Joseph Smith Expert: "My Biggest Discovery Happened While Out of The Church" | Don Bradley E0039

Details

Description

What would make a 7-year-old Joseph Smith refuse alcohol before undergoing one of the most excruciating surgeries imaginable—decades before the Word of Wisdom was ever revealed?

Once an ex-LDS atheist, now a faithful Latter-day Saint and renowned Joseph Smith expert, Don Bradley shares one of the most powerful discoveries he’s ever made about Joseph’s life. This isn’t just another “Joseph Smith refused alcohol” story—it’s a window into his character and the cultural and historical context most people have never heard.

Don opens up about the heartbreaking loss of his own young son—and how that experience gave him a deeply personal window into Joseph Smith’s life, particularly Joseph’s own experiences as a child and as a father. That shared lens of love, loss, and empathy adds a profound human dimension to both the history and the man behind it.

We also explore Don’s personal faith journey—leaving the Church, the discoveries that shaped his perspective, and the path that ultimately led him back. From Church history to raw personal experiences, this conversation is real, unfiltered, and full of insights that could change the way you see Joseph Smith and the Restoration.

Help support Donnie's fundraiser for UNICEF:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-extend-donnies-legacy-of-love-through-unicef

Donnie's Poetry:
https://donniebradley.com/

——————

00:00:00 Intro & Trailer
00:01:17 Don’s Upbringing, Background, and Faith Crisis
00:10:54 Early Joseph Smith Research That Shook Don’s Faith
00:20:41 The Word of Wisdom Context & Joseph Smith Refusing Alcohol
00:27:20 Familiar Stories Behind the Immediate Word of Wisdom Context
00:39:31 The Full Story of Joseph Smith’s Childhood Leg Surgery
00:57:54 A Clue: What Joseph Smith Paired With His Refusal of Alcohol
01:09:07 Losing Don’s Son, Donnie, and Honoring His Memory
01:18:19 Revelation: Was Joseph Smith Trying to Be Strong for His Father?
01:38:59 Parallels Between Donnie’s Life and Joseph Smith’s Story
01:49:29 Walking Through the Grieving Process
02:02:15 Holding On to Hope Through Loss
02:29:14 A Heartfelt Tribute to Donnie
02:36:16 How Sacrifice Shapes Our Identity
02:51:18 Donnie’s Poetry


👇 Watch the full conversation and let us know what stood out to you most.

📱 Follow us on Instagram: @letsgetrealsj
🎧 Listen to the full podcast on Apple & Spotify
📹 Subscribe for more conversations that go beyond surface-level faith.


--
Get help answering some of life's most challenging questions with Let’s Get Real with Stephen Jones. This @scripturecentralofficial original series offers practical insights and ways to navigate life's challenges and heaviest questions.
--
🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications for Let's Get Real to explore life's toughest questions and strengthen your connection with God.
---
Disclaimer:
THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF THE INDIVIDUAL CREATORS AND GUESTS ALONE AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE OFFICIAL POSITION OF SCRIPTURE CENTRAL OR THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS.