John Taylor and the Truth About the Dark Ages: Rethinking the Great Apostasy

In this eye-opening episode of Mormonism Live, hosts Bill Reel and Radio Free Mormon are joined by author and theologian Charley Harrell to explore his powerful Dialogue Journal article, “John Taylor on the ‘Dark Ages’.” Together, they take a deep dive into how third LDS Church President John Taylor challenged the traditional narrative of the Great Apostasy—offering a radically different view of the Middle Ages, where spiritual gifts and divine revelation still thrived. Was there really a total apostasy after the death of Christ, or have we misunderstood what “spiritual darkness” means? Harrell examines Taylor’s 1873 discourse, revealing that the LDS prophet acknowledged divine influence and religious truth outside of Mormonism—even among Christian mystics and thinkers during the so-called “Dark Ages.” This conversation reframes the LDS Church’s apostasy narrative, opens the door to interfaith spirituality, and raises critical questions about revelation, church authority, and doctrinal evolution. Whether you’re a believing Latter-day Saint, a post-Mormon, or simply curious about Christian history and theology, this episode offers compelling insights that challenge conventional Mormon teachings.