What is brent metcalfe?

Brent Metcalfe is an American historian, author, and former member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He was born in 1957 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and grew up in a devout LDS household. After serving as a missionary for the church in Switzerland, he became involved in researching and writing about various aspects of Mormon history.

Metcalfe is perhaps best known for his role in the 1985 publication of the "Salamander Letter," an incendiary document allegedly written by LDS Church founder Joseph Smith. Metcalfe was working as a researcher for the church-owned publication Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought at the time and was tasked with verifying the authenticity of the letter. After conducting extensive research and ultimately concluding that the letter was a forgery, Metcalfe made his findings public and was subsequently excommunicated from the church.

Since leaving the LDS Church, Metcalfe has continued to write and speak about Mormon history and culture. He is the author of several books, including "New Approaches to the Book of Mormon" and "Mormonism: A Historical Encyclopedia." He has also served as a consultant for various documentaries and television programs about the LDS Church.

Metcalfe currently lives in Southern California and is a board member of the Mormon History Association.