. Triggered by a recent offhand comment by President Dallin H. Oaks, the discussion focuses on the theological, cultural, and historical complexities of polygamy in the afterlife and the implications of multiple divine wives.

Greg Prince Returns! Jul 12, 2025

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Ian and Jim welcome back acclaimed historian and author Greg Prince for a follow-up conversation about the future of missionary work in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Together, they explore how the Church's immense resources—real estate, membership, and financial strength—can be leveraged to transform communities through service rather than traditional proselytizing.

A Conversation About Humanitarian Missions with Julie and Marty Newton Jul 05, 2025

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Ian and Jim sit down with Jim's sister Julie Newton and her husband Marty Newton, who are serving as senior missionaries in Adelaide, Australia. Their mission? Not door-to-door proselytizing—but boots-on-the-ground humanitarian work across the country.

A Conversation with Greg Prince Jun 28, 2025

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Ian and Jim sit down with acclaimed Mormon historian and scholar Greg Prince—author of David O. McKay and the Rise of Modern Mormonism and other pivotal works—for a sweeping discussion on the past, present, and future of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

John Taylor's 1886 Revelation Jun 21, 2025

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Ian and Jim dive into a remarkable and quietly released document that’s now been added to the official Joseph Smith Papers archive: a revelation received by LDS Church President John Taylor in 1886—long believed by many to be apocryphal, forged, and/or suppressed.

A Conversation with Kirk Hays Jun 14, 2025

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Ian and Jim sit down with a lifelong friend — Kirk Hays, former Scotland Edinburgh Mission AP and bishop turned humanitarian, artist, and TikTok influencer known as The Vagabond Artist.

From his unexpected call to serve in Scotland in the 1980s to leading a ward as a non-believing bishop, Kirk shares his raw, honest, and often surprising story of wrestling with faith, church leadership, and personal integrity.

The Church, the Constitution, and the Cult of Trump Jun 06, 2025

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In this bonus episode of Inside Out, Ian and Jim dive headfirst into today's explosive intersection of faith, politics, and morality. With Elon Musk accusing Donald Trump of being named in the Epstein files, the conversation turns to why so many Latter-day Saints still fervently support Trump.

Can the Church stay neutral forever? And what would Jesus actually do?